Read Star Wars The Complete Marvel Years Omnibus Vol 3 Star Wars The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Marvel Comics 9780785193463 Books
Read Star Wars The Complete Marvel Years Omnibus Vol 3 Star Wars The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Marvel Comics 9780785193463 Books
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Star Wars The Complete Marvel Years Omnibus Vol 3 Star Wars The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Marvel Comics 9780785193463 Books Reviews
- "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..."
...the star spanning civilization ruled by the tyrannical Emperor Palpatine has reached a critical nexus point. The galactic Empire has nearly completed the construction of a second Death Star which it will use to terrorize the worlds under its dominion. Learning of this, the freedom seeking Rebel Alliance plans to bring all its forces to bear in an effort to destroy this devastating weapon and finally defeat the Emperor once and for all. But first, a small band of friends resolve themselves to rescue a lost comrade from a grim fate among them is a hero of the Alliance, a man with a special destiny, a destiny that will lead to either tragedy or triumph. That man is Luke Skywalker, a living symbol of the return of justice to the galaxy...the return of the Jedi!
"Star Wars The Complete Marvel Years Omnibus Volume 3" is the colossal, 1136 paged book concluding a trilogy of massive tomes collecting the original Marvel Comics monthly series featuring the adventures of Luke Skywalker, and his brave friends Princess Leia Organa, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, Lando Calrissian, and last but not least, that charming smuggler and scoundrel, Han Solo. This reprint volume showcases "Star Wars" comics #79-107, "Star Wars" Annual #3, and the "Star Wars Return of the Jedi" Limited-Series #1-4, comics originally published from 1984-1986.
As a special added bonus, this Omnibus also collects 80 pages of rare comics, text features, reproductions of cover illustrations and selected penciled pages of comic continuity. Like its two predecessors, this collection spotlights a number of individual final covers, reproducing them without their logos or other captions to more fully showcase the actual artwork. The captionless reprinted covers include "Star Wars" #92 by Cynthia Martin and Bill Sienkiewicz, #95 by Kent Williams, #98 by Mr. Sienkiewicz, #100 by Tom Palmer; Marvel Super Special #27, featuring the complete "Return of the Jedi" adaptation, cover by Mr. Sienkiewicz; an "early version" cover featuring "Return of the Jedi," from "Marvel Age" #19, a comic-sized news magazine published by Marvel from 1983-1994 This illustration, by Marie Severin and Frank Giacoia (uncredited in the book), was ultimately used as the cover to a 1983 paperback reprinting of the "Return of the Jedi" comic adaptation The following are reprint collections published by Dark Horse Comics in the 1990's "Star Wars Return of the Jedi" #1 by Adam Hughes, "Star Wars Return of the Jedi" #2 by Al Williamson, "Star Wars The Vandelhem Mission," a reprint of "Star Wars" #98 by Mr. Williamson, "Star Wars Return of the Jedi The Special Edition" trade paperback cover by Greg and Tim Hildebrandt, "Star Wars Devil Worlds" #1-2 by Christopher Moeller, "Star Wars" #0 by Brian Stelfreeze, "Star Wars" #0 (Variant Cover) by Dave Dorman; a full page reproduction of this Omnibus' dust jacket illustration, from "Star Wars #81 by Mr. Palmer, and this volume's variant cover painting by Greg Hildebrandt. An "impressive, most impressive" sampling of the contents within this book!
A welcome surprise for this reviewer was the inclusion of "Star Wars" tales reprinted from the Marvel Comics teen oriented magazine "Pizzazz," published from 1977-1979, as well as the "Star Wars" Weekly series, comic publications first released in the United Kingdom and rarely seen by comic readers outside that island nation. These stories were first compiled in the Star Wars Omnibus Wild Space Volume 1, trade paperback, published by Dark Horse Comics in 2013.
