A Magical and Thrilling Story: The Adventures of Teebo is a children's book belonging to the Star Wars Legends series, penned and drawn by Joe Johnston. Random House initially released it on April 12, 1984. As the first original story after the debut of Return of the Jedi in 1983, it set the stage for several concepts later explored in Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985), the Ewoks television series (1985–1986), and other works that followed.
Teebo, an Ewok with a poetic soul and a tendency to dream, doesn't quite fit in with his tribe. One spring afternoon, three Duloks arrive at Bright Tree Village, Teebo's home. The Duloks, led by the self-proclaimed King Vulgarr, declare that a massive monster has taken Teebo's sister, Malani, who is a wokling. The story gains weight due to enormous footprints, and Vulgarr persuades Chief Chirpa to dispatch every warrior he can spare. Chirpa instructs the woklings to stay hidden and then departs with all the Ewoks who are fit to fight in hang gliders to the location Vulgarr described; the Duloks also leave. Logray, the village's shaman, speculates that the creature might be the Grudakk, although the abduction of woklings is not typical of the creature's behavior. Amidst the flurry of hiding the young Ewoks, Teebo secretly takes a hang glider and follows the older warriors.
With the village left unguarded, Vulgarr and 30 members of his group launch an assault. The remaining Ewoks are unable to defend against the attack, and the Duloks capture them all. The invaders discover the hidden woklings and load them onto a wagon, intending to skin and eat them. The Duloks reveal that the "large creature" was nothing more than a rock formation shaped like a foot. Logray places a curse on them, but they disregard him and leave with their captives.
Meanwhile, Chirpa and his warriors follow Vulgarr's directions to the Canyons of Mist. Instead of a monster, they discover an aged, gray Dulok in a cave who identifies himself as King Ulgo the Magnificent. Ulgo's vest made of Ewok fur and his fondness for sacred lantern birds enrage the warriors, and as tensions rise, Ulgo attacks. Warok, an Ewok warrior, accidentally hits the Dulok with his glider, causing him to fall to his death on the rocks below. Realizing they have been deceived by Vulgarr, the Ewoks return to Bright Tree Village. There, Logray offers a prayer to the Father Tree in hopes of saving the tribe.
On his separate journey, Teebo loses track of the warriors and is pursued through the air by a terrifying mantigrue. Panicking, Teebo descends and is attacked by the monster, forcing him to crash. Once on the ground, Teebo is set upon by a group of Yuzzums riding rakazzak beasts. He dashes toward a tree, only to discover that it is actually the leg of a gigantic creature. The Yuzzums scatter in fear, and Teebo finds himself in the massive hands of Logray's Grudakk. The behemoth carries Teebo to its den and attempts to feed him. Still, Teebo suspects that the creature may simply want him as a toy, so he escapes the following morning.
His relief is short-lived, as he soon encounters Vulgarr and his Duloks. He observes a fight in which Vulgarr's guards kill a rival whom Teebo names Crooked Tail. Vulgarr announces a wokling picnic, and Teebo throws a stone at him from his hiding place. A sudden cold wind makes Vulgarr believe the meadow is haunted, and he orders the group to move on.
Soon after, the Bright Tree Ewoks arrive. During the ensuing battle, Teebo sneaks to the Dulok cage and releases the woklings. The battle turns against the Duloks, but Vulgarr makes a desperate attempt to escape by seizing Teebo and threatening to cut his throat. Suddenly, the Grudakk attacks the Duloks, saving the day. Logray reveals that the Grudakk is the guardian of the Father Tree, the tallest tree in the forest. The Ewoks bury Vulgarr in the soil of the battlefield, where, according to Logray, he will grow into a tree.
That evening, the Ewoks celebrate their victory and the safe return of their young. Logray approaches Teebo and invites him to become his apprentice.
The Adventures of Teeob: A Tale of Magic and Suspense was both authored and illustrated by Joe Johnston. Its initial release by Random House occurred on April 12, 1984.
The Adventures of Teebo holds the distinction of being the first original story to be published following the 1983 release of the film Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. It was responsible for introducing several elements of the Ewok lore that would later be featured in the Ewoks animated series and the Ewoks live-action films. For instance, the book marks the inaugural appearance of the Duloks and the mantigrue, along with the Yuzzums who ride rakazzaks.
- ISBN 9780394865683 ; May 1984 ; [1] Random House ; Standard edition [2]
- ISBN 9780394965680 ; May 1984; Random House; Library binding [4]