Han Solo's Worst Adventure

In this episode of Comic Tropes, we jump back to the first issue of Marvel Comics' Star Wars title that came after Return of the Jedi. There were no plans for any other movies or books at the time so the comics could introduce any idea they wanted. They settled on a case of Han Solo dealing with the bank and an amnesiac Boba Fett.
It's a pretty silly story. We discuss a bit of the work by the creators, Jo Duffy and Ron Frenz.
/ comictropes

[@AliensAreNoobs]

“Hey Chewie, I know that we just demolished the leaders of a tyrannical regime and took out Jabba and his bounty hunters, and also the rebellion needs leadership, but I’m gonna take the princess and a droid to go to the bank on Tatooine, which when we last left was covered in Sandtroopers that will definitely remember me and would probably shoot on sight if they ever saw me again. I need to pay off my debt to Satan so I don’t see him in hell.”

[@guyofminimalimportance7]

"Star Wars Episode VII" Han Solo attempts to withdraw money from a frozen bank account".

[@PozerAdultRacingTeam]

What was the point of bringing Boba Fett back if you drop him back into Sarllac?

[@DarthPerkins]

Terrible writing. And it resets the story.

[@markuswolf7884]

@@DarthPerkins Yeah, I don't know what they were allowed to do. How much free reign did Marvel have to run with well known characters?

[@DarthPerkins]

@@markuswolf7884 It certainly wouldn't be as strict as licensing agreements are now...I think it would be the absolute basics of 'don't kill any main characters and don't make Vader a good guy'. Returning Fett to the Saarlacc is a classic way to bring back a character but not affect a movie sequel.

[@matti.8465]

To be fair, I think they eventually made him escape again and continued his story. Even if it's legends now.

[@MightyAvengingLeo]

Making a cameo...the worst kind of cameo appearance.

[@gurgenferkulat9663]

4.500 subscribers? soooo damn underrated!

[@aldi404]

so true

[@ramsaybolton472]

Close to 34k now 😀

[@KinseySwartz]

52,000 now.

[@jamesstewart8500]

Up to 73,000!

[@tstststs]

Broke 100k

[@DarthPerkins]

How is Star Wars soup a bad idea? I've just read that sentence and I retract it.

[@timothybarnett1006]

I guess this was a foreshadowing of all the rip-roaring excitement of the Trade Federation in Phantom Menace...

[@HCC788]

This was a fun episode. I had the adaptation of Return of the Jedi and I read it a lot. I saw the movie at least a dozen times in theaters. Seeing the movie became a regular after school activity. Of course I wondered what happened after the fall of the Empire, but I wasn't a regular Star Wars comic book reader, so I didn't follow beyond the movie adaptations.

[@ComicTropes]

Oh my god, that sounds like so much fun. I think I saw it in the theater 3 times. It meant so much to me at the time. I was especially fascinated by all the monsters in Jabba's palace.

[@roymakescomics]

The bad recorder playing over that scroll was hilarious 😂

[@Pope2501]

The Jawas' transport was drawn to scale in Liefeld feet.

[@ComicTropes]

It is hard to grasp how big or small it is, right?

[@Pope2501]

skunkape Plus misshapen

[@markj6606]

I liked that issue when I was a kid. It seemed like Marvel didn't know what to do for awhile after RotJ. Lucasfilm had a lot of restrictions. I think this story is supposed to be about Han feeling purposeless after RotJ, though I'm not sure how well that got across.

[@Glittersword]

I remember a bit about that just not the specific restrictions they had to operate under. This could be just a case of putting all your toys away after you are done playing with them. O.K. Boba back you go into the pit where we borrowed you from.

[@josephrossow8901]

I like that idea that for each Issue of Comics that Boba Fett appears in, he first has to get out of the Sarlacc Pit, and then by the end he ends up back IN the Sarlacc Pit. That should've been Boba Fett's trope: always gets stuck back in the f*ing Sarlacc.

[@pvthitch]

The out of control Sand Crawler? They can't control crawling? Crawling.

[@SuperHDJ_]

That Green Rabbit looks like BUcky o Hare

[@samuelmeasa9283]

Thank you, I was thinking the same thing.

