Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back: Special Edition

Marvel Star Wars (1977-1986) #39-44

by Archie Goodwin, Al Williamson, Carlos Garzón

With the Death Star destroyed, the Empire has declared martial law throughout the galaxy. A thousand worlds have felt the oppressive hand of the Emperor as he attempts to crush the growing Rebellion. As the Imperial grip of tyranny tightens, Luke, Leia, Han, and the rest of the small band of freedom fighters continue to press for the salvation of the planets — but such a small crew stands little hope of succeeding against the dominant might of the Empire. But sometimes that's all it takes — a little hope. Dark Horse Comics is proud to present, in an all-new package, the comics adaptation of Star The Empire Strikes Back — The Special Edition . By Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson, this classic adaptation is reprinted from the original Star Wars comic-book series and is now collected with an all-new cover to celebrate The Empire Strikes Back — The Special Edition .

Genres: Star Wars, Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Archie Goodwin was an American comic book writer, editor, and artist. He worked on a number of comic strips in addition to comic books, and is best known for his Warren and Marvel Comics work. For Warren he was chief writer and editor of landmark horror anthology titles Creepy and Eerie, and for Marvel he set up the creator-owned Epic Comics as well as adapting Star Wars into both comics and newspaper strips. He is regularly cited as the "best-loved comic book editor, ever."

Reviews

[Sean Barrs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m so glad the artwork improved in this edition. Luke and Chewbacca actually look like their movie counterparts rather than He-man and a walking rug. Luke’s weird old look has gone too; he actually looks like a young man rather than a random forty year old. Chewbacca’s fur actually has some level of texture; he looks quite good. Visually speaking, this is much better than A New Hope.

The artwork:
• Characters 3/5*
• Environments and effects 4/5

The story is concise; it tells all that it needs to. As with the first volume, the space parts were the best. Vader hunting down the Millennium Falcon was actually quite intense. It was just as good as the scenes form the movie. This, along with the improved artwork, really helped to capture some of the urgency of the action. There’s no point having a chase scene if it doesn’t feel risky and close; it needs to feel like the characters are being hunted, and it did thankfully. Han Solo was also much more charming; his roguish nature really came through here.


Luke’s journey was the strongest aspect. As with the movie, he gets a lot of character development in this episode. The comic captured it well. Luke is now braver and more independent. He has a more confident attitude, as can be seen with his stance in here. He just seems to have a bigger presence in the story. Most importantly though the crossroad he stands at was delivered in subtle way. He could quite easily give into his anger at life, at the injustice of the Empire, at Vader and his master. Or he could transcend his feelings and become a Jedi Knight. The suggestion that he could become light or dark, good or evil, run through the comic. And because of this, it was much more enjoyable than the first one.


The action was also a lot better. I’ve already mentioned the space battles, but the lightsabre duel at the end was much more developed. The one between Ben and Vader in the previous comic was a little rushed, and condensed into just a few frames. Luke’s stand-off with Vader, the one that ends with one of the most iconic revelations of cinematic history, was excellent. It portrayed so well how easily Luke could have been taken over, how easily he could have been coerced by Vader and the dark side, but Luke’s better than that. He remembers the wisdom of his mentor and old friend even if Vader’s forgotten.



Star Wars Original Trilogy Graphic Novels
1. A New Hope- A fair 3 stars
2. The Empire Strikes Back- An improved 3.5 stars

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Right now I feel like I can take on the whole Empire itself." -- Dak Ralter, Rebel tail-gunner

"I know what you mean." -- Commander Luke Skywalker, Rebel flight squadron leader

Very similar in the quality of artwork and storytelling vibe to the earlier and also Marvel-issued Star Wars: A New Hope, its follow-up The Empire Strikes Back is a faithful graphic novel adaptation timed to coincide with the release of the 1980 sci-fi / action movie blockbuster. At times it follows the film's shooting script a little too closely - witness the original cringeworthy soap operatic dialogue that was in place before Leia's "I love you" with the classic Han Solo retort (and actor Harrison Ford ad lib) of "I know" in the Cloud City carbon-freezing chamber - but it was still fun to dive into an illustrated version of what is arguably considered to be the best entry of the cinematic series. About the only thing missing is composer John Williams' 'Imperial March' to announce Darth Vader's arrival.

