Template:Infobox Comic Book
Marvel Star Wars 98: Supply and Demand is the ninety-eighth issue of the Marvel Star Wars series of comics.
Plot
While Chewbacca is on the leave to Kashyyyk, and Leia on meeting with some the Alliance 'biggies', quoting Lando, Han is forced to go on a mission to a former Imperial prison planet, with Nien Numb as his co-pilot on the Millenium Falcon. When he gets there, he is surprised to see that his job is to escort a woman and her child to Vandelhelm to sort out problem with the Metalsmith's Guild supplying the Alliance of Free Planets with 'ores and alloys and stuff'. Apparently, the current Guildmaster Orrk has allied himself with the Empire and was abashed when he found out that the royalty whom Han escorts is coming back. Imperial Admiral Mordur has assured the Guildmaster that the 'venerated ones' will die. When the Millenium Falcon came out of the hyperspace, it has come out right in the middle of mined asteroid field. Moff Vordur has expected a large rebel cruiser. The plan failed. On Vandelhelm, the group was greeted by the Guildmaster himself. Han began criticising the work of the guild. Orrk was defending himself, by saying how selflessly do the metalsmiths work. He also mentions that Han's passengers are the last descendants of the two families that have initially founded the metal-rich planet. Han returns to the Falcon, only to find his co-pilot taken hostage by the Imperial stormtroopers. Orrk also has taken the royals hostage, and has revealed his partnership with the Empire to Han. What happens next? The child jumps on Orrk's leg, throwing him off-balance. Han uses the moment and shoots the stormtrooper holding Nien. He tries to make a shot at Orrk, but can't because he then can hit the royals. So he jumps on Orrk. Unfortunately for Han, the Guildmaster is of much heavier and stronger build, which has resulted in Han dragging off the platform where the Falcon was held. However, the woman has shot Orrk, and Han pulled him down, which resulted in his death. Later, Han heard a 'familiar sound', which was a crackle on Chewie's rifle. Apparently, two stormtroopers have seen the whole scene and emerged from the corner. Nien Numb has seen that, and shot them in time. The group goes to the Falcon. At the same time, Admiral Mordur has entered the command codes for the drone barges filled with ore, and launches them to follow his lead ship, which he pilots to the Sun. Han notices that, and he boards the ship. Eventually, Han and the admiral fight each other on the command deck of the ship in Zero-G conditions. Han wins, and tries to shut down the signal to drone barges. He can't. When he thinks that all is already lost, that he, the Falcon, the crew and the barges are going to burn down in the sun, he hears Lando's voice, who has arrived on a Nebulon-B class frigate. He tractor beamed the Falcon, and tells Han that he used the command code to take th barges in. Apparently, the royals new the codes, bit didn't tell Han about it. The comic finishes as we see the kid hugging Han.
Behind the Scenes
The story was printed in three editions: First, by Marvel in 1985. Second, by Dark Horse, in 1995, titled Classic Star Wars: The Vandelhelm Mission. The last edition was in 2003, as a part of a TPB edition named Classic Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... Volume 7: Far, Far Away TPB.