A LONG TIME AGO IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY... This volume contains US Star Wars (1977) #1-44 and Annual #1 - written by Roy Thomas, Archie Goodwin, Chris Claremont and Jo Duffy; drawn by Howard Chaykin, Carmine Infantino, Walter Simonson, Herb Trimpe, Michael Golden, Al Williamson and Mike Vosburg. THE EARLY YEARS OF STAR WARS-MARVEL COMICS! In 1977, when the Star Wars phenomenon was taking off, Marvel Comics released the first-ever Star Wars comic book – a series that ran for nearly a decade. Now, Panini presents the first of these early adventures in its wampa-sized collection format! Let's celebrate the return of the Jedi in this first volume, which begins with the comic book adaptation of Episode IV: A New Hope and ends with the adaptation of Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. In between, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and the rest of the rebels face a plethora of new dangers! While Han and Chewie form the mercenary group Starjumpers to protect a village from the Cloud Riders, Luke and the droids land on an ocean world, where they find themselves between Governor Quarg and the Dragon Lords! Leia's rescue mission is interrupted by the space pirate Crimson Jack, but can Han use the presence of the pirates to the advantage of the rebels? When the Rebellion is blamed for an attack on a merchant ship, the crew of the Millennium Falcon hides aboard the gambling space station "The Wheel". But while Han and Chewie are forced to take part in the deadly "Ultimate Game", the administrator of the station has his eye on Leia! Shortly after, Luke and Leia learn that the Empire is planning to hide TIE fighters near the Rebel base on Yavin 4. Attempting to sabotage this will result in severe damage to R2-D2. While desperately searching for spare parts for R2, Luke and C-3PO are attacked by the droid-hostile bounty hunter Beilert Valance! Meanwhile, secrets from Obi-Wan Kenobi's past are revealed, Han and Chewie meet a surprisingly friendly Jabba the Hutt, Leia fights alone on the factory planet Metalorn, and Darth Vader clashes with Valance as he searches for answers about the boy who destroyed the Death Star! Luke then returns to his homeworld of Tatooine and uncovers a conspiracy between the Empire and House Tagge - a conspiracy that could have fatal consequences for the Rebellion if Luke can't warn them in time! And when Darth Vader learns the identity of Luke Skywalker, he begins an elaborate plan to avenge the destruction of the Death Star - but is the House Tagge manipulating both? Covering the first three and a half years of Marvel's classic Star Wars series, this anthology is an impressive time capsule of the early days of the Star Wars phenomenon that has captivated audiences worldwide for nearly five decades! So when we return to this galaxy far, far away, we'll meet all our favorite characters again - and discover some new ones! There's no doubt about it, the Force is strong in this collection!