Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago. . . Volume 3 by various artists and writers

(pb; 2011: graphic novel. Collects Star Wars issues #50--67 and King-Sized Annual #2. These stories take place between The Empire Strikes Back [1980] and Return of the Jedi [1983].)

From the back cover

"From 1977 to 1986, Marvel Comics produced monthly 'Star Wars' comics. This was when the continuity for that galaxy far, far away was still brand-new, when almost anything could happen-- and often did."ar,
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Overall review

Volume 3 is a fun, action-packed read with the occasional plot-awkwardness that marred the previous volume. This time out, though, there are less discrepancies with now-established canon. 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 Star Wars. 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 4.


Story arcs

“The Crimson Forever” [#50]: A deadly plague sweeps across the galaxy, Luke numbering among its barely-alive victims. His friends seek a cure for it. Domina Tagge, last seen in issue #37, makes an appearance.


“Resurrection of Evil” [#51] ─ “To Take the Tarkin” [#52]: The Rebels face a new Imperial super-weapon, as dangerous as the Death Star was. Meanwhile, Vader fends off a coup among his men.


“The Last Gift from Alderaan” [#53] ─ “Starfire Rising” [#54]: Cheesy and melodramatic characters and events highlight this “meh”-writerly tale about Leia, sword-wielding people on Shiva IV (a backwater planet), the Empire and a black hole.


“Plif!” [#55]: Chewie, Leia, Artoo and See-Threepio scout out a planet (Arbra) as a possible new base for the Alliance and get to know the smart and fierce wildlife, one member of it named Plif.


“Coffin in the Clouds” [#56]: Lando Calrissian returns to the Cloud City. While there, he faces a killer robot, Imperial troops, treachery and possible allies.


“Sundown!” [#58] ─ “Bazarre” [#59]: While Leia, Artoo and See-Threepio try to rig a force field around a sun-circling Rebel fleet, Luke, Chewie and Lando deal with a sneaky black marketer (Ferret) in order to secure more ships for the Alliance.


“Shira’s Story” [#60]: Shira Brie, the hot-shot Rebel pilot and Luke’s friend, returns to her Empire-devastated homeworld with the Jedi apprentice. Once they arrive, they ─ of course ─ encounter hostility in the form of Gundarks, a war-loving race. (Brie originally appeared in issue #56.)


“Screams in the Void” [#61] ─ “The Mind Spider” [#63]: When Luke makes what appears to be a tragic error about Shira Brie, he is shocked to discover that the truth may or may not be worse than he thought.


“Serphidian Eyes” [#64]: On a medieval alien world (Serphidia, in the Belial system), Luke tries to recruit new allies by negotiating with their Imperialistic, corrupt leader.


“Golbraith Never Forgets!” [#65]: When the Rebels realize that a crystalline record of their activities was left at an old base (Golbraith), they race there to erase it ─ only to find that an Imperial military attachment has beat them to the site.


“Water Bandits!” [#66]: Luke, accidentally abandoned by his Rebel friends after the events of the previous issue, helps a water farmer (Darial Anglethorn) fight off thieves and odd alien creatures.


“Shadeshine!” [King-Sized Annual #2]: Lando and Luke, pursued by stormtroopers on Ventooine, are told a tale about Han Solo via a recording made by Solo years before.


“The Darker” [#67]: On Arbra, planet of the new Rebel base, See-Threepio, Artoo, Chewie and some hoojib (including Plif) discover and combat a negative-energy creature seeking to escape its force shield prison.

Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago. . . Volume 2 by various artists and writers

(pb; 2010: graphic novel. Collects Star Wars issues #28--49 and King-Sized Annual #1)

From the back cover

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..."Farm boy Luke Skywalker dreamed of going to the stars, only to get more than he ever hoped for when he joined an old Jedi to rescue a princess, aided a galactic rebellion, and singlehandedly destroyed the deadliest super-weapon ever devised. But Luke's adventures in the film Star Wars: A New Hope were just the beginning. From 1977 to 1986, Marvel comics published monthly adventures in comics form, keeping alive the excitement and fun of Star Wars for a whole generation as they waited for the next chapter in the film series.

