Marvel, as most collectors know was the North American publisher with the license for the original Star Wars comic line. That license did more than last through a 107 (plus 3 annual) issue run; it also produced a few different over-sized books. To this day, these books are not necessarily sought after, nor are they very expensive to purchase on the secondary market. They are, however, a very cool reflection of the era the classic trilogy was released in.

The first over-sized book, the movie adaptation of A New Hope, was made in the same format as Marvels 30 issue run of Treasury Edition comics. The Treasury Editions were, for the most part, a way for the company to offer reprints of stories deemed classics by the then modern Marvel readers. Though the Star Wars over-sized comic shared the same layout and dimension as the Treasury Editions, it was never included in the set and was instead called ‘Marvel Special Edition Star Wars’. This book was big, roughly 12”X18” (very rough estimation)

When The Empire Strikes Back was released, Marvel geared the ongoing Star Wars comic to fit in an adaptation into issues 39 through 44. They then reprinted these issues in both ‘Marvel Special Edition Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Marvel Super Special #16’, the latter was a monthly magazine that showcased reprints and what was otherwise unsuitable as regular on-the-shelf kid’s comics. Both comic magazines are essentially the same, save title. Though not quite as large as the Star Wars over-sized comic, each of the Empire Strikes Back specials came in at a whopping 8”X11”! (The adaptation also came in pocket book form, but that aint the topic today, you know…)

For Return Of The Jedi, Marvel opted to do a limited series adaptation as apposed to interrupting the ongoing book’s story. Much like Empire, Jedi was reprinted in (issue 27 of) Marvel Super Special. This version was just like the Empire edition in both size and layout. Oddly though, Jedi was also published with a different cover in what has become known as “Return Of The Jedi In Full Color”. The title, which at first seems odd since the Super Special was also printed in color, came about because this edition had the same cover as a digest (pocket-sized comic) compilation of Jedi that was printed in black and white earlier on. (Like stated above in the Empire paragraph, we’ll talk about these pocket books another day)

Follow the link to check these big comics out.

Marvel Special Edition Star Wars: STAR WARS marvel special#1 oversized 77 comic

Marvel Super Special 16: The Empire Strikes Back Large Comic Book

Marvel Super Special 27: No auction available

Marvel Special Edition Empire Strikes Back: RETURN OF THE JEDI COMIC ADAPTATION MARVEL 83

Return Of The Jedi In Full Color: RETURN OF THE JEDI - comic novel Marvel Comic



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