The story may have been split over two issues as a buffer because the the British Bullpen were diverting the extended length 'The Crimson Forever' into the second ESB annual, leaving them short of material for the monthly. They didn't get around to running that strip, from US issue 50, in a regular comic until the ROTJ era.
It certainly makes for a striking cover and in a weird bit of synergy, THE LAST JEDI movie will also have creatures similar to the one on this cover.
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