Star Wars 85: The Hero

Star Wars 85: The Hero is the eighty-fifth issue in the Marvel Star Wars series of comics.

Plot
Inside Barpotomous Drebble's tavern on Keyorin, Barpotomous Drebble is speaking with his associates, Bossk, IG-88A, and two Stenaxes. In an extended rant, Drebble vows revenge on Lando Calrissian for cheating him years earlier. Meanwhile, in Bright Tree Village, Lando, Han Solo, and Chewbacca are in a card game with the local Ewoks, trying to teach them how to gamble. When Lando wins, Chewbacca becomes angry, throwing down his cards, believing Lando to have cheated. Han explains to Lando that Chewbacca is simply frustrated that he hasn't been able to see his family back on his homeworld for a long time. Wedge Antilles comes to the three and tells them that a meeting with Mon Mothma and Ackbar is about to begin. The rebels arrive as the two Rebel leaders begin to address the Rebels on the establishment of a new government. Luke and Leia are out on missions to planets to ask their leaders to come to Endor to have a voice in the new government, but more are needed to do the same. At the end of the meeting, Ackbar mentions the mysterious "Captain Drebble" and his exploits on Gamandar and Arcan IV. Lando, who is the real "Captain Drebble", is shocked to hear that the Rebel leaders have decided to declare Drebble a hero and give him a commendation for his actions. At the end of the meeting, Han volunteers himself and Chewbacca for a mission to Keyorin, a planet near Kashyyyk. Lando joins his friends in the Cobra so that the group will have two ships, and Chewbacca can have an extended stay with his family on Kashyyyk if he wishes. After arriving on Keyorin, the "Hunter's World," the group meets with the Boss, the planetary leader. The Boss misinterprets the Rebel's intentions and believes they are there to try and secure protection money. However, Han convinces him otherwise, claiming that a place in the new government is something he will not want to pass up. The Boss is convinced, and he tells Solo that he'll think about the offer, clearly interested in having his say in the new government.

Done with their diplomatic mission, Lando, Han, and Chewie make their way to a local tavern. After ordering drinks, the Rebels see Bossk enter and Lando and Chewie attempt to hide. Han is confused by his friends' actions, and the two explain that during Solo's imprisonment in carbonite, they sent several gangs and hunters after Solo in their effort to rescue him. Attempting to leave quietly after paying the bill, Lando sees Drebble, and his associates pull weapons. The Rebels run out of the bar, but a member of Lemo and Sanda's gang recognizes Solo, and he and another gang member join the chase. In the ensuing scramble, the Rebels are stunned right outside the Falcon. Lemo and Sanda's gang demand that Drebble turn over Han and Chewbacca to them. Drebble only has need for Lando, and he allows Solo and Chewbacca to be taken away. Lemo hangs Han and Chewie from energy-binders to learn where the Dancing Goddess is, a statue that the gang has been pursuing. When Lemo mentions "Captain Drebble," who had deceived them on Arcan IV, Han tells Lemo that Drebble was the one has the statue and that he had betrayed them both. Back on the Millennium Falcon, Lando awakens to find his captors about to depart for Drebble's homeworld, but when Drebble starts to mess with the controls on the ship, a hologram of Mon Mothma shows up on the video screen, reminding all personnel about "Captain Drebble" and the need to reward him. Honored at the distinction, Drebble begins to take to his new status as a hero when Lemos's gang arrives to capture Lando who they still believe to be "Drebble." At the same time, Chewbacca fakes his own death to fool the gang member who is still guarding them. The ruse tricks the guard, and they are able to escape putting the gang member in energy-binders. Free from their imprisonment, Han and Chewie leave to rescue Lando. As Drebble's group and Lemo and Sanda's gang face off at the Millennium Falcon, Lando devises a plan to help him escape the situation. He and Drebble leave the Millennium Falcon, pretending to surrender, but the plan is disrupted as Han and Chewie arrive, triggering a violent reaction from Lemo and Sanda's gang. In the ensuing firefight, Lemo's gang are outflanked by Drebble's Stenaxes, and they surrender. Pleased with his heroic actions, Drebble decides to let the Rebels go. Lando, honoring Mon Mothma's decree to reward "Captain Drebble", gives the new hero his prize. To Lemo and Sanda's shock, the reward is the Dancing Goddess.

Behind the scenes
This issue takes place concurrently with Star Wars 87: Still Active After All These Years and Star Wars 88: Figurehead as Admiral Ackbar mentions that both Luke and Leia are on diplomatic missions to other planets, which take place in the later comics.

During the briefing before the heroes leave for Keyorin, a blonde woman is seen standing next to Lando for several panels. Retroactively, this may be the Rebel pilot Travis.

Collections

 * Classic Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 6: Wookiee World