This Day In Comics: April 12th – The First Marvel Star Wars Comic Arrives!
Welcome back to This Day In Comics! Today, April 12th, marks a truly monumental date in both comic book and pop culture history. On this day all the way back in 1977, Marvel Comics released Star Wars #1. This issue wasn’t just another licensed adaptation; it was the first Marvel Star Wars comic, and incredibly, it arrived on newsstands before the groundbreaking film, Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, even premiered in theaters! This post delves into the fascinating and somewhat surprising story behind its publication. We will explore its unique creation, the gamble Marvel took, and the massive, unforeseen impact it had. The key players involved are legendary figures: George Lucas provided the story, Roy Thomas adapted it, Howard Chaykin illustrated it, and Stan Lee made the publishing decision, all prompted by Lucasfilm’s Charles Lippincott. Their choices would echo through comic and movie history for decades.
The Story Behind the First Marvel Star Wars Comic
The journey to publishing Star Wars #1 began well before most of the world knew what the Force was. Back in 1975, Lucasfilm’s publicity supervisor, Charles Lippincott, was strategizing how to build buzz for George Lucas’s ambitious space fantasy film. He believed a comic book series launched before the movie could effectively reach and excite the film’s likely core audience. With this plan, Lippincott approached Marvel Comics publisher Stan Lee.
His proposal involved Marvel publishing a Star Wars comic book adaptation prior to the film’s release. However, Lee expressed initial reluctance. At that time, comic book adaptations of movies rarely performed well financially. Lee viewed the project as a significant risk for Marvel. Movie tie-in comics rarely sold well during that era, a trend observed across many publishers, though fan communities like Comic Book Addicts often discuss both the historical hits and misses of licensed properties.
Fortunately for Star Wars fans, veteran writer and editor Roy Thomas saw the project’s immense potential. Thomas actively wanted to be involved, specifically requesting to edit the series. He played a crucial role by arranging a second meeting with Lee and successfully persuading him to take on the property. Even convinced, Lee remained cautious about the financial viability. He negotiated a specific, low-risk deal with Lucasfilm. Marvel would pay absolutely no royalties on the comic sales unless, and only unless, sales figures exceeded 100,000 copies per issue. Given the poor track record of tie-ins, this threshold seemed like a very safe bet for Marvel.
With the publishing agreement secured, the creative work began. Roy Thomas took on the task of adapting George Lucas’s screenplay and story into the comic book format. The distinctive, gritty artwork was provided by Howard Chaykin. Together, under Thomas’s editorial direction, they translated the galaxy far, far away onto the comic book page for the very first time.
A Publishing Gamble Pays Off Big
Marvel’s Star Wars #1 officially went on sale on April 12, 1977. This release date was more than a month before Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope made its theatrical debut on May 25, 1977. The comic faithfully adapted the film’s iconic opening sequences. Readers were introduced to Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, C-3PO, R2-D2, and the menacing Darth Vader first through panels and word balloons.
What happened next stunned almost everyone, particularly the executives at Marvel Comics. The comic book was an immediate and unprecedented sales success, right out of the gate. Sales didn’t just meet expectations; they dramatically exceeded them. That seemingly safe threshold of 100,000 copies required for royalty payments wasn’t just met – it was rapidly surpassed by a huge margin.
This astonishing initial success had major, far-reaching consequences. According to Jim Shooter, who served as Marvel’s Editor-In-Chief later, the immense revenue generated by the Star Wars comic series was critically important. He stated that the strong sales effectively saved Marvel Comics from serious financial difficulties during the years 1977 and 1978. Furthermore, the Star Wars series didn’t just provide a temporary boost; it became one of the entire comic book industry’s top-selling titles throughout 1979 and 1980, maintaining incredible momentum long after the first film’s release.
The unexpectedly high sales also shifted the balance of power established in the initial publishing agreement. With sales figures soaring far beyond the benchmark, Lucasfilm’s Lippincott found himself in a much stronger position. He was able to successfully renegotiate the royalty arrangements, securing a significantly more favorable deal for Lucasfilm moving forward.
The Marvel series itself continued publication long after the original movie trilogy concluded. Marvel Comics published a total of 107 issues and three annual specials, with the run finally ending in 1986. These comics significantly expanded the Star Wars universe beyond the films, introducing legions of fans to new characters, planets, and adventures. Years later, following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, these original Marvel comics were officially designated as part of the ‘Legends’ continuity, separate from the current canon. Despite this, their historical significance and impact on the franchise are undeniable.
The pre-release publishing strategy was quite revolutionary for its time and proved to be a brilliant marketing move. It successfully tapped into public curiosity and anticipation, helping to build the Star Wars phenomenon before the movie even opened. Issue #1 itself threw readers directly into the action, depicting the Imperial Star Destroyer capturing the Tantive IV, Darth Vader’s unforgettable entrance, and the droids’ desperate escape to the desert planet of Tatooine. Howard Chaykin’s unique art style, while different from the eventual look of the film, perfectly captured the gritty, “used universe” aesthetic George Lucas intended, providing the very first visual interpretation of this galaxy for many eager fans.
Looking back, April 12, 1977, represents more than just the release date of another comic book. It marks the day a significant publishing gamble paid off spectacularly. It was the beginning of a rich, decades-long relationship between the Star Wars saga and the medium of comics. And it powerfully demonstrated the immense potential of a well-timed, well-executed media tie-in, changing perceptions within the publishing industry.
A Legacy Launched on April 12th
So, on this day, April 12th, we commemorate the landmark debut of Marvel’s Star Wars #1. Released in 1977 before the world truly felt the Force, this single issue stands as a pivotal moment in comics history. It was the first Marvel Star Wars comic, a calculated risk that transformed into an astonishing, industry-altering success. It not only brought A New Hope to the page but also played an indispensable role in securing Marvel Comics’ financial stability and fundamentally redefined the possibilities for movie-based comic books. Its legacy endures, firmly cemented in the annals of both comic book publishing and the ever-expanding Star Wars universe.Did you happen to read the original Marvel Star Wars comics back in the day? What are your favorite memories of that classic series or its impact? Share your thoughts and Star Wars comic memories with the community over on Twitter! We would love to hear from you!
