Monday 11 April 2016

CLASSIC ART: AGAINST THE 'SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE'!


The emergence of the vast criminal underworld called Black Sun and the introduction of a new supervillain to the STAR WARS saga in the calculating alien Prince Xizor, the continuing search by the dreaded Darth Vader for his elusive son, Luke Skywalker, and the growing-in-powers boy and his friend's (including fiery pilot Dash Rendar) continuing quest to free their carbonite-trapped friend Han Solo from the clutches of Boba Fett, and his paymaster Jabba the Hutt. Our iconic heroes and villains caught in a web of deceit, danger and explosive action via the wonderful UK team of writer John Wagner and artist Kilian Plunkett (better known now for his character conceptual art for THE CLONE WARS and STAR WARS REBELS series), with John Nadeau, joining forces for the six-issue DARK HORSE COMICS adaptation of Steve Perry's enjoyable bridging/merchandising opportunity book- the epic and lively Shadows of the Empire, set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

All six issues of the glorious comic adaptation, which featured new scenes, action and material (with a heavy emphasis on Boba Fett's perilous journey back to Tatooine (pursued by other Bounty Hunters)), had gorgeous cover art provided by Hugh Fleming, though I believe the above image was a special limited edition print linked to its original 1996 release. Its certainly terrific art, and I don't think I've ever seen Carrie Fisher/ Princess Leia looking so smoulderingly sexy as she does here!


Book art by Drew Struzan.

Shadows of the Empire celebrates its Twentieth Anniversary this year, so look out for regular celebratory entries on it, and its important part in the Expanded and Official universe, within STAR WARS AFICIONADO during the months ahead.

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