I’d previously thought that I started the comic in very late 1977, but I now think that’s unlikely. I saw Star Wars at the very end of 1977—probably after Christmas. I did drawings of Star Wars at the end of 1977, but I don’t think they were comic pages. Much as I’d like the comic to have been started in the year the film came out, I don’t think I can honestly say that anymore.
These are quite childishly drawn ones. If they’re all from 1978, I was 9 and 10 years old. There are 2, possibly even 3 versions that were done in 1978. I think the first pass was with wobbly, coloured felt-tip pens. If I did the whole film, then the majority of those pages are now gone. The same goes for what I think is the second pass, in wobbly black biro/ballpoint. I a trashed huge number of those too as I got better at drawing, and became dissatisfied with them. There are lots of these remaining at the end of the comic after the escape from the Death Star, right through the ‘Last Battle’ of Yavin. But, most of them have had one side of the A4 sheet cut off and thrown away. Those halves were then stapled together. So that would have been the early part of the film adaptation, on the other side of the book, all gone and replaced with newer pages.
As I said, there may have been a 3rd pass made in 1978 too, but it’s very hard to tell. I try to assess up the style and quality of the drawing—and the types of paper they were drawn on, to figure out the different iterations.
These 1978 pages are the most childishly drawn ones, and often done without many references except trading cards and the Marvel comics. Much of the time, I can’t see any references at all, so they look even more bizarre! They’re the silliest pages and they’re my favourite ones of all! They really take me back to childhood.
They’re listed here in story-order; so if you read the comic here, it’ll be the closest you can get to reading my first adaptation of the movie (and I’ll weep for all of the pages that I threw away and replaced, as my drawing ability kept on improving).
This listing has them in reverse order. If you go to the last page, you can go backwards through them from the very first one.
—John White
c.early 1979? | age 10/11? There’s not much in this incomplete page today readers, but that’s how it goes at Star Wars age 9. What’s done is done. I can’t go back and change it now. Or at least: I[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
early 1978? | age 9/10? Does Solo feel like he has a duty of care when he says “Luke get the Princess back to the ship”, or does he just want to shift the valuable cargo on-board asap, so he[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Carrie Fisher R.I.P. It feels impossible that she’s passed away. All of that personality and wit just — extinguished. But is it? She made such a mark on the world of Star Wars fans and non Star Wars fans alike,[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
early 1978 | age 9 You can write this stuff JOHN but you can’t say it. I love this page, partly because it’s one of the oldest, earliest ones, but even more because of this crammed-together line by Han Solo:[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
early 1978 | age 9 This is a part of the film with the Dianoga creature which we never saw. So much for: “I don’t know, it just let go of me and disappeared…” Nah. Borrrring. Bring on the gore![…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
early 1978 | age 9 or 10 Finally—finally! – we’re nearing the trash compactor scene. And look at panel 2, you’ll notice that it’s not just the enemy who are rubbish shots. Art Notes “GO ON PRINCESS” “HMPH” —Star Wars age 9[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
early-mid 1977 | age 9 or 10 Yay! The old crappy ones again. Now we’re back to possibly very early 1978 for a bit. Isn’t Leia stunningly gorgeous in this one? *gakk* Art Notes: She’s… beautiful! Isn’t perspective on faces[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
1978 | age 9/10? A fairly daft page today readers! But that’s good, right? “ACTION STATIONS!” scream the 1970’s Tannoy Speakers. “But you killed him?” asks Tarkin, leaning on his kitchen table. Oddly, Vader answers, “No you’re thinking of Benard[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
early 1978? | 9/10 years old It’s a multi-coloured one today, readers. And with a special guest star! Name that Actor! Once again rivaling Lon Chaney Sr. as the Man of a Thousand Faces, Luke reminds me of some old[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
early 1978? | age 9/10 Cor, get a load of Princess Leia in this one—gorgeous. Or maybe not. Art Notes PANEL 1: Odd dialogue in this one but Solo’s sideways glance is pretty good. I’m surprised I could manage such[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…