[@rosabowen731]

I would set my TV menus in French if I could; several of my other devices are in French. It's a great way to help me learn the language.

[@deadNightwatchman]

Haha... after the Book of Boba Fett this hits differently! Great video!🙂👍

[@theajshow]

Never did get into Star Wars that much in general, though I do see all the movies. It's always interesting to me to see how comics interact with the movies, so seeing how these comics were "in universe" to the movies is fascinating to me. This was a fun look at the this comic series...even if Han never did to the bank!

[@TheComicBookLowdown]

Never read the issue myself so I can’t speak to how the actual flow was to the issue but I’m very notorious for filling in the blanks that writers should be doing themselves, so as I listened to the review my initial take about Han Solo needing money is that he didn’t really need it for any reason and that’s why none was provided. I believe his motivations were that after defeating the empire he feels he wants to return to his original smuggler ways and actually enjoys ripping off random space pilots. Just like to Jaba he never REALLY plans to pay him back but more so string him along or dodge him all together, he is a scoundrel after all. That’s also the reason why he didn’t want to just be given the money by Leia because it’s not aligned with his smugglers way and he’s still having difficulty processing who he once was to who he has become as a leader in the rebellion. And that’s why he seeks solace in the millennium falcon and going on some random “mission” to pick up money. He of course invites Leia because they’re in love. And then, as things in Mary Jo’s comics do a lot (at least in Powerman and Iron Fist) Bobafett happens to come back to face off with Solo but is pretty easily incapacitated. Now i probably just gave the issue a lot more credit than it deserves, but I’m giving Mary Jo Duffy the benefit of the doubt because I like her stories since there’s usually good comedy and I’m just a fan. Also, again, I didn’t actually read it myself. GREAT VIDEO!

[@theaceofspades56]

I remember getting this book when I was a kid because I saw the art was badass, and Boba fett was back (didn't flip thru enough to see he would get Sarlaccd again). This book holds a special nostalgia for me because it taught 8 year-old me how to draw a pretty good wookie and a pretty princess Leia haha

[@1971mav]

I loved Ron Frenz's art.

[@TheDing1701]

I was gonna say Frenz is my second favorite Spider-Man artist. He was very Ditko-like. My first is John Romita Jr... Probably because he was on the book when I started reading reading any comic I could find!

[@1971mav]

@@TheDing1701 Romita Jr was my first Spiderman. Though John Buscema is my all time favorite.

[@TheDing1701]

@@1971mav Oh man! I loved Buscema's run on "Conan"!

[@darkartsdabbler2407]

As lacklustre and boring as this story is, I think I kinda love it? Or rather I love the concept of “you’ve seen these larger than life heroes in your favourite epic blockbuster, and now… the thrilling tale of those same heroes in line at the bank!!”

[@timfankell4242]

Even as a kid I wasn't convinced the Sarlaac's maw was big enough to swallow an entire Jawa sandcrawler.

[@Reddotzebra]

I know Sarlacc are supposed to be these absolutely giant creatures (once they grow out of their larval stages) that live practically forever and are almost impossible to kill... But just swallowing a sandcrawler can't be healthy for it.

[@jacquesdeburgo2878]

Wow that is a perfect impression of Ford

[@Zilegil]

Can’t you tell. Chris doesn’t exist it’s just Harrison Ford in a rubber mask

[@danwilliams1989]

6:48- Hey, that’s a low blow. The bar maid didn’t have a choice. The Empire was shutting down her bar. She had to make everyone leave.

[@kennysp666]

If she had only hired Starship, that bar would still be running.

[@Goat99]

I am new to your channel. This video is very interesting. I have many of the Star Wars comics from this series, but not this one. I actually like the absurdity of this issue. I will have to hunt for it on one of my upcoming comic book expeditions. So good. Thanks for making this. Great work!

[@RobertoMicheri]

I had a lot of older issues in Spanish, but this was my first Star Wars comics in English I purchased myself. It is indeed silly, but I loved it back then.

[@kevingiven3463]

I remember this so well. Star Wars fans didn't have much back then so the comics were bound to succeed no matter what quality they were. these comics and a few novels were about the only original stories between the movies.

[@RighteousBrother]

Ron Frenz is more than a solid artist, he's an excellent artist and story teller.

[@TheSTUART831]

The empire shut down that bar!

[@aznsketcher]

2:53 wow, this part had me cracking up....

[@RobertWilkinsonJKekMaloy]

Tales From Jaba's Palace holds the story where Boba Fett ESCAPES the Sarlaac.

[@chuckwhite3033]

Jo Duffy had some good Star Wars stories and a few stinkers.

[@aldi404]

Poor Han and poor Boba, at least they both got some good books in the old EU.

[@cyberblah]

8:36 When your sarcastic joke is no worse than what we ended up getting.

[@mikemiken1963]

Those Han Solo fingers. Looks like hes been catching Favre passes for 10 years.

[@terhiherukka2476]

4:37 actually the empire wasn’t gone, the y split into multiple factions waging war against the new republic for years until the signed a peace treaty

[@imperatorrm]

I loved Ron Frenz work on Star Wars

[@TevyaSmolka]

Great review man on this Star Wars comic man

[@gustavgnoettgen]

This intro is everytime a win

[@jykvox869]

That *is* solid Art-work. (And I'm totally Team-Jaxxon. I love that Bucky O'Hare preceding fool!!)

[@Clay3613]

Lovely cover art though. 5:05 is amazing!

[@CollegeDroputPowerpoints]

It hurts that I got that holiday reference. Thanks rlm

[@peterhaslund]

Of course the stubbornness and gambling life style of Han is not befitting a general in the Rebel Alliance?! See what I did there? I twisted the use of the word "rebel", now isn't that clever?

[@balthazarasquith]

Sounds like me playing a recorder lol 😂

[@VengefulNonsense]

For a while, this was the only comic book I owned. Came with a sweet Boba Fett figure, with battle damage and stuff.

[@edouardbail9741]

Can i find a MP3 of that wonderful rendition of the star wars theme?

[@soterioncoil2163]

I've always liked the cover of this issue!

[@KidBaklava504]

I’ll be scouring the dollar bins looking for this comic now.

[@Gman72NY]

That crawl blew away the one on Last Jedi.

[@lamptown3748]

oh man, remember when there was cans on the shelves?

[@KnjazNazrath]

>Insulting the intelligence of the Jawas Jitt wants a word...

[@getthegoons]

Oh cool you're reviewing Solo.

[@thatunicornhastheaudacity]

Anybody notice that strange panel to the left of Chris' head on his wall? Is Spiderman getting punched in the bum? I can't tell whether that or that Liefield Capt drawing is more disturbing...

[@dreamlandnightmare]

1:12 - Looks more like Neil Breen than Harrison Ford.

[@svart_kors]

Jaxxon was the best Star Wars character of all time after R5-D4. Debate me. :P

[@papercurse2162]

The Halleluijah seems really strange in a Star Wars context. But Hell was an actual thing in the Ledgends, although outside of Corellia it was also known as Chaos or The Void.

[@RealMuperSan]

I disagree. Better to not borrow money from friends or family.

[@geckoo9190]

I think that they should have justified the plot by just saying that solo wanted to withdraw some of his money and he brough everyone to get drinks after or something like that, I mean, some times just withdrawing money from an atm is a whole odyssey, so a lot of people would feel identified.

[@MajorMechazawa]

6:41 Holy shit, it’s Mallory Archer

[@evangriffith7234]

Dark Horse comic's Star Wars series were more directly related to the movies. Which made them very entertaining. I looked forward to all of their new adventures each month. It's really too bad they weren't still publishing Star Wars comics today. Marvel comics did a great job adapting the movies into comics. For Episodes 1-6. However most of the Star Wars series published by Marvel comics have been both a hit and a miss. That includes their newest movie adaptations of episodes 7&8, Solo and Rogue One. The verdict is still out on The Rise of Skywalker comic book. Until after Episode 9 is released in movie theaters in December.

