Hello, Everywookiee! As you may know, we launched our sister site, WookyWiki.com, the Star Wars comics first appearance and key issue database earlier this year! We have been steadily updating the entries while chasing the ever elusive goal of a comprehensive database for Star Wars comics! We’re updating one year at a time in chronological publishing order! This week, we are leaving the 70s behind by finishing up the year 1979! Check out the key issue highlights from 1979!
As always, you can check out all these entries and more from the entire history of Star Wars comics publishing over at WookyWiki.com!
Tagge Family
In Episode IV, we met Cassio Tagge, a high-ranking Imperial Officer who opposed basing the Empire’s military might around the Death Star battle station. Cassio preferred numerical superiority with a fleet of Star Destroyers. During the inter-film years after A New Hope and before Empire Strikes Back, the Star Wars comics explored the ancient and powerful Tagge family’s tree.
We first meet Baron Orman Tagge February 7, 1979, in Star Wars Weekly 53, a weekly black and white magazine published exclusively in the UK. Orman is the head of the Tagge family and business in Legends comics. We learn that Orman was once blinded in a duel with Darth Vader himself.
Orman then makes his first cover appearance on Star Wars Weekly 56 on March 21, 1979.
Some collectors don’t consider Star Wars Weekly appearances because they are “magazine” format. Wider than the traditional dimensions we expect from a comic book nowadays. Of course, for those who prefer the traditional comic book format, Orman then first appears in that format in Star Wars 25 on April 24, 1979.
Next up, we meet Ulric Tagge, the youngest of the four Tagge brothers (including Cassio), and another imperial officer. He first appears in Star Wars Weekly 73 (7/18/1979).
Silas Tagge, the eccentric head of the Tagge research and development wing, first appears in Star Wars Weekly 75 (8/1/1979). Silas then makes his first cover appearance on Star Wars Weekly 79 (8/29/1979).
Both Ulric and Silas make their first appearance in traditional comic book format in Star Wars 31 (10/23/1979), for those who prefer to avoid the magazine appearances.
Finally, we hear about the most prominent Tagge in current Marvel comics continuity, Domina Tagge. The sister of the bunch. Domina is first mentioned (not by name) in Star Wars Weekly 79 (8/29/1979). This same mention happens in traditional comic book format for the first time in Star Wars 33 (12/25/1979). She then makes her first full appearance and cover appearance in Star Wars Weekly 86 (10/17/1979). Finally, Domina makes her first traditional comic book format appearance in Star Wars 35 (2/26/1980).
Newspaper Comics From LA Times Syndicate
In 1979, the Star Wars Newspaper comics started up their weekly syndication with daily and weekly strips. Strip #1 was published March 11, 1979. On that day, we were introduced to BRT Supercomputer or “Mistress Mnemos” an underground Rebel Supercomputer which C-3PO deposits his tales with for historical safekeeping.
The Sunday strip #18 on July 8, 1979, first mentioned to Wookiee home planet of Kashyyk!
A week later in Sunday strip #19, we get the first mention of the Wookiees’ annual celebration Life Day in a comic!
Machines of War
Finally, we get some cool appearances of vehicles that weren’t present in the films.
The Reconnaisance Troop Transport K79-S80 was a repulsorlift vehicle that transported Imperial Stormtroopers. Kenner produced this vehicle first as a toy for their 3.75″ figure line and it came with a booklet stating that this vehicle was present of Tattooine during the hunt for R2 and 3PO!
Kenner Imperial Transport Packaging 
Kenner Story Booklet Illustration
The vehicle first appears in comics in Star Wars Weekly 74 (7/25/1979). The vehicle then makes its first cover appearance on Star Wars Weekly 78 (8/22/1979). Of course, the vehicle later made it back into canon in The Mandalorian and as a Hasbro Vintage Collection release.
Lastly, it makes sense that the Jawas wouldn’t want to run around their giant Sandcrawlers on foot all day long. Well, according to Legends comics, the Jawas had mini Crawlers that they could move about the interior of their Sandcrawlers with. The mini Crawlers first appear in Star Wars Weekly 76 (8/8/1979). Then it makes its first appearance in a traditional comic book format in Star Wars 32 (11/27/1979).
