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Marvel Star Wars (1977-1986) #68-81
Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Vol. 5: Fool's Bounty
Dark Horse Comics presents the latest volume of Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... featuring classic Star Wars stories not seen in over twenty years! Originally printed by Marvel Comics, these stories have been meticulously re-colored and are sure to please both new and old Star Wars fans.
Fool's Bounty collects issues 68 to 81 of the original Marvel run, along with Star Wars Annual #3. Most of these stories take place after The Empire Strikes Back, as Han Solo's friends continue to search for their lost scoundrel, and this volume ends with Marvel's first story set in the Return of the Jedi era -- "Jawas of Doom." Lando Calrissian is hilariously disguised in "The Big Con," a captured Princess Leia must escape torment in "Death In The City Of Bone," and C-3PO gets his mechanical heart broken in "Ellie." Also highlighted are several rare Star Wars pinups, and an introduction by James Kochalka!
Fool's Bounty collects issues 68 to 81 of the original Marvel run, along with Star Wars Annual #3. Most of these stories take place after The Empire Strikes Back, as Han Solo's friends continue to search for their lost scoundrel, and this volume ends with Marvel's first story set in the Return of the Jedi era -- "Jawas of Doom." Lando Calrissian is hilariously disguised in "The Big Con," a captured Princess Leia must escape torment in "Death In The City Of Bone," and C-3PO gets his mechanical heart broken in "Ellie." Also highlighted are several rare Star Wars pinups, and an introduction by James Kochalka!
376 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2003
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About the author
Jo Duffy
495 books10 followersAlso published under the name Mary Jo Duffy and/or Mary-Jo Duffy.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 11, 2018
This was one of the better volumes to me. We see some of the Bounty Hunters show up as the rebels continue the search for Han Solo. We also see some longer interesting storylines and interesting planets including a water world that was a cool story.
The only real issue was Return of the Jedi was released during this volume, and the comic took and abrupt turn then. The storylines were rolling along nicely and then from one issue to the next it all changes and picks up after ROTJ with no transitioning. I suppose there was no other way to do it, but it was such a sharp change it totally broke up the flow of the series. Now the series moves into totally uncharted territory, so it will be interesting to see where they took things.
The only real issue was Return of the Jedi was released during this volume, and the comic took and abrupt turn then. The storylines were rolling along nicely and then from one issue to the next it all changes and picks up after ROTJ with no transitioning. I suppose there was no other way to do it, but it was such a sharp change it totally broke up the flow of the series. Now the series moves into totally uncharted territory, so it will be interesting to see where they took things.
January 9, 2026
The stories in this volume for the most part were pretty dull. They also decided not to cover ROTJ in comic form, briefly summarizing its events in a few pages in the last comic in this collection. I think I would have been okay with that decision, if their own stories had been more interesting.
I hope things pick up again with Han Solo back in the next volume.
I hope things pick up again with Han Solo back in the next volume.
December 28, 2021
Star Wars Legends Project #287
Background: Fools Bounty, released in March of 2003, collects issues #68-81 and Annual #3 of the original Marvel run of Star Wars comics (originally published from November 1982 to December 1983). The opening 2 issues conclude the run of regular writer David Michelinie (he also co-wrote an additional issue in the middle of the volume with Bob Layton). The remaining 12 issues were written by new series regular Mary Jo Duffy. The first 2 issues were drawn by Gene Day, with the other Michelinie issue drawn by Luke McDonnell. Ron Frenz drew 10 of the issues in collaboration with Duffy, with her first issue drawn by Tom Palmer and Kerry Gammill, and the Annual #3 drawn by Klaus Janson. These are the last of Michelinie's nearly 20 issues. Palmer continued to work on the series in various roles. Duffy's run as writer continued for a few dozen more issues, though Frenz only worked on a couple more with her. Janson has a few other very minor credits, but these are the only credits for Day (aside from some inking), Gammill, Layton, and McDonnell.
Fool's Bounty launches a new arc tracing the search for Han Solo, following the conclusion of Screams in the Void , in the weeks before and days after Return of the Jedi, 4 years after the Battle of Yavin. The main characters are Luke, Leia, Chewie, Lando, Threepio, Artoo, and (eventually) Han, along with occasional appearances by Darth Vader. Various issues also feature Mandalorian Fenn Shysa (on Mandalore!), Dengar, Bossk, IG-88, and memorable recurring characters like Rik Duel and Dani.
Summary: Luke, Leia, Lando, and company finally have an opportunity to dedicate their full resources to the hunt for their missing friend Han Solo, frozen in carbonite and taken by Boba Fett, and they immediately find themselves up to their necks in deadly danger and intrigue. Meanwhile, the war continues, and they soon find their efforts divided between their search for Han and a perhaps even more urgent search for a pair of missing X-Wing pilots who were in possession of vital secrets . . . secrets that may determine the Rebellion's very survival!