[@toddnolastname4485]

I think it took six months after RotJ was released that Marvel actually started telling stories set after it, so they could have Han back. And I knew at the time that Boba Fett wasn't dead, and thought, yeah, they're bringing him back. And then got to the end of the book and thought What??? I was in high school, by the way. And I thought Marvel knew what to do with Star Wars. Sure the Emperor and Vader are dead, but there's a lot of governors out there who would be trying to take over. But the Empire's gone, and the rebels are setting up the new government on either Endor, or the planet with the energy sucking telepathic rabbits. Marvel did great with the Skrulls after Galactus ate their home planet and there was civil war among the Skruls. How did they not know how to do this in Star Wars? I stopped reading with issue 100, and the book died with issue 107.

[@CuteLesbo69]

I was never a Star Wars fan, but I loved the Marvel comic.

[@SonGara]

Wonder if they used the Jawa plot in this issue for the Mandolorian episode?

[@osvaldogreco]

I remember that "seven samurais" inspired story, with that green rabbit who always remember people (while punching them) he was carnivorous... my favorites in art were Al Williamson (also the main artist in the daily comic strip and sundays for newspapers) and Carmine Infantino, in a way every issue was a lesson in comic art! thanks for the memories! (and yes, I still have the original comic books in my collection)

[@jykvox869]

I love Jaxxon. If appreciating a green space-rabbit is wrong, I don't want to be right!!

[@soterioncoil2163]

I still like Jaxxon! He was cool! I was probably 4 or 5 at the time though!

[@vaultboy7226]

I do have my tv settings on French ive learned what most of it is but still working on settings menu

[@williamhollaway1960]

Is the theme song coe-mic tropes?

[@canaan_perry]

Sorry -- I remember reading this as a kid and thought it was a great issue and dealt with some of the questions I had after ROTJ.

[@TheVetoSkreeemer]

Have you thought reviewing the stories Alan Moore made for Star Wars?

[@ComicTropes]

It's crossed my mind. Maybe some day since they keep making Star Wars movies.

[@TheVetoSkreeemer]

skunkape thanks for the reply

[@PiLLbOt100]

Why do you have a water jug as a shapes container?

[@pulsarstargrave256]

The reviewer spent WAY too much time praising Ron Frrenz. The INKER on this story appears to be the now legendary TOM PALMER whose brushwork was just short of phenomenal on TOMB OF DRACULA and THE AVENGERS. If anyone could capture a celebrity's "likeness", it was Palmer! BTW ARTOO LOST his power of flight at the beginning of EPISODE 3! i guess no one got it repaired because they didn't know he ever had it! (Shouldn't Threepio have known? Oh well, George is busy enjoying his retirement so it's Disney's problem!)

[@JoeJoe-lq6bd]

I gotta agree. I don't want to disparage Frenz too much but his work was always difficult to look at if he didn't have a fantastic inker to work with. Frenz and DeFalco were constantly pumping out new characters just to pump them out during the period when Marvel was paying extra for new characters in issues. IIRC Shooter saw the value of creating IP and that was why so many questionable characters came to be during Shooter's tenure. Creators were getting paid every time they introduced a new character. Some of them were okay but jeez, the vast majority were just terrible.

[@pulsarstargrave256]

That's the first I've heard of that info, what's the source?

[@cookiemadison8529]

I was 11 years old when I bought that first Marvel Star Wars, which came out before the movie, and I was absolutely sold. Of course the movie blew my little mind and I could not get enough Star Wars. Marvel covered IV in 6 issues and I loved it all. But then... the stories that Marvel put out in that original run were,,, I want to be polite and say "unimaginative" but actually they were terrible! I gave up around issue 11 or 12. Still love Star Wars, still own those issues, but I pretty much just stay with the movies now,

[@RighteousBrother]

Ah man - I had the UK reprint of this back in the day - it wasn't THAT bad - I reckon there were worse Star Wars comics by Marvel possibly something with Carmine Infantino art - where all the characters looked liked super heroes and wore spandex - I swear some American artists don't know how to draw actual clothes. And its nowhere near as bad as that story with Jaxxon the green rabbit, the space hooker, Luke Skywalker wannabe the Starkiller kid and the obi wan Kenobi rip off guy.

