Star Wars (1977) 52

To Take The Tarkin
Attribution information
Writer	David Michelinie
Penciller	Walt Simonson
Inker	Tom Palmer
Letterer	John Morelli
Colorist	Don Warfield
Cover artist	Walt Simonson
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Publication date	July 21, 1981
Pages	22
Chronological information
Timeline	3 ABY
Series	Star Wars
Issue number	52
Preceded by	Star Wars (1977) 51
Followed by	Star Wars (1977) 53

"Luke, sometimes you almost make me miss Han Solo's boneheaded optimism!"

―Leia Organa

Star Wars 52: To Take The Tarkin is the fifty-second issue in Marvel's Star Wars series of comics.

This issue appeared in a 1981 television commercial for Marvel Comics.

Plot summary

The Rebels Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Chewbacca along with the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 have infiltrated the Imperial superweapon Tarkin with the intention of sabotaging it. While they are carrying out their plan, Darth Vader is arranging a confrontation with Luke, but a group of Imperial officers led by General Biel, are planning to destroy the Sith Lord. The officers' plan fails, but Vader decides to focus on capturing the Rebels and deal with the insurgents later.

Having hampered the firing mechanism of the Tarkin, the Rebels escape the station but are attacked by a group of TIE fighters, including one piloted by Vader. Fortunately for the Rebels, Lando Calrissian had stowed aboard the Millennium Falcon and he pilots the freighter to the aid of the others. With Vader's fighter disabled, Biel attempts to fire the Tarkin's superlaser at the Rebels, hoping Vader would be caught in the blast. But the superweapon self-destructs at the time it fires, killing all on board.

Appearances

By type

Characters	Organisms	Droid models	Events	Locations
Organizations and titles	Sentient species	Vehicles and vessels	Weapons and technology	Miscellanea

Characters

Berl (First appearance) Biel (First appearance) C-3PO Lando Calrissian Mother Calrissian (Mentioned only) Chewbacca Nord (First appearance) Leia Organa R2-D2 Luke Skywalker Han Solo (Mentioned only) Darth Vader Maraba Tev (Indirect mention only) Unidentified Imperial admiral (First appearance) Unidentified stormtrooper (Tarkin) (First appearance)

Organisms

Bantha (Mentioned only) Duck (Mentioned only) Gundark (Mentioned only) Slug (Mentioned only)

Droid models

Astromech droid R-series R2-series astromech droid Protocol droid 3PO-series protocol droid

Events

Galactic Civil War Battle of Yavin (Indirect mention only) Destruction of Alderaan (Mentioned only) Duel on Cloud City (Indirect mention only) Infiltration of the Tarkin

Locations

Alderaan (Indirect mention only) Cloud City (Mentioned only) Hockaleg Hockaleg spaceport Patriim shipyards

Organizations and titles

Alliance to Restore the Republic Galactic Empire Admiral Colonel General Imperial Academy (Mentioned only) Stormtrooper Corps Stormtrooper Supreme Commander Order of the Sith Lords Dark Lord of the Sith Sith Lord Pilot Princess

Sentient species

Human Cyborg Wookiee Rwook

Vehicles and vessels

Cargo trolley (First appearance) Commandeered transport (First appearance) Complement cargo vessel (First appearance) Death Star I (Mentioned only) Eclipse-class dreadnought (Retcon) Escape pod Imperial-class Star Destroyer Tarkin TIE/LN starfighter TIE Advanced x1 Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1 YT-1300 light freighter Millennium Falcon

Weapons and technology

Airlock Armor Darth Vader's armor Stormtrooper armor Blast door Blaster Blaster pistol Blaster rifle E-11 blaster rifle Comlink Computer Cybernetics Deflector shield Flame-retardant foam (First appearance) Ionic cannon Mini-scan (First appearance) Proton grenade Scomp link Superlaser Superweapon Thermo-charge (Mentioned only) Tractor beam generator Viewport

Miscellanea

Baldric Battlestation Cape Drydock "Grubber" Holy Jaf (First mentioned) Planet Spice (Mentioned only) Gannarian narco-spice (First mentioned) Shyriiwook Slime yeast (First appearance) Smuggling compartment The Force Force sense Vacuum Water

Collections

• Classic Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... 3
• Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 3: Resurrection of Evil
• Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago.... Volume 3
• Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 2
• Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 3

Sources

• "ComicScan: Where Leia Lets Loose" — Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 12
• From the Pages of Star Wars Insider: The Mighty Walt on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "The Mighty Walt" — Star Wars Insider 220

Notes and references

In other languages

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