4) Comic Books
In 1977, Marvel Comics agreed to a deal with Lucas to release comic book adaptations of the film. Concerned that film tie-ins rarely performed well, Marvel negotiated a deal that would see the first 100,000 copies sold with no royalties back to Lucas. The first batch sold so swiftly that Lucas was able to renegotiate from a position of strength. By Marvel’s own admission, the strong sales in 1977 and 1978 saved the struggling comic book giant. Marvel would continue to publish comics until 1985, and has resumed doing so now that Star Wars and Marvel are both in the Disney stable. The first issue sold over 1 million copies in its first two weeks.
