What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus
Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus, Vol. 1
As the phenomenon dawned in 1977, Marvel Comics published the very first STAR WARS comic-book series. Now, the House of ideas is re-presenting those original adventures in its wampa-sized Omnibus format! It's the return of the Jedi to Marvel in an opening volume that begins tith A NEW HOPE and ends with THE EMPRIE STRIKES BACK. In between, the Rebels face a wealth of new perils--from space pirate Crimson Jack to the bounty hunter Beilert Valance, as well as a surprisingly svelte Jabba the Hut (one t). Luke goes back to Tatooine, Leia battles alone, Han and Chewie play the deadly Big Game, and Darth Vader hunts for answers! With all your old favorites and plenty of new faces--hello, Jaxxon!--there's no doubt, the Force is strong with this one!
COLLECTING: STAR WARS 1-44, Annual 1
COLLECTING: STAR WARS 1-44, Annual 1
862 pages, Hardcover
First published January 27, 2015
11 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Roy Thomas
4,480 books272 followersRoy Thomas was the FIRST Editor-in-Chief at Marvel--After Stan Lee stepped down from the position. Roy is a longtime comic book writer and editor. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic Publishing, Marvel, and Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits the fanzine Alter Ego for Twomorrow's Publishing. He was Editor for Marvel comics from 1972-1974. He wrote for several titles at Marvel, such as Avengers, Thor, Invaders, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and notably Conan the Barbarian. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 20, 2015
I'm not really a fan of the movies any more (Empire is pretty good) but I had read some of these comics when I was a kid and wanted to revisit them.
It's a very different experience reading this series today than it was back then. The first six issues, adapting the original film, are pretty rough in the art department. Howard Chaykin has said that if he knew how big Star Wars was going to be, he would have tried harder--movie adaptations being mostly forgettable merchandising tie-ins. Of course, no one knew how big it would be. The movie wasn't even out yet when the comic series began. Obsessive, err, I mean astute fans will notice "discrepancies" that are a result of having worked from an earlier version of the script (or not having been provided information at all)--most notably in the case of Jabba the Hutt who is neither human nor slug here. If you're going to get upset about such things, you won't enjoy this book at all. Die-hard fans should relax and try to see the comic as it's own thing.
Roy Thomas writes the first several issues, we get some great art by Tom Palmer and then the new team of Archie Goodwin and Carmine Infantino takes over for most of the duration. I was never a fan of Infantino's style, but it looks alright (particularly when inked by Terry Austin). Goodwin does a fine job building up his own Star Wars "universe" in spite of the restrictions placed upon him. He couldn't, of course, make any drastic changes or do anything that would interfere with George Lucas' plans for the continuing film story. This is where "knowing too much" as a reader affects the experience. After a while, it starts to feel like it is spinning its wheels waiting for the next "official" or "real" chapter to begin. Not fair, perhaps, but it can't be helped.
The book ends with the adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. Goodwin continues to write while Al Williamson handles the art. The art in this section of the book is fantastic. Not only is it easier on the eyes, it also has a near-photo-realistic attention to detail. For the first time, everything looks just as it does in the movies. The story ends on a cliffhanger, but it finishes the volume on a high creative note.
It's a very different experience reading this series today than it was back then. The first six issues, adapting the original film, are pretty rough in the art department. Howard Chaykin has said that if he knew how big Star Wars was going to be, he would have tried harder--movie adaptations being mostly forgettable merchandising tie-ins. Of course, no one knew how big it would be. The movie wasn't even out yet when the comic series began. Obsessive, err, I mean astute fans will notice "discrepancies" that are a result of having worked from an earlier version of the script (or not having been provided information at all)--most notably in the case of Jabba the Hutt who is neither human nor slug here. If you're going to get upset about such things, you won't enjoy this book at all. Die-hard fans should relax and try to see the comic as it's own thing.
Roy Thomas writes the first several issues, we get some great art by Tom Palmer and then the new team of Archie Goodwin and Carmine Infantino takes over for most of the duration. I was never a fan of Infantino's style, but it looks alright (particularly when inked by Terry Austin). Goodwin does a fine job building up his own Star Wars "universe" in spite of the restrictions placed upon him. He couldn't, of course, make any drastic changes or do anything that would interfere with George Lucas' plans for the continuing film story. This is where "knowing too much" as a reader affects the experience. After a while, it starts to feel like it is spinning its wheels waiting for the next "official" or "real" chapter to begin. Not fair, perhaps, but it can't be helped.
