Gideon Longspar


 * "Why work up a sweat when I got a mountain full o'followers t'do my punchin' for me?"
 * — Gideon Longspar

Gideon Longspar was a crime lord that lived in the mountain regions overlooking the town of Garratine on the planet, Beheboth. Longspar desired total control over the moisture farming community and labored to great extremes to acquire it. He routinely sent his bands of brigands into the town to sabotage the moisture vaporators operated by farmer, Darial Anglethorn.

Biography
In 3 ABY, Gideon gained control of a non-corporeal sentient species known as the Tirrith. The Tirrith was a mass of energy mist particles that comprised a hive mind. Along with being telepathic, the Tirrith had the ability to chemically alter atmospheric conditions. Longspar captured a portion of the Tirrith and imprisoned inside of a special containment pod. He then blackmailed the remaining Tirrith particles into assisting him, less he decide to kill their hive-mind counterparts. He forced the enslaved Tirrith to infiltrate the moisture vaporators at the Anglethorn farm, poisoning their water supply. Whenever the farm’s personnel drank from the altered water supplies, they passed out. Longspar took advantage of this opportunity and had his brigands destroy all of Darial’s moisture vaporators.

Rebel Alliance pilot, Luke Skywalker landed on Beheboth and became involved with Darial’s troubles. He promised to help her guard the moisture vaporators. Luke eventually fell prey to the Tirrith effect however. As he lied passed out on the desert floor, Longspar’s goons snuck into the facility and abducted Darial. Luke eventually awakened and used the Force to guide him to Longspar’s mountain stronghold. Gideon’s men apprehended him and liberated him of his lightsaber. He was placed inside of a dungeon cell along with Anglethorn. The two eventually escaped from their prison and Luke faced Gideon in his throne room. Gideon tried attacking Luke with his own lightsaber, but the Jedi outmaneuvered him and gained a victory. Luke and Darial freed the imprisoned Tirrith, thus ending Gideon’s influence over Garratine.

Physical appearance
Gideon Longspar was barrel-chested humanoid alien of unknown lineage. His skin was a deep orange with striped black markings running along the sides of his face. He wore a purple colored fez and a loose-fitting tunic with a bandolier.

Appearances

 * Marvel Star Wars 66: The Water Bandits
 * Classic Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... 3 (reprint)

Behind the scenes

 * The character of Gideon Longspar was created by Marvel Comics writer David Michelinie. This was one of the final characters he would create for the Marvel Comics line.