Splinter of the Mind's Eye 3

Even with Darth Vader and his Imperial forces descending upon Mimban from above, Luke and Leia discover that their most significant challenges are located beneath the planet's surface. Deep within the soil lurks Mimban's most dangerous predator—potentially the most dangerous predator in the galaxy—the enormous, worm-like wandrella. Should the massive wandrella fail to capture them, the subterranean race of aboriginals—the Coway—might succeed!

Luke and Leia successfully avoid the wandrella while simultaneously tricking it into its demise by seeking refuge in a Thrella well. However, the monster's destruction of the entry ladder forces Luke and Leia to temporarily separate from Halla, Hin, Kee, R2-D2, and C-3PO. After agreeing to a meeting point, Luke and Leia proceed into the planet's underground regions.

Concurrently, Darth Vader arrives on Mimban, prompted by reports of Luke and Leia's presence and the legendary Kaiburr crystal. Assuming command of Grammel's forces, he initiates a search for the pair.

Ultimately, Luke and Leia discover Halla and the others held captive by a Coway tribe. To secure their freedom, Luke must prove his worth in single combat against the tribe's strongest warrior, or face death alongside the others. The battle turns against Luke, culminating in the Coway warrior holding his face underwater.

The comic book version of Splinter of the Mind's Eye generally adhered closely to the original book. However, due to the constraints of the comic format and limited space, some aspects were either modified or left out. These deviations include:

• A scene depicting Darth Vader requesting a status update from Captain Piett was not included in the book. This creates a potential continuity issue, as Luke and Leia are on Circarpous V, while Vader inquires about the Executor's arrival within the orbit of Circarpous IV. However, it's possible Vader thought that directly approaching Circarpous V could alert the Circarpousians to the Empire's illicit energy mining activities. [4]

• In the novel, Luke reaches the end of the ladder in the Thrella Well, finds a ledge, steps onto it, and informs Leia. [5] Conversely, in the comic, Leia discovers the ledge. [6]

• Within the book, as the wandrella enters the well, Luke realizes he has lost his blaster pistol. [7] In the comic, Luke tells Leia he lost his blaster pistol when he jumped from the swamp crawler, before they find the well. [8]

• When Luke and Leia ask Halla about the Coway in the book, Halla states that they are not well-known, but are "not the least bit subservient." She then suggests that the Coway are "shy and peaceful." [9] In the comic, Halla says that the Coway's relation to the "Greenie" Mimbanites means that they are "shy and peaceful," but admits that not much is known about them. When Halla, the droids and the Yuzzem leave the well's opening, Halla tells C-3PO that she lied to Luke and Leia about the Coway because they would be too scared by the truth to go any further. [10]

• As Luke and Leia discover the underground lake, Luke thinks of the water's darkness as being as black as the inside of the Emperor's mind. [11] Conversely, in the comic, Leia expresses this sentiment. [12]

• Another scene absent from the book shows Halla, the Yuzzem, and the droids around a campfire. This scene transitions into Vader's arrival on Mimban as Halla mistakes his shuttle for a shooting star. [13] A final scene not in the book depicts Halla and the others being captured by the Coway. [14]