Star Wars #50

Marvel's Star Wars reaches its giant 50th issue in 1981 with a cover that pulls out all the stops — Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and a blaster-wielding companion charge forward in the foreground, while Han Solo and Chewbacca appear suspended in a glowing orb above them, and familiar faces including R2-D2, C-3PO, and the looming shadow of Darth Vader fill out a richly crowded scene. The cover pencils and inks by Walter Simonson and Tom Palmer give the whole ensemble a kinetic, urgent energy that feels worthy of the milestone. Writer Archie Goodwin and a stellar artistic team — including Al Williamson and Walt Simonson — make "The Crimson Forever!" a super-sized saga that fans of the galaxy far, far away will want on their shelf.