The book ends with the adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. Goodwin continues to write while Al Williamson handles the art. The art in this section of the book is fantastic. Not only is it easier on the eyes, it also has a near-photo-realistic attention to detail. For the first time, everything looks just as it does in the movies. The story ends on a cliffhanger, but it finishes the volume on a high creative note.
December 24, 2015
If it's Star Wars I'm always tempted to give five stars even if that's not an honest rewards. I give this book its five stars not because I admire the way of the drawings which could have been done better. (Luke doesn't always resemble Mark Hamill and also Leia isn't Carrie Fisher and Han Solo not Harrison Ford). The five stars are deserved because I love the fantasy stories the authors created between the end of Star Wars IV and Star Wars V. The adaptation of the canonized movies is well done.
I bought this first volume, because Marvel comics were very, very rare in Holland when the Star Wars movies were released, so I never was able to read them.
I bought this first volume, because Marvel comics were very, very rare in Holland when the Star Wars movies were released, so I never was able to read them.
February 3, 2022
This was my first exposure to the Marvel Star Wars comics, and it was a good experience as a whole. I think as long as you know what you are getting from the start, it is worth it. These comics came out during ANH, and then continued in their own direction and then came out concurrently with Empire. I didn't particularly care for the comic book adaptations of ANH and Empire because it's just kind of boring to read the comic versions of the movies. It was pretty interesting to see what was different because the comic writers were working off the script, so anything that was changed during filming didn't show up (like Yoda looked different, Jabba was more of a standard alien creature, and Han didn't have his famous "I know" line.). Empire had some interesting stipulations from Lucas where he didn't want the Wampas or space slug to be seen. So all you ever see of the Wampas are their arms sticking out like Frankenstein's monster and you only see the teeth of the space slug. They also hilariously give Chewie a medal at the end of ANH, but specify that he'll have to put it on himself. The craziest aspect was that I think 3-4 of the ANH issues came out before the premier of the movie.
The real fun of the comics comes when they essentially gave Marvel free rein to do whatever the heck they wanted, and Marvel sure went to town. I got interested in reading these comics when I saw one of the covers and it had a giant green humanized rabbit and thought, this is too hilarious to pass up. So, there's a rabbit that is sort of a martial arts expert and there are just all kinds of wacky and silly things going on. I would take a look at some of the covers before reading and you can probably tell if it is going to be too silly for you. If you get annoyed seeing the giant rabbit or a dude in space wearing short shorts while in a shoot-out with Han Solo, then skip it. If you are laughing at how ridiculous it all is, then you'll probably get a kick out of them.
Some of the other ridiculous things that I remember:
- My favorite line (it's from ANH): "Unable to turn in time, Luke's fighter plunges into the expanding ball of super-heated gases, where Luke Skywalker knows THE TERRORS OF THE DAMNED!"
- A grouping of ships on a planet are confused as a large land mass.
- A group of people attack the Falcon and lose multiple skimmers in the process. They think this is a worthy sacrifice because they got two droids that they can use for spare parts. More spare parts than multiple functioning skimmers.
-Redbeard and Solo fight in space. Han isn't wearing gloves. Redbeard is wearing short shorts. They still have to wear masks though.
- I loved all the absurd characters. One guy had what looked like worms for arms and legs. Another minor character is a smoke monster who touches you and feasts on your soul until your body just disappears.
- They nailed Lucas' love of names that are too on the nose like "Serji-X Arrogantus...the Arrogant One!"
- It's funny to see how the appearance of the characters changed. Chewie looked ridiculous in some of the comics, and some of the scenes have Luke fighting Vader and he has this glorious flowing hair past his shoulders like Fabio.
- There is plenty of dialogue that is funny in an out of place way like when an Imperial officer says this to Vader: "Well, you're the expert on metaphysics -- the Force and all that -- but it sounds a bit vague to be tying up my technicians, dear boy." And Vader doesn't immediately kill him.