"Collected here are issues #28 to #49, and the Giant Size Annual #1."


Overall review

This twenty-two-issue edition collects issues #28─19 and King-Sized Annual #1, which were originally published in the late 1970s and early 1980s. A lot of these stories took place between A New Hope (1977) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980). They also include the comic book version of the latter film, as well as between-film stories, with additional bad guys and good guys. 

This is a fun, sometimes plot-awkward read, as Luke and Leia’s sibling relationship was not yet known, Jabba the Hut’s appearance and character is different (he is now thin) and other Star Wars themes and elements were not yet established. Many of the stories are standard science fiction stories that could be applied to any series, but then the same could be said about Star Wars. The artwork 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 3.


Story arcs

“What Ever Happened to Jabba the Hut?” [#28]: Han Solo and Chewbacca battle with some of Hut’s bounty hunters on Orleon, an “obscure planet” filled with acid-blooded stonemites.

“Dark Encounter” [#29]: On Centares, a planet ruined by industrial waste, Dark Vader and Valance ─ a cyborg bounty hunter ─ race and fight each other in order to capture a Rebel Alliance deserter (Tyler Lucian).

“A Princess Alone!” [#30]: Leia Organa sneaks onto the Empire-run factory planet, Metalorn, on a secret mission. While doing so, she tangles with Baron Orman Tagge, last seen in issue #25.

“The Long Hunt” [King-Size Annual #1]: On the planet Tirahnn, Luke and Leia offend the haughty Majestrix of Skye and her beastly Catuman Warriors. They, along with Han Solo, Chewbacca and their old friend [Katya] also fend off an attacking smoke demon. This is one of the my favorite issues in this series, it is one of the better-illustrated works as well.

“Return to Tatooine!” [#31] ─ “Saber Clash! “ [#33]: Luke does that. He encounters an old acquaintance, a hick named Fixer ─ as well as Baron Orman Tagge and his scientist brother (Silas) and a lot of stormtroopers. Han Solo, See-Threepio and Artoo get caught up in the action, also.

“Thunder in the Stars!” [#34]: Luke tries to save his Rebel friends from the Omega Frost, created by Silas Tagge, a device that freezes ships in space.

“Dark Lord’s Gambit” [#35] ─ “In Mortal Combat!” [#37]: Seeking new recruits for the Rebellion, Luke and the gang visit the fourth moon of Yavin, where the flirtatious Sister Domina, Priestess in the Order of the Sacred Circle, holds sway. Complications arise when her family history is revealed and Darth Vader shows up.

“Riders in the Void” [#38]: Luke and Leia find themselves stuck in an icky, hallucinogenic alternate reality. This is an especially fun issue.

“The Empire Strikes Back” [#39] ─ “Duel a Dark Lord!” [#44]: These issues are the comic book adaptation of the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back.

“Death Probe” [#45]: Artoo and Luke battle an Imperial death probe, which is tearing their ship apart, and the Star Destroyer it contacts.

“The Dreams of Cody Sunn-Childe!”: Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian crash land on an unfamiliar planet and meet legendary Rebel heroes (Cody Sunn-Childe and others) ─ who have sworn off violence. When Imperial trackers find them, the tale takes a tragic turn.


“Droid World!” [#47]: Artoo and See-Threepio try to stay alive on a space station where hostile droids hunt them.

“The Third Law” [#48]: Leia, See-Threepio and Artoo fend off assassination attempt ─ guided by Darth Vader ─ on a neutral-ground banking planet (“Aargau. . . third planet of the Zug system”). There is a lot of potent and imaginative writing in this issue.

“The Last Jedi!” [#49]: A rescue signal brings Luke and Leia to an out-of-the-way planet, where they cross paths with an Empire-deposed prince (Prince Denid of Velmor) and Jedidiah, a legendary Jedi Knight ─ as well as an Imperial attaché, Traal, who wants to kill Denid.