Tatooine Sojourn represents a comic strip that saw distribution through the Los Angeles Times Syndicate and subsequent publication within newspapers across both the U.S. and Canada. Steve Gerber took on the writing duties for the series, while Russ Manning provided the artwork. This story arc was later compiled within Classic Star Wars: The Early Adventures 4, and it also could be found in the Webstrips area of Hyperspace. Furthermore, this was the inaugural comic strip to be featured in both the Sunday and Weekly formats; previously, strips were exclusively either Sunday-only, like (The Kashyyyk Depths and The Constancia Affair), or Weekly-only, such as (Gambler's World).
It was included among the initial five narrative arcs of the strip, all of which were licensed by Black Falcon Ltd., a now-defunct subsidiary of Lucasfilm.
On the desert planet of Tatooine, a capsule makes impact. Jawas cautiously inspect it for any potential traps before transporting it back to one of their sandcrawlers. The capsule's contents are revealed to be Squills, a creature considered a delicacy by the Jawas. Meanwhile, Stormtroopers are actively searching for this very capsule, expressing their displeasure at the Jawas' acquisition, noting that by the time the Jawas consume the Squills, any information gleaned from their "dead little eyes would be impossible to read."
Luke Skywalker, aboard a vessel accompanied by droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, receives orders directing him to Tatooine in order to locate and track the aforementioned capsule. Luke subsequently pilots the ship towards Tatooine, and upon approach, receives a message instructing him to seek out Anduvil at the Mos Eisley Cantina. After landing, Luke proceeds to the cantina. The Galactic Empire has now established a permanent presence on Tatooine. Luke leaves the droids at the cantina's entrance and steps inside.
Luke experiences a flashback, recalling his initial visit to the cantina alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi. While he is lost in his thoughts, a bounty hunter attempts to shoot Luke, but Anduvil intervenes and shoots the bounty hunter, causing him to miss his target. Anduvil explains that these capsules have been landing on various planets, carrying with them a disease known as Bledsoe's disease. At that moment, a Jawa inside the cantina collapses and dies, succumbing to the disease.
Luke, Anduvil, and the droids journey to Ben Kenobi's hut. Tusken Raiders, overhearing their conversation, launch an assault on the hut. Luke successfully repels the attack, but their landspeeder is destroyed in the process. They then mount the banthas that belonged to the Tusken Raiders and head towards a sandcrawler. Stormtroopers are inspecting the deceased Jawas from the sandcrawler, all of whom have perished from Bledsoe's disease. Anduvil informs the troopers that Luke was bitten by a Squill, leading them to be taken to the Imperial base.
Upon arrival at the base, Luke's eyes exhibit a starry effect, indicating that he has indeed contracted the disease. Rather than administering a cure, Dr. Kaaldar places Luke in quarantine, but Luke manages to escape. Luke and Anduvil compel Kaaldar to provide the serum. Kaaldar reveals that the starry eyes enable the Empire to locate Rebel bases. The sandcrawler, now piloted by R2-D2 and C-3PO, enters the Imperial base but is subsequently halted.
Observing the droids in distress, Luke attempts to persuade the commander to rescind the order to scrap the droids. Simultaneously, Anduvil discovers a hangar containing TIE Fighters and sabotages them, causing them to explode. The explosions occur just before the stormtroopers can fire upon Luke. The troopers are killed in the explosion, allowing Luke, Anduvil, and the droids to safely depart the base. Luke, Anduvil, and the droids are now able to leave Tatooine aboard Luke's ship, with the Imperial commander ensuring their safe departure.
A discarded concept for Tatooine Sojourn involved Princess Leia being held captive throughout the mission. This plot point would have necessitated Luke capturing a live Tusken Raider to ascertain Leia's location, with C-3PO and R2-D2 acting as decoys while Luke attempts to render one unconscious. However, the plan encountered a snag when a trio of Raiders ambushed them, forcing 3PO to tackle Luke to save him from the ambush. Luke fights off one while the other two are attacking 3PO and R2. Eventually, 3PO, at R2's suggestion, fired a blaster at the remaining two Tusken Raiders, forcing them to flee, while Luke manages to blasterwhip the remaining Tusken Raider into unconsciousness. Luke then states that they need to securely tighten the Tusken Raider, and also prepares to unmask the Tusken Raider.
The republished version in Classic Star Wars 4 featured some slight alterations from the original comic strip. In addition to being printed entirely in color, the "stars in the eyes" effect experienced by Luke was also modified. Originally, Luke's eyes displayed a ringed planetary body within the window effect, while this element was removed in the Classic Star Wars 4 version.