Vader's Quest Part I
A fun post A New Hope tale involving a drunken Rebel Pilot, freaky alien body doubles, an alien Owl-Man, the Star Wars version of "You Bet Your Life", and of course Lord Vader himself.
"SKYWALKER!"
I think given Vader's response you know what will now happen to the bounty hunters. Yep, he orders all of them to be put to death.
It's during this time the one lone bounty hunter, Mala, who lost her bet returns and finds Stormtroopers firing at her. She take's them out and returns to the poor rebel pilot who spilled that it was Luke who destroyed the Death Star. This time he confesses to her more on why he was here on the planet. He was celebrating the victory and before he knew it the Empire was on his ass due to his big mouth. Again he feels he's utterly betrayed the Rebellion and welcomes when Mala points a blaster in his direction to end his life.
Good scene though wish I had enough, but I love the next scene even more with Vader cornering Owl-Man:
The stormtroopers swarm Mala who puts a brave stand but after a blaster hit take's a tumble off a cliff. Stupidly, the troopers don't check for the body instead reporting to Vader they killed her. With that Vader leaves the planet with Mala wondering, "Skywalker eh?"
During this all we have Luke being swarmed by Rebel pilots who are all fanboys given he destroyed the Death Star. It is then we're introduced to one Jal Te Gniev, a Rebel pilot. We learn the truth on how Luke was able to be a part of the assualt on the Death Star. He took Jal's spot as the pilot because he was stuck in the medical wing with measles.
Wedge tries to calm his comrade down but Jal is utterly in toxicated drinking his sorrows away, filled with jealousy that it should have been he who blew up the Death Star. Well.. a false alarm and well Jal totals a X-Wing with Wedge face palming (and the idea of iconing that facepalm was tempting). After that incident the higher up's of the Rebellion transfer Jal to Dubrava. Which is pretty much being transfered to away from comabt to a lone little place neither side would care much about.
So when #2 opens Jal is drinking his sorrows away again at Dubrava. An alien almost dead ringer to Luke begs to join the Rebellion, but instead Jal mocks and embrasses the living hell out of the poor kid.
However, his loose mouth he mentions that hot topic name of Skywalker even also adding where Luke is currently at (on a diplomatic mission in Jazbina). She informs a bounty hunter who in turn rats to the Empire. Naturally events repeat themselves. Stormtroopers arrive, kill the bounty hunter, then they kill the woman who ran into the bar. Fight erupts between the scum of the planet and the Empire. Empire wins with Jal escaping the same way he embrassed the kid from earlier which leads me to this scene:
Meanwhile...
Someone wanted Vader going behind his master's back well here you go. Vader knows his son blew up the Death Star, but wants to keep Palapatine out of the loop hence the orders to terminate any life that hears the name Skywalker.
As for the remainder of the issue not soon after this meeting, word reaches Vader that Luke's on Jazbina. The ship entering Coruscant would be Mala who again persistingly survives her ship being blown to shreds and crash landing near Palpatine's palace. The issue ends however with Jal spending any money he has left on a rundown X-Wing, and he too is off to Jazbina.