The art in the book is fun to look at throughout, even the portions that I didn't care for the story or style. I'm sure some modern day readers would go catatonic over the "male gaze" for how the females are drawn, but many of the various characters are drawn in this manner. It is a weird aspect of comic books (from my very limited exposure) that characters are drawn in over sexualized manners. So Leia's boobs are always popping out and accented and a few other female characters are wearing absurdly skimpy attire for what they are doing. They do the same thing to the men. Some of the men hilariously wear essentially speedos all the time. I can remember another time when Han Solo isn't wearing a shirt, and he is so overgrown with muscles I was wondering if they've ever seen a dude with his shirt off. I guess it's just one of those weird comic book things.
The quality of the omnibus itself is phenomenal. The binding, pages, and color are incredible.
I'm not sure if these are worth reading again, but if I do, I'll probably skip the movie tie-ins.
The real fun of the comics comes when they essentially gave Marvel free rein to do whatever the heck they wanted, and Marvel sure went to town. I got interested in reading these comics when I saw one of the covers and it had a giant green humanized rabbit and thought, this is too hilarious to pass up. So, there's a rabbit that is sort of a martial arts expert and there are just all kinds of wacky and silly things going on. I would take a look at some of the covers before reading and you can probably tell if it is going to be too silly for you. If you get annoyed seeing the giant rabbit or a dude in space wearing short shorts while in a shoot-out with Han Solo, then skip it. If you are laughing at how ridiculous it all is, then you'll probably get a kick out of them.
Some of the other ridiculous things that I remember:
- My favorite line (it's from ANH): "Unable to turn in time, Luke's fighter plunges into the expanding ball of super-heated gases, where Luke Skywalker knows THE TERRORS OF THE DAMNED!"
- A grouping of ships on a planet are confused as a large land mass.
- A group of people attack the Falcon and lose multiple skimmers in the process. They think this is a worthy sacrifice because they got two droids that they can use for spare parts. More spare parts than multiple functioning skimmers.
-Redbeard and Solo fight in space. Han isn't wearing gloves. Redbeard is wearing short shorts. They still have to wear masks though.
- I loved all the absurd characters. One guy had what looked like worms for arms and legs. Another minor character is a smoke monster who touches you and feasts on your soul until your body just disappears.
- They nailed Lucas' love of names that are too on the nose like "Serji-X Arrogantus...the Arrogant One!"
- It's funny to see how the appearance of the characters changed. Chewie looked ridiculous in some of the comics, and some of the scenes have Luke fighting Vader and he has this glorious flowing hair past his shoulders like Fabio.
- There is plenty of dialogue that is funny in an out of place way like when an Imperial officer says this to Vader: "Well, you're the expert on metaphysics -- the Force and all that -- but it sounds a bit vague to be tying up my technicians, dear boy." And Vader doesn't immediately kill him.
The art in the book is fun to look at throughout, even the portions that I didn't care for the story or style. I'm sure some modern day readers would go catatonic over the "male gaze" for how the females are drawn, but many of the various characters are drawn in this manner. It is a weird aspect of comic books (from my very limited exposure) that characters are drawn in over sexualized manners. So Leia's boobs are always popping out and accented and a few other female characters are wearing absurdly skimpy attire for what they are doing. They do the same thing to the men. Some of the men hilariously wear essentially speedos all the time. I can remember another time when Han Solo isn't wearing a shirt, and he is so overgrown with muscles I was wondering if they've ever seen a dude with his shirt off. I guess it's just one of those weird comic book things.
The quality of the omnibus itself is phenomenal. The binding, pages, and color are incredible.
I'm not sure if these are worth reading again, but if I do, I'll probably skip the movie tie-ins.
February 2, 2018
O sucesso dos filmes da Saga Star Wars alimentou-se, em grande parte de uma interminável exploração transmedia do seu mundo ficcional. Dos brinquedos às séries de animação e jogos de computador, em livros e banda desenhada, a saga evoluiu por caminhos que ultrapassa largamente os dos filmes. De tal forma que, na recente consolidação da série às mãos dos executivos da Disney, boa parte dessa continuidade foi descartada, ou para simplificar a saga ou porque se desviavam da estrutura conservadora e maximizadora de lucro da multinacional. Refira-se que em livros, Star Wars só é ultrapassada ela série alemã Perry Rhodan como a mais longa saga literária de ficção científica. Se bem que é muito debatível se quer Star Wars quer Perry Rhodan sejam ficção científica pura. Socorrem-se dos seus elementos estéticos, sense of wonder e viagens no espaço, mas deixam de lado a plausibilidade de respeito pelo conhecimento científico em favor de puras fantasias escapistas. Star Wars segue o caminho da fantasia épica e sword and sorcery, Perry Rhodan... bem, é difícil definir porque caminhos segue uma série interminável que tanto dá na space opera como no surrealismo.
