579: Luke Skywalker: PARIAH! Classic Marvel Star Wars Comic #62

Luke Skywalker has gone from hero of the Rebellion to suspected murderer!

Hey Hey, Skywalkers! We return to Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics with 1982’s issue #62, “Pariah!”—a pivotal chapter in the beloved Shira Brie storyline.

Richard revisits this dramatic issue from his childhood and learns he wasn’t the only kid who had to look up “pariah.” Sarah shares her first-time reactions and artistic observations, and our Skywalkers weigh in on Walt Simonson’s striking red, black, and white cover. We also reveal our favorite panels, favorite dialogue, and the issue’s most non-Star Wars moment.

Skywalking Force member Ben Avechuco joins us as the Hulk in “The Incredible Hulk and the Twins of Evil,” a vintage Marvel/Hostess crossover advertisement! DM us if you’d like to voice a character in a future show.

Issue #62: “PARIAH!”

After trusting the Force and shooting down Shira Brie’s TIE fighter, Luke is shunned by his fellow Rebels and begins questioning everything Ben Kenobi and Yoda taught him.

Has the Force betrayed him—or was Shira hiding something?

With a little help from Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca, Luke takes the Millennium Falcon to Shira’s homeworld of Shalyvane. There he discovers that her story may have been a lie, survives a Trial by Ordeal, activates a mysterious transmitter with his own blood, and comes face-to-face with Darth Vader!

Release date: May 18th, 1982
Written by: David Michelinie & Walt Simonson
Artwork by: Walt Simonson & Tom Palmer
Cover Art: Walt Simonson

We recommend watching the video version of the podcast (above) of this episode which contains the full comic as we page through it. Listen to the audio podcast here:

About Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics

For those new to our CMSWC sub-series, we are working our way through the original Star Wars comic run published by Marvel from 1977 to 1986. Along the way, we share childhood memories, first-time reactions, artistic observations, and connections to later Star Wars films, series, novels, comics, video games, and even theme parks. Think of it as a Star Wars history lesson, celebrating what we love.

We take our Facebook Group Comments on the cover into account as we analyze this issue. Become a part of our Facebook Group to contribute!