In January 1976, as George Lucas prepared to shoot his new film, then titled The Star Wars, he asked Marvel Comics to publish a comic book for the film’s release. Marvel’s initial reluctance abated once they understood that Lucas was prepared to give the rights for free. Royalties would only be paid if the comic sold more than 100,000 copies.

Upon the movie’s release in May 1977, Marvel soon realised that they had a mega-hit on their hands. The first issues, scripted by Roy Thomas and drawn by Howard Chaykin, a young artist Lucas had spotted in the indie comic Star*Reach, sold over one million copies, four times the number of Marvel’s top superhero title: The Amazing Spider-Man. Hence, Star Wars became a monthly publication.

With no new film due to drop for at least a few years, and fans ravenous for more stories, Lucasfilm released several novels. But the only regular source of new material was the comic. It continued to outsell all Marvel’s other titles, thanks to the quality of the creators guiding the stories. Thomas and Chaykin were soon joined by writer Archie Goodwin and penciller Carmine Infantino, who took Luke, Han, Leia and Darth Vader all over the galaxy, exploring new worlds and introducing new characters.

The first 23 issues have now been digitally remastered to correct the original era’s inexpensive, imperfect printing, while still capturing the spirit and texture of the comics' historic first release, and collected in an XXL-sized edition: bigger even than a Death Star. This truly out-of-this-world collection includes an in-depth history by comic book historian Peter Sanderson.