Star Wars Insider #175

With the new Cassian
& K-2SO and Mace Windu
comics out from Marvel,
our trivia challenge homes in
on the history of Star Wars
comics, from the 1970s to the
present day…
Compiled by Will Salmon





MARVEL DARK HORSE MARVEL COMICS
1977–1986 COMICS 2015–PRESENT


1. How many issues did the 6. What was the name of the
original Marvel Star Wars fi rst series of Star Wars comics
series run for? published by Dark Horse?
A / 55 A / Empire’s End
B / 100 B / Crimson Empire
C / 230 C / Shadows of the Empire
D / 107 D / Dark Empire

2. The fi rst six issues series were 7. How far in
an adaptation of the original Star the past was
Wars. Who was the illustrator? the Tales
A / Howard Chaykin of the Jedi
B / Carmine Infantino series set?
C / Al Williamson A / 300 years
D / Walt Simonson B / 5,000 years
C / 1,000 years 11. On which planet does Vader 14. How many issues did the
D / 9,000 years quell an uprising in 2015–16’s Kanan comic, by Greg Weisman
Darth Vader series? and Pepe Larraz run for?
8. What is the name of Han A / Jakku A / 6
and Leia’s youngest son in the B / Maridun B / 10
Dark Horse comics? C / Florrum C / 12
A / Ben Solo D / Shu-Torun D / 25
B / Jacen Solo
C / Anakin Solo 12. What’s are the names
3. What was the real name of D / Bail Solo of Poe Dameron’s parents,
Force-sensitive Jedi-wannabe as revealed in the Shattered
Don-Wan Kihotay? 9. Which iconic Empire miniseries?
A / Hess Korrin Star Wars A / Shara and Kes
B / Dash Rendar actor was a B / Ezra and Lott
C / Dannik Jerriko guest writer C / Adi and Rako
D / Momaw Nadon for Star Wars: D / San and Ric
The Protocol
4. What was the title of the fi nal Offensive? 13. What is Han Solo’s “wife”
story of the original Marvel run? A / Harrison Ford Sana Solo’s real name? 15. What species is ruthless
A / “Hoth Stuff ” B / Peter Mayhew A / Sana Starros bounty hunter Black Krrsantan?
B / “All Together Now” C / Anthony Daniels B / Sana Skywalker A / Noghri
C / “Small Wars” D / Carrie Fisher C / Sana Kryze B / Human
D / “Starfi re Rising” D / Sana Antilles C / Wookiee
10. Which Jedi fi nally defeated D / Rodian
5. What was the name of the the resurrected Emperor
WUD-500 space yacht that Palpatine by dragging him into HOW DID YOU FARE?
Jaxxon the rabbit bought when a Force netherworld in 1-5 Definitely time you picked up
a few comics and started reading...
he became a smuggler? Empire’s End?
6-10 Good work, but you still
A / Star Hopper A / Kit Fisto have a little way to go before
you achieve true comics mastery.
B / Rabbit’s Foot B / Empatojayos Brand
11-15 Well done! You’re
C / Rabbit’s Ears C / Plo Koon a veritable holocron of
Star Wars comics knowledge!
D / Rabbit’s Teeth D / Mace Windu Answers - MARVEL’S ORIGINAL 1 D, 2 A, 3 A, 4 B, 5 B DARK HORSE 6 D, 7 B, 8 C, 9 C, 10 B MARVEL NEW 11 D, 12 A, 13 A, 14 C, 15 C
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COMICS: ROGUE ONE





















How





Cassian






Met





K-2SO








Marvel Comics are delving into the
backstory of Rogue One’s rebel warrior
Cassian, and his reprogrammed Imperial
droid K-2SO in an exciting new title:
Star Wars: Rogue One: Cassian &
K-2SO Special #1. Insider spoke with
writer Duane Swierczynski and artist

Fernando Blanco to find out more.

W ORDS: MI CHAEL K OGGE

















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COMICS: ROGUE ONE




ogue One Star Wars. My brother and I had the
introduced Death Star playset and fought over
R Star Wars fans the trash monster. Back then, kids
to a whole new
didn’t use currency—they traded in
cast of heroes Star Wars action fi gures!
and villains. The funny thing is, could go back in time and tell my
Most notably, we met several I never saw a Star Wars nine-year-old self, “Relax, kid. It’ll
rebels who operate with a far movie on the big screen PROFILE work out!”
DUANE
murkier morality than the until I was an adult.
SWIERCZYNSKI
likes of Luke, Leia or Han. Everything I knew about Fernando Blanco: I’ve worked
Duane is a crime
Cassian Andor is one such the story came from novelist who began with Jordan White before, and had
character: a hero who is willing to trading cards, comics, his comics career shown Marvel some Star Wars fan
with a Moon Knight
do whatever it takes to further the magazine articles, stuff I did a while ago. I think I’m
annual for Marvel,
cause of the Rebellion against the and toys. My parents before taking on good at drawing actors’ likenesses,
Empire. His companion, the former weren’t big moviegoers, such legendary and working with backgrounds and
characters as
Imperial security droid K-2SO, though I once begged Punisher, Deadpool, tons of references, and I have a neat
is likewise no paragon of heroic my mother to take us to and the X-Men. storytelling style, so I thought
virtue. When K-2SO’s not fi ring see The Empire Strikes He has also written I might be a good candidate for
Judge Dredd for
his blasters, he’s shooting off Back. There was a huge IDW, and The Black Star Wars when the time came—
sarcastic remarks. line, and right before we Hood for Archie and here it is!
Comics.
The pair’s unlikely chemistry made it to the counter, I was born in the 1970s, too,
proved an essential ingredient of the show sold out! We FERNANDO so I should be your typical old-
the film’s success, and has now ended up seeing The BLANCO school Star Wars fan, but I didn’t

inspired Marvel’s fi rst Rogue One Great Muppet Caper Fernando has drawn see it until I was a teenager. And
spin-off comic: Star Wars: Rogue instead, which was many titles for DC like any teenager in the 1980s,
Comics including,
One: Cassian & K-2SO Special like being promised I was a horror movie fan above
currently, Midnighter
#1. The 40-page one-shot, out in filet mignon and then & Apollo, and everything else. But I’ve always

August, recounts the initial meeting handed a PB&J. I was Phantom Stranger. loved Star Wars, especially for the
He has also worked
between the two—revealing just utterly crushed. on Army of Darkness art direction, concepts, costumes,
how the rebel spy turned the dour But sometimes life for IDW, and the and vehicles. It’s got some of the
droid to his side. compensates you for much-loved Marvel best art design in history.
Zombies series.
Writer Duane Swierczynski these heart-breaking
(Punisher, X, Judge Dredd) and moments. Roughly 35 Fernando, you’ve pencilled
artist Fernando Blanco (Fallen years later I got the call everyone from Batman to
Angel, Manhunter, The Phantom for this project. Before I knew it, Spider-Man. Does drawing for

Stranger) proved a far more friendly I was flying to Lucasfilm to read Star Wars call for a different

pairing when Insider talked to the script for Rogue One, watch artistic approach?
them about this exciting special. some early footage, and generally FB: Absolutely. I’ve seen Star Wars
geek out at the props and costumes comics that take the same approach
Star Wars Insider: How did your throughout the building. I wish I as superhero books, where the
destinies first cross with Cassian

and K-2SO?
Duane Swierczynski: I guess
[Marvel Comics editor] Jordan
White thought of me for this
project because I love heist stories.
My second novel, The Wheelman,
was about a mute getaway
driver. Also, I grew up in the late
1970s and early 1980s and was
completely obsessed with all things



01 Cassian must team up
with aliens Kertas and
Rismor on this mission.
02 A close encounter with
some stormtroopers
—and a future ally. 01



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COMICS: ROGUE ONE














































02

storytelling is based mostly in expect the “and more diffi cult “I was always more
characters’ actions. In my opinion, still!” highwire visuals. But I think
action is a big part of Star Wars, comics are like widescreen cinema, fascinated by Han Solo
but it isn’t the most important part. where people really expect to see an and Boba Fett than
Scale means a great deal. amazing movie.
For example, you need to know goody two-shoes Jedi!”
how big a Star Destroyer is to Duane, you’re known for
convey that sense of wonder. your hard-boiled crime novels.
Also, in Star Wars, there are no How did that prepare you for This is like telling the story about
nameless extras: every character a Star Wars comic? how Murtaugh met Riggs in
is important, which is kind of DS: I’m drawn to beaten-down Lethal Weapon. I focused on
a scale thing, too. detectives, spies, hitmen, and other one element of the screenplay
I think Star Wars demands nasty folks who operate in the that intrigued me: the idea that
a classic, neat storytelling style. shadows. I was always much more K-2SO had been reprogrammed
I’ve played a lot with how I tell fascinated by Han Solo and Boba by Cassian. When did that happen?
stories on the page—for me, it’s Fett than those goody two-shoes How did Cassian get close enough

the most enjoyable part of the Jedi! When I first heard about to him to pull off such a thing?
work process, and I take any chance Rogue One, I was excited. Finally,
I can to innovate pictorially. But here was a story that focuses on So what can you tell us about
Star Wars is not the same as the underbelly of the Star Wars the comic’s story?
[DC series] Midnighter and Apollo. universe! Never in my wildest DS: Cassian, along with twin alien
The reader doesn’t care about how dreams did I think I’d be asked to operatives—Kertas and Rismor—are
innovative you are in telling the tell a small part of that tale. on a longshot mission out in the
story: they just want to know the My mission was to tell a story Colonies. You know how spies will

story! Superhero comics are a about the first meeting between sometimes take a target’s garbage

three-ring circus, and people Cassian Andor and K-2SO. to figure out what he or she


