Saturday, September 2, 2017

Retro Dark Horse

Star Wars Tales #19

It was long rumored that The Force Awakens was going to be about the children of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo.  That rumor led to two comics spiking in value prior to the release of the movie: Dark Empire II #5 which has the first comic appearances of the twins Jacen and Jaina Solo and Star Wars Tales #19 with the first comic appearance of Ben Skywalker.  Jacen, Jaina, and Ben are all characters who are featured prominently in the now defunct Expanded Universe. 

Ben Skywalker appears in the 8 page The Lost Lightsaber story in Tales #19.  The short story follows the lightsaber lost by Luke during his battle with Darth Vader on Cloud City.  The saber is possessed by many owners, including Bossk and Boba Fett, before it is found by a Jedi Knight who gives it to his Jedi Padawan.  The Padawan uses it to kill his master and, many masters and years later, that former Padawan is about to perform a ritual with other Dark Side users to "infuse this lighsaber with the power of the Dark Side."  At that moment, the Jedi Knight Ben Skywalker appears and takes the lightsaber exclaiming "This belonged to my father."  Ben Skywalker is the son of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade.

Another rumor was The Force Awakens would start with the movie's heroes finding Luke's lost lightsaber and it would follow their quest to find the missing Jedi Master.  While Luke's missing lightsaber is in the movie, it is not the impetus for our heroes wanting to find Luke.  Even so, it is interesting that the story in Tales #19 deals with the subject of the lost saber and also has an appearance by Ben Skywalker.  The art cover is based on this story.

Star Wars Tales #19a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (April 2004)
art cover
Into the Unknown is a 10 page curiosity for Star Wars fans because it features a crossover with Indiana Jones.  This tales is the Han Solo story you thought you'd never see! shown on the photo cover.
Star Wars Tales #19b - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (April 2004)
photo cover
Dark Empire II #5 does not command the same prices it was seeing a few years ago.  Star Wars Tales #19 however still fetches a decent price.  The photo issues have a slight premium over the art issues.  The art issue can fetch from $30 - 45 in NM condition and you can expect to pay about $5 more for the photo issue.

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