[Jim Ef · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wonder how much more would i liked it if i didn't know the story already. The graphic novels, although there based on the movies script, were published before the movie release. So the people who bought them at the time (1980) must loved it.

[George K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Δεύτερο κόμικ της σειράς Star Wars που κυκλοφορεί σε προσφορά της Κυριακάτικης Καθημερινής, με την ιστορία να ακολουθεί ακριβώς αυτήν της δεύτερης ταινίας (Επεισόδιο V). Ίσως να υπάρχουν κάποιες μικρές και ασήμαντες διαφορές/παραλήψεις σε σχέση με την ταινία, γενικά όμως όσοι έχουν δει την ταινία έστω και μια φορά, δεν πρόκειται να συναντήσουν καμία έκπληξη στην πλοκή. Οι διάλογοι και οι περιγραφές νομίζω ότι έκαναν καλά την δουλειά τους, όπως και στο πρώτο κόμικ, το σχέδιο όμως μου φάνηκε αισθητά καλύτερο σε σχέση με το προηγούμενο, πιο προσεγμένο και με περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες. Πολλά ήταν τα καρέ με τα σκάφη, τα τοπία και τις μάχες που χάζεψα για παραπάνω ώρα. Σίγουρα και το σχέδιο στο πρώτο κόμικ δεν είναι άσχημο, όμως σαφέστατα το σχέδιο του παρόντος υπερτερεί σε ποιότητα. Τα χρώματα παραμένουν όμορφα και ζωντανά. Σίγουρα θα τσιμπήσω και τον τρίτο τόμο.

[John Devlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vader is Luke's father! No one believed me then; I thought I'd have better luck today.

[Jelena · Rating 5 out of 5]

By now I have come to terms with this remastered edition. I am still not thrilled about the all too bright and glossy panels, but I knew what to expect from the beginning.

This being out of the way, my first impulse was to think how you could hardly go wrong with an adaptation of “The Empire Strikes Back”. (Except that you always can, no matter how foolproof the source material is.) But this comic is brilliant.

Again, not everything was the way I pictured it. I missed some of the memorable dialogues and quotes; and Leia’s nagging, for instance, had even me thinking that she really needed to get laid. On the other hand, Han was much more Han this time around, Lando was as wonderful as ever (I have a thing for the genre type of the scoundrel who redeems himself/herself), and there even is a scene with the bounty hunters that gives Boba Fett a smooth and valid entrance.

In a simplified dramatic structure, Episode V has to be the peak of the story – you have to set the plot in motion and have it escalate in a hopeless clash before it can wind down and resolve. That’s what a trilogy s for. As a film, “The Empire Strikes Back” is exactly that kind of perfect culmination. It splits into subplots which all have their own impetus, internal struggle and external conflict. The comic captures that remarkably well. In this story, everything in constant motion is. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) But since you can’t (and probably shouldn’t try to) convey that exact physicality of a film through every medium, this comic goes for tight-packed action scenes with a few calmer (and treacherous) intermezzi, just to catch your breath, and emphasizing the core elements of the story through relevant dialogue. A master stoke is showing not the flow of action (it wouldn’t fit a comic with a structure such as this) but its climax: You get the fighters and the blows and strikes in perfect lines of perspective and composition. Firing blasters, wielding lightsabers, Force chokes and blowing things up in space. Those panels make my heart sing. No wonder, since Goodwin has an impeccable sense of using all the medium's own potential without overstretching it into the wrong direction.

But I’m just full of shit, really, and enjoy the sound of my own voice (or my words on the screen). This is “The Empire”. Of course it’ll be brilliant.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the one and only episode of the entire Star Wars series that I liked.