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COMICS: ROGUE ONE



“There’s a moral
has been up to? Well, some of Duane, what more can you say
the Empire’s garbage has ended about Kertas and Rismor?
up on Wecacoe—a fl ea market DS: They are twins, and they grayness to Cassian.
planet—and Cassian believes are both intelligence specialists. We don’t know exactly
it might contain some security They’re my version of an alien
protocols. The Empire may have femme fatale character—times what he’s capable of.”
done the equivalent of running two! They’re the opposite of K-2SO
their protocols through a paper in that you have no idea what
shredder, but Kertas and Rismor is going through their minds at
are really good at taping those any moment. That makes them
strips back together again. The interesting... and dangerous. Fernando, how did you approach
mission, however, is far more risky I thought it’d be fun to have these femme fatale twins?
than Cassian realized, and it’s not intelligence specialists who are not FB: The script describes them as
long before he’s trapped in a very just too brilliant to understand, but “feminine, big eyes, almost non-
desperate situation: a situation actually impossible to comprehend. existent mouths.” That could be
that inspires him to do something Their “speech” is chemical-based a description of any manga-style
equally desperate. rather than vocal. That was inspired character, so I think that was
by something my wife once said— unconsciously the first thing I tried

Fernando, how did you set about that she notices someone’s scent to avoid, because these two should

creating Wecacoe? long before any other personal look definitely alien and not like
FB: I found inspiration in Moroccan detail. I thought that was kind of stylized humans. I also tried to
and Egyptian souk markets, where, cool and weird. It also inspired me draw them in a way where you
out of all the things available, the to shower more! can’t tell if they’re boys or girls, or
most interesting thing you can In every story, I like to give teenage or adult. They’re aliens, so
find is life itself. You can fi nd a myself a set of creative handcuffs. they don’t need to be classifi ed by

lot of alien species in our market, For instance, what if you tell an gender or any other human code.
along with droids, street musicians, action story where no one can use In my imagination they could be
bounty hunters, tourists, starship guns? In this case, I wanted to have like one of Ursula K. Le Guin’s non-
engines, food stalls—anything. a spy team where the members gendered alien races. The script
I want to make the reader feel like really couldn’t talk to each other, describes them as twins, but in the
all of these elements have a story which means you have to fi gure story we don’t even know if they
behind them. out other ways to communicate. are really sisters!


03





































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COMICS: ROGUE ONE




04 03 The mission will test all
of Cassian’s abilities as
a spy to the limits.
04 Nothing is as it seems when
it comes to the Empire—as
Cassian soon discovers.






simple lines, and then took care
of his ‘acting’ with more detailed
expressions. In other words, I’ve
tried to draw Cassian Andor the
character and not Diego Luna.

How about K-2SO?
DS: I loved K-2SO from the minute

I first met him in the screenplay.
He changes a lot in our story—
from no-nonsense Imperial
enforcement droid to amnesiac,
through would-be killer to strange
ally. His charm, of course, is that
he always says exactly what’s on
his mind. In this story, you’ll see
how that happens. In a lot of
ways, a character like K-2SO is the
perfect foil for a spy like Cassian—
who relies on subterfuge, half-
truths, and bold-faced lies. What
do you do when your partner has
no fi lter?
FB: There’s a Star Wars chemistry
between these two. They’re like
Han and Chewbacca, Luke and
R2-D2, or R2-D2 and C-3PO,
Who is Cassian Andor to you? There’s a moral grayness to him. but at the same time they are
DS: Cassian is a spy, plain and We don’t know exactly what he’s different and genuine. K-S2O is
simple. He lives by his wits, and capable of doing to achieve an some kind of lovely grump. He
when necessary, his blaster. But objective. He’s also a soldier and looks very serious with robotic,
he’s not a dashing James Bond- a rebel, so there’s a grade of polite stiffness, but it hides a sharp
type. He is single-mindedly focused political idealism in his view of sarcasm and a fine sense of humor.

on scraping out Empire intel in any what is honorable and what is not. And he has a fantastic design that
way he can. And sometimes that Much of Cassian comes across in works well in comics!
means taking risks, much to the the way Diego Luna portrays him—
annoyance of rebel command. the deep humanity of his look that Do you foresee the posibility
To Cassian, the time it takes to makes us have faith, despite the of any future comic adventures
sit and debate the merits of a ambiguity of his actions, that he for Cassian and K-2SO?
mission can be the time it takes for is one of the good guys. DS: I think there’s plenty of room
the window into that mission to It was a great challenge to draw for more adventures with the two
have closed. Luckily, he is able to him. I avoided rendering realistic of them—in comics, and maybe
maintain a grim sense of humor likenesses of him by tracing or even in novel form. Can you
about his situation. copying photos, because in the imagine a two-hander novel
end, when you’re hyper-realistic, with alternating chapters from

FB: Cassian could have the classic the figure can look cold and Cassian’s and then K-2SO’s point-
antihero look like Han Solo, but inexpressive. So I tried to draw him of-view? It would be part action-
his appearance is very different. as a comic book character with epic, part confessional!



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GRAPHIC DISPLAYS



























Long before the Special Editions, A New Hope to look digital, many talents included creating

and Return of the Jedi boasted cutting-edge but in reality computer-animated films in the
computer graphics to show the 3D plans of the hand drawn and Chemistry Department’s Circle
Graphics Habitat.
painted. But for
Death Star and other key schematics. These were the key scene
augmented throughout the original trilogy by more in the Yavin 4 GONE TO GRASS
traditional animations that blended seamlessly briefi ng room— Cuba signed a contract to
where General
supply the Death Star graphics
with the high-tech setting as on-screen displays and Dodonna briefs in February 1976 and, on the
readouts. Insider salutes the artists responsible. the rebel pilots understanding that the fi nished
on the fatal fl aw animation would be ready
in the Death Star for May, enlisted the aid of
W ORDS B Y JON D. WITMER
design—George University of Illinois students
Lucas was including programmers T.J.
or a story determined that the graphics O’Donnell and Tom Chomica
set a long seen on Dodonna’s big screen in order to meet the deadline.
F time ago, the should be suitably state-of- sequence was GRASS—the
The key to realizing the
original Star
the-art.
Wars trilogy It fell to Star Wars sound Graphics Symbiosis System
demanded an designer Ben Burtt and optical programming language
awful lot of futuristic thinking. photographer Robert Blalack developed by Thomas A.

Much has been written to find someone suitably DeFanti in 1974. A relatively
about Industrial Light & Magic’s versed in the then-obscure straightforward tool for
wizardry with miniature world of computer graphics animating 2D objects using
photography and compositing, to create the animated Death scaling, rotation, and color
which pushed visual effects Star sequence, and they changing, GRASS was
to heights not matched until eventually fell upon Larry Cuba. augmented by Cuba to depict
the digital revolution of the A research associate in the Art 3D objects.
late 1990s. But for all Department at the University “I visualized [the animation]
its cutting-edge analog of Illinois in Chicago, Cuba’s as being one continuous shot,”
credentials, Star Wars also
stepped into the digital world
from the very beginning—using “CUBA SET ABOUT BUILDING
advanced computer graphics
as early as 1976. HIS TRENCH ANIMATION BY
For most of A New Hope,
the visuals displayed on tactical ‘TRACING’ THE PHOTOGRAPHS
readouts and the like were
traditional effects, designed GIVEN TO HIM BY BEN BURTT...”








