Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago. . . Volume 4 by various artists and writers

(pb; 2011: graphic novel. Collects Star Wars issues #68─85, the King-Sized Annual #3 and the original four-issue adaptation of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi from the Marvel Comics Star Wars series from the 1980s)

From the back cover

“In this volume alone, there are nearly 500 pages of classic Star Wars adventures! Luke Skywalker and his rebel friends battle the oppressive Empire in stories set shortly before and after the galaxy’s restoration to a New Republic in Return of the Jedi. This volume collects Marvel Comics Star Wars #68─85, as well as the original four-issue adaptation of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.”

Overall review

 This eighteen-issue edition collects issues #68─85, King-Sized Annual #3 and the original four-issue adaptation of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, which were originally published in the early 1980s.

Vol. 4 is a fun, action-packed collection. Again, many of the stories are standard science fiction stories that could be applied to any series, but then the same could be said about the original Star Wars films. The artwork, again, varies from decent to god-awful, but between nostalgia and the general fun tone of the work, this volume is a worthwhile read for fans like myself. Followed by Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago. . . Volume 5.

Story arcs/issue #s: 

“The Search Begins” [#68]: Leia, Threepio and R2-D2 seek out Denga, one of the bounty hunters who hunted Han Solo in Empire Strikes Back) on Mandalore, a distant planet. While there, they meet Fenn Shysa, an acquaintance of Boba Fett’s, who wears armor similar to Fett’s.

“Death in the City of Bone!” [#69]: Leia, R2-D2, Threepio and Fenn Shysa take on a Mandalorian slave colony army.

“The Stenax Shuffle” [#70]: En route to the plaent Stenos, Luke and Chewie to tell Lando about the last time he, Han, Leia and the droids were there (prior to the events of Empire). Luke and Chewie also mention how they looked for an ancient artifact, one that may win the Rebels new allies. (This issue fetures the first appearance of Rik Duel, Dani and Chihdo, Han’s acquaintances and fellow mercenaries.)

“Return to Stenos” [#71]: On Stenos, Luke and Lando are recognized, leading to a violent run of luck, mostly bad, as well as encounters with Bossk and IG-88 (Boba Fett’s bounty hunter partners in Empire).

“Fool’s Bounty” [#72]: Luke and Lando, caught by IG-88 and Bossk, fight for their freedom ─ with help from unexpected, multiple friends and acquaintances.

“Lahsbane” [#73]: While attempting to recover the ship tapes of a downed Rebel pilot (Tay Vanis) our heroes encounter silly ─ later hostile ─ aliens (Lashsbees) and an Imperial patrol, also looking the tapes.

“The Iskalon Effect” [#74] ─ “Artoo-Detoo to the Rescue!” [#76]: On Iskalon ─ a peaceful planet of gilled, water-loving aliens ─ hope, sorrow, treachery and milestone tragedies play out.

“Chanteuse of the Stars” [#77]: Back at the Rebel base on Arbra, an unexpected hologram of pre-Empire Han impels Luke and Leia ─ the latter still fervidly missing Han ─ to a mixed-alien ball that is sometimes screwball, sometimes terrifying. This is an especially fun, light issue.

“Hoth Stuff” [#78]: Luke and Leia search a transport ship for Wedge Antilles, Luke’s longtime friend and Rebel pilot. They find a hologram made by the still-missing Antilles, whose fate appears to be grim.

“The Apprentice” [King-Sized Annual #3]: On the planet Belderone, two young friends (Barney and Flint) are caught between the Empire and the Rebellion, setting them on their possibly-divergent paths.

“The Big Con” [#79]: Lando and Chewie try to trick a gang of thieves into helping them find Han ─ and discover the thieves already know. (This knowledge paves the way for the certain events in Return of the Jedi.)

“Ellie” [#80]: Luke and Leia discover the probable location of Tay Vanis, the missing Rebel, and his Bothan tape. (Both were first mentioned in issue #73.) Their seeming victory does not come without a high cost, however.

“Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” [#1─4 of the “four-issue limited series”]: This miniseries recounts the events of the 1983 film.

“Jawas of Doom” [#81]: Leia and Han go to Tatooine to retrieve money han had stashed away. They encounter trouble in the form of bellicose Jawas, legal red tape and Boba Fett, who ─ amazingly ─ survived his descent into the sarlaac (a beast with a long, torturous digestive cycle).

“Diplomacy” [#82]: Luke and a Plif (a hoojib, first mention in issue #55), fly to Iskalon ─ whose inhabitants’ serene society was destroyed in issue #74─76. Luke and Plif’s mission: to invite the Iskalions to join an interplanetary council. While there, Luke and Plif discover Dani, Rik Duel and Chihdo (last seen together in issue #72), as well as Kiro and Mone, Iskalions with notably different worldviews.

“Sweetheart Contract” [#83]: On planet Dragheda, Lando gets caught between royal intrigue and explosive revolution.

“Seoul Searching” [#84]: Han Solo and Chewie find and seek valuable crystals in a legendary city long thought destroyed. Of course, they encounter Imperial forces there,  also hoping to find the crystal to use as a devastating telepathic weapon.

“The Hero” [#85]: On planet Keyorin, “the Hunter’s World”, Lando, Han and Chewie get tangled in a conflict between multiple criminal parties, two of whom are Bossk and IG-88. Also: one of Lando’s on-going jokes ─ identifying himself as one of his enemies ─ lands him in a difficult situation.