[Christopher Rush · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unsurprisingly, this has the same interesting elements and flaws as has the graphic novel adaptation of A New Hope. The dialogue is quite off at times, especially in some of the key moments of the story, particularly in the Leia/Han farewell scene at the end. Though that is more distracting now than it probably was then, at least it does give us a bit of insight into the creative flow (looseness?) of the projects back at the time. It's still difficult not to base all reactions on the movie versions (original theatrical releases, of course - though this generation growing up most likely hasn't seen them, sadly), but neither is it necessarily wrong to use that as a basis for judging the quality of this work. One thing I noticed as I read this that I never got watching the movie was the seemingly mismatched passage of time: after the rebels leave Hoth (and though I always thought it was all the rebels together both at the end of IV and beginning of V, I'm starting to get the impression they are only key pockets of the rebellion, since far more races and leaders are featured in the full gathering in VI), the Han/Leia/Lando plot thread seems to only take a day or two, yet the Luke/Yoda plot gives us the impression Luke spends several days if not weeks training on Dagobah. This may be a discrepancy that grows the more I watch the movie with this in mind, but perhaps reading the book (which I hope to do sometime this year, since I seem to be in a lengthy Star Wars mood) for the first time will clear that up, especially since the novelization of Empire Strikes Back was written based on the screenplay (and not before, like "Star Wars: from the Adventures of Luke Skywalker"). Still and all, it's a nice version to read, even with its "flaws."

[Derek Neveu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful adaptation of an amazing film. I’ve read a lot of the comments, and maybe because I read the original Marvel Special Edition 2 and not a glossy and enhanced copy that i enjoyed it more than most. It’s fun to see some of the creative variations this story exhibited in its earlier stages, the Wampas attacking Echo base for example, but also how the vast majority of iconic lines remained intact. “I know!” wasn’t one of them, but it wasn’t in the original script for the film either. I loved all of it, but probably my favorite difference was that this text actually gave Boba Fett a personality. That was something that was gravely missing in the film, and if you have read any of Jeter’s Bounty Hunter Wars Trilogy you know it’s much better developed than that angsty young Boba we got to know in the Clone Wars film and cartoon!

[David Edmonds · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've seen the film version of The Empire Strikes Back, then you've read this book, and vice versa; it's a fairly faithful adaptation. What really makes this book stand out is the remastered coloring. Marvel took the original plates for the art and had them recolored using contemporary coloring techniques, and the result is fantastic. The book just looks beautiful. If you're just a casual fan, this probably wouldn't interest you too much, but for the hardcore Star Wars fan, I think this would be a great addition to their library.

[Judah Radd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid adaptation. Flows really well from the Aaron/Gillen/Pak runs of Star Wars. Excited to see how it flows into the Pak continuation.

[☮ morgan ☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

much better :)

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I read the Star Wars adaption by Marvel earlier this month, I decided to follow it with this and it’s interesting to see that it has the same issues as its sibling. Some of the panels are spot on to the film but it’s clear this was written and drawn from the shooting script with limited access to production plans for the effects (Yoda looks okay but he was apparently changed after the fact, since the original comic had him looking like Joe Johnston’s purple skinned design). Some of the changes are a little odd - Hoth has no blue sky, only a starfield and the Wampa’s are only ever seen as arms (though they do turn up in the rebel base) - and some of the dialogue is off. Han keeps referring to C3PO as “bright eyes”, which I’ve never seen used before and dialogue in the carbon freezing chamber - the “I love you”/”I know” interchange, which Ford apparently ad-libbed, is very different. The Dagobah sequences are well handled (though I loathed the colourful mushrooms the artist put everywhere) but this does highlight the time mismatch between Luke and what’s happening with the gang on the Falcon and the Hoth and Bespin sequences are well-paced, if a little truncated. As before, this is rounded out with production designs, mostly for Yoda and the Tauntauns, some storyboard sequences and various ephemera, which was entertaining. Overall it’s good fun (though I missed the clean lines of Leialoha’s artwork and some of the colour decisions are perhaps best described as ‘energetic’), a nice read and well worth a look.