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GRAPHIC DISPLAYS





01




















Cuba told J.W.
Rinzler, as quoted
in 2007’s The
Making of Star
Wars. “Coming
up on the Death
Star, fl ying
toward the surface, entering the
trench, going straight down the
trench, and dropping the bomb
at the end into the target.”
Cuba had three crucial
references on which to base
his animation: an early Ralph
McQuarrie matte painting of
the Death Star; photos of ILM’s
Death Star 40-foot-long trench
model, supplied by Ben Burtt as
02
it came together; and physical
pieces from that same model.
Most usefully, McQuarrie’s hemisphere came too late in 01 General trench model consisted of six
Dodonna
painting showed the station the schedule to commission pieces, and for each piece
briefs the
in its full, spherical glory, but new computer graphics. Rebellion on Cuba placed a photo on a data
notably located its superlaser Yavin 4. tablet, using a light pen and
dish on the equator line. This IN THE TRENCHES keyboard functions to plot
02 The effects
led to a discrepancy between Cuba set about building his may have its X, Y, and Z coordinates.
Cuba’s animation and the Death trench animation by ‘tracing’ been in their This created a 3D wireframe
infancy, but
Star model seen in the fi lm, the photographs given to they remain model—viewable on a
as the decision to move the him by Ben Burtt into a PDP ground- cathode-ray monitor—that
breaking.
dish to the station’s northern 11/45 minicomputer. The ILM Cuba could rotate.


















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GRAPHIC DISPLAYS




Once the six basic trench
pieces were saved in the
computer’s memory, Cuba
used a separate program to
combine them in U-shaped 03
configurations to create the

bottom and sides of a trench
shape. The complete trench
animation uses more than
50 of these U-shaped
sections, and each frame
of animation features four
sections, combined and shown
in perspective.
In order to transfer the

finished animation onto fi lm,
Cuba pointed a Mitchell camera
with a stop-motion animation
motor at his monitor. The fi nal
animation was some 2,100
frames long, and each frame
took two minutes to process,
requiring more than 70 hours
of stop-motion fi lming. The

finished sequence was 90
seconds long, of which about
40 seconds appear in the movie.
Wash had been hired But while that technique
BACK TO BASICS to create postproduction worked well for most of the
Cuba delivered his animation display graphics alongside Jay graphics, blowing up the
on time, but that was not the Teitzell and Dan O’Bannon. Death Star was another
end of the story. The fi nal part ILM simply did not have the matter entirely, owing to
of the sequence, showing a time to tackle everything in the scale limitations of the
small ship delivering its payload house, so the three men were backlighting technology.
into the Death Star reactor assigned responsibility for “When the graphic for the

core, was actually a separate around 10 displays, such as the fighter comes in and drops the
endeavor, created months readout on Luke Skywalker’s torpedo,” Wash explains, “the
later by another animator, macrobinoculars, the targeting surface of the Death Star is just
John Wash. displays in various ships, and a straight line because we’re
the “fl oor-screen so close to it. But then we do
display” at the a huge zoom back so the fl at
“THE FINISHED rebel base. horizon starts to curve, and

“All that stuff finally we see that it’s an orb.
SEQUENCE WAS 90 except for one shot Then there’s a graphic of the
was done using torpedo exploding.
SECONDS LONG, OF traditional backlit “The biggest piece of
WHICH ABOUT 40 techniques,” says artwork I could get on an
Wash today. “We
Oxberry was 30 inches, but if
SECONDS APPEAR used high-contrast you backlight a 30-inch circle,
black-and-white you’re not going to be able to
IN THE MOVIE.” transparencies on zoom in and get that fl at line.
either an Oxberry For that, you need a circle that’s
[animation stand] about 24-feet across! So we got
or a small animation camera. a huge piece of aluminum and
By using different colored gels built a beam compass that was
over the lens of the camera or 12-feet long.

the artwork, we could get a “I set it up on the floor of my
very rich degree of complexity apartment and used it to draw
by doing multiple passes.” circular sections on about 72



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GRAPHIC DISPLAYS






04


















05









03 The targeting
computer from
Vader’s TIE fighter
was one of several
interfaces designed
(see opposite page).
04 A closer detail
of the Death Star
trench designed for
the film using the
GRASS system.
05 The Death Star
moves steadily into
range of Yavin 4.


animation cels, making each IN THE EDIT Conversely, among the
one slightly smaller than the traditional backlit graphics
last. That gave us a sequence Ultimately, the Computer Division’s six effects for Return seen elsewhere in the movie,
that was maybe three seconds of the Jedi made their way to editor Duwayne Dunham, there is also an innovative
along with every other effect from the fi lm—some 1,300
long, starting with something computer animation.
shots in total!
that looked essentially fl at, “On a daily basis, I would receive shots, cut them into The sequence can be seen
and ending with a full 30- the right sequence, and organize time so George Lucas on board the Death Star as
could review each shot in its edited sequence,” Dunham
inch circle that I could match it approaches Yavin 4. It was
explains. “George would then give me specifi c comments
to a piece of artwork on the about the effects shots: move this ship two fi elds north, created by Wash, Teitzell, and
Oxberry with the Death Star move this one a fi eld south; add this, take this away; that O’Bannon and the visual effects
totally in frame.” sort of thing. We called some shots ‘CBB,’ as in, ‘Could house Image West, using that
Be Better.’ Those were put on the backburner. If time
permitted, we would go back to the CBBs. company’s Scanimate analog
DEATH STAR DISPLAY “We created a standard form so we could track the computer animation system.
So, in fact, the climax of the status of each shot all the way through to the fi nal, and “With Scanimate,” Wash
groundbreaking Death Star I’d send the forms back over to ILM or whoever with recalls, “the Image West team
George’s notes. Toward the end I think I was being a little
computer graphics sequence could take the image from a
too harsh, even though I was just giving George’s notes.
isn’t a computer graphic at So he said, ‘You know, the guys are really working hard. high-resolution video camera,
all, but a traditional animation They’re up against it. We have to go a little easier.’ and then warp it, twist it, and
“George had the utmost respect and trust from all
(albeit an ingenious one), make it move around. All the
the people around him, and he had the utmost trust and
designed to blend perfectly respect for them, too. If that’s what George wanted, you artwork we put in front of their
with the preceding visuals. were going to give it to him, and top it if you could.” camera was black-and-white,

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and they’d use the system to
colorize anything we wanted.”
Layers of effects could
be built up in stages using
Scanimate, albeit with a slight
loss of quality on each pass.
“So you didn’t want to have too
many generations before you
decided, ‘This is what we like,’”
says Wash.
“It wasn’t like the digital
realm these days, with
nondestructive editing,” he
continues. “If you’d built
something from fi ve pieces
and, as you were adding piece
number six, you realized piece
number three didn’t work
correctly, you had to dump the
whole thing and start again.
We were wise to that, so we
started with the hardest stuff.
We managed to get everything
we needed in about eight
harrowing hours!”
As with Larry Cuba’s
trench run briefi ng animation,
the resulting graphics were 06

captured for film by pointing
a camera at the computer some impressive computer
screen. The sequence was then THE ROAD graphics for Michael Crichton’s
composited into the Death Star NOT TAKEN sci-fi thriller Westworld in
command center’s monitoring 1973, and George Lucas was
At one point during
screen in postproduction. intrigued enough by their
preproduction of A New Hope,
George Lucas and his team work to commission some 3D
EYES ON THE FUTURE considered fi lming the Death image tests.
Along with Image West, Star graphics without computer Though nothing from
technology. John Wash, Jay
another innovative company Triple-I made it into A New
Teitzell, and Jim House came

that Lucasfilm worked with on up with a proposal to create Hope, Lucas remembered
A New Hope was Information the entire sequence using high- the company when The
International Inc., also known contrast model photography Empire Strikes Back went into
as Triple-I. Triple-I had provided and other techniques to make production, and further tests
it look as if it was computer-
generated, because, as Wash were carried out. Most notable
recalls today, “computers just among these were a high-
“LAYERS OF EFFECTS weren’t very powerful.” Lucas resolution computer-generated
soon rejected the idea in favor X-wing fighter model, and

COULD BE BUILT UP of Larry Cuba’s computer a lower-resolution fi ve-ship
animation, but Wash got his
IN STAGES USING chance to contribute to the animation, complete with
sequence the following year, anti-aliasing and motion-blur.
SCANIMATE, ALBEIT when he completed the fi nal impressive, Lucas decided
Though the results were
part of the animation using
WITH A SLIGHT traditional methods [see main once again not to use them
text]. “It just took a long time
LOSS OF QUALITY...” for me to get the job,” Wash on screen. He was convinced,
laughs on recalling it today.
however, that such tools had






62 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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GRAPHIC DISPLAYS









