Amazing Heroes Issue #13 Representative Page

Amazing Heroes Issue #13 Representative Page

Periodical
Comic Strips

In this final page from the article, “Star Wars in Comics” by J. Collier, he finishes up his closing points of his interview with Star Wars comic artists, Archie Goodwin, Al Williamson, and David Michelinie. Towards the beginning of the page, the three artists reflect upon their favorite Star Wars characters to draw. Michelinie’s include the humorous characters like “…See-Threepio, Artoo-Detoo, and Chewbacca.” He also mentions that these character’s roles are limited because only one of them speaks English. Goodwin named Han Solo and Obi-Wan Kenobi as his favorites and Williamson shared how he enjoyed working with all of the characters equally even thought they can be hard to draw. The artists then discuss the importance of working together on Star Wars comic books. Everyone tends to have a certain job: Williamson comes up with visual ideas, then Goodwin integrates it into the stories. Michelinie discusses the importance of collaborating with others in fun ways like going to dinner and discussing the story lines. Finally, the artists discuss plans for the future for Star Wars comics. In essence, these artists emphasize how it is hard to say where the comic is going because of publishing behind-the-scenes issues. However, Michelinie explains the story line for the next comic. In addition to this interview, there are also a few panels from the opening scenes of the first Star Wars comic by Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin.
Star Wars has an extreme impact on modern popular culture. References to Star Wars are commonly made in countries all over the world. Darth Vader is an icon, while Luke, Leia, Han Solo, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Chewbacca are our heroes. “May the Force be with you” and “Luke, I am your father” are popular phrases used by a vast number of people. That being said, being a comic artist for Star Wars can be a very demanding job, especially in 1982 when only episodes IV and V were released. Each of the comic artists interviewed worked hard to get the comics right and do a great job. Archie Goodwin became the eighth editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics in 1976. While Goodwin worked on the Star Wars series, it was one of the industry’s top selling titles. He also wrote comic book adaptations for Marvel for the two Star Wars sequels, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Blade Runner, and Alien. Al Williamson was Lucasfilm’s first choice as illustrator for the Star Wars newspaper comic strip. George Lucas had a great appreciation for Williamson’s EC Comics and Flash Gordon work. Archie Goodwin even notes what a pleasure it was to work with Al Williamson in another interview in 1996 emphasizing the importance of collaboration in comics and relying on one’s colleagues. David Michelinie is also a regular writer for the Star Wars series who is most famous for his work in the Iron Man and The Amazing Spiderman series. Not only are these men great comic book artists, they also reflect the importance of putting one hundred percent effort in one’s work and working as a team. These men truly impacted the way Star Wars has been depicted in comics when the first films were released.

Editor: Kim Thompson
Art Director: Tom Mason
Consulting Director: Dwight R. Decker
Assistant Director: J. Collier
Contributing Writers: Valeria Beasley, Charlie Blythe, Archie Goodwin, Jim Korkis, Kevin C. McConnell, Lou Mougin, and Hal Sweet
Contributing Artists: Kerry Callen, Rudi Franke, Gil Kane, Kevin Nowlan, Randy Reynaldo, Dori Rosa, Stephen Schwartz, Al Williamson, and John Workman

MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47

Redbeard, Inc.

July 1982

Madeline Alpert

Rights Restriction Apply

Cover
http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/4

Table of Contents
http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/48

Comic, 6 and 5/8 x 10 and 1/4 inches, black & white

English

Periodical

1981-1992