Star Wars 39: The Empire Strikes Back: Beginning

Star Wars 39: The Empire Strikes Back: Beginning is the thirty-ninth issue in the Marvel Star Wars series of comics.

Plot summary
The Rebel Alliance has established a new base on the ice planet called Hoth, but an Imperial probe droid discovers their location and transmits the data before it can be destroyed. Luke Skywalker has been attacked by one of the Wampas and is taken to the creatures cave, but Luke escapes from its custody and, with the help of Han Solo, returns to Echo Base. Captain Firmus Piett receives the probe droid's signal and reports his findings to Darth Vader who immediately orders the fleet to the Hoth system.

Behind the scenes
This is Part One of the six part adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back.

The price changes from forty cents to fifty cents with this issue.

As mentioned in the editorial comment of the letters page, Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon each pencil and ink the issues of the comics adaptation.

Only small references link the ESB story arc with the rest of the series; otherwise we have no clue on how and when the Alliance colonized Hoth, what happened to Jan Dodonna and other original characters etc. Storywise, the ESB story arc begins abruptly

Collections

 * Marvel Special Edition 2: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Marvel Super Special 16: The Empire Strikes Back
 * The Marvel Comics Illustrated Version of The Empire Strikes Back
 * Classic Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 1
 * Classic Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (TPB)
 * Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - The Special Edition (TPB)
 * Classic Star Wars Box Set
 * Star Wars: The Special Edition Box Set
 * Classic Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 3: Resurrection of Evil
 * Omnibus: A Long Time Ago... Volume 2
 * Omnibus: The Complete Saga