Star Wars 76: Artoo-Detoo to the Rescue
Star Wars comics are versatile as they are is readily available to and consumed by all ages and demographics. The audience ranges from young children to adults, a major contributor to its ongoing popularity. The series focuses on a young hero, Luke Skywalker, as he ventures to a distant aquatic planet named Iskalon. Luke and his sister, Leia, are there to take care of the dead and wounded as a result of a giant tidal wave in the city of Pavillion. The attack on Iskalon was ordered by Admiral Tower, but he did so without the knowledge that Luke is Darth Vader’s son. Vader goes on to order Tower’s execution for endangering Luke’s life. Meanwhile, Luke’s friends and allies, Chewbacca, Lando Caslrissian, Mone, and C-3PO are locked away in a cell on the planet Gamandar, which is under the control of the Galactic Empire. R2-D2 sneaks into the cell block and releases the Rebels, and they escape on the Millenium Falcon. As seen in the excerpt from the comic, Luke and Leia are faced by a serpentine creature called a Chiaki that emerges from the waters of Iskalon. They are accompanied by a Chuhkyvi warrior, Kiro, who helps them fend off the creature until the Millenium Falcon arrives and kills the Chiaki. Mone descends from the Falcon and finds his wife dead among the wreckage.
While this comic contains mature elements, it was still able to be inclusive to younger audiences. Young adult literature is defined as literature that is written for audiences between the ages of 12-20 and may include adults, but it mainly has an appeal to this age range (Outten). This categorization can fit for Star Wars, as it can include both a younger and older audience. Those below the age of 12 can definitely enjoy these comics as well. The comic does not depict any graphic material, such as gore or extreme violence, nor is it sexual or crude. Thus, the material is still appropriate for children’s literature.
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that is appropriate for almost all ages. It centers around a colorful, dramatic, and large scale space adventure with a sympathetic and heroic central character (Asher-Perrin). In this case, Luke and Star Wars embody the genre of Space Opera. Luke is young and was raised in adverse conditions. Regardless of his past, he is paving his own path in his intergalactic adventures. The laser blasters, strange creatures, and action all act to draw children in. In addition, Luke is relatable to most audiences because of his drive to save the galaxy and protect his loved ones. He is an altruistic hero and has to go through these hardships to defeat an ultimate evil. This draws in young readers, who see him as selfless and brave. Luke is meant to inspire readers, especially young children. The mature aspects of the story, such as death of Mone or the execution of Tower, are used to move the narrative forward. They are necessary for the story, but they are not the focus. The comic does not show death or violence in great detail. These deaths have a larger meaning in the context of the story and tie in aspects of family and grief. While children may not comprehend these serious topics, young adults, as well as older audiences, can connect and draw a deeper meaning from the story.
This comic does not have the Comics Code Authority Seal of Approval, but this did not detract from its marketability to all age groups, including children. This is a choice that Stan Lee made in 1970 to defy what he saw as censorship by the Comics Code. From there on out, Marvel comics did not have the seal on the cover (McMillan). The first issue of Star Wars comics was published in 1977 during the Bronze Age of comics. This time period lasted from around 1970 to 1984 and during this era, the narratives of comics were evolving to become more serious. The Bronze Age was known for its attempts to bring realism and adult issues into comics (Murray). This is prevalent throughout issue 76. Star Wars was widely regarded by Marvel as a smash hit due to its immense sales during its launch, which saved the company from financial ruin in 1977 when sales were low (McMillan).
As a franchise, Star Wars has always been easily accessible to all audiences, which is the reason it has been a staple of science fiction and popular culture for so long. Star Wars comics spanned 107 issues from 1977-1986 and led to the spin-off comics, Ewok and Droid (McMillan). These were directly aimed at children. Moreover, Star Wars comics were created with readers of all ages in mind (Murray). The vibrant illustrations and short pieces of text draw the eye to the page and keep the reader's attention with each panel. This is particularly effective for young readers because it draws the reader in and keeps them engaged. Thus, children and adults can enjoy these brief stories and characters for their heroic and adventurous elements, while still maintaining its important and mature lessons.