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Designer COMING SOON! o( DEBRA B AILEY )o Here's more Star Wars reading that you

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Assistant Editor

STAR WARS: EMPIRE #2J by JEREMY BARLOW and BRANDON BADEAUX o( KATIE MOODY )o Cover by KILIAN PLUNKETT It was supposed to be an easy gig ... transport a young woman across the desert to the waiting arms of her friends. But nothing's ever easy for Editor reformed smuggler BoShek, and he soon finds himself in the middle of a struggle between a o( DAVELAND ) o militant cell of the Rebel Alliance and Imperial operatives - and in direct conflict with his own desires to avoid galactic politics. With the fires of civil war burning around him, Publisher BoShek may be forced to make a stand with one side or the other ... unless he can make a run ... o( MIKERICHARDSON )o The fust full-feature comics adventure of one of the most intriguing characters from the Mos Eisley cantina, the " Rockabilly Spaceman" himself, BoShek! Special thanks to On sale July 7 .J ONATHAN R INZLER and AMY GARY at Lucas Licensing. STAR WARS: RBPUBUC #67 by RANDY STRADLEY and BRANDON BADEAUX Cover by BRIAN CHING Advertisino ~ General Kenobi ' s clone army is sent on a (503 ) 652-88 ' 5 x 37D diversionary mission to distract a massive Separatist anny long enough for newly knighted Jedi Tohno - a girl barely older than Anak..in Skywalker - to infiltrate a droid factory a nd Comic Shop Locat· r S~rvice: destroy it. The key to the mission is to attract the (888 ) 226-.4226 Separatist' s attention without actually engaging them in combat. But Anakin feels that he witnessed the sacrifice of enough young Jedi WWW . OARKHORSE.COM during the disastrous mission to Jabiim, and he can't stand the prospect of another one. WWW . S T ARWARS. COM Can Anakin learn to put the Republic's objectives ahead of his own feelings, or will his misguided STAR WARS TALES #20, Jtmr P ' ' bM ~ o.k Horse Comics, heroism jeopardize the lives of thousands in order Inc., 10956 SE MaJn Strefl.. • CJa .-nn. SUr Wars C2004 to save one? And what about Master Tohno? Lucasfilm Ud. & "' AD rilhU resawd. Ud -*r aabartz.ation. Text Doesn't she have a say about her own part of the and illustrations for Star W.-s nks ~ CJIM IMtifilm Ud. Dark Horse Comics® Is a tradetxwit ol Did flanr c.c.6a. Inc.. registered mission? Another action-packed battle in the in various categories and comttries.. AI n,bU ~ No portion of Clone Wars, and a serious decision-point in the this publication may be reproduced« u "**•cd.ln any form or by career of Anakin Skywalker! any mean.s, without the express wnna-aa pc n:alw.Jon of Dark Horse Comics, Inc. Names, characun. pUas.. ·!ncMmls futured in this On sale J uly 28 publication either art' the product at Llw ~ ~tlon or are used fictitiously. Any re~ 10 • ::c= (Uvlng or dead), events, institutions, or locales. llalall.ls cotnddental. P RINTED IN CANADA,

Art - LUCAS MARANGON PLEASE SEND QUESTIONS AND COMME N TS TO:

Colors_ ~ASONHVAM STAR WARS TALES C/ O DARK HORSE COMICS, 10956 SE MAIN STREET, MILWAUKIE, OR 97222 Lette rS- STEVE DUTRO OR. E - MAIL AT .ST ARWARB@ OARKHORBE.COM . g ~ ty . .,

JrN "THE STo~

SOVTHE.RNMOST SEAS OF N~OO, CAPTAIN G!ORGE. R !INKS Of: lH~ Bl~kS & Sat~ 'WAAUNG C~ CLoSES IN. ON 14\S PRtY. ...,

BLAST! Tl-\E w..w.a HAS

GOlTEN HERSE.Lf TANGL'E'O \ 1'-l TI"\E. R.\GGING! l.F WE CAN JVST '"TURN QUICK To STA'R.SOAR.D,. wE CAN SHAKE. tiER. LOOSE.. ... ~~, ONE MONIH LA-,.~ ...,

NOW GEORGE R , YOLI LEAVE ~'t A CHILD1? BOY ALONE! YOU'RE JUS11A\ '(OUR f'~US~ItONS oN HIM! You NE:VE.R \-\I.S AGE: '1 'WAS ~1'\0ULD HAVE" LEF"r HIM A'l-11-tA"t wt\E.EL COMtv\ANt>tNG MY

ALL 'OY 1-\1"'\SE"LF; HE-'S ONLY A C~l LD!.1 OWN ~I.S\-\ING GANG. IN Olot-\ GUNGA!