Depois do sucesso dos primeiros filmes, coube à Marvel adaptar as personagens ao formato comics. O tom foi, desde o início, de exploração e ampliação do mundo ficcional, não de mera continuação da saga. Novas aventuras, focadas no núcleo Solo/Skywalker/Leia/Chewbacca/R2D2/C3PO que apaixonou os fãs, com introdução de novos personagens, boa parte vilões. Os argumentos ficaram a cargo dos argumentistas clássicos da Marvel dos 80, com Archie Goodwin a dar o grande seguimento à série. Visualmente, insere-se no estilo visual dos comics dos anos 80, contando com ilustradores clássicos como Carmine Infantino e Marie Severin, destacando-se um ainda novo Howard Chaykin, com a sua estética própria já patente mas algo desenquadrada dentro do estilo visual da série.
Pegando numa adaptação direta do primeiro filme da saga, a Marvel deu continuidade às aventuras dos personagens com linhas narrativas que levam Han Solo a um planeta nos arrabaldes isolados da galáxia, Skywalker a um mundo marinho habitado por descendentes de piratas em guerra contra serpentes marinhas, e Leia a ser capturada por piratas espaciais quando parte em busca do seu irmão (se bem que, nesta série, o desenvolvimento da relação entre Vader, Skywalker e Leia não tinha ainda seguido esse caminho). Tudo culmina numa longa aventura, com estes personagens novamente juntos, contra o corrupto administrador de um casino orbital e um oficial do Império, onde até Vader se manifesta.
Depois do sucesso dos primeiros filmes, coube à Marvel adaptar as personagens ao formato comics. O tom foi, desde o início, de exploração e ampliação do mundo ficcional, não de mera continuação da saga. Novas aventuras, focadas no núcleo Solo/Skywalker/Leia/Chewbacca/R2D2/C3PO que apaixonou os fãs, com introdução de novos personagens, boa parte vilões. Os argumentos ficaram a cargo dos argumentistas clássicos da Marvel dos 80, com Archie Goodwin a dar o grande seguimento à série. Visualmente, insere-se no estilo visual dos comics dos anos 80, contando com ilustradores clássicos como Carmine Infantino e Marie Severin, destacando-se um ainda novo Howard Chaykin, com a sua estética própria já patente mas algo desenquadrada dentro do estilo visual da série.
Pegando numa adaptação direta do primeiro filme da saga, a Marvel deu continuidade às aventuras dos personagens com linhas narrativas que levam Han Solo a um planeta nos arrabaldes isolados da galáxia, Skywalker a um mundo marinho habitado por descendentes de piratas em guerra contra serpentes marinhas, e Leia a ser capturada por piratas espaciais quando parte em busca do seu irmão (se bem que, nesta série, o desenvolvimento da relação entre Vader, Skywalker e Leia não tinha ainda seguido esse caminho). Tudo culmina numa longa aventura, com estes personagens novamente juntos, contra o corrupto administrador de um casino orbital e um oficial do Império, onde até Vader se manifesta.
October 19, 2017
Well, I made it through this massive volume - 44 issues of the original Star Wars Marvel comics.
I'd already read and thoroughly enjoyed the 6-issue adaptation of A New Hope. I have to say, this run of comics started off really rough. I wasn't a fan of the artwork, and the story was just completely honking ridiculous. The characters didn't sound like themselves, Luke looked more like He-Man than Mark Hamill, and every piece of clothing on every woman (especially Leia) was practically painted on. It really wasn't my bag. But I was determined to push ahead.
The stories did get better. Wacky, and with the same artist, but better. I think my favorite might have been the annual, though, which had a different artist with less extreme artwork. Of course, reading it in the present day and what with hindsight being 20/20 and all, I could get a chuckle here and there as they mentioned things about Obi-Wan traveling to a planet along with Luke's father and his other pupil (the one who fell to the dark side and killed Luke's father...). They just didn't know yet. Overall, the representation of Vader seems pretty good. Obi-Wan also gets a backstory issue in which he wears an outfit I find it hard to believe Alec Guinness would've been caught dead in.
