Tag and Bink
Tag and Bink are the main characters in a series of comic books spoofing Star Wars, by Kevin Rubio. Tag is from the planet Corellia and Bink is from Alderaan. The two first meet when they are found to have Force potential. The comics illustrate how these two Jedi in training haphazardly cause all the pivotal events in the Star Wars universe. Like other Star Wars comics of the time, Tag and Bink was published by Dark Horse Comics, the holder of Star Wars-licence from early 1990s (taken over from Marvel Comics). The whole Tag and Bink series was collected in Tag & Bink Were Here.
Tag and Bink are the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of the Star Wars universe, a pair of minor characters who deliberately or accidentally influence the events seen in the first and second film trilogies. Their meddling also explains some of the inconsistent and illogical events of the series. In fact, the title of their initial appearance — Tag and Bink Are Dead — is a direct reference to the Tom Stoppard play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
Appearances
Tag and Bink Are Dead (#1)
Tag and Bink are two soldiers aboard the Rebellion flagship Tantive IV when the Star Destroyer Devastator captures it. After almost being captured, they dress up as stormtroopers and are transported to the Death Star. They try to leave by stealing TIE fighters... twice. Darth Vader realizes his need for two TIE pilots as wingmen for his fight against the Rebel starfighters attacking the space station. As the comic illustrates, it is not the Millennium Falcon's fault that Vader is almost killed in the trenches of the Death Star, but due to Tag and Bink's lousy piloting.
Although the two TIE fighters they appeared to be in were destroyed, the next comic states they were in fact in the background when Vader selected two pilots, and that they stole an Imperial landing craft and escaped from the Death Star moments before it exploded.
Tag and Bink Are Dead (#2) and the Return of Tag and Bink
The adventures of Tag and Bink continue as they venture through the events of the Star Wars original trilogy, meeting up with allies such as Lando Calrissian, and villains such as Boba Fett and Emperor Palpatine. Tag and Bink eventually find themselves trapped on the second Death Star dressed as the Emperor's Royal Guards. After the confrontation between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, the Rebels destroy the space station, killing Tag and Bink in the process (hence the title). Tag and Bink live on as Force ghosts, later to realize that they are trapped in purgatory.
Tag and Bink: Revenge of the Clone Menace
This issue is a prequel to the previous Tag and Bink Are Dead issues. Tag and Bink are shown as children, haplessly trying to become Jedi under Master Yoda's tutelage. They find Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala in a restaurant, as seen in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, and later secretly gives tips to Anakin on how to romance Padmé. Anakin eventually leaves Tag and Bink stranded on Naboo when he goes to Tatooine. It takes them three years to get back to the Jedi Temple, just in time to see clone troopers destroy the Jedi Order. They are confronted by Anakin, newly rechristened Darth Vader; he spares them due to their past association, but warns them abandon their Jedi training. They do so. Tag and Bink Are Dead takes place about 20 years later.