H~-s NO C'HIL\:>1 ~~.'S .JUSI AN IMBECILE! ~' \\~'.'. YOU \-NITWIT/ Tt\E..SE:: Af'..E" NO\-

"tHE-~ONE~ Of= SEAS'ERP~N't.S.' ""rn~SE. ARE. \J4Ei "'ONE.S a;: ALL f'I\Y RUINE.O HOPES_, eiRE'wN YO\lSSA KNO~ MV I='A'tHE~,

A80u'r "l"'!41S 'BARREN "R.OC:K !! ME:ESA VE.RY

GooD SWIMMI:R1 ME£ COULD SWIM Fof\ 14E.L.P!

VOU IGNORANT FOOL! GOOD IDEA,BOY!

Wt. ARE 1-\ALFWAY AROUN'D 'YOU C.~ SAVE US l~E. GLOBE. rN IREAO'ERoU AFT£R ALL! LET'S WAIE.R". IT WOULO TAKE you GEl YOU SIARTED.~. ;: F'tY YEARS \0 SWIM l="O'R. ~ELP AND YOU COULDN'I SWIM ~OR. 1-\ALF A D~Y Wllt-\OU'r BE NG E.AiEN "BY A ... /!,

NO, GE.OR.GE., DON'T DO IT!

WE. CAN GC..i O~F=" or: 'TH\S I SLANI> SoME.How! we. t·VWr .SO MUC:H IO L\VE FOR. ... ,, l KNOW YOU DID NO! ¥/ANT IO MARRY M~ ... "'(Qu WAN TEP TO MAftR'( IHAT WAR.R.ICR GIRL YOU LOVE.D ...... B\JI you LE.F='i HER. SEC.AUS '(OU KNE.W SHE WOULP NO\ B E:.AR.. you A .SoN., .. -, ]. KNOW YOU NEVER LOVED MEI BUT YOU ,MJ\RRt E.D ME.. AN'NAY. YOU ALWAYS SAID 1HAi HAVING AN HE..IR. WAS Mo~ tMPQRIAtJ'"IIAAN LovE ..., Tl1Ai'5 GOOD. ~VERY ORO/D YUP! Tl1EY'5 JE5' WE'VE PUT TO WORK IN ~E GOT SOME GOOD LAST THREE CYCLES HAS TIMIN' 15 ALL, I PERFORMED FINE UNTlL A PLUM RECKON. WEEK OR 50 BEFORE ~E ROBO·TRADER5 SHOW UP, THEN THEY GO KERFLOOEY. , ...,

FRED JAWA, Y&55!RR#, FRIEND, YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO YOURSEI.F CONSUMER A MAJOR DISSERVlCE BUYING ADVOCATE! DROIDS WtrnOUT ANY SORT OF WARRANTY.

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE. YOU GUYS TAI.K REGUI.AR, TOO? WHY DIDN'T YOU EVER TAI.K TO ME IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT JAWA·ESE? ... , THERE IS NO SUCH OH, FRED, NO, SIRS, HOW CAN I.ANGUAGE. JAWA·ESE IS HOW CAN YOU YOIJ SI.EEP AT NIGHT? JUST GIBBERISH SPOKEN TO SI.EEP AT NIGHT FOR 5/-IAM&/ II DISORIENT THE GUII.EI.ESS DOING THIS TO PURCHASER. YOUR OWN KIND? OKAY, t..EMMf RUN YOU TJ.lROUGH TH~. YOU'RE BUYING Al.I.·PURPOSE HYDROCUI.TURAI. MOISTURE CUI.TIVAnNG DROIDS, AM I RIGHT? OF COURSE I AM. WI7'H0lff A WARRAtVTY. L.ET /~E GUESS, EACH SEASON YOU BUY

A NEW DROID. OR A "PREVI·

OUSI.Y OWNW DROID. .. AND THESE DROIDS, THEY PERFORM OKAY, FOR A WHII.E, BUT TJ.lEN ..., iJ.IE SEASON ENDS AND RIGHT AROUND n.IE 1AIE WESE FINE GENTS CRUISE INTO TOWN,

YOUR D:WIDS .. EITJ..IER NEW OR NEWISH ••

AP£ ~l EITJ..IER KAPUT OR JUST ABOUT 50. A~ £THt CON5.~ER, AGAINST SUCH EVENTU· ~mESAS EARlY OBSOlESCENCE, S;.t;lUI. P YOU~ D:WID GO BEllY UP, EVEN Af"ER n.IE STANDARD W~TY. FREDDY, YOU'RE

KilliN' US OVER

HERE. OKAY, fiNE. YOU'VE MADE YOUR POINT'. YOU'VE WORN US DOWN.

WE'll OFFER TJ..IE

EXTENDED WAR· RANTIES. 6UT THEY'll COST EXTRA. TJ..IAT'S FINE.

I WANT SOME PRO·

TECTION AS A CON· SUMER. GREAT. EVE~ING lOOI Qt.lE. A~ooN /4:S DEAl<, WIND'/ ANt> I JNt>U~~p IN OUR. 'F'AVO~ITE PASTr MB-RACING ACP.DSS '"""Iii. tn!.SE.P:r AT TOP SPEW. ' WASTrNG TfltAE.,'' MY UNCl-E. CAl.l...e.D IT. -~ .. .., WAS o5NOXtOUS, AU- P.l~I-\T, :&VI" BASICALLY,. I S~E~ A. AARMLESS SRAAGAR.T. HE WAS Nl!.VE.R Wnlo\OUT 1-l.tS PJMWI'J"TEP LITTL.& COMPANION, CH'EST£1: ~E H.A.I:> REC.Em't.Y ARRJVEt) OUR NE.IGH&oPJ-tOOD FROM !Hi! A'Z.ERIS.AZ. REGJO~ 1l 1l-\E. NO~T~. ~1-Y IHE JUi$1P~ ~HAD G.RO~ ~ OF HlS ~P1.otTS. 1 ~EAR. you'Re. SUPPoSEt> To SE. A

GREAT t=L.tE.R. 1-\0W A50UT AACJN~ ME,

tF YOU '"ffi.tNK yoU'VE G.OT ~ MOVES!, you'D a1::rreR aE.,

OR l'L.t.. COME

L.OOic:tN' FoR you! • IT 1"'001<. I>AR.fNG. AJ0 SKIU.., TO etE SU~E.WAAT A MON.SfEP./ I 'I) st:. CARE.r u t. SF I WE~YoU!, THE NI!XT fv\ORNJN(l, W~ ~V'Ei.l> A t.tTrt..e EARl-Y. I WAATEP TOTAJlRE cou~e.. .., t T~ TMI!. SOU'/ CNEA., I HE WAS t7E.At>, Al..l.. RJGJ..rr. AND """""'""""""T BELrE.VE MY EVE!.S . IT 1.00~ l.lK.E. 1-'8 HAD BEliN STRAN'Cl...El'-W~ f\l:S OWN SCAAF, PUL.t.ED So TlGKr -mAT li WAS EMSEDDE.t> tN 1-\lS t..aECK.

I ~ '1b" · ~' .,. ' .

.,. ,, ,' ".._' ~ .. , . "'-.. • .. ' ~ ~ -'· ... ~ ~ .:' ~ ~, IT WAS GoRM'S NASTY L.JTn..& PAJ..., ~E.sreR, rN A C'R.OWt) SIW.AN ib ~TI COMPANY o'F SJ!.~ oF1MEIP. ~FRIENDS. AND I WAS STARTI~ 1b( A 1.1-n"U!. Nlt~VOUS. WAIT A Ml~UTE! I KNOW ST t.OOf<.S BAD, BUT I HAl> ~oTH.t~~ TO PO Wl"l"H ,-rl.tS! ·- ... -, rJE QUtc.KL.Y OUTDISTAt-lCEt> ~y ~u~ ANt> Fl-EW ~, TOWAR.P -r'J.l.E. ~GY MOUN!Alt-l RAN~E OF KHoNIN., HE G.AVE. ME. 'THE HOSl'rTAl.JTY OF HCS 1-\0ME- 1-U:: COUL.t>N'T AAVE BEEN ANl>TOR~OUT"Jt) BEAI-\OST SYMPATHETCC. Kt t.t.ED ELSEWHERE ANt> AAl 1-IST'EioJER. r APMIT'll:.I> 1b BE.lN~ A. FUG.[Tl~ I-US 80PY l'EPOSITI!P IN ANt> W. THE C,..A"4E-SAY, BYSOME.ON ON A scoo'J"ER. TI-\OSE. WERJ DEFtNrrELY HlS F'OOTPRrNT5

