Writer: Archie Goodwin Art: Carmine Infantino The Wheel Saga was Marvels first attempt at multi-issue story-telling with Star Wars. It opens with Luke falling into a Force coma and Han, Leia, Chewie, C-3PO, and R2 taking him to the Wheel, a huge space station that serves as a centre for all sorts of legal and (mostly) illegal activity. What follows is a free-for-all of plot and action: Leia gets wrapped up in political intrigue with the stations administrator, Simon Greyshade, a former suitor for the princess, who has an alliance of convenience with the Empire. R2 and 3PO have to find a way to get Luke the medical attention he needs. Han and Chewie are entered into a gladiatorial event known as The Big Game, where they are forced to fight each other. And all the while the Empire is closing in. One of the things that makes this story work is the sense of anything goes. Marvel was under strict guidelines with what they could and could not cover in the comics. Yet those restrictions seemed to have had the opposite effect and opened the door to a more Flash Gordon/Buck Rogers type of sci-fi, which was always at the heart of the Star Wars franchise. In reading this story, you really do get that feeling of whats going to happen next? and will they make it out ok? that Star Wars long left behind as far as the principle characters are concerned. Truthfully, Infantinos block-jaw style of art doesnt work for everyone, but Goodwins writing rises to the occasion and creates one of the most swashbuckling adventures Star Wars has ever known.
I've been a huge sci-fi fan ever since going to see "Star Wars" at the tender age of 3 (and yes I actually do remember it! I love pretty much any intelligent and entertaining film and television series (some of my all time favorites are 2001, Lawrence of Arabia, Battlestar Galactica [SyFy], and The West Wing). Must thank the stars above for such things as HBOGO and Netflix (Am thoroughly enjoying Ripper Street btw). I've also been an avid comic book collector since childhood. I earned a bachelor's degree in creative writing with a second emphasis in film studies from Florida State University (Go Noles!) and definitely enjoy sitting back and watching pretty much any sports. I wish I had a joke to end with, but I don't so I'll simply say "The End."