The "Riders of the Void" issue marked another departure, as a filler issue before the Empire Strikes Back adaptation. "Riders" had yet another completely different art style and frankly, it didn't appeal to me that much, at least where Luke and Leia were concerned. The plot was pretty interesting.
The Empire adaptation was fantastic, just like A New Hope was. I reaaaaaaally don't understand their putting any part of the adaptation (comic or novel) out before the movie's release, but I do see that they chose to keep a few things hidden, like what the Wampa looked like, or Jabba the Hutt, or the taun-taun sleeping bag. In this age of spoilers and easy spread of information, though, it would be SO HARD for anyone who didn't want to be spoiled to avoid it once the comics hit newsstands!
I'm gonna keep going with the Marvel run. It's great seeing the history of what the current Marvel series are building on.
I'd already read and thoroughly enjoyed the 6-issue adaptation of A New Hope. I have to say, this run of comics started off really rough. I wasn't a fan of the artwork, and the story was just completely honking ridiculous. The characters didn't sound like themselves, Luke looked more like He-Man than Mark Hamill, and every piece of clothing on every woman (especially Leia) was practically painted on. It really wasn't my bag. But I was determined to push ahead.
The stories did get better. Wacky, and with the same artist, but better. I think my favorite might have been the annual, though, which had a different artist with less extreme artwork. Of course, reading it in the present day and what with hindsight being 20/20 and all, I could get a chuckle here and there as they mentioned things about Obi-Wan traveling to a planet along with Luke's father and his other pupil (the one who fell to the dark side and killed Luke's father...). They just didn't know yet. Overall, the representation of Vader seems pretty good. Obi-Wan also gets a backstory issue in which he wears an outfit I find it hard to believe Alec Guinness would've been caught dead in.
The "Riders of the Void" issue marked another departure, as a filler issue before the Empire Strikes Back adaptation. "Riders" had yet another completely different art style and frankly, it didn't appeal to me that much, at least where Luke and Leia were concerned. The plot was pretty interesting.
The Empire adaptation was fantastic, just like A New Hope was. I reaaaaaaally don't understand their putting any part of the adaptation (comic or novel) out before the movie's release, but I do see that they chose to keep a few things hidden, like what the Wampa looked like, or Jabba the Hutt, or the taun-taun sleeping bag. In this age of spoilers and easy spread of information, though, it would be SO HARD for anyone who didn't want to be spoiled to avoid it once the comics hit newsstands!
I'm gonna keep going with the Marvel run. It's great seeing the history of what the current Marvel series are building on.
December 21, 2021
(Zero spoiler review) 3.75/5
I've never been the biggest Star Wars fan, and now that modern Star Wars is little more than an horrendous pale shadow of the once classic movies (coldly corrupted by a despicable company to further crush what was once optimistic and hopeful and replace it with division and political rhetoric), I'm not about to be joining the bandwagon just yet. There is however, a wonderful treasure trove of greatness just waiting to be discovered. From a time when liking things was allowed, and everything you liked couldn't be co-opted to beat you down and convince you you're a horrible person. Enter the Original Marvel Years Star Wars omnibus and take three quarters of a bow. Yes, this is very good for the most part. No, it's not perfect. The retelling of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, all contained within this first volume are undoubtedly the highlights, storytelling wise. The 30 or so issues in between strike out individually, with the writers clearly given a level of freedom modern Disney wouldn't give, even with numerous major brain injuries and a heavy course of sedatives. Some are pretty good. Some are average. A few are horrendous. The latter of which came immediately after the issues of A New Hope ended, and I became very worried for a short while. A very rare miss from Roy Thomas, who was upstaged by Archie Goodwin, who came in and really made the series his own. The art is a little hit and miss early on, with Howard Chaykin seemingly having weeks to draw some issues, then a weekend to draw others. I've never seen the quality of art differ so much from page to page. Once Chaykin left, the art improved dramatically, and kept the high standard all the way to the end.
This tome is OOP and getting rather pricey on the second hand market, but if you can find yourself a copy, why not relive a bygone era when Star Wars was actually, you know...good. 3.75/5.