07


































a viable future,
and in 1979,
he established
Lucasfi lm’s
own Computer
Division, hiring
computer
scientist (and
future
co-founder
of Pixar) Ed
Catmull as
vice president. 08
Other key
early members
of the Computer Division 06 The X-wing of Khan, after which Duff and were tasked with creating six
targeting
were Alvy Ray Smith, who Reeves turned their CG shots—about 30 seconds
computer
joined as project leader and is so iconic, attention to developing of animation in all—to feature
director of computer graphics you can get it a proprietary animation in the briefing that takes

on a T-shirt!
research, Tom Duff, who had system for the division. place aboard Home One. They
(See left.)
previously worked with Catmull largely worked alone because,
at the New York Institute 07 Early artwork BACK TO THE in Duff’s words, “Who knew
for different
of Technology’s Computer aspects of DEATH STAR how to use the animation
Graphics Lab, and fellow Luke’s The timing was perfect for system? Just me and Bill,
targeting
programmer William Reeves. Return of the Jedi, which, like because we were the ones
computer.
One of the team’s fi rst major A New Hope, called for cutting- writing it!”
projects was the pioneering 08 An unlucky edge computer graphics during Working from storyboards
TIE fighter

“Project Genesis” sequence for a rebel briefing about the by visual effects art director
gets caught
1982’s Star Trek II: The Wrath out by Luke. Death Star. Duff and Reeves Joe Johnston, the pair used
STAR WARS INSIDER / 63


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GRAPHIC DISPLAYS













09
an Evans & Sutherland Picture
System 2 graphics terminal
to create computer animations
of the Death Star, Endor,
and the energy shield that
connects the two.
“It didn’t have much
memory,” Duff recalls today,
“so the complexity of what
you could draw in one pass
was extremely limited. To get

the final effect, you had to
shoot many different passes.
“We created the Death
Star in two parts,” he
continues. “I did the side

that was finished, and Bill did
the side that was not, and
we teamed up to fi t them 10
together into a single model.
The surface of Endor was a
model that I designed myself. I spun some knobs on the
“For the force fi eld that Picture System, and this
comes up from the moon and spherical thing came up on
goes around the Death Star, the screen with this beautiful
I spent a lot of time trying motion. When I showed that

to find something dynamic to Joe and George, they said,
that suggested a magnetic or ‘It’s perfect!’”

electric field. One day, having
just about given up on it, CAUGHT ON CAMERA
I started up a program that The technology for
I had written years before, transferring Duff and Reeves’
trying to emulate the animations from their 09 The rebels Several passes had to

abstract analog computer computer screen onto fi lm plot the end of be filmed to create the fi nal
the Empire.
films that the animator John was relatively unchanged animation, because the

Whitney made in the 1950s. from the system used by Larry 10 Technology Picture System’s screen was
improved
Cuba for A New Hope six monochrome. Each differently
rapidly in the
years before. A customized years between colored section had to be

Mitchell animation camera A New Hope filmed in isolation, with optical
and Return of
was loaded with high-contrast printer operator David Berry
the Jedi.

film stock, and then used and optical photography
to photograph the graphics 11 O’Bannon, supervisor Bruce Nicholson
Teitzell and

frame-by-frame. The main John Wash using color filters to build up
advance was that one of the going over the multicolored graphics
exposure tests
Computer Division’s hardware seen in the fi nished fi lm.
(top right).
techs wired the Mitchell “It was one pass for every
directly to the Picture System 12 Wash and color, and in some cases more
Teitzell with
2, in order to trigger the than one pass,” recalls Duff.
the Oxberry
camera with each successive animation “Some of the fi nished shots
frame displayed on the stand (bottom were 15 layers plus the
right).
computer screen. live-action plate.
64 / STAR WARS INSIDER
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GRAPHIC DISPLAYS




11
ALPHANUMERIC SOUP
Among the many display graphics to be seen in A New Hope are
various examples of written readings, but none are recognizably in
English or any other Earth language. As John Wash recalls, “That’s
because George Lucas didn’t want anything to really relate to Earth
culture. So where there were things that looked like they should have
writing, we used a Letraset typeface that we could cut up with X-Acto
knives and turn into our own alien lettering.
“We discussed it with George, and in the end he did let us use
numbers that were recognizable. I remember I wanted a rangefi nder in
the macrobinoculars, and I got permission to use numbers that didn’t
have any real scale to them. And Jay Teitzell used real numbers for a
countdown in Luke’s X-wing as he is making his fi nal run in the X-wing.
Details like that just help the audience to make some sense of things.”



12
















laughs Duff, who returned to
Pixar in the mid 1990s and has
twice been honored with the
Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences’ Scientifi c
and Engineering Award. “We
built the editing system that
was the prototype for the Avid
system that everybody uses
now. And we built the digital
compositing system that
“What made it harder was Computer, to Apple co-founder replaced the optical printers.”
that all of the equipment we Steve Jobs, leading to the John Wash, who went on
were using was on the second founding of Pixar Animation to become a visual effects
floor of the building, and the Studios. By this time, the supervisor on TV shows like


floor was springy. People Division had largely established The X-Files and Smallville, also
walking by would cause the the basics for modern marvels at the evolution in
camera to bounce enough postproduction methods. technology. “I’m blown away,”
that you could see it on the “Movies are made he says. “I loved doing scenes
screen, so we mostly shot at completely differently now, where some of the elements
night when there were very few and it’s kind of our fault,” came from reality and then
people around. Even then we you’d make them
had to ask people not to go do your bidding
“A CUSTOMIZED MITCHELL
anywhere near the room!” in the world of
compositing. But
MOVING ON ANIMATION CAMERA WAS the things that
Duff left the Computer can be done these
Division in 1984, and two years LOADED WITH HIGH- days with CGI are
later Lucas sold its services, phenomenally
including the Pixar Image CONTRAST FILM STOCK...” impressive.”



STAR WARS INSIDER / 65




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ANOVOS COSTUMES







































Behind the scenes at
ANOVOS








Costume company ANOVOS is well known for its screen-accurate

Star Wars outfits, but what goes on behind the scenes?

W ORDS: AMY R AT CLIFFE


hen you watch the Star When a Star Wars fan wants to dress as
W Wars movies, it’s hard Darth Vader or fully embody Luke on Bespin
with absolute accuracy, the company they
not to put yourself
turn to is ANOVOS.
in the shoes of your
favorite characters. Located in a secret base near Los Angeles,
Ever since the fi rst California, ANOVOS was founded in 2009

action figures were released in 1978, and started out making Star Trek and
manufacturers have been catering to fans’ Battlestar Galactica outfi ts.
desire to recreate the Star Wars universe As one of the first companies to make

and live within it. intricate TV and movie replicas in close
Today, you can become your best-loved partnership with licensors, they were at the
heroes and villains in many ways: through right place at the right time to work with

videogames, tabletop role-play, LEGO Lucasfilm, and acquired the license to make

Star Wars minifigures, and more. But for Star Wars costumes in 2014.
the ultimate experience, nothing beats a
life-size, screen-accurate costume that you What to wear?
can pull on and wear for real at home, at The only way to discern ANOVOS
conventions or on the street. HQ from the street is by pressing your face



66 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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ANOVOS COSTUMES




up to its nondescript glass door. “ “Also, our pieces don’t have every
Do so, and you can just about see little dent and scratch you might fi nd
stormtrooper armor on display. We’re fortunate in on an original prop, because that’s
Venture further in, and you’ll soon that we have really not necessarily true to the character.
run into the likes of Vader and Someone might post a screengrab
Captain Phasma in all their statuesque good access. We’re online where a helmet has a little ding,
pomp. They may be mannequins, able to examine but that can be just one of 18 props
but they’re as intimidating as the used to represent that character. The
real thing! and capture the helmet in one frame could be a stunt
ANOVOS has drawn inspiration for actual props... helmet, or the Hero helmet, and a
its Star Wars costumes from across the few frames on it could be something
eras, so it’s no surprise that, beyond else again.”
Vader and Phasma, visitors are met ” Because of these concerns and
with a wall of helmets ranging from others, it’s not simply a case of

Rogue One Imperials to First Order not hope to match the wealth of Lucasfilm sending over a fi nished design
forces. Individually imposing, together information on legacy costumes—in to ANOVOS before production can
they say: “Welcome to costume terms of quantity or availability. begin. The company makes regular trips

replica heaven!” and beg the question, to the Lucasfilm Archives to study a
“Where will ANOVOS go next?” True to life wide range or reference materials, from
“Everybody has their theories ANOVOS is different from other Star photos and fabric swatches to actual
as to what we should make,” says Wars licensees in that it doesn’t have screen-used props.
the company’s senior director of its own design phase in the way that “We’re incredibly fortunate in
operations, Ken Morgan. “People a statue or toy manufacturer does. that we have really good access to
like to make it more complicated Because its products are functioning everything,” says Morgan. “We’re able
than it is, but we like to go with our 1:1 replicas of the real movie costumes, to fully examine and capture the actual
gut reaction. an ANOVOS design is the same as the props, so our version is as accurate as
“We get guidance from Lucasfi lm, movie design. The skill comes with can be. We clean up any anomalies,
but the trouble we all have is that, in creating something wearable and but we don’t alter anything. Lucasfi lm
manufacturing terms, there is only durable in the real world, which is is very helpful. I’ve never had a
a short window between a new fi lm less of an issue on a movie set with a relationship with any other studio as
being announced and being released. dedicated wardrobe department. good as the one we have with them.”
Creating a screen-accurate replica “We’re in the business of
based on reference material and replicating stuff as closely as possible,” Built to last
photos in that time is a challenge.” says Morgan, “but we’re not in the Wherever possible, ANOVOS uses the
When ANOVOS started making Star business of counterfeiting props. We exact same fabric for a costume as its
Wars products, it focused on original have to add some things that aren’t on-screen equivalent. For its fi rst Kylo
trilogy items for precisely this reason. on the original item, like how Ren costume, the company actually
Though The Force Awakens reference costumes hang and attach to your bought the last remaining rolls of the
was already in development, it could body during normal wear. material used in The Force Awakens.