[Kelly K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since this was the original graphic novel version it obviously moved at a much quicker pace and didn't exactly hit on all the details the movie lays out. I was surprised by a few changes, especially in some famous lines, but I was kind of okay with it. This still gets four stars since it came right from the Marvel comics.

[Todd Bauerle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, Marvel has presented the original issues with remastered coloring, and bound in the same high quality format as the previous entry in this series. It is a must have for collectors, and obviously if you have purchased the collected edition of A New Hope. Also a nice touch is the free digital edition, to read online. Might I suggest using the guided view...it is a great experience.

[Devin Maraldo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasnt what I was expecting but the book is so far better than the movie movie or book I would choose book with this one! I reccommend it to people that are into quick action cliff hangers and really tense moments!

[Amber the Human · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this back in high school, when I was buying any Star Wars related object I could get my hands on (well, at least anything I found a the local used book shop). It's strange, because it takes over half the book just to get off Hoth. Oh well. A good adaptation.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such great fun getting to read The Empire Strikes back in comic form. The 70ss artwork really brings it back.

Some of the scenes are out of order and Yoda is a blueish purple hippie but the rest is spectacular!

[Tony Romine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel collects the 6 issues of the original Marvel Star Wars series that adapted The Empire Strikes Back, the second Star Wars film from the original trilogy. The story continues the saga of Luke, Leia, and Han after the destruction of the Death Star. The Empire discovers the Rebellion's base on the ice planet of Hoth, destroying it and sending our heroes scattering. Luke receives a message from Obi-Wan's ghost to go to the Dagobah swamps and train with Yoda. Leia and Han are trying to find a safe place to hide from the Empire and make their way to Cloud City, where Han's friend Lando is willing to help them out.

This is a very long adaptation for what is probably the least story heavy of the films. There aren't many long drawn out scenes in the film, it's very well paced, but these comics ruin that pace considerably (the Hoth scenes alone takes like 4 comics to get through). However, it was also done in 1980, a very different time for comic books. There is a constant narration throughout the comics that was the standard for comic book writing at the time, that thankfully went out of fashion many years later.

The artwork is amazing though, maybe the best of these graphic novel adaptations. Also interesting, is that the comics seem based on an early version of the screenplay. There are some scenes in it that aren't in the film (wampas attack inside the Hoth station is the most notable) and some of the names and mannerisms aren't consistent with what we see on the screen (wampas are called ice creatures, Boba Fett and Yoda have very different ways of talking than they do in the movie). This alone makes the graphic novel worth reading, just to see how differently it ended up on the screen. All in all, not a terrible way to experience the story, but the film will always be better.

[Jeff Richey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel so lucky to have found this version of this great graphic novel again, and at a great price. I was 6 years old when I read this comic version of The Empire Strikes Back for the first time. At the time, it was my favorite book. Who knows? Goodwin's masterpiece of great art and storytelling may have started my love affair with comic books.

If you like the movie, then you will like this paperback. The dialogue is written almost word-for-word as the film's dialogue, and the narration moves the story along just like a film. The faithfulness to the film is so close. The only scene that I can recall being left out is when Han Solo cuts open the Tauntaun and places Luke inside to keep him warm when they are caught out in the freezing cold weather on Hoth.

The illustrations do have some slight, yet interesting differences: For example, Yoda is purple, rather than green. But, the Dagobah system will be just as you remember, all the way up to Luke confronting the Vader version of himself in the dark tree during his Jedi training.

If you like classic comic storyboarding and narrative, specifically, the type of storyboarding and narrative that were found in Marvel comics back in the day, then this graphic novel may be for you.

Enjoy…and may the force be with you…or something.

[Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Wars episode 5 The Empire strikes back by Donald F. Glut is a science fiction book. The book is about a young man named Luke Skywalker and his friends Han Solo, Princess Leia, and their faithful companions, they lead a rebellion to fight against the Imperial Empire. Luke trains with his Jedi master Yoda to learn how to use the force that lives within him so Luke can be able to defeat Darth Vader. Luke surprisingly escapes from Darth Vader in their epic battle but sadly Han Solo is taken by the bounty hunter Boba Fett. I would highly recommend that you read this book. I would recommend this book especially to people who like science fiction or action.

[Molly Lazer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my six-year-old twins, who have already seen the Empire Strikes Back film. This is a great retelling of the film in graphic form, enhanced by Al Williamson's art (which I prefer to the art by Howard Chaykin from the A New Hope graphic novelization) and especially by Christopher Sotomayor's colors, which are especially strong in this volume. I liked the peeks behind the scenes of the comic's creation, especially the descriptions of how the comic and the film were made at the same time. The look we got at the original comics version of Yoda is pretty funny. We're looking forward to reading Return of the Jedi, which is already sitting on our shelf.

[Benji's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good standard comic book adaptation, with some above average artwork by Al Williamson, who did the artwork for Marvel's Blade Runner comic adaptation. His artwork never fails to impress me.

There were a few typos, but nothing that serious.

This is pretty much exactly like the film, except Yoda is purple and speaks in only a lightly altered English. Only once in a great while does he speak backwards. Missing, is the scene where Luke carves open his tauntaun to hide inside and keep warm, along with Luke tying a line around the AT-ATs legs to knock him over and a few other scenes, but the main scenes to move the story along are present.

A pretty good, faithful adaptation.

[Ethan Hulbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

ESB is great.

Beyond that, this comic was made with the original script, so it includes some differing dialog from the movie. There's no "I love you" "I know" exchange - instead, Solo says "I'll be back" as if he's some kind of Terminator. Darth Vader at one point says "Search your feelings, youngster" at Luke, and imagining that in James Earl Jones' voice is just gold. Yoda is also a purple thing with long straight white hair.

Fun stuff.

[Jaime K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hrm.

This is quite fast-paced and was over a bit too quickly. I felt rushed while going through it, even though it took me about the same amount of time to finish the 100 pages of this as it normally does for 100 pages of any comic.

Luke and Leia almost kissing "off-screen" was disturbing. That was not in the book.

"Meanwhile, not far away, at least in a galaxy where light-years are spanned simply as kilometers..." Well that is just awkward. UGH it takes away from the story.

[Elizabeth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason I always forget what happens in this one!! Most of my graphic novels have been Marvel remastered editions, but this one is from Dark Horse and I love it!! The pages and the ink are amazing. They look and feel a lot different. Real. Authentic almost. There’s a lot of good info in here that helps set up for Return of the Jedi. I’m stoked to read the rest of these graphic novels before I start the novel adaptations.

[Prasidh Ramson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel collects Star Wars #39-44, from 1977. Interestingly, it is based on the shooting script, and differs in several parts from the final movie. The drawings are action packed and cinematic, while the writing is just as snappy and fast paced. Definitely for the fanboys and Star Wars newbies.

[Timo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ennen oli silmä tottunut tuohon kankenaan koneladontaan ja se näytti olevan ihan ok. Nykyään se näyttää kyllä aika kankealta. Ja nostalgiselta.
Vaikka en muista aina pyllyäni pyyhkiä, muistan kuitenkin mitä on jokaisessa kuvassa tapahtuu tässä albumissa. Williamson on parasta ikinä ja Goodwin onnistuu soveltamaan parhauden hyväksi ja toimivaksi versioksi.
Ihq

[Scott Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mirrors the movie. Great way to review the old episodes on your own time without being nailed to a seat in front of a screen.
Additional material like the introduction from Billy Dee Williams, who played Land0, add interest.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the updated 2017 version with new colors - really impressed. I loved the art from the 70s and 80s style and the narrative aspects. Great story too. Not sure what the original version colors looked like but these are pleasant and worked great.