I've never been the biggest Star Wars fan, and now that modern Star Wars is little more than an horrendous pale shadow of the once classic movies (coldly corrupted by a despicable company to further crush what was once optimistic and hopeful and replace it with division and political rhetoric), I'm not about to be joining the bandwagon just yet. There is however, a wonderful treasure trove of greatness just waiting to be discovered. From a time when liking things was allowed, and everything you liked couldn't be co-opted to beat you down and convince you you're a horrible person. Enter the Original Marvel Years Star Wars omnibus and take three quarters of a bow. Yes, this is very good for the most part. No, it's not perfect. The retelling of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, all contained within this first volume are undoubtedly the highlights, storytelling wise. The 30 or so issues in between strike out individually, with the writers clearly given a level of freedom modern Disney wouldn't give, even with numerous major brain injuries and a heavy course of sedatives. Some are pretty good. Some are average. A few are horrendous. The latter of which came immediately after the issues of A New Hope ended, and I became very worried for a short while. A very rare miss from Roy Thomas, who was upstaged by Archie Goodwin, who came in and really made the series his own. The art is a little hit and miss early on, with Howard Chaykin seemingly having weeks to draw some issues, then a weekend to draw others. I've never seen the quality of art differ so much from page to page. Once Chaykin left, the art improved dramatically, and kept the high standard all the way to the end.
This tome is OOP and getting rather pricey on the second hand market, but if you can find yourself a copy, why not relive a bygone era when Star Wars was actually, you know...good. 3.75/5.
June 23, 2023
When I first got back into reading way back in 2019 (something my wife probably nay definitely regrets based on how our house is basically swallowed by books), I was buying old school Apple and Dell paperbacks from the ‘80s and ‘90s. In addition to my R.L. Stine recollecting and horror paperbacks. Then I got into manga. Graphic novels and now… comics but specifically comics in awesome omnibus form. If you’re unfamiliar with what an omnibus is, think oversized hardcover with anywhere from 500-1,500 pages of comic insanity! It’s gorgeous, I assure you!
So in examining my rapidly growing collection, I wanted to pick one to start reading. Somehow I always knew it would be Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Volume 1. This one was hard to find but I managed to snatch a very good condition copy for under $150 (this isn’t a cheap hobby lol)
I wanted to start it in time for May 4th (Star Wars Day), and I ended up finishing over 800 pages of light saber and dueling lasers goodness. Not every issue was edge of your seat excitement (these came out originally in the late 70s and 80s), but most of it I enjoyed very much so! It was super neat to see the art slowly transform. The early years were a little rough but the art got better and better as it went on. You get a comic version of the first two Star Wars films, which is cool to see the comic translation. But the real treat are the non-movie issues which allow the creators utmost creative liberty to fill in the blanks between the movies. It’s a load of fun to gawk at and to read as well. Highly recommended if you like comics and Star Wars whatsoever!
Volumes 2 and 3 await… but I will pace it out and catch up on other comic universes before I jump back in. I’m reading the first Spider-Man omnibus and it’s such a blast catching up on his origins and his early villains! Until next time, may the force be with you :)
So in examining my rapidly growing collection, I wanted to pick one to start reading. Somehow I always knew it would be Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Volume 1. This one was hard to find but I managed to snatch a very good condition copy for under $150 (this isn’t a cheap hobby lol)
I wanted to start it in time for May 4th (Star Wars Day), and I ended up finishing over 800 pages of light saber and dueling lasers goodness. Not every issue was edge of your seat excitement (these came out originally in the late 70s and 80s), but most of it I enjoyed very much so! It was super neat to see the art slowly transform. The early years were a little rough but the art got better and better as it went on. You get a comic version of the first two Star Wars films, which is cool to see the comic translation. But the real treat are the non-movie issues which allow the creators utmost creative liberty to fill in the blanks between the movies. It’s a load of fun to gawk at and to read as well. Highly recommended if you like comics and Star Wars whatsoever!
Volumes 2 and 3 await… but I will pace it out and catch up on other comic universes before I jump back in. I’m reading the first Spider-Man omnibus and it’s such a blast catching up on his origins and his early villains! Until next time, may the force be with you :)
December 7, 2024
These aren't good comics. I want to be generous and say they're of their time, they're clearly working in a limited scope, etc, but unfortunately none of that really makes up for the fact that these aren't good stories.