Choose Your Trooper
Can’t decide what kind of trooper you want to be? Whether you want a complete
costume or just a helmet, ANOVOS has you covered...








Imperial Imperial Death First Order Imperial Shock Imperial Shadow Imperial Tank Imperial
Stormtrooper Trooper Stormtrooper Trooper Stormtrooper Trooper Shoretrooper
You can’t go wrong If Rogue One’s For the modern, The distinctive This black If you’re going for Another of the
with class TK death troopers Force Awakens- paintwork on this stormtrooper that ground assault memorable designs
stormtrooper armor. made an impression era look, this First helmet will help costume is vibe, you can’t from Rogue One,
ANOVOS offers a on you, then this Order trooper kit you stand out ANOVOS’ fi rst foray beat the accuracy this dusty brown

do-it-yourself kit fiberglass helmet is includes armor, joint at conventions, into the worlds of of this Rogue One beach helmet can
with armor, helmet, the ultimate way to gaskets, and belt, marking you out Star Wars Legends. helmet, based on be paired with
equipment belt, celebrate the elite for pairing with a as one of the It is available as a a digital scan homemade armor
and basic snaps and soldiers of Imperial helmet and a soft Emperor’s elite do-it-yourself kit or of the original or a tropical shirt
strapping. Intelligence. goods pack. shock troops. pre-assembled. Lucasfi lm prop. and cargo shorts.



STAR WARS INSIDER / 67




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Dress like Han Solo!
Want to look like everyone’s
favorite space scoundrel?
ANOVOS have got you covered
with this highly-detailed Bespin
outfi t, plus holster.







Poly-cotton
jacket
dye-matched to
the original
costume, and
lined with satin.
Lightweight
poly-cotton shirt,
dye-matched to
the original
screen-used
costume.









Optional pant
belt made from
genuine leather
with metal
dual-prong
roller buckle.












Dyed saddle-
leather holster
with heavy-
guage stainless
steel hardware
and buckles*.




Poly-cotton
pants with
stitched creases,
elastic stirrups
and yellow
“Bloodstripe”.













* Holster sold separately, blaster not included





07/08/2017 17:08
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ANOVOS COSTUMES




“When that was gone,” says Morgan,
“we had to mill it ourselves and we got
as close as anybody can get.”
But a fan wearing a costume for
hours at a time needs to know that
their look is going to be able to last
the convention circuit. So where
an impractical fabric has been used
for short-term effect on screen, an
alternative must be found for the
real world.
A good example is stormtrooper

armor. The outfits used at Pinewood
Studios for Rogue One were very heavy.
ANOVOS’ equivalent stormtrooper
armor looks the same, but is made from
vacuum-formed ABS plastic, which
keeps it light and functional.
01 02
Ready to roll
Once the Archives have been raided products as neat and 01 More of a Luke
and the materials chosen, ANOVOS clean as possible, than Han fan?
Here’s a
produces a prototype, which has to but some of our detailed

be approved by Lucasfilm. When the “ helmets and props replica of his
company gets the green light, it creates are intentionally Bespin outfit.
two master versions of the piece, I love talking scratched and 02 Got $2,750.00
mirroring exactly how the fi nished to everybody weathered. We have to spare? You
product should look. One of these is to keep a close eye on could treat
yourself to this
sent to the factory as the basis for the and seeing what the samples we get full Darth
full production run, and the other is they’re doing back from the factory Vader outfit.
retained by ANOVOS as a reference for to make sure the
comparing test samples. with our stuff. manufacturer hasn’t turned random
“Quality control is our biggest nicks into a regular pattern or
challenge,” Morgan admits, with ” eliminated them altogether!”
regard to working with third- If ANOVOS is happy with the
party manufacturers. “Any factory samples it receives, they are passed on


instinctively wants to make its to Lucasfilm for final approval, along
with the packaging. The product is only
declared ready to ship after rigorous
First with the First Order checks and safety tests.
How ANOVOS and the 501st Legion conquered Star Wars Celebration This attention to detail sees its
dividend at conventions and other
The design for the First Order approval to make the armor complete. The speed at which events, where many fans come clad in
stormtroopers was one of the at the end of December 2014, the 501st were able to build

fi rst elements of The Force and had until April 2015 for the kit parts was astounding. ANOVOS gear, confident that they both
Awakens to be revealed to the costumes to be complete. “Lucasfi lm was very look the part and are comfortable.
fans. ANOVOS played a When ANOVOS realized gracious and gave us a lot of “I really like doing conventions,”
special role in bringing the it was unrealistic to make reference to work with. This
new look to life at Star Wars entirely completed outfi ts thing had to look spot on, so Morgan says with a smile. “I love talking
Celebration in 2015 when a for that deadline, they they provided us with all the to everybody and seeing what they’re
unit of First Order troopers involved fan organization materials possible, including doing with our stuff. Lots of people in
joined J.J. Abrams and the 501st Legion. Around a lot of the parts that were ANOVOS gear come by to say hi.
Kathleen Kennedy on stage as 40 of its members stepped engineered for the original
they presented the fi rst trailer in to assemble and wear production. “ “They appreciate the efforts we go
for the fi lm. do-it-yourself kit versions of The Celebration event to and they always want to know what
Though the Celebration the armor, which were quicker was a resounding success, we’re doing next. For our part, we love
audience could never have and easier to produce. and the participants will
guessed, the troopers were all “In order for us to be forever have the distinction of to see people enjoying our stuff in the
wearing ANOVOS gear, and ready, it just had to be being the original First Order wild, so it’s a really neat relationship.”
in order to get them ready for part completed, part kit stormtroopers in the 501st.
the event, the company had costumes,” says ANOVOS Their numbers have only Keep up with the latest releases from
needed to move faster than founder and owner Joe grown since then, of course,
the Millennium Falcon on the Salcedo. “The body was the thanks in large part to the full ANOVOS at anovos.com and on
Kessel Run. They received kit part, and the helmets were public launch of ANOVOS’ kit! Twitter and Instagram @ANOVOS



STAR WARS INSIDER / 69




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THE FREEMAKER ADVENTURES

























Plastic









Fantastic








This summer, LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker
Adventures returns for a second season of bricks, battles,
and belly laughs. Insider spoke to executive producers
Bill Motz and Bob Roth about the building excitement...


W ORDS B Y JON D. WITMER
































74 / STAR WARS INSIDER




07/08/2017 17:11
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THE FREEMAKER ADVENTURES

























































































STAR WARS INSIDER / 75




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THE FREEMAKER ADVENTURES



“
Animation is a long process. It takes almost a
year, maybe a little more, to make an episode.

