Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years, Vol. 4

Star Wars Legends Epic Collection #32

by Walter Simonson, David Michelinie, Jo Duffy

The search for Solo! The loveable rogue, frozen in carbonite, has been taken to Jabba the Hutt - and our favorite rebels want Han back! But as Lando Calrissian returns to fi nd Cloud City a death trap, R2-D2 and C-3PO face a dangerous spacewalk! Elsewhere, Luke Skywalker braves a beast on Bazarre - and joins Chewbacca inside a Mind Spider! Leia undertakes an explosive mission! Shira Brie shares the story of her people! And in the wake of tragedy, Luke becomes a pariah! Screams in the void and threats like the Darker unsettle our heroes - but the hunt for Han soon leads the crew to bounty hunters Dengar, Bossk and IG-88! And the bizarre discovery of a golden statue of their lost friend leads to revelations from Han and Chewie's past!

COLLECTING: STAR WARS (1977) 56-73, STAR WARS ANNUAL (1979) 2

Genres: Star Wars, Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Space Opera

464 pages, Paperback

Published August 6, 2019

About the author

Walt Simonson is an American comic book writer and artist, best known for a run on Marvel Comics' Thor from 1983 to 1987, during which he created the character Beta Ray Bill. He is also known for the creator-owned work Star Slammers, which he inaugurated in 1972 as a Rhode Island School of Design thesis. He has also worked on other Marvel titles such as X-Factor and Fantastic Four, on DC Comics books including Detective Comics, Manhunter, Metal Men and Orion, and on licensed properties such as Star Wars, Alien, Battlestar Galactica and Robocop vs. Terminator.

He is married to comics writer Louise Simonson, with whom he collaborated as penciller on X-Factor from 1988 to 1989, and with whom he made a cameo appearance in the 2011 Thor feature film.

Reviews

[Brenda Conbeer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was the best of the four volumes

[Edward Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun look at what might have happened while Han was held captive between Empire and Jedi. I actually liked this, though I'm not a big Star Wars fan.

[Patrick Raftery · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hunt goes on

The hunt goes on looking for Han Solo in this classic mavel stories, great fun with Darth Vader in back ground great fun and takes me back too my childhood

[Alessandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvel's original Star Wars run has always occupied a fascinating corner of the Expanded Universe, and The Original Marvel Years, Vol. 4 is perhaps the best example of why these comics have remained beloved for decades. Set during the desperate search for Han Solo after The Empire Strikes Back, this collection embraces the freedom of the era, delivering one wildly imaginative adventure after another.
Rather than telling a single, tightly connected epic, the volume presents a succession of stories that constantly throw the heroes into strange new situations. Luke faces bizarre alien creatures and psychological challenges, Leia proves once again that she is every bit as courageous and resourceful as the rest of the Rebel Alliance, and Lando finally confronts the grim consequences of leaving Cloud City behind. Even R2-D2 and C-3PO receive memorable moments, reminding readers why the droids have always been essential members of the cast.
One of the collection's greatest strengths is its creativity. Before the Star Wars universe became heavily codified, the writers could experiment freely, and the result is a delightfully unpredictable series of adventures. Mind Spiders, mysterious villains like the Darker, deadly bounty hunters, forgotten civilizations, and surprising glimpses into Han and Chewbacca's shared past all contribute to a sense that literally anything could happen from one issue to the next.
The creative teams are equally impressive. Walter Simonson, David Michelinie, and Jo Duffy each bring their own voice while maintaining the adventurous spirit of the saga. The artwork by Tom Palmer, Ron Frenz, Gene Day, Joe Brozowski, and others perfectly reflects the energy of early-1980s Marvel comics: expressive, dynamic, occasionally rough around the edges, but always full of personality and momentum.
What makes this volume especially enjoyable is that it doesn't simply imitate the films. Instead, it expands the galaxy in directions that later continuity rarely dared to explore. Some ideas are undeniably eccentric by modern Star Wars standards, but that fearless imagination is precisely what makes these stories so charming. They feel like genuine pulp space adventures, capturing the excitement and sense of wonder that first drew many of us to the franchise.
For readers accustomed to modern cinematic pacing, some stories may feel a little episodic, but viewed in their historical context they remain immensely entertaining. This collection is a wonderful reminder of a time when Star Wars storytelling was still charting unknown hyperspace lanes, and the creative possibilities seemed limitless.
If you're a fan of Star Wars Legends, classic Marvel comics, or simply want to experience one of the franchise's most inventive eras, this volume is an absolute joy. It may be unconventional, but that's exactly what makes it so memorable.

[Joshua Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

a marked improvement in the series by adding some capable writers and artists. still nothing special, but it's finally readable.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the rescue of Han Solo confined to film (which, of course, it had to be), there wasn't much that could be done with that thread, and these issues didn't do enough to expand the possibilities of what could've happened between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Lando does return to Cloud City, and he faces a Lobot who appears to be under the Empire's control. Charles Soule's current Star Wars run takes a similar route, and I prefer his take. I was also surprised to see swamps on Bespin. I did find the Mandalorian issues somewhat intriguing, in that they imply that the Empire was around during the Clone Wars and that Boba Fett fought alongside a couple other Mandalorian supercommandos at that time. Of course, the prequels would retcon all of this. But it was also coincidental how we have Fenn Shysa here, and Fenn Rau on Star Wars Rebels. And I do somewhat appreciate Luke's inner turmoil when he faces Shira Brie, who appears to be another character I know of. Other than that, not much else feels very important. So far, this is the weakest of the Original Marvel Years volumes.