So HE WAS MO~~E~D

RIGHT THERE. tW &JJ.E ARENA. AND f\a APPAREN'Tt.Y WAJ..K.Et> Ji.J-L. Tr\E WAY TO 11-Ui <:.ENTER OF HIS OWN FREE WtL.t... WW(?! WW( l:'tl' AE G.O tN 11-\ERE.?, THE NEXT MO~lNCl, I &U> A RELUC,.ANT f'ARii.WEU.. 1n 5EJ-I , .., 1: ARR.sVE.~:t HE.R.E. EARLY YES1"'E.PJ>A.Y 1'-' TEST THE COURSJS, BUT G.O~-AN]) CHESTER-G.oT ~ 'E.VEN l:AA.l.rER, UNl'ER TrU:. CO~ Or DARKNESS. i'HEJR, G.,OAL. WAS. POR.e'- !1\At..tCE! ~...-11\1-, ~·- n s, 5CJR1! ENOUGH, sru.L. IN CJ41!,5.TE!RS POSSE'.SSION WA'S -n-\E DEADLY C:.OU .. OP WIRE. WEU., Ol.b Q.oR.M'S ~CTER CER.TAIJ- WJ.S '"'IS t>ESTINY. J<.EN08J MUST 6E QUITE A WI~D. YEAH, M/J..YB'E. I'L.1.. R.UN INTO HIM AGAIN, WHO KNOWS?, kids ... Its jv.sh yov.. know ... Si nt.t ~e~e. ~mHIS i'ffived het"e., t he'tVe been s+ea\il19 and doW\e.~fi c*;"~ aH O\AY" w;\d +~'4t"'f.,\o\nS '"'ere'~ j"'S~ "ofo cx\ · -to be. h~A .

AW, w\,o am 1 "iAA: "~~

I h•~l"''i Setn ww ild ~~- ta~ot~ta~n aro"'"~ hereint'Yion+hs . Wha~ 'aM :t ~Of\~d do~ "I. ~;~h~ as well jv..~t. .., IJJ.IAT Wt:J.L, W& Do HCCD '1t) /IAISC 771/HK 1110Rc-/l£YENUC TO COVCR :T/111 7H£ COST or PIIOTCC.T/NC7 ? TH~DF: /IOCI'i&'S rfiO/n SPII&t: PIRIIT&S·· ·, 8tJT4 WAR CSPCCJALI-'I COIJLD SP&U- roR 'IOUIII/DIJIC ,:'1/1111/IC/AL PJ.IIII&T- DJSAsr&R roR THC CONFrD- &1/ATION. .., TH~HK 'IOU FOR III'IITIN6111t:; SCNm"OR. ..

IIA Hll.' OJ./'

.:TAR .:T4R, we ~N'T S7'J9Y tnAD .41 'IOU. .., NF:CO r RCI'I11ND

You -rHm- "'~ ollc.t: wAs SANAIC" rRom ou~

COIYII11UNITY S/A1PLV rOR 8C/N(j ~J.fi/JISf/'!, NIH, RCPR£S~ &NXS .' SrJT "THC/11, 'tbUR 11£"-C'U:Cf/' ON r scurvr COIIGRA/IJlAT'10H.S ~c l>..lr\.'ra llC~J.J. Y WAS IN DoiJar, IN OilOCR f.JAS rr'? NOT .4~ J.ONG IllS WF: 1/Ll. CONTIM.JC -rD CO- OI'CRATl:: .. 1/ ''sJ.IJtJK£' OOWJI"'? WHY, !Tift'. 81NHS, W/-11/'TCVCR 00 1./ov 111&'AN';', WELL, REMEMBER WHEN I SAID WE HAD TROUBLE FINDING PEOPLE? YOU SAID WE NEEDED SOMEONE STRONG AND UNCOMPROMISING •• SOMEONE EVERYONE WOULD RESPECT?, HO, ~~A»E~~! ~HAT t4A~E. We. H£~E? ArfOTHE.R THFULt. •NG, A'D"ENTuAE. ~•TH THE 0~5 NoT CoNe. E.AN T .. E FEARS01"1E 808A, SUT P.ATHER tUS 8U,.6ltHC, couSIN, \ ~o, \ ' - - ~ tllou,~t T~too;Ne We\S -Q "' / ' Supro~ed to be Q desSeRt I\ pi-Net!? WheRe aRe Qll ... t"e '"'f'okes? / \ ' I \ WheRe's the \c.e '~eo.m? -·.: -:- '&-=- ~~-.- - ,_,...- · - -rhe~e·s No de !>S e Jlts MaN L~m ReQIIy

Q" I ,...,...,.._ Qt ~ ~weal;Nj \N heRe!

- -q,.. -. .... •-' ··... ., rt•s st;N ;Nj £ ..~ 3 . .. my , .. eyes. ' '., xt'~ Q l;ttle d;~o~ieNtiN~ · I'm QfR~;J tl,;s m;31tt put me e1t Cl ta~t;cal d; S Qd "Q NtClj e ON rny m; s S•' oN ••. - - - -... ¢]: -... -~:·:..,.. .. - - - .. _.... -.. -. -. ·-~ . , ~

To c.aptuRe DEAD, OR AL,'lE~

JA~ "J"AR

OR S\ N \< S! BOTH!

- .,... _ ~ \IJe\\ ,,. ~·'4e ~e"eR oetuaUy hope"fo U1 svc.cessfully c.ollec.teci Not o. bouNt~ befoRe . t-le~the.P. · The otheR bou Nt1 huNte" S tea~e me ~u,te o b~t. Somet:rnes 'X C.P.'j ., M'l APOLOGr-\ES , bEA~ READERS. "'EL"IN FE"TT'S

A»"ENT\JP.E •S E"EN MoRE. PATHET•C. THAN 'X AMT,C.lPATEJ) . 'X ScJPPOSE THAT HE'S DoOME.D To Vt1 ANDER THE DESERT IN C.t RC. LE S FoRE~ER~

St~PLE -""t NDEDL'I MUTTE.P.fN(, NON ~E.f!ISE To tUMS£.Lf. QUT WAtT •.. WHAT'S THIS ? A IAWA t'APPEMS 61, S•PPINC7 C.OL']) SoDA FFlOI"' A SENAToR J"AR 3"AR St Nl( S COMMEMoRATtVE J)~t"t(ttfM~SA ME E E. SA GOT C HAl THIRST"1~ TH IR5T'I ~ t-to~

WUDE!

- · ~- ... -~- -... - r c:Qptu~ed JA~ JAR BINKS! \tJ~'t'U the ot~eR bouNty \,\State~4S f;Nd out.' Tlata fQ 1 VfON'+ Uj ~ Qt -~~- ~ ME QN'/f'noRe .' .. - ... .. - - ~ ·... -~ · · · Actuo\''1, ~' ''·-·" ,.,~ th; ~sty, too, J"c:u~ J'tAP.! - • ..:., GREETINGS, CHtlOXft-t OF ~E FORCE! I AM YOU~ JfDI SAVIOR( DO NOT fE~R ME! $AlUTAltONS, SAVIOR JEl)l. ONLY 'tOU CA~ SA'IE US FROM EVE NTUAllY &tCOMtNG T~f. AANCOR'S DINNER. ~ • \ ~ -. ~~- -_..::...= ; - . - - -=-,

A RANCDI!. WOULI>

NE.'iER. PI·.SS UP FIG~TIIIG ANOTHER RANCOR, flEK!, WHIIT DID I BUY MY 1'\EMORY RANCORS IN SECTORS 'fOU FOR? YOU'RE SUPpOSED S~NK'S' PRETIY THEY ARENT 5UYP05tD TO 9E, TO TELL ME THESE LIMITED, CHIEF. RANCoRs 'TliAT em .swJM: THINGS, FLEK ! YOU GOT WI-IAT PKEW, THAT'S ENOUGH 'fOU PAID RANCOR FOR ME.FOR ., :: .. •• ••• :1 h :: ,, ,: :: :: :· :, .. • .'I :: ;: ~I • S• ·=· I• ~· : 1 :. :: \ \•,

Art- LUCAS MARANGON Ollnrs- .JASON HvAM THE "NEW" STAR WARS TALES

""' M BEGINS IN SEPTEMBER ! Lelle'"- ICHAEL HEISLER]