c.1982

Something Stinks! (8)

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Here's another "I can draw like the pros page".

Script Notes

the 1977 star wars novelisation

The source of the better-quality writing!

When I returned to this comic I was interested by some of the out-of-place nuggets of quality writing that appeared in it here and there. I remembered, even after 30 odd years that it must have come from the 1977 novelisation. So, I was happy to find that I still had it - and settled down to read. It's quite an enjoyable read too. However, the writing style is weirdly inconsistent. It wavers between a shooting script in one paragraph - and beautifully poetic literature in the next!

Chapter 1 is indeed lovely:
"It was a vast shining globe and it cast a light of lambent topaz into space-but it was not a sun"

Good grief! Our George is a gifted writer!

"Long streaks of intense energy slid close past its (Tantive's) hull, a multihued storm of destruction like a school of rainbow remoras fighting to attach themselves to a larger, unwilling host".

...their faces as worry-wrinkled as their uniforms,"

I immediately suspected that George Lucas - the credited author - was either a bit of a magpie, or he was assisted by another writer to spruce it up. Or... to fill-in bits. Well, apparently, Alan Dean Foster was the helping hand. He of Splinter of the Mind's Eye and the Alien novelisation.

It's a nice book to still own. Pity I painted the inside-back cover with black poster paint. Weird!

Art Notes: Something Stinks!

I'm guessing that this page is from around 1982 when I was in secondary school. So I was about 14 years old. You can be sure that I kept all knowledge of this stuff from my classmates who were all into AC/DC by then. What I did let slip was enough for me to be branded "Spacer". It was pretty hurtful but I suppose if they'd waited until I was in art college with long hair and dressed like a cross between a hippy and a head banger it would have taken on a certain caché. After my 2000AD comic was kicked from one end of the school to the other - before I'd even read it - I decided to keep a low profile where Sci-Fi and comics were concerned! Good old sellotape.

Anyway, my mind was set: I was going to be a comic artist.

Pheuwww!

"the dark smoking patch adds to the rebels terror!"

Check out the brown smoke. I reckon the Empire's chosen to enter the ship via the Sanitation Block!

Typography

panel of the 1977 marvel star wars comic

Marvel's version 1977

That "WHINE" type looks good doesn't it? Mini-me can't take any credit though. It's from Marvel's expressive - albeit somewhat iffy first issue. I'd like to name the letterer but I can't find a credit for him I'm afraid.

On Friday: Big-time blasting and violence!

vote for SW9!

Stormtroopers burn through the hatch - comic page

Comments  

 
+1 # RE: Something Stinks! (8)Blue Milk 2010-06-16 16:18
I have to say I agree with Threepio's crotch about them all being "doomed". That's a sensible crotch... and an innocently but oddly placed tail/pointer. ;-)

LOL, George is a magpie. After the following, I believe you.

"Long streaks of intense energy slid close past its (Tantive's) hull, a multihued storm of destruction like a school of rainbow remoras fighting to attach themselves to a larger, unwilling host".

BTW: I thought the Lucas / Foster writing was bloated and over indulgent, often slowing down the pacing by these unexpected moments when the narrative would break out into poetic prose. I don't know if it improves beyond the first chapter as that is far as I've re-read in recent years, but the example you gave was perfect as I remember reacting to it with mild shock.
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0 # RE: RE: Something Stinks! (8)John I. White 2010-06-16 16:29
Brilliant Rodders. I hadn't noticed the placement of the speech bubble tail pointer!
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0 # RE: Something Stinks! (8)Blue Milk 2010-06-16 16:36
LOL re: the sanitation block comment. Seeing the Stormtroopers enter the corridor with their normally shiny bright white armor all brown and filthy would be pretty F****** hilarious! I'm so tempted to do that with BMS now! Your permission, sir?
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0 # RE: RE: Something Stinks! (8)John I. White 2010-06-16 21:36
My legal team said it's OK Rod.

(Usual payment to my Cayman Islands numbered account.)

Always happy to collaborate.
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