The creative contributors of the Marvel Comics was led by writer Jo Duffy on the majority of the stellar stories, inker/embellisher/cover artist Tom Palmer, who continued to bring his rich rendering techniques to the Saga, and penciller Cynthia Martin, a then young talent in the industry, who took up the challenge of drawing the adventures of the beloved Star Warriors after the events of "Return of the Jedi." Other issues of the series feature the vision of artists Bret Blevins, Sal Buscema, Sam De La Rosa, Jan Duursema, Ron Frenz, Steve Leialoha, Tom Mandrake, David Mazzchelli, Bob McCleod, Art Nichols, Whilce Portacio, Joe Rubinstein, Tony Salmons, Bill Sienkiewicz, Ken Steacy, and Bob Wiacek. Additional writers' works reprinted in this collection include Archie Goodwin, Linda Grant, Roy Richardson, and Randy Stradley.
The writers and artists showcased in the more obscure British "Star Wars" comics is noted by work by such well-known creators as writer Alan Moore, author of the famous (1986, 1987) DC Comics maxi-series, "Watchmen," among many others, and Alan Davis, who has created memorable work for both Marvel Comics ( for example,1988's "Excalibur" monthly comic) and DC Comics (like 1998's "The Nail" Mini-Series). These comics also featured more adventures created by the team of scripter Archie Goodwin and penciller Carmine Infantino, the duo who produced many entertaining "Star Wars" tales for the monthly comics, stories reprinted in the first and second volumes of this Omnibus trilogy. These bonus comics were created by the following Adolfo Buylla, Chris Claremont, Howard Chaykin, Dave Cockrum, Gene Day, Tony DeZuniga, Klaus Janson, Pablo Marcos, Steve Mitchell, Steve Parkhouse, Walt Simonson, John Stokes, John Tartaglione, and Roy Thomas.
Unfortunately, this huge collection opens with what this reviewer believes is the single worst illustrated "Star Wars" story ever published. The comic is "Star Wars" Annual #3, released in 1983 and the tale is called "The Apprentice." The story is written by Jo Duffy, and details an adventure involving Luke, Leia, Lando, and Chewbacca, as they encounter two young men on the planet Belderone, aspiring for better lives, who instead confront the machinations of Darth Vader. This tale is terribly drawn by Klaus Janson, with pages of art that appear to be little more than quick sketches printed in color. This sequential art is a far cry from the work of other "Star Wars" artists like Carmine Infantino, Walt Simonson, Tom Palmer, and Al Williamson. The fact that this art was released in a higher priced annual, traditionally a special comic edition makes it all the more disappointing.
The fate of Han Solo, the pilot of the Millennium Falcon, is showcased next as the Star Warriors continue their quest to find and rescue their comrade, captured by the bounty hunter Boba Fett in "Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back." In "The Big Con," from "Star Wars" #79, Lando takes on the guise of a "Captain Drebble" to gain information about the whereabouts of his friend. His disguise is an homage of the iconic manga and animation character, Captain Harlock (Captain Harlock Complete TV Series) created by Leiji Matsumoto. The next story is "Star Wars" #80's bittersweet tale, "Ellie," featuring Luke, Leia, and C-3PO witnessing the bond between a droid and its master, a heroic member of the Rebel Alliance. This story features plot continuities that tie the comic series directly into the third "Star Wars" film, "Return of the Jedi." It is also an adventure that would be retold in the ambitious 1996 Lucasfilm multi-media event, Star Wars Omnibus Shadows of the Empire.
"Star Wars" #80 thus leads directly into Marvel's comic adaptation of the final film in the epic Original Trilogy, "Return of the Jedi," a 4 issue limited-series, once again richly realized by writer Archie Goodwin and artists Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon, with additional artistic assistance on the concluding issue by Ron Frenz and Tom Palmer. The Goodwin/Williamson team returning to produce their amazing work on the Saga was a very special treat to "Star Wars" comic fans, dampened only by the editorial decision to reduce the comic translation of the tale of "Return of the Jedi" to 4 issues; a contrast to the previous adaptations of Episodes IV and V, which were 6 part comic versions of the earlier films. Each individual issue of the original limited series also contained a pin-up section featuring illustrations inspired by Episode VI and are included in this Omnibus collection. These pin-ups showcase the artwork of the following artists Al Williamson in issue #1; Rick J. Bryant, Paul Becton, and Marie Severin in issue #2; Rick J. Bryant in issue #3, and Rick J. Bryant and Bill Sienkiewicz in the concluding 4th issue. The book's black hardcover binding features more of Mr. Sienkiewicz's artwork a reproduction of an illustration for the limited-series premiere issue Credits Page, a drawing of Luke's hand grasping his self-made lightsaber, "the weapon of the Jedi," beneath the twin suns of Tatooine, with C-3PO and R2-D2 standing in the background.
