Star Wars (1977) 1

Star Wars 1 is the first issue of the Legends comic book series Star Wars. It was written by Roy Thomas, based on a screenplay and story by George Lucas, illustrated by Howard Chaykin, and first published on April 12, 1977. The issue adapts the beginning of the film Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, which premiered in theaters the following May.

Publisher's summary

It's the adaptation of A New Hope! Meet Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan and the villianous [sic] Darth Vader!

Opening crawl

It is a period of CIVIL WAR in the galaxy.

A brave alliance of UNDERGROUND FREE-
DOM FIGHTERS has challenged the tyranny
and oppression of the awesome GALACTIC
EMPIRE.

To CRUSH the rebellion once and for
all, the EMPIRE is constructing a
sinister new BATTLE STATION.
Powerful enough to destroy an en-
tire planet, its COMPLETION will
spell CERTAIN DOOM for the
champions of freedom.

Striking from a fortress hidden among the billion
stars of the galaxy, REBEL SPACESHIPS have won
their first victory in a battle with the powerful
IMPERIAL STARFLEET. The Empire fears that
ANOTHER defeat could bring a THOUSAND MORE
solar systems into the rebellion, and IMPERIAL
CONTROL over the galaxy would be LOST FOREVER.

Plot summary

A desperate mission

Imperial Forces led by Darth Vader capture Princess Leia Organa's ship, which is on a mission for the Rebel Alliance. Two droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO, manage to escape from the Rebel ship with data critical to the Princess' cause.

After arriving on the nearby planet Tatooine, the droids are acquired by young moisture farmer Luke Skywalker and his uncle Owen Lars to work at their farm. Luke finds part of an urgent message from Leia to Obi-Wan Kenobi in R2's memory. R2 escapes from the farm with the intention of finding Kenobi on his own; Luke, fearing punishment from his uncle for losing the droid, pursues R2 to the Jundland Wastes, only to be attacked by a band of ferocious Sand People.

Release and reception

While the issue was dated July on the cover,^[4] it was in fact shipped on March 8, and was made available on sale on April 12.^[1]

In celebration of Star Wars Day on May 4, 2016, Marvel re-released Star Wars 1 as part of its True Believers budget reprint program, which reprints popular comic titles for the suggested retail price of $1.^[5]

Continuity

The story in this issue includes a couple of Tatooine scenes that were cut from A New Hope, including Luke Skywalker witnessing the opening space battle, Luke telling Camie and Fixer (who refer to Luke by his nickname "Wormie") what he saw, and Biggs Darklighter telling Luke of his plan to join the Rebellion.

The cover for this issue was based on Howard Chaykin's original convention poster, which became one of the most valuable posters in the Star Wars collecting world. The artwork includes Obi-Wan Kenobi and Han Solo, although they would not appear in the series until issue 2, and X-wing, Y-wing, and TIE fighters, which wouldn't appear in the series until issue 5.

On the cover of both this issue and the following one, the first and last two letters of the Star Wars logo are not attached to each other.

Legacy

The comic includes the first reference to the concept of the Cosmic Force. Darth Vader's iconic line "The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force" is modified to specify "the Cosmic Force." Over 35 years later, "Voices," an installment of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, revealed the Cosmic Force's connection to the Living Force.

Media

Editions

• UPC 071486028178;^[6] April 12, 1977; Marvel Comics; First printing^[1]
• (No UPC); September 29, 2015; Marvel Comics; Digital edition^[7]
• UPC 759606085071; May 4, 2016; Marvel Comics; True Believers edition^[8]
• UPC 759606097968; December 4, 2019; Marvel Comics; Facsimile edition^[9]
• UPC 75960621261300111; April 9, 2025; Marvel Comics; Facsimile edition second printing^[10]

Promotional material

San Diego Comic-Con 1976 poster by Howard Chaykin

1977 house ad

Cover gallery

Early pencils of the cover art

First printing (30¢)

First printing (35¢)

First printing (Whitman)

Digital edition

Recolored cover

True Believers

Facsimile Edition

2025 Celebration exclusive cover

2025 Celebration exclusive textless cover

2025 cover by Mike Mayhew

2025 textless cover by Mike Mayhew

2025 cover by Tyler Kirkham

Textless 2025 cover by Tyler Kirkham

Collected in

• Marvel Special Edition Featuring Star Wars 1
• The Marvel Comics Illustrated Version of Star Wars
• Star Wars Weekly 1 & 2
• Marvel Special Edition Featuring Star Wars 3
• Star Wars Annual No. 1
• The Empire Strikes Back Weekly 136 - 138
• Marvel Movie Showcase 1
• Return of the Jedi Weekly 9 & 10
• Classic Star Wars: A New Hope 1
• Classic Star Wars: A New Hope trade paperback
• Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 1: Doomworld
• Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago.... Volume 1
• Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 1
• Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope hardcover
• Star Wars: Shattered Empire trade paperback
• Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 1
• Star Wars: The Original Trilogy — The Movie Adaptations

Appearances

Sources

• "Collections" — The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine 2
• Star Wars: The Comic Book That Saved Marvel! on StarWars.com (original site is defunct)
• Star Wars Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle
• Marvel's Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus - First Look! on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "Blaster" — Star Wars Insider 152
• Star Wars in the UK: Star Wars Weekly on StarWars.com (backup link)
• 10 Highlights from Star Wars: Icons of the Galaxy on StarWars.com (original link is obsolete)
• Star Wars Year By Year: A Visual History, New Edition
• "Let Me See Your Identification" — Star Wars Insider 216
• Who is Jaxxon? on StarWars.com (backup link)

Notes and references

External links

• Star Wars (1977) #1 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link) (First printing)
• True Believers: Star Wars Classic (2016) #1 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
• Star Wars Facsimile Edition (2019) #1 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
• Star Wars (1977-1986) #1 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link) (Digital edition)