A 1977 Marvel Star Wars #1 comic book signed by most of the film’s core cast of Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), and Kenny Baker (R2-D2) will be auctioned off on Thursday, April 29.
The comic, graded 9.6 by CGC Signature Series, has an opening bid of $15,000 and will be auctioned by Los Angeles, CA.’s Nate D. Sanders Auctions.
Marvel’s original Star Wars #1 hit newsstand spinner racks in April of ’77 – almost a full month ahead of the film’s release in May of that same year.
Considered a long-shot at the time it came out due to the relative obscurity of Star Wars prior to its game-changing release, Marvel acquired the license after several publishers passed on adapting the film to comic books when Marvel’s then editor-in-chief Roy Thomas took a gamble on the property. Thomas adapted the story himself alongside artist Howard Chaykin, who was also still in the process of making a name for himself in the comic book industry.
Of course, Star Wars went on to become an iconic, mega-hit franchise woven into the fabric of pop-culture. Marvel published Star Wars comics including adaptations of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, along with original stories until 1986 – three years after Return of the Jedi – for a total of 107 issues and three annuals in its original run.
More information on the signed Star Wars #1 auction can be found HERE.