- Bob Roth -
”

he fi rst season Star Wars Insider: When did you development, is our conduit to the
of animated start work on season two? rest of the company. She’s a great
T action comedy Bob Roth: Well, animation is a support and an ideas generator.
LEGO Star Wars:
long process. It takes almost a year,
She makes sure that we are part of

The Freemaker maybe a little more, to make an the Lucasfilm family, and she put
Adventures episode from conception to us in touch with Doug. His team
introduced us to 12-year-old completion. So we actually started then took the ball and ran with it.
Rowan Freemaker, his older very preliminary work on Season
siblings Zander and Kordi, and Two before Season One aired. BM: This really is a co-production

their “vintage collectible” battle between Lucasfilm and LEGO.

droid, R0-GR. Bill Motz: That was a leap of faith They flew Doug Chiang to
As unassuming scavengers by the studios, who said, ‘Yeah, we Copenhagen so he could meet the
more interested in earning an think this is going well.’ designers at Wil Film and at LEGO.
honest living than choosing sides He gave a philosophy-of-design
in any galactic conflict, the family You recently showed off some seminar, and talked very

didn’t seem obvious candidates concept art for the show created specifically about design for Star

for the “Adventures” promised in by the noted Star Wars designer Wars and for our show.
the show’s title, but then Rowan Doug Chiang and his Similarly, Joel Aron [Lucasfi lm
discovered that not only is he collaborators. How did you come CG lighting and effects supervisor]
Force-sensitive, but also that he to be working with him? offers regular guidance on the
shares a special connection to the BR: Carrie Beck, Lucasfi lm’s vice lighting, and—beyond being the
kyber crystals that made up the president of animation voice of R0-GR—Matt Wood
very fi rst lightsaber!
As the Freemakers set out to

find those crystals, they found
themselves at odds with dark side 01
underling Naare, hapless Imperial
officers Durpin and Plumestriker,

Hutt gangster Graballa, bounty
hunter Dengar, and even Darth
Vader and the Emperor himself.
Against the odds, Rowan and his
family kept out of the Emperor’s
cold plastic clutches and found a
new home aboard the Rebel
Alliance fl agship, Home One.
The Freemakers’ fi rst forays
with the rebellion are explored in a
series of shorts that pick up right
where season one left off, and their
adventures will continue this
summer, when Season Two
premieres on Disney XD. Still
seething over the loss of the Kyber
Saber, the Emperor dispatches
M-OC, a hunter droid of his own
creation, to capture Rowan. But as
series executive producers Bill
Motz and Bob Roth revealed to
Insider, the Freemakers have
designs of their own…



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02



01 Pilot Lieutenant [supervising sound editor at becoming a Jedi. He’s experiencing
Valeria is a Skywalker Sound] weighs in on and learning more of the Force,
trusty ally to
the Freemakers every single episode with how to and he’s discovering his place in
(see left). make it sound like Star Wars. The the grand scheme of things. That’s
amount of Lucasfi lm resources very much a theme of Season Two.
02 They may look
a little plastic poured into this show is thrilling
here, but Darth for us—and kind of intimidating! Quarrie, the Mon Calamari
Vader and the
Emperor still shipbuilder from Star Wars
pose a threat. Rowan’s new look in Season Two Rebels, becomes a mentor for
is very reminiscent of Luke’s Rowan in this new season. What

Bespin outfit. What parallels do lessons does he have for a young
you see between Rowan at this Jedi in training?
point in his journey and Luke in BR: Even though Quarrie isn’t
The Empire Strikes Back? Force-sensitive, he’s been around
BR: We had a long debate about for a long time. He’s met Jedi, so
where to go with Rowan’s he has some insight into what a
costume. We tried out various Jedi needs. Maybe he can’t walk
jackets and textures and colors, that path with Rowan, but he can

and finally Jake Blais, one of our steer him in those directions.
producers at LEGO, said, “Maybe The nice thing about their
we should take a look at Luke’s relationship is that it’s not
costume from Empire.” Rowan is one-sided. It’s not just that Rowan
moving forward on his path to needs Quarrie; Quarrie’s kind of



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03






































03 Meet MOC—a
deadly new
droid built by
the Emperor
himself.
04 Zander and
Kordi—not
afraid to get
a bit messy
to help the
rebellion.





































04





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THE FREEMAKER ADVENTURES




“

We wanted Rowan to have

a quest this season as well,

and that led us to the idea

for creating the Arrowhead.


- Bill Motz -
”




going crazy down in the bottom Kordi’s new costume update
levels of Home One all by seems inspired by Leia’s Endor
himself. He needs somebody to uniform in Return of the Jedi.
bring him back into the world, Leia certainly made an
and that is Rowan. impression on Kordi when
their paths crossed in Season
BM: Quarrie has a real affi nity for One. Will she continue to be a
the designs of the Republic era. role model?
That’s where the craftsmanship BR: That look is very much
was—everything made today is intentional. We don’t have
just assembly-line junk! And he another Leia episode this season,
also has a belief that the right kind but Kordi’s got Hera and Mon
of design could really help turn the Mothma on Home One, and they
tide of the war. are both great role models for her.

That brings us to the Arrowhead, BM: Leia planted a seed within
the ship Rowan envisions and Kordi, and it’s being watered by
sets out to build. What can you Hera and Mon Mothma. One of
tell us about that? the themes this season is that all
BR: For Rowan, it becomes his of the Freemakers are trying to
purpose. When he arrives at the find their place and their purpose.


fleet, he’s not sure where he fi ts in Part of the tension is that, like a
or what he can do, and once he lot of families, the kids get older,
has that vision, he realizes, “That’s and they get pulled in different
my way to contribute.” And for directions, and it’s a challenge to
the Rebel Alliance, it could mean remain close and still fi nd your
victory. It’s a ship powerful enough common core.
to take the rebels all the way to the For Kordi, her purpose is going
fi nish line. to be toward a leadership role
in the rebellion. For Zander, it’s
BM: Rowan realizes that there’s an about being a superstar pilot.
aspect of being Force-sensitive that That’s his wish, but it’s going to
involves designing and building. be a struggle for him.
The Force is leading him to the
Arrowhead. Season One was about Have Rowan, Kordi, and
the quest for the Kyber Saber and Zander evolved as you’ve gotten
Rowan getting the different to know the actors that provide
crystals together. We wanted him their voices?
to have a quest this season as well, BM: That started early on, with
and that led us to the idea for the auditions. I’m sure they were

creating the Arrowhead. trying to figure out what in the


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world they were auditioning for! realized that he could pull off “
It was the equivalent of “Blue deeper, emotional content. In
Harvest” [the production Season Two, there’s a scene Our show is funny
codename for Return of the Jedi]. between him and Kordi that gets
We had to pretend it was this me misty-eyed every time I see it. and adventurous,
weird, hybrid hot-rod wizard Our show’s funny and
show. It was like Harry Potter adventurous, but it also has an but it also has
meets American Graffi ti! emotional resonance that I don’t
think people would expect from a an emotional
BR: Which sounds like a cool LEGO Star Wars show.
show to me… resonance that I
BR: We wanted to create don’t think people
BM: That’s what we’ll be pitching something that was every bit as
next! But the text was all about much Star Wars as all the other would expect
these classic cars and hot rods Star Wars content. We wanted it
going by, that kind of thing. to have the adventure, the from a LEGO Star
Zander’s character was all into it, comedy, and the action, but we
and Eugene [Byrd] would do this also wanted it to have the depth. Wars show.
gasp thing, and he’d talk really
fast and his voice would get really Even R0-GR has tugged the - Bill Motz -
high-pitched. We loved that, and heartstrings more than once!
once we knew that he would be Will he get to show more depth ”
Zander, we wrote to that, to play in the new season, too?
up that affectation that he created BR: R0-GR is our comic relief, but
in the audition. And similarly there are moments where we’re 05
with Vanessa [Lengies] as Kordi, going to see just how much the
she could really talk fast, but with Freemakers mean to him—Rowan
this sly tone. in particular.

BR: What we learned through BM: We decided he would get a
working with Vanessa is that bit of an optimism upgrade this
there’s a super-sweet side that she season. He’s trying to be a little
can go to without breaking more positive, but he’s just not
character. We saw those moments very good at it. It’s not really his
sprinkled through Season One natural disposition!
and realized they were working
great, so we go even deeper with The series features various
them in Season Two. familiar Star Wars characters
in LEGO form. How hard is it
BM: And with Nicolas [Cantu] as to stay true to those fan-
Rowan, we cast a 12-year-old kid favorites while also infusing
with the soul of an adult. So what them with the extra humor this
ends up happening is his story show requires?
gets richer and richer, and we BM: We look at it like this: In the 06
films you’re getting everyone at

their most ‘on’—so what about
when they’re not so on? What
05 MOC is a nod to “My Own would that be like? But we still
Creation”—fan speak for
kits designed by LEGO fans. make sure there are some places
where Vader is properly
06 Last season featured intimidating. We remind the
Leia—now here’s a certain
Luke Skywalker and R2-D2. audience: You might get a laugh
at his expense here or there, but
07 Yes, it’s funny, but the show
still has time for action! he’s still an incredibly dangerous
(See right.) and powerful character.



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07





BR: Toward the end of the season, course, it was nothing more than

we let Vader flex his genuine a pipe dream that I could get a

Vader muscle. We also introduce career in this field, and well
the hunter droid M-OC into the beyond that to think I could
dynamic in Season Two, and we actually work on a Star Wars
delve deeper into the ‘offi ce property and contribute to
politics’ as Darth Vader is the universe.
threatened by this new guy We very much have in mind
coming in and stealing a little bit that this is a gateway to a greater
of his thunder. Lots of good stuff universe for a huge portion of
comes out with Vader, the our audience.
Emperor, and M-OC.
BM: I also think Star Wars is
When you’re working on helpful in facing a lot of life
The Freemaker Adventures, challenges. And that was
do you think about how you are something that we wanted to
inspiring the next generation show: that you can face adversity,
of storytellers? that you can overcome it, that
BR: Very much so. Almost 40 you can rise to meet challenges.
years ago to the day I went to go Life throws all sorts of curveballs

see Star Wars for the first time. I and can be kind of a scary place,
was just seven years old, and I and we wanted our audience to
walked out of the theater knowing be reminded that they can get
exactly what I wanted to do with through it with honor. If you face
my life—I wanted to make other your fears and take risks, you can
people feel the way I felt at that have a power within you to make
very moment. At the time, of a difference.