Review: I concluded my review of the last volume of this collection with the hope that Michelinie's departure from writing for this series wouldn't signal a drop in quality, and if anything, Duffy's run is nothing but an improvement. This series continues to improve here, with this being my favorite volume yet. There's barely a bad storyline in it, with lots of great pairings of heroes off on exciting adventures in locations that more unique and original than they are bizarro and corny.
One of Michelinie's few issues is probably the worst story in this, and really only because it absurdly ignores a bunch of established canon in a way that's incredibly sloppy . . . And it's still actually a good story (starring Wedge Antilles!), it just doesn't make any sense in the larger context. Speaking of complaints about Michelinie, I wasn't sorry to see an end (at least for now) to using Leia as a sort of quasi-love interest to every dashing new male character that bumbles into a story. Duffy has no time for that sort of nonsense. But what's particularly great about her stories is that there's an emotional core to the characters, even the one-off characters, that gives these stories a dramatic depth that has been rare in previous issues. She definitely builds on what Michelinie accomplished in all of the best ways.
I loved the pursuit of the bounty hunters that opened this volume, loved the intrigue and mystery of the pursuit of the missing data tapes in the middle, and loved the reintroduction of Han Solo (finally!) at the end. I'm looking forward to whatever comes next, knowing that Duffy will still be at the helm.
B+
Background: Fools Bounty, released in March of 2003, collects issues #68-81 and Annual #3 of the original Marvel run of Star Wars comics (originally published from November 1982 to December 1983). The opening 2 issues conclude the run of regular writer David Michelinie (he also co-wrote an additional issue in the middle of the volume with Bob Layton). The remaining 12 issues were written by new series regular Mary Jo Duffy. The first 2 issues were drawn by Gene Day, with the other Michelinie issue drawn by Luke McDonnell. Ron Frenz drew 10 of the issues in collaboration with Duffy, with her first issue drawn by Tom Palmer and Kerry Gammill, and the Annual #3 drawn by Klaus Janson. These are the last of Michelinie's nearly 20 issues. Palmer continued to work on the series in various roles. Duffy's run as writer continued for a few dozen more issues, though Frenz only worked on a couple more with her. Janson has a few other very minor credits, but these are the only credits for Day (aside from some inking), Gammill, Layton, and McDonnell.
Fool's Bounty launches a new arc tracing the search for Han Solo, following the conclusion of Screams in the Void , in the weeks before and days after Return of the Jedi, 4 years after the Battle of Yavin. The main characters are Luke, Leia, Chewie, Lando, Threepio, Artoo, and (eventually) Han, along with occasional appearances by Darth Vader. Various issues also feature Mandalorian Fenn Shysa (on Mandalore!), Dengar, Bossk, IG-88, and memorable recurring characters like Rik Duel and Dani.
Summary: Luke, Leia, Lando, and company finally have an opportunity to dedicate their full resources to the hunt for their missing friend Han Solo, frozen in carbonite and taken by Boba Fett, and they immediately find themselves up to their necks in deadly danger and intrigue. Meanwhile, the war continues, and they soon find their efforts divided between their search for Han and a perhaps even more urgent search for a pair of missing X-Wing pilots who were in possession of vital secrets . . . secrets that may determine the Rebellion's very survival!
Review: I concluded my review of the last volume of this collection with the hope that Michelinie's departure from writing for this series wouldn't signal a drop in quality, and if anything, Duffy's run is nothing but an improvement. This series continues to improve here, with this being my favorite volume yet. There's barely a bad storyline in it, with lots of great pairings of heroes off on exciting adventures in locations that more unique and original than they are bizarro and corny.
One of Michelinie's few issues is probably the worst story in this, and really only because it absurdly ignores a bunch of established canon in a way that's incredibly sloppy . . . And it's still actually a good story (starring Wedge Antilles!), it just doesn't make any sense in the larger context. Speaking of complaints about Michelinie, I wasn't sorry to see an end (at least for now) to using Leia as a sort of quasi-love interest to every dashing new male character that bumbles into a story. Duffy has no time for that sort of nonsense. But what's particularly great about her stories is that there's an emotional core to the characters, even the one-off characters, that gives these stories a dramatic depth that has been rare in previous issues. She definitely builds on what Michelinie accomplished in all of the best ways.
I loved the pursuit of the bounty hunters that opened this volume, loved the intrigue and mystery of the pursuit of the missing data tapes in the middle, and loved the reintroduction of Han Solo (finally!) at the end. I'm looking forward to whatever comes next, knowing that Duffy will still be at the helm.
B+
December 7, 2010
Old comic books turned into much longer books. They are all in order as to when they came out. The cover art for the comics are there, too.
August 30, 2012
Worth reading for Star Wars fans.
Read
July 5, 2010SW alta v.5
February 5, 2014
star wars is the best book ever and I seen all movies and star wars
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews