Droids (1986) #1: The Destroyer
Penciler: John Romita Sr.
Medium: Comic
Publication date: February 1986
Timeline placement: 15 BBY
Four years after the rise of the Galactic Empire and the deletion of C-3PO's memory of the Star Wars prequels (were we all so lucky), the lovable droids are now in the employ of the Intergalactic Droid Agency, having found themselves lost in space due to the incompetence of Tantive IV nepo hire Corla Metonae. The agency has set them up with a new master on the planet Dodz in the Outer Rim Territories.
The droids arrive at the home of their master, Lott Kemp, only to find it burned to the ground and Kemp himself nowhere in sight. They encounter a young boy named Jost Ellon, who tells them that Kemp was driven off-world by the corrupt Governor Kugg for refusing to pay his taxes. The citizens of Dodz live in fear of the governor's giant combat droid, the Destroyer, which he uses to extort the populace.
The droids adopt Jost as their new master and accompany the orphan home to his dilapidated hovel. There they discover that Jost has unknowingly scavenged an antique Ranger X-1 defense droid. They explain its history and what it is to the boy, who hopes that they can use it to free the planet of Kugg's tyranny. Unfortunately, the droid has corroded power cells and will not be able to remain active for long.
Jost Ellon and his three droids travel to the monthly town council meeting, where the citizens are voting on a resolution to stand up to Kugg and refuse his demands for higher taxes. Governor Kugg himself walks in and declares that their taxes are now tripled, with the Destroyer bursting through the wall to emphasize his point. As the adults all kowtow before Kugg, only Jost has the courage to stand up to him, pitting his X-1 against the Destroyer.
At first the X-1 clobbers its opponent, but as its power cells run dry it starts to lose the fight. But Artoo intervenes, hooking himself up to both droids and transferring power from the Destroyer to the X-1. The battle resumes, and when it's over the Destroyer has been destroyed, with the X-1 left standing tall. Governor Kugg is taken into custody to await intergalactic trial.
The day has been won and the citizens of Dodz are now free, but Artoo sustained "some pretty serious microsynapse damage" during the fight, so he and Threepio have to leave their new master to find someone with the skills to repair him. It's unclear if they call a shuttle to come pick them up or if the people of Dodz just give them their own spaceship, but as the droids blast off back into space and their next adventure, Artoo asks, "Dok-do-eet-denn?" To which Threepio replies that of course he's proud of him.
Definitely child-oriented but still plenty enjoyable. I like the idea of the droids as Kwai-Chang Caine-type characters wandering backwater worlds beyond the Empire's notice and helping people in need when they can. What adventure awaits them next!
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