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COMICS: D AR TH V
COMICS: MACE WINDUADER
























































































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MASTER








This summer, Marvel’s latest comic-book miniseries,
Star Wars: Jedi of the Republic: Mace Windu, sheds new
light of the fan-favorite Jedi Master and clone army general.
AND Insider spoke to writer Matt Owens to fi nd out more.

COMMANDER









e’s the man who relationship going in the future.
took out Jango One day he called me to say that he
H Fett and almost had a couple of new opportunities
he wanted to discuss and one of
bested Palpatine
in battle. First them was a Mace Windu series. He
seen in 1999’s The asked me to come up with an idea,
Phantom Menace, Mace Windu was so I did and here we are!
one of the breakout characters of
the prequel movies, and went on to What’s the comic about?
cement his popularity in The Clone Mace Windu is a fi ve-issue Marvel
Wars animated show television. miniseries in which the title
Now he’s back, fronting his own character finds himself in the midst

comic series, written by Matt of a galactic war at the same time
Owens (Elektra), with art by Denys that he’s having a crisis of faith.
Cowan (Black Panther, The He believes devoutly in the Force,
Question). We asked Matt but now he’s in a dangerous new
PROFILE what Mace Windu has in role of army general. So we see him
MATT OWENS store for the much-loved fulfilling his duties on the front

Having started Jedi Master. lines, and questioning the role of
out writing for the Jedi at this time. That struggle
TV on shows like
Marvel’s Agents How did you come to is front and center in the story.
of S.H.I.E.L.D. write Mace Windu?
and Netfl ix’s Luke Matt Owens: Ever since we So we’re joining him in the
Cage, Matt Owens
is a newcomer to started working together heart of the Clone Wars?
comics. His debut, on the Elektra comic, Axel Yes, just after the Battle of Geonosis
Elektra, was pub-
lished by Marvel in Alonso [Marvel’s editor- from Attack of the Clones. The
February, with art by in-chief] has told me he Clone Wars animation explored
Alec Morgan. enjoyed working with me that period really well on TV, but
and wanted to keep the there’s still so much great stuff



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to mine! I like working in an area “We will see Mace as a leader and a
where we know the outcome of
a lot of the stories—the fun part warrior, but also as a man with beliefs
is seeing the intricacies of how and fears. He’s three-dimensional.”
we get there. We know that Mace
dies, we know the Empire wins,
but it’s a journey that people still
want to go on, despite knowing So it sets things up for Mace as or to tell them how to live their
the fi nal destination. we see him in The Clone Wars lives. Those are interesting traits
and Revenge of the Sith? to have in any droid, but as an
How does Mace balance his It helps inform how he got to that embodiment of the science
duties with this crisis of faith? point, yeah. He’s always been a versus faith debate, he’s the
It’s not easy! The Jedi are like character people have wanted to perfect foil for the emotional
atomic bombs: they have so much explore further and get to know. journey that Mace is on. He’s
power, but they really don’t want In this story we will see him as a a formidable opponent both
to use it. Mace is a masterful leader and a warrior, but also as mentally and physically. He’s got
warrior who doesn’t relish a man with his own beliefs and some tools that make for great

fighting. Such use of his power fears. He’s always been a three- combat prowess.
goes against his code, but if he dimensional character, now we’re

doesn’t use it, what will become really fleshing out those aspects. What returning characters
of the Republic? As a member should we look forward to?
of the Jedi Council, he is under What new characters do you I asked for every conceivable
pressure because he is a leader. introduce in the comic? Jedi under the sun for this book!
He’s forced into an uncomfortable There are two new Jedi I wanted to dive into a lot of
situation where he is doing introduced, named Prosset different characters because I’m
something he doesn’t entirely Dibs and Rissa Mano. I still such a fan of them all. But most
agree with for what he believes can’t believe Lucasfi lm let me of all, I really wanted to explore
is ultimately the greater good. create new characters! Prosset Mace’s relationship with Kit Fisto,
But he has to be sure of himself is a Miraluka. He’s incredibly because they are together when
because he has so many others observant and has a bit of a sharp they meet their end, and it always
looking to him for direction. tongue. Rissa is a Devaronian, and seemed to me that Kit was someone
a newly appointed Jedi Knight. Mace really trusted. So you will see
It sounds like a rich seam of She has a mind for engineering a lot of instances, both in battle and
material for a writer to mine! and likes to tinker with vehicles. in philosophy, where Kit has Mace’s
It is! You need confl ict, both Both characters are handpicked back. And in the tumultuous time
internal and external, to tell a by Mace for an important when this story is set, that kind of
compelling story. That clash of mission, which gives us new support is invaluable to Mace. You
ideals is what interested me most insight into Mace as a leader. I will see why Mace and the Council
about this story. People watch the won’t say too much, but Rissa is hold Kit in such high regard.
prequel trilogy with the benefi t ecstatic to be working with him.
of foresight, going, “The enemy She has a bit of a fangirl moment, Does the story introduce any
is right next to you! How do you as anyone would! new worlds?
not see it?” This story shows how Of course! There’s the jungle
it’s not that easy when you’re in Is there a new villain, too? planet Hissrich, which has its
the moment. Mace is no fool, Yes, and he is possibly my favorite own sentient species. One of my
and hopefully by the end of the new character. He’s a mercenary favorite Star Wars worlds is Felucia
miniseries people will understand droid called AD-W4, who is hired from Revenge of the Sith, so I
why he went on fi ghting, even by the Separatists, and he doesn’t wanted to create something along
with his reservations, and why it care about the war or the Jedi: he those lines, but even denser and
took him so long to act on them. only cares about getting paid. He darker. It’s an environment that
doesn’t understand why anyone the Jedi really have to factor into
would follow the Jedi Code, or their mission, with near-perpetual
any religion for that matter. night, bioluminescent fl ora, and
01 Mace isn’t the only He wonders why any lifeform lots of other things lurking in the
Jedi featured. Kit
Fisto returns with two would need such a philosophical darkness. It will test the Jedi from
new Jedi (see right). safety blanket to fall back on, the moment they set foot on it!



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02
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That must be a lot of fun for
Denys Cowan. What does his art
bring to your story?
Denys really hits what the core of
the scenes are about and elevates
them. It’s a gift to be working
with someone so talented. Having
worked with so many different
writers before—since before I was
born, even—he has a wonderful
way of bringing out great detail in
every panel. Being able to see his
process has been awe-inspiring.
I have to remind myself at times
that I’m not just here to gawk at
his art. We have work to do, too!

Your own background is more
based in TV (Marvel’s Agents of
S.H.I.E.L.D., Luke Cage) than
comics. How has that infl uenced
Mace Windu?
I’ve been lucky enough to write for
a number of awesome characters
on TV and in comics: Luke Cage,
Quake, Ghost Rider, Elektra—and
now I get to add Mace Windu to
that list! My experiences have

definitely taught me what makes
a character compelling, and how

drive and conflict make for stories
worth telling. On our show, Luke
Cage is a very strong and mostly
silent type, and that describes
Mace well, too.

The live-action Mace Windu was
played by Samuel L. Jackson. Are
there any lines of dialogue in the
comic that you’d particularly 03
like to hear him speak?
I’d kill for him to say any of the

lines from the comic! There’s a huge influence. I even named my 02 One of Mace’s defining
moments: taking on Jango
moment right before a fi ght where pet turtle Princess Leia because I
Fett on Geonosis (see left).
Mace tells his opponent, “I’ll show had such a huge crush on her as a
you why they call us Jedi Masters!” kid! She had a cool robe and great 03 The series will see Mace’s
beliefs tested and he’ll need to
I can imagine him saying that. hair, and could use a blaster and call on all the help he can get.
Also, one of my favorite lines in didn’t take smack from anyone.
the series: “The just do not have I always clung to Lando as a
the need to hire mercenaries.” character, too. Not only because that I never get to do in real life.
he was black, but because he was So there’s definitely an element


There’s no mistaking your so suave and complicated. And of wish fulfillment in there for
passion for Star Wars. Has the because he wore a dope cape! me. But Mace is also an incredibly
saga always been in your blood? smart person. Despite being one
It has always been a part of my life, What’s the best thing about of the greatest Jedi warriors, he’s
yeah. From watching the original writing Mace Windu? not just some blunt instrument. I
trilogy with my dad, to playing Mace is hardcore! As a writer, he like how much of a layered person
videogames like Dark Forces, it’s gives me the ability to write cool he is. It’s been a real privilege to
been a constant presence and a lines and have him do cool stuff explore that.



