What’s up everywookiee! Welcome to a Rumor Rundown! This is where we take a look at the rumors floating around the internet and run down the list of key Star Wars comics related to those rumors! Will we see more Bounty Hunters we first met on the bridge of the Executor in Obi-Wan Kenobi May 25?
SPOILER ALERT. What follows may spoil elements of Obi-Wan Kenobi, so proceed at your own risk!
Boulder of Salt Warning: Now, as always, take these rumors with a large boulder of salt until we hear an official announcement from Disney/Lucasfilm confirming.
Star Wars News Net is reporting that 4-LOM, a member of the motley gang of Bounty Hunters assembled on the bridge of the Executor by Darth Vader to track down Han Solo, will appear in Obi-Wan Kenobi. The information indicates that he will have a larger role than simply standing there like he did in Empire Strikes Back!
So, if you’re looking for 4-LOM key comics, here’s your list! Unfortunately, because he showed up next to Boba Fett in ESB, his key comics are closely tied to Boba’s key comics.
First comic cameo in any format:
Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Marvel Comics Illustrated Version
5/1/1980
As I always say, some comic collectors discount other formats for the same material, but this is the first sequential art displaying 4-LOM in cameo. He shows up in the background on the Executor bridge, just like in the film. This material, written by Archie Goodwin and illustrated by Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon is the same material printed in the Marvel Super Special, Star Wars 39-44, and the Empire Strikes Back Weekly UK magazine issues.
First comic magazine cameo:
Empire Strikes Back Weekly 127
7/31/1980
First comic magazine cover:
Empire Strikes Back Weekly 129
8/14/1980
What’s interesting is that the image on the cover of ESB Weekly 129 is from the interiors by Al Williamson and it’s from the first splash page of issue 42:
The bounty hunter shown over Boba’s left shoulder on the cover resembles a strange mix between Zuckuss and 4-LOM. Given the initial confusion over the identity of these two (as shown on the original Kenner releases), this makes sense.
Later on in issue 42 you can see something more distinctively 4-LOM. So, we can assume the cover of ESB Weekly 129 is supposed to be 4-LOM and that’s the general consensus out there.
First traditional comic book cameo
Star Wars 42
9/23/1980
Star Wars 42 is not a cheap book. Regardless of Boba Fett’s prior appearances in the same books outlined for 4-LOM above, this is the collector’s preferred book to own and it makes sense. He’s on a classic cover and it’s in traditional comic book format.
It would make sense that out of the options above, this would be a favorite for 4-LOM collectors as well.
4-LOM makes another cameo in the background of one panel of Star Wars 50 (vol. 1 1977):
Another cameo in Shadows of the Empire 2 in two panels with some short dialogue:
6/1996
8/1996
I’d say First full appearance and first appearance in an original comic book story:
Shadows of the Empire 3 (7/1996)
