Star Wars #81-82 (1984)

Star Wars #81-82 [Grand Comics Database 81, 82; Comic Book Database 81, 82]
(March 1984, April 1984)
Marvel Comics

(#81) "Jawas of Doom!"
Credits:
Writer: [Mary] Jo Duffy
Penciller: Ron Frenz ("breakdowns")
Inker: Tom Palmer, Tom Mandrake ("finishes")

(#82) "Diplomacy"
Credits:
Writer: [Mary] Jo Duffy
Penciller: Ron Frenz ("breakdowns")
Inker: "M. Hands" (as in, "Many Hands"; i.e., multiple, uncredited inkers) ("finishes")

Chronological Placement: 4 years after Battle of Yavin (A New Hope) (soon after Return of the Jedi)

Notable Characters: (#81) Han Solo, Leia Organa, R2-D2, Boba Fett, Luke Skywalker, Landy Calrissian, C-3PO, Wedge Antilles; (#82) Luke Skywalker, Admiral Ackbar, Plif the Hoojib, Dani, Rik Duel, Chihdo, Kiro, Mone

Comments: Begins run of Marvel Comics issues following Return of the Jedi (movie and Marvel's 4-issue limited series movie adaptation). In #81 ("Jawas of Doom!"), Han, Leia, and R2-D2 travel to Tatooine so that Han can collect credits he'd left in storage there. Han finds that both his accounts (and he, himself) are still considered to be "frozen" and therefore is unable to retrieve them. That's the least of their troubles, however, as first R2-D2 is stolen by Jawas. Chasing the Jawas down, Han discovers another of the Jawas' recent discoveries: Boba Fett, alive and well (although momentarily without his memory; this accounting of Boba Fett's survival of his encounter with the Sarlacc in Return of the Jedi is later superseded by that told in the novel, Hard Merchandise (Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy, book one, by K. W. Jeter)).

In #82, which partially overlaps in time with the previous issue, has Luke and Plif the Hoojib (from a previous Marvel storyline) sent to the planet Iskalon to offer the natives there representation in the upcoming new government that the Rebel Alliance leaders will be forming now that the Empire has been defeated. Arriving, Luke discovers some unexpected other visitors have arrived there first: Dani, Rik Duel, and Chihdo. They are there to scavenge whatever they can. Their presence leads to a confrontation between Luke and the water-breathing Iskalonians. (Again, these are all characters who were introduced in previous issues.)

Star Wars Tales (stories from #15, 12, 10, and 23) (2001-2003, 2005)

Star Wars Tales #15 [Grand Comics Database 15; Comic Book Database 15, 15 (photo cover)]
(March 2003)
Dark Horse Comics

"Do Or Do Not"
Credits:
Writer: Jay Laird
Penciller: Timothy II
Inker: Timothy II

Chronological Placement: 4 years after Battle of Yavin (A New Hope) (soon after Return of the Jedi)

Notable Characters: Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo, Yoda (spirit, cameo)

Comments: Eight page story. Luke discusses with Leia at Endor his uncertainty as to what to do next now that the Emperor and Vader have been defeated.


Star Wars Tales #12 [Grand Comics Database 12 (photo cover); Comic Book Database 12, 12 (photo cover)]
(June 2002)
Dark Horse Comics

"A Day in the Life"
Credits:
Writer: Brett Matthews
Penciller: Adrian Sibar
Inker: Adrian Sibar

Chronological Placement: 4 years after Battle of Yavin (A New Hope) ("three days" after the Battle of Endor (Return of the Jedi))

Notable Characters: Wedge Antilles, Luke Skywalker

Comments: Twelve page story. Wedge and his squadron discover the still fighting remains of Vader's command ship, The Executor. Losing one of his men, Wedge returns to his base ship to reflect.


Star Wars Tales #10 [Grand Comics Database 10; Comic Book Database 10, 10 (photo cover)]
(December 2001)
Dark Horse Comics

"Free Memory"
Credits:
Writer: Brett Matthews
Penciller: Vatche Mavlian
Inker: Vatche Mavlian

Chronological Placement: 4 years after Battle of Yavin (A New Hope) (soon after Return of the Jedi)

Notable Characters: R2-D2, C-3PO, Han Solo, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker

Comments: Ten page story. R2-D2 is due to have some of his memory cleared as routine maintenance. He doesn't wish, however, to lose several holographic recordings that friends of his have left in his memory (including the famous Princess Leia, "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi... You're my only hope" recording, plus two new ones supposedly left by Han and Luke (Han's recorded when he was leaving the others behind near the end of A New Hope and Luke's at his father's funeral pyre at the end of Return of the Jedi).


Star Wars Tales #23 [Grand Comics Database 23; Comic Book Database 23, 23 (photo cover)]
(March 2005)
Dark Horse Comics

"Lucky"
Credits:
Writer: Rob Williams
Penciller: Michel Lacombe
Inker: Serge LaPointe, Andrew Pepoy

Chronological Placement: (Framing sequence) 4 years after Battle of Yavin (A New Hope) ("a couple weeks" after the Battle of Endor (Return of the Jedi)) ; (Flashback sequence) 2 years prior to Battle of Yavin (A New Hope) ("six years" prior to framing sequence)

Notable Characters: Wedge Antilles

Comments: Fourteen page story. Wedge recalls losing the life he had and the woman he loved at the hands of the Empire six years ago.


Star Wars Tales #10 [Grand Comics Database #10; Comic Book Database 10, 10 (photo cover)]
(December 2001)
Dark Horse Comics

"A Wookie Scorned!"
Credits:
Writer: Jason Hall
Penciller: Christina Chen
Inker: Christina Chen

Chronological Placement: 4 years after Battle of Yavin (A New Hope) (soon after Return of the Jedi; makes reference to events of The Truce at Bakura novel)

Notable Characters: Han Solo, Chewbacca, Leia Organa, C-3PO, Luke Skywalker

Comments: Ten page story. Chewbacca starts to feel jealous of all the attention Han is giving to Leia now.


Verdict: Best of the bunch are "Free Memory" (although the characters are still a little bit "off", dialogue wise, but I like the overall premise and it has some really nice art) and "Lucky". The others are pretty "eh" (forgettable stories, bad art, and/or are completely off on how the familiar characters usually behave and speak).