[@AllNoneBlakCox]

wait another star wars bank episode?

[@2445elijah]

well to be fair if you're dealing with shady business still you wanna do cash, harder to track and such

[@MyFatezero]

i dont really think its being racist. I think its more like saying I dont like new yorkers. Seeing how he is still human.

[@thelongtony]

besides the movie?

[@danielbroome5690]

Technically han solos race is human. Being corellian is like disliking new yorkers

[@wilhelmscream3813]

Dark Horse made much better Star Wars comics (and not just because of their stuff is set in Legends, the superior continuity).

[@soterioncoil2163]

I loved the first Marvel run and still do due to nostalgia but I wouldn't be surprised to discover the Dark Horse stories were smarter.

[@oliverortiz8507]

This issue was a let down after RETURN OF THE JEDI. A lot of potential was wasted of what the series could have been. I lost interest soon after. Great video.

[@Hillsboroughhistory]

Much of this is canon now kinda ?

[@thepretender3814]

What’s your favorite Alan Moore Comic???

[@ComicTropes]

Probably V for Vendetta. I also really like For the Man Who Has Everything.

[@thepretender3814]

skunkape (Awesome and sad. I thought the Justice League animated series did a real good job on their adaptation) V for Vendetta is also my favorite, and Swamp thing

[@EmoEmu]

... Mario!

[@EmoEmu]

Jawas: Dumb enough to have their VCR set to Japanese, but smart enough to break into a starship and dumb enough to only steal an old droid.

[@whyloechoedome8122]

That's spacist!

[@ratmandraws]

JAXXON: a Star Wars Story

[@RobotsPajamas]

I have all these comics in trades and they really take a nose dive after Jedi. Though, there's some really bad ones at the start too.

[@ComicTropes]

RobotsPajamas A bit inconsistent but we took what we could get back then.

[@markj6606]

The stuff with Kiro, Lumiya, and the Nagai is pretty sweet. I don't think they knew what to do at first. Zahn made the Empire imposing again with Thrawn, but the audience had just seen the Empire defeated when the Marvel comics came out.

[@PuncherOfAbs]

tom palmer inks?

[@RighteousBrother]

Yes definitely!

[@mightyraccoon7155]

Boba Fett was still under utilized

[@Nunubotz2]

speaking about bad star wars ideas how about disney and the last jedi

[@tezmard3003]

Wow that first boba fett scene was copied in the book of boba Fett, cool!

[@thepretender3814]

Comic tropes on V for Vendetta???? Please....

[@PozerAdultRacingTeam]

That's hilarious.

[@lizmol-san]

If we look bit carefully, these protagonists look so arrogant and self-centred. 😅

[@stueygriffith4671]

i thought this was gonna be a SOLO review. 😏

[@shirleydowning4798]

Heeheeheehee.

[@danielbroome5690]

Ya han may say hallelujah but some jackass in last jedi said godspeed to someone which was way more jarring than "ill see you in hell"

[@futurepig]

Han Solo needs money from a bank? That's as lame as a Star Wars movie where the plot centers on a broken spaceship and a child winning a local sporting event to pay for spare parts...

[@amoebacakes]

that sarlack pit .... looking kinda sexy ... mmmm (4:41)

[@audieorlandolilybassoff4069]

Wow, I guess Boba Fett was *never* cool, even before the prequels.

[@markj6606]

He's always cool.

[@soterioncoil2163]

yeah us kids were crazy about him and seriously bummed when they snuffed him out like a wuss! that's why we say Captain Phasma was 'Fetted'!

[@RighteousBrother]

in the Empire Strikes Back - Boba Fett is as cool as Fuck.

[@markj6606]

+RighteousBrother He's even cool doing his little dance and screaming like a bitch in RotJ.

[@supercuttlefish1]

Mixingmetaphorsoup i thought that was the joke behind the character tbh

[@fherlinn]

I thought "Episode 7: The Force Awakens" was Han Solo's worst adventure. This is bad but still sounds a lot better than Episode 7 & 8.

[@jandrewworld]

I

[@MarkLipka]

He was a great artist; but, a surly, nasty old man that treated even his friends poorly. 🙁