Remember that episode of JLU where Batman sings? Oh, you remember the one where Carrie does...

This could be a lot more meta than I would've known at the time, since I never saw the Star Wars Holiday Special. In fact, I'm still not sure I've seen it all the way through: I have the Rifftrax version and haven't even been able to watch it with their help! But today's comic is more fun: from 1983, Star Wars #77, "Chanteuse of the Stars..." Script and plot by Jo Duffy, plot and breakdowns by Ron Frenz, finishes by Tom Palmer.

Set just prior to Return of the Jedi (which would have been in theaters just a few months prior to this issue's newsstand date of 08/09/83) the Rebels have been trying to find two missing spies with information about the Empire's new secret weapon. One had been found dead, but Rebel command had intercepted an Imperial report that another Rebel had uncovered the same information, and had a holograph ID'ing him: Han Solo? He was still frozen! Lando asks Chewie if Han could have found that info prior; then asks him to keep that quiet, so they can have the opportunity to go looking for him again. Leia has to admit, there was no way Han could have; but command still wants to investigate. Lando and Chewie are sent, with the droids; while Luke and Leia have another mission.

With the telepathic Hoojibs--little bunny-looking energy eaters--Luke and Leia take the Falcon to Kabray, a neutral space station used for diplomatic gatherings and embassies, to try and find the surviving spy's message. Luke is a little nervous to see Zeltrons there: the red-skinned aliens were basically the living embodiment of "horny on main," and would've eaten Luke alive. He has less to worry about from the Stormtroopers this issue...

Splitting up to find the message, both of them overhear a plot to murder an Imperial governor, which...is horrible? In principle? Luke feels he has to stop it, to prevent a war, like there wasn't already war everywhere anyway. Thinking she was being chased, Leia accidentally disguises herself as an entertainer, and gets forced on-stage for a number! I've yet to see all of Carrie Fisher's song from the special, but...yeah, I haven't heard good things. And poisoned soup was about to be served to the governor, so Luke didn't think he had any choice but to stop him somehow. Luckily, one of the alien Lahsbees enjoys Leia's song maybe a bit too much, and hits puberty, which turns them into hulking monsters called Huhks!

Luke seizes the opportunity to 'accidentally' knock over the poisoned soup, but then finds himself face-to-face with the Huhk. Luckily, it was the stormtroopers job to protect the delegates...if only someone hadn't had the Hoojibs drain all the energy from the troopers' blasters! Plif the Hoojib has read the Huhk's mind, though; and quickly advises Leia to keep singing; and the Huhk is perfectly content to settle down and enjoy the show.

This may seem like a silly little issue now, but I still liked it then and liked it now! It helps if you had been reading the book for a while, since Hoojibs, Lahsbees, and Zeltrons were all introduced in the comic post-Empire. The next issue was supposed to be "The Big Con!" Which was another fun, light issue; featuring Lando's Captain Harlock cosplay; but that would be delayed to #79. #78 would be a Wedge story that was pretty good, but confuses his backstory (which was largely none at that point!) with Biggs Darklighter. (Or "Biggs Corpselighter," to quote an old Wizard/Toyfare bit I love and wish I could've found a scan for! "What's up, meat?") And I dug this one up because somebody on Twitter posted a page from #80, which was the conclusion of the Rebel spies story, the last pre-Return issue, and a tearjerker. And I may have bought a used reprint of those stories as well! All part of my process.