We start off with an adaptation of the original film. Actually, I suspect it's not of the film, but of whatever script was also used for the novelisation. There are a few common threads here that didn't make it to the movie. The book was a better read, though.
After that, it's all downhill.
There's a giant rabbit - who people in the story call a rabbit - who has some kind of chip on his shoulder about being a rabbit and therefore constantly brings up how he isn't short and eats meat. It's not Star Wars at all, but it is very Marvel at the time.
There's a "badass chick" whose whole world and self-identity crumbles because Leia tells her that Han is a good kisser. But then she dies happy because he gives her one of those magic kisses out of pity.
Luke and Leia spin their wheels in a few Splinter-esque stories that clearly served as padding and were, again, a lot less interesting than the book. I liked the pulpy energy they brought to the table, though. This, at least, felt like Star Wars.
I would only sort of recommend these, even as a curiosity for the diehard fan. I'll obviously keep reading, but I'll be hoping that they'll lean more into the Star Wars and lean out of the rabbit stuff.
We start off with an adaptation of the original film. Actually, I suspect it's not of the film, but of whatever script was also used for the novelisation. There are a few common threads here that didn't make it to the movie. The book was a better read, though.
After that, it's all downhill.
There's a giant rabbit - who people in the story call a rabbit - who has some kind of chip on his shoulder about being a rabbit and therefore constantly brings up how he isn't short and eats meat. It's not Star Wars at all, but it is very Marvel at the time.
There's a "badass chick" whose whole world and self-identity crumbles because Leia tells her that Han is a good kisser. But then she dies happy because he gives her one of those magic kisses out of pity.
Luke and Leia spin their wheels in a few Splinter-esque stories that clearly served as padding and were, again, a lot less interesting than the book. I liked the pulpy energy they brought to the table, though. This, at least, felt like Star Wars.
I would only sort of recommend these, even as a curiosity for the diehard fan. I'll obviously keep reading, but I'll be hoping that they'll lean more into the Star Wars and lean out of the rabbit stuff.
August 6, 2018
A classic compendium of Star Wars comics from the 70s and 80s not without faults (some moments definitely haven't aged well), but still a lot of fun to read. They're a window into a time when all anyone knew about Star Wars was the first movie, long before the "saga" or subsequent films.
Of note are the film adaptations of STAR WARS and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, as they only had the scripts and production/marketing material to go by; both feature deleted or re-arranged scenes due to the films' final edits. This also leant to some artistic liberties; Jabba the Hutt for example, who no one knew about or envisioned at the time, is depicted as a somewhat anthropomorphic-looking insect character.
Beyond the adaptations, various new characters and worlds are introduced, as well as some fun continuity tie-ins (like a story set during Ben Kenobi's time as a Jedi, and another where Darth Vader finds out who Luke Skywalker is).
And while the books don't quite feature the drama of the later films, the adventurous, swashbuckling tone of STAR WARS is ever-present throughout, backed up with some stunning art by Carmine Infantino, among others. Recommended.
Of note are the film adaptations of STAR WARS and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, as they only had the scripts and production/marketing material to go by; both feature deleted or re-arranged scenes due to the films' final edits. This also leant to some artistic liberties; Jabba the Hutt for example, who no one knew about or envisioned at the time, is depicted as a somewhat anthropomorphic-looking insect character.
Beyond the adaptations, various new characters and worlds are introduced, as well as some fun continuity tie-ins (like a story set during Ben Kenobi's time as a Jedi, and another where Darth Vader finds out who Luke Skywalker is).
And while the books don't quite feature the drama of the later films, the adventurous, swashbuckling tone of STAR WARS is ever-present throughout, backed up with some stunning art by Carmine Infantino, among others. Recommended.
April 20, 2019
"Es el regreso de los Jedi a Marvel en un volumen de apertura que comienza con Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope y termina con Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. En el medio, los rebeldes se enfrentan a una gran cantidad de nuevos peligros, desde el pirata espacial Crimson Jack hasta el cazarrecompensas Beilert Valance, así como un sorprendente Jabba the Hut. Luke regresa a Tatooine, solo a Leia, Han y Chewie juegan el mortal Big Game, ¡y Darth Vader busca respuestas! ¡Revisa todos tus viejos favoritos y descubre algunos nuevos!