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WORLDWIDE






CELEBR A TING THE S A G A
















































GATHERING GREEN carbonite, an Endor bunker
complete with Ewoks, and a
costume gallery.
AT EMERALD CITY $23,350, beating last year’s
The total raised for charity was
$20,000 by a signifi cant amount.
501st trooper Matthew Brown on how three fan
Next year’s goal is $25,000, and
groups raised $23k for a Seattle charity Legion members are already
planning and designing the
hree fan groups out of than 100 members, family, and 2018 booth!
Washington State teamed up friends volunteering their time over All three groups would like to
T in March to raise money for the course of the four-day event. extend their thanks to Emerald City
Seattle Children’s Hospital. Garrison Highlights of the experience Comicon promoter ReedPop, which
Titan of the 501st Legion, Rebel included a speeder bike for fans to is headed by Lucasfi lm alumnus
Legion Alpha Base, and Jet City ride on, an X-wing cockpit to ‘fl y’ in, Mary Franklin, for its invaluable
Saber Guild came together to create a blast-a-stormtrooper game, support. Thanks, too, to Thrawn
an interactive Star Wars experience lightsaber dueling, a Millennium author Timothy Zahn for stopping
at Emerald City Comicon, with more Falcon lounge, Han Solo in by and signing our carbonite statue!



88 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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YOUR EMPIRE NEEDS YOU!
We want to hear from you! Tell us about your
Star Wars experience. What made you want
to become a fan? What have you done in the
name of Star Wars? Tell us your Star Wars
story by sending your photos, art, and ARTISTS’ ALLEY
letters here:
[email protected]
Talented Star Wars fans share their amazing
Or via regular post:
UNITED STATES UNITED KINGDOM drawings inspired by the galaxy far, far away...
Star Wars Worldwide, Star Wars Worldwide,
Star Wars Insider, Star Wars Insider,
Titan Magazines, 144 Southwark
2819 Rosehall Lane, Street
Aurora, IL, 60503, London, SE1 0UP,
U.S.A. U.K.
01. DROID
DRAWING
I drew this three
years ago when
I was 15. I was
inspired by The
Clone Wars movie.
The caption is “Let
me show you how
it works, Clanker!”
KayLynn Webb,
email











02. 40 YEARS
OF THE FORCE

Here is some
artwork I
have done to
celebrate 40
years of Star
Wars. Here’s to
the next 40!
Paul Beck,
email


















03. IMPERIAL ART

The art of Jose Sanchez has appeared in
Worldwide before. Here’s some more of his
colorful work. “Stormtrooper Assault” was
created back in 1998, while “TIE Pilot Elite”
was made back in 2015.



STAR WARS INSIDER / 89




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WORLDWIDE
BOUNTY HUNTERS
Scouring the galaxy for the
stars of Star Wars...




Meet the stars, show the evidence, win
the bounty! Bounty Hunters is sponsored
by Kotobukiya. Each issue's winner will
receive a fantastic Kotobukiya Star
Wars statue kit! To see more,
visit www.facebook.com/kotobukiya

an Stephen Hampson traveled several
hours across country to Planet
FComicon in Kansas City. While there
he met several of his Star Wars heroes...
01
EMBRACING THE

DARKNESS



Jason Knuth is such a fan of Kylo Ren, he got him inked

I about two more hours in January
got my new Kylo Ren tattoo by
Skully Khan at Skully’s Jedi Tattoo
of this year.
Kylo is one of my favorite new
Parlor in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
It took two sessions: the fi rst in characters. I wanted something
December 2016, which was the dark new and iconic, but I’d like some
outline and that took three hours. other Star Wars tattoos at some
And then the color session took point—maybe a sleeve.


02
REMEMBRANCE

OF A PRINCESS


16-year-old Eden Skowron pens a heartfelt
tribute to the much-missed Carrie Fisher
’Twas a night in late December If not for her inspiration,
when we heard the tragic news I know not where I’d be
That sent so many thousands She was many things to us:
into a terrible case of the blues a mother, sister, friend
We all kept anxious vigil, An actress, writer, activist,
throughout her four-day plight we loved her to the end
But alas, our darling princess We will miss her dearly,
slipped into everlasting night we’ve lost a shining star

Our thoughts and prayers were The space she left can ne’er be fi lled,
01 When I saw that Spencer Wilding was going to be
at Planet Comicon, I had to go. It was a great with her, for all the good they did may we look near or far
chance to meet the newest actor to play Vader!
But even famous persons cannot But she will never truly leave,
02 I also met my favorite author of Star Wars novels,
John Jackson Miller. While I was there I also from Death’s cruel grip be hid miss her though we will
hung out with the 501st and the Rebel Legion, as
well as the folks from the R2 Builders Club and So many loved her dearly, Forevermore, in all our hearts,
the Mandalorian Mercs. most especially me she will live on still


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WORLDWIDE



TALES

FROM THE


TEMPLE


British mom Carly Potter
treated her son to some
transatlantic Jedi training

n the photo is my son Joe Potter,
aged eight. We travelled to Walt
I Disney World, Florida from Wales
in the U.K.
Joe queued up early in the
morning to secure his place on
Trials of the Temple, and said
afterwards, “It was one of the most
awesome things I’ve ever done!”
I don’t think he will ever forget it.
Back at home Joe was lucky
enough to track down both Rogue
One’s Darth Vader (Spencer
Wilding) and Bossk (Allan Harris)
at two local comic cons in Cardiff.
He is a keen autograph-hunter and
hopes to be lucky enough to meet
Daisy Ridley one day.




STAR WALL


Artistic Christian Thilmany
describes how he decorated
his amazing home offi ce

’ve been working on
a 14-foot Star Wars wall
Iin my home offi ce for three
years now. I began by painting one
wall using chalkboard paint and
since then I’ve been working on
the characters and ships using
nothing but chalk!
I started out with an idea of
what I wanted in the end but it has
evolved based on which characters
seem to turn out the best. Many I plan to keep working on it, and Everyone seems to have their

of the first drawings were just will probably add BB-8 and Boba own favorite part of the design.
outlines, like the AT-AT, but evolved Fett next. I keep touching up each My wife is a sport as the offi ce
with shading. That happened with image and I’m on constant guard is right by our front door, so
both R2-D2 and C-3PO. The every time my two year gets close everyone gets to see it!

Millennium Falcon and the Death to the wall! He has done that I figure I’ll never really be
Star are recent additions. before, but the repairs are easy. completely ‘done’ with it...



STAR WARS INSIDER / 91




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WORLDWIDE



MOISTURE

FARMERS


UNITE!


Japanese fans gather
in Tokyo

undreds of people attended
the Moisture Farmers Union
H Meeting on June 10, 2017.
This annual event for fans in Japan
is now in its eighth year and was
held at the Sunamachi Bunka
Center in Tokyo.
Attendees enjoyed a variety of
panels and made the most of 17
booths packed with collectibles, art
and information about fan groups.
Thanks to everyone involved for
making it another successful event!
Yutaka Tanaka, chairman of
Moisture Farmers Union, Japan





BELGIUM’S

TEEKAY-421

AT 20


Birthday bash for the
Belgian fan club

eeKay-421, the Belgian Star
Wars fan club, celebrates its
T20th anniversary this year.
On March 11 we organized a small
convention in Antwerp with
several activities, dealers,
cosplayers and presentations.
It is a day that will be long
remembered, since a great many
members and Star Wars fans
showed up to the event to join in
the celebrations.
TeeKay-421 publishes four
magazines (in Dutch) each year
and had a presence at the last two
Star Wars Celebrations in Europe.
Tim Veekhoven, TeeKay-421
co-founder, Belgium



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94 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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96 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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Feeling
blue, Finn?
John Boyega and
Oscar Isaac film
FN-2187 and
Poe’s dramatic
escape from the
clutches of the
First Order, in
a Special Forces
TIE fighter.





STAR WARS INSIDER / 97




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NEXT ISSUE

















































176



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Inside the new BOOKS
comic which reveals COMICS
how the First Order’s
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U.S. 800 261 6502 | U.K. 0844 576 7858




08/08/2017 14:15
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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
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THE BEST OF STAR WARS INSIDER













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Volume One Volume Two Volume Three Volume Four
ISBN 9781785851162 ISBN 9781785851179 ISBN 9781785851896 ISBN 9781785851902 ISBN 9781785851919
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: TITAN-COMICS.COM

© & TM 2017 Lucasfi lm Ltd.




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