"Star Wars" #81 is a pivotal edition of the monthly comic series as it begins the first tales of the "Star Wars" mythos after the galaxy changing events of "Return of the Jedi." To celebrate this, Tom Palmer created an especially beautiful painted cover for the comic which is reproduced as the dust jacket illustration to this mammoth volume. This issue, as well as the next couple focus on bringing Han Solo back into the comic continuity. Regretfully, Han and Leia's confessed love for one another is placed on the back burner of plotlines. Instead, the comic steers in the direction of strengthening its self-contained supporting cast of characters and creating a new threat to the "galaxy far, far away." Remnants of the Empire still remain, trying to keep their failing, oppressive grip on star systems across the cosmos, even as Princess Leia, Admiral Akbar, and Mon Mothma strive to form a new democratic galactic government. But out of this growing political turmoil, a shadow of the past emerges in the form of a new Lord of the Sith, Lumiya, and a menace from beyond the galaxy itself, the Nagai. Notable standout issues among these comics include "Star Wars" #92, a double-length edition featuring artwork done by Jan Duursema, an artist, who, in succeeding years would contribute greatly to the "Star Wars" comic universe when the Saga is reborn under the publisher Dark Horse Comics, and "Star Wars" #98, which showcases the work of the classic team of Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson, who return to the comic to create a single issue adventure starring Han Solo.
It is during this time in the history of the "Star Wars" comic that the last major artistic change takes place as Cynthia Martin would become the last lead pencil artist on the monthly series. Discovered by "Star Wars" writer Jo Duffy, Ms. Martin would bring a unique vision to the cosmic comic, premiering in "Star Wars" #94. In an article reprinted from "Marvel Age" #27, the young artist named Leonardo Da Vinci as "a big influence on me," but to this reviewer's eyes, the work Ms. Martin created for "Star Wars" has a more eastern inspiration. With her clean line style and storytelling technique, her art shares a kinship with the artistry found in Japanese woodblock prints of 18th and 19th century Japan, along with the more contemporary sequential art of manga. Ms. Martin's distinctive rendering of the "Star Wars" Saga would continue until the series would tell the last Marvel Comics adventure of Luke Skywalker of its time with issue #107, released in June of 1986.
Three years after the release of "Return of the Jedi," fans of the cultural phenomenon that was "Star Wars" began to turn their attention to other things, including their interest in the "Star Wars" comic. So, a truly special comic series and comic era came to an end. Looking back, the Marvel Comics "Star Wars" monthly comic series remains an enchanting companion mythology to the cherished Original Trilogy, the true birthplace of the tales that would become the "Expanded Universe." In the years to come, the world would come to learn that those who loved the "Star Wars" mythos did not forget it but kept it in their hearts and memories until it was reborn with new tales; new books, new comics, and new movies would be imagined to enthrall and enrapture new generations of fans.
This final volume of this ambitious Omnibus collection offers the widest variety of comic interpretations of this classic epic created by George Lucas. With rare stories taking place after the great space battle above the fourth moon of the planet Yavin to a last tale of conflict on the Outer Rim world of Saijo, this is a 1136 paged chronicle of truly memorable comic storytelling and a lasting testament to the enduring magic that is the "Star Wars" Saga!
It comes very highly recommended.
May the Force Awaken...and be with you, always! - Spectacular edition and - surprisingly - a little thicker than the previous two volumes. Definitely a worth successor to the previous volumes, this will please all the completists out there like myself.
- Amazing Book!
- For Star Wars fanatics this complete the original Marvel series version of it in color- probably of most interest to people who are already fans of the movies- other wise not. But with all three volumes the complete story run is here which is a good good thing.
- Good
- Wonderfully bound, this volume is a treasure trove of Marvel's 1977-86 "Star Wars" run.
- This Star Wars archive is terrific as it saves me both money and time in not searching for the expensive originals.
- All good.
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