No hay duda, la Fuerza es fuerte con esta colección"
Las aventuras e historia originales, antes de que el hambre de dinero y la mercadotecnia vacía transformaran el universo de star wars en algo sin sentido y aburrido.
No hay duda, la Fuerza es fuerte con esta colección"
Las aventuras e historia originales, antes de que el hambre de dinero y la mercadotecnia vacía transformaran el universo de star wars en algo sin sentido y aburrido.
February 18, 2022
The film adaptations were the highlights here, and it’s cool to see the progression of storytelling and art as the books concludes. ESB was definitely my favorite part of this and the EU stories in between were fun as hell. Essential for Star Wars fans!
4.5/5
4.5/5
July 14, 2023
Marvel Comics makes its first steps into the larger world of the Star Wars expanded universe with these classic tales. The book begins with the adaptation of Star Wars Then you follow Han Luke Leia and the rest of the crew through to the events of The Empire Strikes Back.
June 10, 2017
My son bought this for me for Mother's Day
July 2, 2017
A fine first volume collection of all the Marvel comics that make it fun to see the discrepancies with the movies
January 12, 2019
Not an easy to rate 44 issues in one go. Must say, I loved it. Star Wars comics always makes me jump over the edge.
December 12, 2021
A hyperspace flight trip down comic book memory lane.
September 25, 2024
Jax and Valance!!!!!! Love the adaptation for the Empires Strikes Back. Favorite arch, "The Wheel".
July 12, 2025
Overall, it was very fun.It varies in quality from poor to very good. It's fun to see the history of star wand the adaptations of the movies are fun to read.
October 25, 2025
This was so much fun! I've been slow reading it for several months and just savoring it. I wish I had read these as a kid, but even at 60 I can be a kid at heart.
March 23, 2022
Fun.
Oh the artistry varies and some of it is definitely of the era quality. The same could be said about some of the writing. Yes, some of the characters are a little stereotypical and occasionally the main characters do not quite match up to what we consider them to be after decades of retrospection.
But it is fun.
If you are going to read this then you must consider that this was written in the late 70s. As a comic. Mainly aimed at kids and adults who knew it was only supposed to be a bit of fun. This was one of the few things that Lucasfilm, to some degree, let run riot with their IP.
The fun of a walking, talking, shooting, standing big green rabbit.
Having said all that, it is full of strong female characters, there are attempts at diversity (not only by having aliens), and attempts to tackle some real human issues.
But mainly it is fun.
Oh the artistry varies and some of it is definitely of the era quality. The same could be said about some of the writing. Yes, some of the characters are a little stereotypical and occasionally the main characters do not quite match up to what we consider them to be after decades of retrospection.
But it is fun.
If you are going to read this then you must consider that this was written in the late 70s. As a comic. Mainly aimed at kids and adults who knew it was only supposed to be a bit of fun. This was one of the few things that Lucasfilm, to some degree, let run riot with their IP.
The fun of a walking, talking, shooting, standing big green rabbit.
Having said all that, it is full of strong female characters, there are attempts at diversity (not only by having aliens), and attempts to tackle some real human issues.
But mainly it is fun.
July 21, 2015
Rating this is tricky because as a collection, it's definitely great, though some of the story-lines are a bit goofy. Covering the Marvel comic stories from the adaption of Star Wars through the original issues to The Empire Strikes back, it is endlessly entertaining.
It can a little jarring and dated from how we know and love Star Wars now, especially the changing tone and art style when it gets to the adaptation of Empire at the end, but even at its worst, it is still endearing. The art is all fantastic, even when it is off-model. Overall, it is a fascinating window into how Star Wars was and what it might have been in the late-70's. Reading it concurrently with the new "canon" Marvel series is a trip.
A definite must for Star Wars fans.
It can a little jarring and dated from how we know and love Star Wars now, especially the changing tone and art style when it gets to the adaptation of Empire at the end, but even at its worst, it is still endearing. The art is all fantastic, even when it is off-model. Overall, it is a fascinating window into how Star Wars was and what it might have been in the late-70's. Reading it concurrently with the new "canon" Marvel series is a trip.
A definite must for Star Wars fans.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews