Star Wars Insider #181

“Johnson modeled the traditional treatment of the values magistrate hostage. Rather than obey the normal
character DJ, played of honor and loyalty, Gosha veers codes of honor and rescue the girl, Shiba listens
by Benicio del Toro, toward nihilism, depicting a cruel to the grievances the peasants have against the
after Sakura, one of world of gruesome violence and tyrannical magistrate and decides to side with

them. As the film proceeds, two other samurai
shifting alliances. His action scenes
the three samurai in are wild and unexpected, and he join the peasant cause, though not without
Gosha’s fi lm.” often cuts from a shot of classical mortal consequences. When the three ronin
widescreen beauty to a close-up of walk down the road together at the end, they
a weapon’s violent—and bloody— have achieved no lasting victory, leaving only
death stroke. death in their wake.

“This is that era where they The film’s pulpy swordplay encouraged
were trying stylistic things that Johnson to push the melee combat in The
were a little funky or a little more Last Jedi and choreograph feats and acrobatics
out there,” Johnson explained not seen before in a Star Wars fi lm. Moreover,
to pop-culture website Uproxx. Johnson modeled the character DJ, played by
“Style-wise, it’s got something that Benicio del Toro, after Sakura, one of the three
was going to push it out beyond samurai in Gosha’s film. Gosha introduces the

what we maybe expected from a filthy Sakura as a prisoner in the magistrate’s


samurai film. The direction of that jail, just as Johnson introduces DJ in Finn and
movie is incredible. But then, also, Rose’s cell. Both men look nothing like what they
there’s the unexpected camaraderie, actually are—Sakura is an exceptional warrior
this uneasy alliance with these and DJ a talented thief—vindicating the ancient
samurai.” proverb that one should never judge a book by
Three Outlaw Samurai opens its cover—or a man by his clothes.
with a wandering ronin, Shiba, The Last Jedi also shares Three Outlaw
07
who encounters three peasants Samurai’s interrogation of heroism. Finn, Poe,
holding the daughter of a local and Rey make noble attempts to save the



STAR WARS INSIDER / 51

CINEMATIC FORCES




galaxy and friends they love, yet for the most
10
part they fail in their immediate quests. Poe
Dameron doubts the strategy of Vice Admiral
Holdo, and goes so far as to commit mutiny
against her. Finn and Rose’s mission to disable
the hyperspace tracker only further endangers
the Resistance because of DJ’s betrayal. And Rey’s
efforts to convince Luke to join the fi ght against
the First Order appear to fall short and cause her
to leave Ahch-To without the fabled Jedi Master
aboard the Millennium Falcon.
This is not to say The Last Jedi is a meditation
on failure. For, despite their initial stumbles, Poe,
Finn, and Rey survive and are reunited to fi ght
another day. They may have made errors, but
their resolve is not broken. Neither is that of
Gosha’s three outlaw samurai. As they stroll

down the road in the film’s last shot, they will no
doubt venture into another village where they
will be called upon to protect the weak. Even
when facing the constant
savagery of tyrants, these
samurai have not lost faith 08 / Like Sakura
in Three Outlaw
in trying to make the world Flash
Samurai, the
a better place, and neither devious DJ is not
have our Resistance heroes. all he seems.
09 / Poe’s mutiny Gordon
is an extension of
Three Outlaw Director: Mike Hodges
Samurai ’s study
on heroism. (DINO DE LAURENTIiS Co. 1980)


lash Gordon may not have been one of the
films Johnson drew direct inspiration from,

F but he has stated that The Last Jedi shares
its particular brand of wonder and imagination.
In fact, the 1980 fi lm has a historical connection
to the Star Wars franchise. Before making Star
Wars, George Lucas approached mega-producer
Dino De Laurentiis about obtaining the movie
rights for Flash Gordon, which originated as a
newspaper comic strip drawn by Alex Raymond
before garnering even greater popularity as radio,
08 film, and television series. When De Laurentiis

refused to sell him the rights, the director decided
that if he couldn’t make Flash Gordon, his own

film would at least capture the same otherworldly
adventure and optimistic wonder that fi lled the
panels of Raymond’s comic strip.
At the time, De Laurentiis was busy trying to
lure two of Italian cinema’s greatest directors,
Federico Fellini and Sergio Leone, to direct a
Flash Gordon movie, but nothing came of his
attempts. In the wake of the success of Star Wars,
De Laurentiis eventually produced a big-budget
feature film version in 1980, hiring Mike Hodges,


the filmmaker behind British gangster fi lm Get
Carter (1971), as director, with a screenplay by
09
Lorenzo Semple, Jr., the mastermind behind the


52 / STAR WARS INSIDER

CINEMATIC FORCES



“Johnson wanted his Star PLAYLIST
Wars episode to possess Several classic feature fi lms
some of Flash Gordon’s echo the themes, events, and
escapist pleasures.” character interactions of The
Last Jedi. For fans of cinema, or
if you’re just looking for a great
movie to sit down with, then
10 / Snoke’s you could do a lot worse than
throne room The Force Awakens, but he didn’t want darkness give any of these a try:

resembles that to overwhelm the whole film. “I also made a real
of Flash Gordon’s conscious effort for it to be a riot,” he admitted
nemesis, Ming RASHOMON (1950)
the Merciless. to Rolling Stone magazine. “I want it to have all Anyone who ever enrolled in a fi lm
the things tonally that I associate with Star Wars, studies class has probably watched
11 / Johnson which is not just the Wagner [operatics] of it. It’s Akira Kurosawa’s debut fi lm.
wanted The Last A masterpiece of world cinema (and
Jedi “to have all also the Flash Gordon.” unreliable narration), Rashomon
the things tonally Like Flash Gordon, Johnson’s film includes a presents multiple contradictory

that I associate accounts about the murder of a
with Star Wars.” healthy dose of zany humor, from Luke’s casual samurai, just as The Last Jedi retells
tossing of the lightsaber over his shoulder, to Poe Luke and Ben Solo’s encounter in
the Jedi Temple from—as Obi-Wan
Dameron’s taunting of General Hux as “Hugs.” Kenobi might say—their “certain
The saturated colors of Flash Gordon’s visual points of view.”
palette are also to be seen in The Last Jedi—in
the colored crystals buried in the salt fl ats on THE BRIDGE ON THE
Crait, the striking armor of the Praetorian Guard, RIVER KWAI (1957)
This Oscar-winning classic directed
1960’s Batman television series. and Supreme Leader Snoke’s red-curtained throne by David Lean tells the fi ctional
De Laurentiis instructed Semple room, which bears a striking resemblance to that story of American and British
prisoners-of-war forced to build a
and Hodges to stress the “comic” of Flash Gordon’s nemesis, Ming the Merciless railway bridge for their Japanese
aspect of the Flash Gordon comic (played by The Force Awakens’ Max von Sydow). captors. Johnson refl ects the tense
strip, and what resulted became In one of Flash Gordon’s wackiest scenes, relationship between William
Holden’s brash American army
one of the campest sci-fi romps Flash communicates to love interest Dale Arden offi cer and the strict British colonel
ever committed to celluloid. using telepathy. Instead of utilizing technology to played by Alec Guinness in the
tug-of-war for authority between
Flash Gordon never became the transmit thoughts, as Flash does, Johnson chose
hotshot Poe Dameron and the
blockbuster hit that De Laurentiis to have Snoke bridge the minds of Rey and Kylo wiser Vice Admiral Holdo.
intended, yet it lives on as a cult Ren through the Force, expanding on the Force
classic, owing to the fact that few telepathy between Luke and both Leia and Vader GUNGA DIN (1939)
Starring Cary Grant, director

science-fi ction films so thoroughly in The Empire Strikes Back. George Stevens’ adaptation of a
embrace their own absurdity, and Finally, Johnson also packed his fi lm with Rudyard Kipling poem and short
have so much fun while doing it. last-second escapes, never-ending cliffhangers, story follows three British soldiers
on a mission to defeat a religious
Johnson wanted his Star Wars and nick-of-time rescues, which propel the plot cult in 1880s colonial India.
episode to possess some of Flash of The Last Jedi. Fittingly, these are the stock Johnson’s fondness for the fi lm’s
sweeping, swashbuckling adventure
Gordon’s escapist pleasures. He ingredients of the same 1930s adventure serials
and sense of camaraderie, made
knew he had to deal with some (like the original Flash Gordon staring Buster him want to impart the same light-
dark material set up by J.J. Abrams’ Crabbe), which inspired George Lucas. hearted touch to The Last Jedi.
LETTER NEVER SENT
(1959)
11 A landmark of Soviet cinema, Letter
Never Sent is the bleak tale of a
team of geologists searching for
diamonds in the forbidding tundra
of Siberia. Director Mikhail Kalatov’s
panoramic black-and-white footage
of the desolate wilderness immerses
viewers in the natural environment,
much as Johnson does with his
shots of Crait’s barren landscape.
SAHARA (1943)
In this World War II fi lm directed
by Zoltán Korda, Humphrey Bogart
plays the U.S. master sergeant of a
lone M3 tank on the run from Axis
forces in the Libyan desert. Johnson
appropriated this plot element for
The Last Jedi, as the First Order
chases the Resistance’s dwindling
forces to annihilation.

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54 / STAR WARS INSIDER

A HIT STORY
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NEW PLANETS,





NEW PERILS!






REMEMBER WHEN HAN AND CHEWIE TEAMED UP WITH A RABBIT
AND A PORCUPINE IN A WILD WEST-STYLE GANG? NO? WELL, AS THE
WRITER OF STAR WARS ’ FIRST SPIN-OFF ADVENTURES IN 1977,
COMICS STALWART ROY THOMAS ISN’T ABOUT TO FORGET!

W ORDS: MARK WR I GHT

NEW PLANETS, NEW PERILS




n April 1977, 01
Marvel Comics
I published the
first issue of an

epic six-part
adaptation of
George Lucas’ ‘monumental’
new science-fi ction movie, Star

Wars. The first two issues hit
newsstands before the movie’s
premiere on May 25, 1977, and
gave readers their fi rst glimpse
into an exciting new universe.
In the wake of the original
Star Wars’ success, Marvel’s
comic adaptation was a best-
seller. Writer and Marvel’s former
editor-in-chief Roy Thomas was
instrumental in bringing the title
to his employer after discussions
with George Lucas and the fi lm’s
merchandising offi cer, Charles
Lippincott, in early 1976. “It
was actually the very fi rst Ralph
McQuarrie Han Solo production
sketch that sold me on the idea,”
Thomas, who began his comics
career as a staff writer at Marvel 02
in the mid-1960s, recalls. “It was
the cantina sequence, as Charley
called it when he turned over the
picture. I said I’d talk to [Marvel
publisher] Stan Lee and see if I
could get permission for us to do
this. It reminded me so much of
the space-opera stuff I loved.”
New Adventures
Thomas—whose work at that
time included writing The
Avengers, Fantastic Four, and
Savage Sword of Conan—wrote
all six issues of the Star Wars the future, this required Thomas 01 Han and that’s a homage to the Western
comic adaptation, with Howard to come up with the very fi rst Chewie set fi lm The Magnifi cent Seven
off on new
Chaykin providing the pencil original adventures set in the Star adventures in (1960), and [the Akira Kurosawa
art. With the movie’s industry- Wars universe—and he focused Star Wars movie that inspired it] The Seven
issue #7.
changing success and associated on two characters in particular. Samurai (1954). It seemed to me
sales of the comic, it was quickly “I went to see George Lucas 02 The duo that’s the kind of thing Star Wars

decided that Marvel’s Star Wars to discuss the idea that I had for get a typical was a science-fiction version of.”
reception on
would continue with a seventh continuing,” Thomas remembers. The original production drawing
Aduba-3, art
issue – and beyond. With a big- “I hadn’t worked out a plot yet. by Howard that Thomas saw infl uenced
screen sequel still several years in I just said I’d like to do a story Chaykin. his decision to plot this new
adventure starring Han Solo and
“There weren’t many restrictions on what Chewbacca. “It’s partly because
that’s where I first saw Han, and

I did with Han and Chewbacca, as long as also because I was doing this
Western homage. I thought if I
I just had some adventures with them.” stuck with Han Solo, I probably
wasn’t going to run into any



STAR WARS INSIDER / 57

NEW PLANETS, NEW PERILS




big continuity problems, which 03
it seemed likely I would with
Darth Vader or Luke and Leia.
“Staying away from Vader
was the main restriction,” he
continues. “I could have used
Luke and Leia, but there was this
feeling, without any details being
given to me, that I should not
do anything about a potential
romance between Han and Leia,
so I didn’t really know where to
go with it. I would have had to
tiptoe around, and while I liked
those characters, it was really
Han and Chewbacca that I liked
the best. There weren’t many
restrictions on what I did with
those guys, as long as I just had
some adventures with them,
wandering around the universe
after the events of Star Wars.
I didn’t have to tie it in with
the Rebellion or anything that
happened after the Death Star
blew up.”
‘Aw, Shucks’
As he started to plot out the
story that comprised Star Wars
#7-10, Thomas felt his Western-
influenced adventure suited the

appeal of Han Solo’s character:
“He’s your Western loner, the
04
kind of guy who rides into town
and gets into some trouble and
cleans things up. He’s a smuggler
and a criminal, but he wasn’t
really hurting anybody. He was
just getting by. And that’s what
appealed to me. All he had to do
was wander into a place, and
something was going to happen,
somebody was going to offer
him something, or try to take like a Gary Cooper type character 03 Han Solo’s acquired wealth.
something from him, or appeal rather than a Roy Rogers.” motley group “Crimson Jack and Jolli,”
of heroes, the
to him in some way. He was a For Stars Wars Issue #7, the Star-Hoppers Thomas elaborates. “I gave the
very easy character to hang a first to be published following the of Aduba-3. feeling that they had a past

hook on. He didn’t have to be adaptation, Thomas wrote “New together. Han already had a past
04 Tom Palmer
involved with rebellions. He Planets, New Perils,” a story that shared art with Jabba the Hutt. So I fi gured
was just getting by in life, and served as a bridge into the main duties with if he was a pirate and smuggler,
Chaykin on
was going to get into all sorts of story planned for the following he’d know other pirates, so why
issue #10.
adventures and exploits.  three issues. Han and Chewbacca wouldn’t those guys rob each
“Han has this nice, roguish said goodbye to Luke and Leia other? The name Jolli came from
feel that’s all there in George’s and blasted off in the Millennium Jolly Roger, and Crimson Jack
writing,” adds Thomas. “He’s a Falcon to pay their debt to Jabba sounded like a good pirate name
character who could be heroic the Hutt. However, a group of to me! With Han’s reward from
and yet at the same time, it was space pirates had designs on the Rebellion taken from him, he
this ‘Aw, shucks’ kind of heroics, relieving Han of his recently was back to square one. Han has



58 / STAR WARS INSIDER

NEW PLANETS, NEW PERILS



“In those days, I almost always worked
on the original pencil art, drawing

the dialogue balloons right

on the pages.”
to be on the make in order for it
to be any fun.”

Planning, Plotting,
Dialogue because it was too easy for the
“It was plotting, pencil art, then people at the other end to ignore
dialogue to fit the layouts,” what I’d done!”

says Thomas of the preferred With Han and Chewbacca
method of writing for Marvel once again facing monetary
Comics in the late 1970s. “The embarrassment, their journey
only question would be whether across the galaxy brought them
I actually wrote down a plot. to the dusty world of Aduba-3,
Sometimes it was done with just a where opportunities quickly
conversation, although I suspect I arose for the smuggler and his
wrote something down for these. first mate. In Star Wars issue #7,

I came up with the general plot, the two heroes assisted with the
and Howard was adding a lot of somber burial of a half-man, half-
detail as he went along. droid on Spacers’ Hill, high above
“I’d just moved to Los Angeles the town they had just arrived in.
during the summer of 1976, right Thomas happily acknowledges ROY THOMAS, COMIC
before I started working on Star the infl uence of The Magnifi cent
Wars. A place called Oakwood Seven. “That’s like the beginning AVENGER
Garden Apartments, right up the of the movie with Yul Brynner Born in 1940, Roy Thomas was a comics fan from an
hill from the Warner Brothers and Steve McQueen. There’s a early age, writing and drawing his own comics which
he gave to family and friends. He became editor of
studio. I had a two-bedroom funeral in town when they take
comics fanzine Alter Ego in 1964 while working as a
apartment; one was my bedroom, the hearse up Boot Hill. I just high school English teacher, and a year later moved
one was my office. I worked on swiped it from there. to New York to work as an editorial assistant at DC

Comics, a job he held for eight days before accepting
a Remington electric typewriter. “The movie was probably a
a job offer from Stan Lee, the Editor-in-Chief at rival
No computers then! Star Wars little too much on my mind at publisher Marvel Comics.
was a monthly title, so the whole the time. I thought I was going Working as Lee’s protégé, Thomas was soon
turnaround was a month. In my to do The Magnifi cent Seven, writing Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos,
X-Men, and a run on superhero team book The
case, I’d spend a day, or maybe Star Wars style, so that’s what I Avengers that lasted from 1966 to 1972. In 1970,
just a couple of hours, working did, with enough differences. I Thomas began writing comic adventures for Robert
on the plot, and then I wouldn’t was having a lot of fun with it. E. Howard’s literary creation Conan the Barbarian, and
he succeeded Stan Lee as Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief in
see anything for a week or so. I was a big fan of that movie,
1972, when his mentor became the comic company’s
Then suddenly, a bunch of pages but perhaps more a fan of the publisher. Thomas moved over to DC Comics in 1981,
would arrive in the mail from concept behind it. As a superhero and wrote for many well-known characters including
Green Lantern, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
Howard—it might be three pages, comic writer, I’ve always loved
it might be 10. Then I’d sit down the group books. My favorite
over the next day or so and write superhero 1940s comic was the
the dialogue. Justice Society of America, and
“I was also responding to what at Marvel I liked writing The it against attacks from the Cloud
Howard was doing. I gave him a Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Riders of Serji-X Arrogantus, a
story, but when I got the pages Four. I always liked a disparate colorful enemy in the Western
back, it was always more than group, different heroes with tradition. With no money and a
I’d given him. Then I’d send it different weapons and things.” price still on his head, Star Wars
off and Frank Springer inked it. issue #8 saw Solo assembling less

Tom Palmer inked the later issues. Bugs Bunny with a magnificent seven, but rather
In those days, I almost always a Ray-Gun Eight for Aduba-3. This allowed
worked on the original pencil art, At the close of Star Wars issue Thomas and Chaykin to let their
drawing the dialogue balloons #7, Han and Chewbacca came imagination run riot in depicting
right on the pages. I never liked to the attention of a village in a diverse gang of spacers and
working with photocopies, search of a champion to defend alien vagabonds.



STAR WARS INSIDER / 59

NEW PLANETS, NEW PERILS




“In the original McQuarrie 05
production drawing I saw, I recall
an alien that reminded me of
Porky Pig, and that immediately
made me think of Bugs Bunny,”
Thomas recalls. This led to the
creation of team Solo’s most
controversial member: Jaxxon,
a “six-foot rabbit who gnaws on
hambones instead of carrots.
“Other people before and after 05 Jaxxon, the
memorable
were doing things with rabbits
green alien
in the wake of Marvel’s Howard rabbit.


THE LOST EGGS
OF LIVORNO

Roy Thomas’ alien rabbit Jaxxon bounces back in
a new tale penned by writer Cavan Scott in IDW’s
fi rst Star Wars Adventures annual. Insider asked
Scott what inspired him to bring back the space
bunny with a motor-mouth:
What is your personal history with Jaxxon?
I read Marvel’s Star Wars comics long before I the Duck,” adds Thomas. “It for this character. I’m not quite
saw my fi rst Star Wars fi lm. My dad picked up just seemed right to me. I was sure what he is, to be honest!
a job-lot of Marvel U.K.’s Star Wars Weekly in a trying to go one step beyond On the cover, he looks like a
second-hand bookshop and I just devoured them, Chewbacca, who’s kind of a porcupine. And if quills are the
including the issues which reprinted Jaxxon’s fi rst
appearance. I must have read them over and cartoon character. Jaxxon isn’t a weapons of a porcupine, you
over again, and as someone who’d missed the green rabbit; he’s an alien who can have an alien who has that
fi rst fi lm at the cinema, Han Solo’s Star-Hoppers happens to look like a rabbit. weapon as its power. Makes
were just as important for me as Luke and Leia. I
remember being really surprised, and not a little I did tell Howard to make him him a nice weapons guy, who
disappointed, that Jaxxon wasn’t in The Empire look like Bugs Bunny with a ray has his thing, as opposed to
Strikes Back! gun, and he did it very well. just a ray gun. Marvel had a
This was an expansion on those supervillain called the Porcupine

How did Lucasfilm react at the idea of bringing
such an unusual Star Wars character into canon? cantina scenes. Sometime later in those days, so you get ideas
The idea came from them! I think I’d mentioned I wrote Captain Carrot and his from everywhere. As writers,
my love for the comics, and Jaxxon in particular, Amazing Zoo Crew, so I guess I we become magpies. You grab
during meetings, and when Lucasfi lm’s
Michael Siglain realized that the fi rst Star Wars like rabbits!” everything you ever thought of,
Adventures annual was coming out at Easter time, Moving on to the ill-fated because you’ve got to fi ll those
the idea of doing a story with Star Wars’ very own Hedji the Spiner, the Aduba-8’s pages by the deadline!”
giant rabbit was too good an opportunity to miss.
I jumped at the chance to bring Jaxxon back. And other alien member, Thomas With the character of Amaiza
as this was for Easter, I knew I had to send Jaxxon continues: “There was an old Foxtrain, Thomas looked to his
on an egg hunt. sword-and-sandals movie back many years of reading comics
in the ’50s called The Adventures for inspiration. “I totally know
Where is Jaxxon when you pick up his story?
In trouble! His once lucky ship—the Rabbit’s of Hajji Baba. We all liked that where I got her name, from my
Foot—is out of control and plunging toward a movie, and that name came up favorite science-fi ction newspaper
space dock. The story takes place at some point strip, Chris Welkin, Planeteer
between A New Hope and Empire, but things
haven’t been going well for our furry smuggler. (1952-64), by Russ Winterbotham
and Art Sansom. There was an
How closely does your version of Jaxxon come
to the original wisecracking alien rabbit? 
I tried to keep him as close as possible. Jaxxon
is still very much a motor-mouth and still knows
Han, although their relationship is best described
as a friendly rivalry. Jax is currently working with “I thought I was going
gangster Amaiza Foxtrain, another of the original
Star-Hoppers, although we’ve given them a new to do The Magnificent Seven,
droid in the form of ML-08. So yeah, it’s pretty
Star Wars style, so that’s what I did…”
much business as usual…




60 / STAR WARS INSIDER

NEW PLANETS, NEW PERILS




06




























07




























alien woman in the strip called figured in another story if I had 06 Failed Jedi know anything about literature,
Amaiza, and I always liked the continued writing for the Star Don-Wan you already know what kind of
Kihotay
name, so I gave it to her.” Wars comic.” proves his character he’s going to be. Was
Han had past dealings with lightsaber he really a failed Jedi Knight? He
Amaiza, and calls her the ‘Den Jedi and Starkillers skills. certainly talks like he was a Jedi
Mother of the Black-Hole Gang.’ “I’ve done a number of things 07 FE-9Q, the Knight! The readers can make up
Here again, Thomas took his where I’ve added a Don Quixote Starkiller Kid, their own minds.”
Don-Wan
cue from the real-life Wild West. character,” Thomas says, moving For one of the fi nal members
Kihotay,
“That’s a take-off of the Hole-in- on to the character of failed Jedi Jaxxon, of the Aduba-8, Thomas delved
the-Wall Gang [which included Knight Don-Wan Kihotay. “When Amaiza into the early days of Star Wars’
Foxtrain and
infamous bandits Butch Cassidy you are talking about knights Hedji team up development with the Starkiller
and the Sundance Kid]. I fi gured errant, soldiers of fortune, and with Han and Kid (who was joined by tank-
Chewie.

people would see that reference The Magnifi cent Seven, somehow droid FE-9Q, ‘Effie’ for short).
and think it was kind of cute. I a Don Quixote character tends “That was a joke from when
probably had an idea that the to fit right in. As soon as you Luke Skywalker was called Luke

Black-Hole Gang might have see him and hear him, if you Starkiller,” Thomas explains.

STAR WARS INSIDER / 61

08

NEW PLANETS, NEW PERILS




09




























“I never thought they would
ever use the phrase ‘Starkiller,’
so knowing that had been one
of the possible names for Luke, I
thought, why not? Here I riffed
on the character Chico in The
Magnifi cent Seven, who’s a
younger guy who tries to become
part of the group. He’s a would-be
10
Billy the Kid type, so I thought of
‘Starkiller Kid’. It even has a little
internal alliteration. I fi gured the overall script [and the “Jaxxon isn’t a green
George wouldn’t mind—and he later novelization of Star Wars:
didn’t object, so…” The Empire Strikes Back]—the rabbit; he’s an alien
With the Aduba-8 fi nally Aduba-8 had defeated the Cloud
assembled, the gang took the Riders and saved the village from who happens to look

fight to Serji-X Arrogantus and their tyranny. In the fi nal panel,
his Cloud Riders. “I named the Han and Chewbacca rode off into like a rabbit.”
villain after my friend in L.A., the sunset on banthas, looking
Sergio Arogonés, the great Mad for new adventures, but Thomas
Magazine artist. I don’t know if I would not be along for the ride,
asked him, but he didn’t seem to stepping down as both writer and 08 The covers Marvel’s original Star Wars
mind! For the Cloud Riders, there editor from that issue. for issues #7 title ran for 107 issues between
to #10 of Star
was the Marlon Brando movie, “Star Wars worked out pretty Wars comic 1977 and 1986, and Thomas
The Wild Ones (1953), with the well,” Thomas remembers (Far left). looks back on his input into
motorcycle gangs, and I went modestly, “and I was happy with developing those adventures
09 Even in comic
back to the same infl uences as those Han Solo issues. I never books, it isn’t with fondness. “Star Wars is a
George did with Star Wars, which really thought about what I was wise to upset little more significant than most,

a Wookiee.
was Flash Gordon (1936 -1940) going to do beyond those four because of what it became. I
and Buck Rogers (1939), all those issues. Maybe I’d have fi gured out 10 Jaxxon “ain’t didn’t realize when I got into it,
pulpy serials. But George was how to do something with Luke, no rodent!” but it became more important
doing his own thing with it.” but I was having success with than a run of 10 issues would
Conan the Barbarian at Marvel ordinarily have been. I still look
Stepping Back and liked to do my own thing, upon it as a positive experience.
By the end of Star Wars issue so it was best for me to just step At the time those comics had an
#10—which Thomas co-plotted away, because Star Wars didn’t impact, and it’s a nice thing to
with Donald Glut, who wrote need me.” have on your résumé.”



STAR WARS INSIDER / 63

From the
battlefields of The
Clone Wars to the rise
of the First Order, armored
troopers are a force to be
reckoned with throughout
the Star Wars saga. But Can
you tell your E-11 from a
megablaster?
Compiled by Tom Miller




“TK-421, WHY AREN’T YOU AT YOUR POST?”

t
’
Test yoour kknowledge of thhe galaxy’s most fearsoome ssoldierrs!
g
BRING ON THE CLONES IMPERIAL PHASMA’S
STORMTROOPERS FORCES
5: Where is rank indicated on 9: The FWMB-10 repeating
a sandtrooper’s armor? blaster is commonly referred
A: The helmet to by what nickname?
B: The gauntlets A: Ultrablaster
C: The chest plate B: Hotshot blaster
D: The pauldrons C: Volley blaster
D: Megablaster
6: In the Imperial Army, how
many individual stormtroopers 10: On which planet do First
made up a Order fl ametroopers torch the
Legion? Tuanul village?
A: 10,000 A: Tatooine
B: 8,800 B: Jakku
C: 12,800 C: Takodana
1: Which of the following was the D: 25,500 D: Mimban
standard issue weapon of the
Republic clone troopers? 7: What mounts do stormtroopers
A: DC-15 blaster rifl e ride on Tatooine while searching
B: E-11 blaster rifl e for R2-D2 and C-3PO?
C: DC-31 blaster rifl e A: Dewbacks
D: F-11D blaster rifl e B: Rontos
C: Tauntauns
D: Fathiers

3: Why does the Kaminoan
Prime Minister, Lama Su, believe
that the clones are superior
to droids?
A: They are the perfected blend 11: FN-2187, or Finn, trained
of technology and training under Captain Phasma with
B: They have the ability to three other cadets. What were
think creatively their names?
C: They are totally loyal A: Tenz, Bibs, and Gonk
D: They were grown from the B: Snips, Porkins, and Cruz
finest warrior in the galaxy C: Slips, Nines, and Zeroes

D: Div, Wilkz, and Coops
4: The clone troopers did not 8: In Ralph McQuarrie’s original
fi ght in one of the following concept paintings, which 12: What weapon do executioner
2: What is the name of the clone battles. Which one? weapon was a stormtrooper troopers use to punish those who
trooper pictured here? A: The Battle of Taanab shown wielding? are disloyal to the First Order?
A: Captain Rex B: The Battle of Utapau A: A gaderffi i stick A: Vibro ax
B: Commander Cody C: The Second Battle B: An ionization blaster B: Laser ax
C: Commander Pony for Geonosis C: A lightsaber C: Neuranium ax
D: Sargent Snoke D: The Siege of Mandalore D: A magma splitter D: Electro pike




64 / STAR WARS INSIDER

UNDER THE PICTURE ROUND!
HELMET Identify these six classes of trooper:
s
13: Which of these actors was
not digitally multiplied into 1. 2.
thousands of clone troopers?
A: Daniel Logan
B: Rhys Darby
C: Temuera Morrison
D: Bodie Taylor













3. 4





14: Gwendoline Christie plays
which chrome-plated First
Order stormtrooper?
A: Captain Phasma
B: FN-2187
C: Captain Cardinal
D: 1138

15: Who voiced Clone
Commander Rex, in Star Wars:
The Clone Wars?
A: Corey Burton
5. 6.
B: Grey Griffi n
C: Sam Witwer
D: Dee Bradley Baker



















HOW DID YOU FARE?
0-5 Grunt—You’re no better than a battle droid.
6-10 Recruit— Mind your head on that door, trooper!
11-15 Veteran—You have the makings of a fine soldier, you’ll go far.
16-20 Captain—Outstanding! I promote you to my war council.
21 General—I didn’t see you beneath that big helmet, Master Yoda. 2 Clone shock trooper, 3 Clone commando, 4 Scout trooper, 5 Riot control stormtrooper, 6 Clone paratrooper Answers - QUIZ 1 A, 2 B, 3 B, 4 A, 5 D, 6 A, 7 A, 8 C, 9 D, 10 B, 11 C, 12 B, 13 B, 14 A, 15 D, PICTURE ROUND 1 Flametrooper,







STAR WARS INSIDER / 65

Photo by Joel Aron

INTERVIEW: DOUG CHIANG








Doug








Chiang








Inventing Worlds




In the first of an extensive two-part interview,
Insider speaks to renowned concept artist, production designer,

and Lucasfilm vice president Doug Chiang about his early
career and landing a dream job at Industrial Light & Magic.

W ORDS: TAR A BENNETT


n the 41-years of the Star Wars
universe’s existence, Doug Chiang
I has spent 20 of them guiding the
visual aesthetics of the modern
era of the franchise. As the head of

the Lucasfilm art department for

seven years, and now as Lucasfilm Vice President
and Executive Creative Director, Chiang’s eye for
the world George Lucas created is helping to forge
the future of the galaxy. Whether it’s designing
the films—from the prequels to Rogue One: A Star

Wars Story (2016)—executing theme park concepts
such as Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, or spearheading
exciting new games and media endeavors, Chiang
is overseeing it all.
And yes, he’s still pinching himself that he gets
paid to play in the Star Wars sandbox every day.
It’s certainly been a long and interesting journey.
Born in Taiwan, and raised in the suburbs of Detroit,
Michigan, Chiang admits he was a very shy child as
he navigated his new country with his siblings and
his parents.
“Being in a new culture, it was very hard for us

to fit in, so I turned inward, and I ended up just
drawing all the time,” he says. “Both my brother and
I drew a lot. My earliest memory, from elementary







STAR WARS INSIDER / 67

INTERVIEW: DOUG CHIANG 03




school, is of being known as the 01
class artist. At that time, I never
really thought of it as a career. It
was just a way for me to express
myself, because I didn’t have
many friends and I didn’t go out
that much. But I remember being
enamored by the idea of creating
characters and worlds. So, a lot of
my drawings were about creating
stories and illustrating them.”
Chiang continued drawing
into his teens, but never took
02
formal lessons or considered it an
intended vocation until a fateful
trip to a Michigan movie theater
changed everything. “I was 15
when I saw Star Wars in 1977,”
Chiang says with a smile in his
voice. “A New Hope was pivotal
for me, because during that time
I was really starting to be exposed
to cinema. Things like Star Wars
and the stop-motion animation
of Ray Harryhausen started to
open my eyes, because they were
inventing worlds—doing things
that I was kind of doing on my
own, with my illustrations.” 01 An acrylic documentary, which further
Trips to the library introduced painting of a opened his eyes. “I saw people
futuristic car
the young Chiang to the specifi cs concept by doing things that I wanted to
of Harryhausen’s technique, and Chiang do, and it really made me realize,
(1990).
inspired him to devise and make ‘OK, this could be a possible
his own movies with his Super-8 03 Young Doug career path. This is something
film camera. “That became the Chiang that I really want to pursue.’”

animating
foundation of my education as I Already an avid reader, Chiang
stop-motion
started to make little short fi lms,” puppets for became devoted to the science-
he explains. “I spent a lot of my a short film fi ction fi lm magazine, Starlog.
(1978).
weekends during the summer “That magazine became my bible

animating them and discovering 03 A concept for filmmaking,” he recalls. “It
sketch for

how to tell stories. They involved helped me to figure out that there
The Phantom
various disciplines, because I had Menace, are people I could follow who
to storyboard, design sets, build made using were doing things like that.”
gray markers
them, and light and fi lm them.” One of those people was
and pen,
The year after he saw A Chiang’s illustrator and concept artist,
New Hope, Chiang watched signature Ralph McQuarrie, whom Chiang
style (1997).
The Making of Star Wars TV still speaks of with awe. “I saw
his artwork in the Making of
books, the Art of books, his
“I remember being enamored Star Wars portfolio,” he says.
“I started to learn how to
by the idea of creating paint and design by studying
characters and worlds. So, McQuarrie’s paintings, and then
learned how to draw and sketch
a lot of my drawings were with markers by looking at Joe
Johnston’s drawings. Copying
about creating stories and their technique really gave me
illustrating them.” an avenue to pursue what I really
wanted to do.”

68 / STAR WARS INSIDER



INTERVIEW: DOUG CHIANG


05
NEW WORLD VIEW 04
Yet Chiang’s dream was abruptly
sidelined by a serious illness in
his late teens. “I spent almost a
year in the hospital,” explains
the artist. “When I recovered, my
whole world view changed and
everything became more serious.
I don’t know if that was a good
thing or bad, because prior to
that, I was freeform. My creativity
seemed boundless because I did
not know that there were any
limits. Suddenly I had this limit,
and I felt like time was really
precious. I decided that I had to
be clear about what I wanted to
do, and that’s when I decided on

filmmaking. I didn’t know how
to get there, but that was what I
wanted.” He researched colleges
and discovered either NYU or
UCLA was where he needed to
be. “I was kind of tired of the
cold weather in Michigan,” he
smiles. “So, I came out to the
West Coast.”
Chiang was accepted to The
UCLA School of Theater, Film
and Television to study fi lm.
“The irony was that I got into
the industry through my art, not for the UCLA student newspaper, 04 Luke’s (1984). I knew roughly of their

through my film knowledge,” he the Daily Bruin. “Eventually I lightsaber finds work, having seen the fi lm, and
its way into
laughs. “But what it gave me was became the creative director for Doug Chiang’s they offered me a job to become a
the ability to design better for the newspaper, which involved personal 1990 commercial designer and director
holiday card,
cinema, in terms of knowing how me doing a lot of pen and ink for computer-generated television
painted in
to compose for shots, and how to illustrations for news and features acrylic. commercials.”
move the camera through scenes. stories,” he says. “It was through It was Chiang’s big break, but,
05 Chiang’s
“I did miss out in not going the newspaper that I was then he admits with a chuckle: “I did
production
through the art school program, given a lead for this computer- painting of not have any clue how to design
in terms of learning proper graphics company called Digital Naboo for commercials! But it was really
starfighters in
techniques,” he continues. “But Productions. flight. great to be in that environment,
fortunately, I had always drawn, “At that time it was one of because I met a lot of really
06 A stealth plane
and so I was able to work on my three major computer-graphics strong artists and I had a chance
concept, created
drawing skills until I was good companies designing motion during Chiang’s to learn art on the job. That was
enough to freelance.” logos and movie titles. They were “year of one of my first introductions and

homework”

Chiang’s first full-time job best known for doing the digital where I really got to understand
project (1990).
came out of his illustration work effects for The Last Starfi ghter project. how you do proper storyboards.
How you paint them, how you
07 Chiang shows
his mentor interact with clients, how you sell
“I started to learn how to paint Ralph McQuarrie your idea.”
the Jedi
starfighter With those skills learned,
and design by studying McQuarrie’s concept model. Chiang looked for an actual job

in the film industry and landed
paintings, and then learned how to a prop designer position on
Back to the Future II. “I’d heard
draw and sketch with markers by they were looking for artists,
looking at Joe Johnston’s drawings.” and I submitted my portfolio.
One of the wonderful things
70 / STAR WARS INSIDER

INTERVIEW: DOUG CHIANG



































































06 07


about the film industry is that it’s really all about in developing his skills and was so wonderful to be in that
your portfolio, not your resumé, or how many fi lms point of view. “Being in that environment and get a taste of
you’ve worked on. If you have the skills and are environment, where everybody what real film design is all about.

willing to work hard, you’ll get the job. So, I was was so open and sharing “The nice thing about being
fortunate enough that Rick Carter, the production with their techniques, I really in that environment—where all
designer, gave me an opportunity to come into blossomed in terms of my art the artists had very distinct styles
the art department to design, and that became my skills. And I was also the new and techniques—was that I could
second “professional” art school. I was in a room kid so I felt very inadequate and cherry pick techniques and adapt
with a half a dozen artists, and they were all some could barely keep up. It was them for myself. I really liked
of the industry’s best.” like an intensive three or four that kind of environment because
Chiang says this concentrated period was crucial months of design school, but it I literally could go, ‘Oh, I love



STAR WARS INSIDER / 71

INTERVIEW: DOUG CHIANG




how you’re designing and using that tool. I’d like to “The whole reason I 09
try that.’ And then I could go to another artist and
study what they were doing and I could merge the moved out to the West
two techniques. It became this slow, organic process
where I started to discover my style.” Coast was to eventually
It was in this period that Chiang discovered his
love for the marker-rendering style of drawing. “I make my way to Industrial
really gravitated towards it, and I still use it now,” he Light & Magic.”
says. “It’s freeform sketching with a broad, 30-percent
gray marker. Even though markers aren’t supposed
to be used as an initial sketching tool, I really like it
because of the happy accidents you get from using it hopes that this would be my
on Xerox paper, and how it bleeds and blends.” ticket into ILM.” He admits it was
With his techniques expanding, Chiang utilised a huge gamble, but it paid off
them to create works that drew from his infl uences when he was then hired as ILM’s
and created a unique style of his own. “I’ve always Visual Effects Art Director.
08 Chiang
loved wildlife art, and Western paintings, and with Ralph Chiang remembers his fi rst

landscapes in general, but then I also love science- McQuarrie day at the ILM offices as a surreal
and Ray

fiction and other worlds,” he explains. “I started to experience. “I was walking down
Harryhausen
combine those, so a lot of my personal pieces at that at George the hall and seeing people that I
time blended two or three genres. I loved it because it Lucas’ saw in The Making of Star Wars
Skywalker
was actually twisting what you’re familiar with into when I was a kid,” he recalls with
Ranch.
something very fresh, and a lot of what we do in the genuine awe. “People like Steve

film industry is that kind of thinking. I didn’t know 09 A digital Gawley, Dennis Muren… Icons
production
it at that time, but that was where I was going with painting of of the industry! And here I was at
my personal style.” desert cargo the same company, in the same 10
transports building. It was mind-blowing.
from 2010.
THREE WEEKS PLUS The small art department was
About a year later, a former colleague from Digital 10 Chiang honed made up of some of the industry’s
his skills
Productions, Steve Beck, called Chiang from his new best talents. I knew they were the
during 1990
art department job at Industrial Light & Magic in with weekly best of the best, and I just felt so
Northern California. “He called me and said, ‘Hey, personal thankful to be among them. But
assignments.
I have a three-week project for a film that we’re I also felt so inadequate, in terms

bidding on. Would you like to do it?’ 11 Another of having so much to learn.”
personal
“Now, the whole reason I moved out to the West While others might have
project.
Coast was to eventually make my way to Industrial cracked under the pressure of
Light & Magic,” Chiang grins. “So, even though it 12 A worker- working with such industry
robot concept
was only a three-week project, I dropped everything. giants, Chiang was made of
(Marker and
I packed up and moved up to Marin County, in the pen, 2006). sterner stuff. “The fear really
motivated me,” he insists.
“Once I got in there, and I was
08
doing visual-effects design for
11

films, I knew that I had to up my
game. I had to improve my skills
because the job really demanded
that, and I really wanted to feel
like I belonged there.”
Chiang’s solution was to do
even more work in his spare time.
“I set a goal that for one year I
would do personal projects and
paintings,” he reveals. “Every
week, I would give myself an
assignment that I would realize
on the weekends and turn into

a final production painting. I
would do that every week for
a year. It could be any subject
matter, and I really pushed
72 / STAR WARS INSIDER

INTERVIEW: DOUG CHIANG




















































































12



STAR WARS INSIDER / 73

INTERVIEW: DOUG CHIANG



13

































myself and went into areas that I 13 An acrylic “When I arrived at ILM in 1989, it was
was uncomfortable with—things production
painting of
like character design, costume the Gungan rumored George Lucas was never
design, and painting. It was army for The
Phantom
really hard, but I felt it was really going to make another Star Wars
Menace.
important to do. And, the great
thing is, after that year, I saw 14 A digital movie, so I put that dream aside.”
concept
a noticeable improvement in
painting of
my skills, and I had amassed a a spaceship
really diverse portfolio that was transport, (1992), Forrest Gump (1994) with the writer-director, Lucas
circa 2011.
distinctly me.” and The Mask (1994). For announced the new position
During his day job, Chiang Death Becomes Her, he won of head of the Lucasfi lm art
worked as the VFX art director the Academy Award for Best department. Chiang applied for

on seminal films such as Ghost Visual Effects and began a long the job and landed it.
(1990), Terminator 2: Judgment collaborative relationship with “Doing that homework for
Day (1991), Death Becomes Her director Robert Zemeckis. a year really paid off,” Chiang
But most importantly, Chiang says with pride, “because what I
states, he found his style during was doing on my own—merging
14
that period, which made him genres and combining old and
a candidate for his dream job: new—was exactly what George
working on a Star Wars movie. was doing with Star Wars. He
“When I arrived at ILM in saw something in my portfolio,
1989, it was rumored George and that’s how I got the job. If I
Lucas was never going to make hadn’t gone through that painful
another Star Wars movie,” he year of learning on my own, I
remembers. “So, I just put that wouldn’t be where I am today!”
dream aside, and then went into
visual-effects designs. Eventually Next issue, Doug Chiang
George announced he was going talks about working with

to create new films, and by then I George Lucas, the lessons he
had a portfolio!” learned about design and the
Seeking an artistic collaborator Star Wars signature style, and
to craft the look of the Star Wars the challenges of shaping the
prequels and work side-by-side future of the universe.



74 / STAR WARS INSIDER

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Waking




To A New




World






FINN’S CONTINUING JOURNEY


Finn isn’t even conscious as
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
begins, but he comes around
in more ways than one over
the course of the film, in a
classic Hero’s Journey.


W ORDS: TR I C IA B ARR

























76 / STAR WARS INSIDER



FINN’S CONTINUING JOURNEY








n Star Wars: The
Force Awakens, Finn
I embarks upon a
personal journey of
growth, defecting
from the First Order,
then befriending Rey, and joining the

Resistance’s mission to infiltrate and to
destroy Starkiller Base. While his story
arc in The Last Jedi includes several
elements that are similar to those of
his introductory Hero’s Journey, his
second adventure contains unique
nuances that expose new layers of
Finn’s true self.
Past as Prologue
In the opening sequence of The Force
Awakens, we are introduced to heroic
pilot Poe, villainous Kylo Ren, and First 01 02
Order stormtrooper FN-2187. The faces

of two of these men are concealed by At first, Finn’s motivation is as much
their helmets, suggesting that only about survival instinct and fear as it is
Poe is who he appears to be. When right and wrong. He doesn’t want to go
Kylo orders the destruction of the back to Jakku with Poe, and at Takodana
Jakku village and the massacre of its he insists the only safe course is to fl ee
innocent inhabitants, FN-2187 refuses to the Outer Rim, both times out of his
to fire upon the villagers. Even amid desire to get as far from the First Order

the death and destruction, his crisis as possible. On both occasions, though,
of conscience catches Ren’s notice. his survival instinct is overridden by
Later, Kylo intuitively connects his friendship. Stranded on Jakku, Finn
perception of the soldier’s moral qualms sees Rey fending off a pair of thugs and
to the identity of the First Order traitor instinctively wants to help, though she
absconding in a stolen TIE fi ghter capably handles the situation without
with the liberated Poe. The interaction his assistance. On Takodana he realizes,
between Finn and Kylo Ren shows once Rey is abducted by Kylo Ren, that
that both characters understand the he still wants to help her. After arriving
difference between right and wrong. on D’Qar and reuniting with Poe, Finn’s
Despite his First Order brainwashing, decision to volunteer for the mission is
Finn chooses to act on his conscience. not motivated by a desire to save the

He is not a pacifist, after all: he does Resistance; he wants a ride to Starkiller 04
not hesitate to shoot at the First Order Base so he can save Rey. As at Niima
during their escape, or later in the fi lm. Outpost, the scavenger has already that rouses Rey into action as she
saved herself by the time Finn fi nds her, summons the lightsaber to her hand.
but in their reunion she realizes there is Finn is unconscious for Rey’s defeat of
At first, Finn’s someone in the galaxy who will come Kylo and his return to D’Qar. As she
back for her.
prepares to leave D’Qar to retrieve Luke
motivation is confront Kylo together, but after Ren Skywalker, Rey promises Finn they will
In the snowy forest, Finn and Rey
see each other again. Though Rey and
as much about dispatches Rey’s initial attack with a Finn spend The Last Jedi apart, Finn is
survival instinct kinetic Force shove, Finn recalls Maz’s never far from Rey’s thoughts: she urges

Chewbacca to ask about her friend once
advice and fights with the only weapon
and fear as it is he has: Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber. he makes contact with the Resistance,
and when she prepares to face Kylo Ren
Ren may already be wounded, but it
right and wrong. is never an even fight. Kylo gravely again, she asks the Wookiee to deliver a

injures Finn, and it is Finn’s agony
personal message.
78 / STAR WARS INSIDER

FINN’S CONTINUING JOURNEY















01 Finn (John Boyega) and
Poe (Oscar Isaac) are
changed men by the end
of The Last Jedi, (see
opposite page).
02 Finn is reunited with Rey
(Daisy Ridley).
03 John Boyega as Finn.
04 Finn and Poe witness Luke
Skywalker’s self-sacrifice
on Crait.
05 Rose (Kelly Marie Tran)
forces Finn back onto his
heroic path.
03



























05
Internalizing Trauma “impossible” active tracking technology. very much on his own, and he is still in
In our journeys through life, we all face Finn wakes in the medical ward in the imminent peril of death at the hands of
crises that test who we are and what we midst of the First Order’s pursuit of the the First Order.
are capable of. After every crisis comes Resistance, only to discover that their When Rose Tico encounters Finn
the time to reflect, absorb the lessons warships are trapped at the end of Hux’s as he attempts to steal an escape pod,

learned, and chart a path forward. The metaphorical string. Finn barely has the he has refused the Call to Adventure
Last Jedi opens with the Resistance still chance to deal with the ramifi cations of to join the Resistance. Finn justifi es his
very much in peril. The destruction of the huge events that have happened intentions as protecting Rey by getting
Starkiller Base has not undermined the in his life since defecting mere days her beacon far away from this deadly
threat posed by the First Order, which earlier, before he has to absorb this new trap. Perhaps he is, but his personal
is now even more urgent in its goal to set of circumstances. Rey is gone, and survival instinct is also true to the

wipe them out: first bringing a massive Poe, who also helped shape Finn’s path character we know, and who now has
dreadnought to bear and, when that to heroism in The Force Awakens, is experienced great personal trauma and
fails, revealing the implementation of having his own personal crisis. Finn is not been given the time to process it.



STAR WARS INSIDER / 79

06




























07





























08

FINN’S CONTINUING JOURNEY




This is true for every character in The In Rose, Finn has found
Last Jedi, who are all in various stages
of post-traumatic stress. Rose is dealing a kindred spirit and
with the loss of her sister Paige when
she realizes that their “hero” Finn is a way that he can
cutting and running. She stops his make a difference.
Refusal of the Call in its tracks, and as
Rose literally drags Finn toward the
brig she drags him back to his heroic
path in the course of talking about the
09
Resistance’s predicament.
Active tracking serves as a MacGuffi n
for the Rose and Finn side adventure.
As a tech-minded person, Rose makes
assumptions about how it works; and
Finn, who has clearly learned a great
deal more during his lifelong military
training than simply how to carry out
janitorial duties, buys into her theory
and reinforces it. In Rose, Finn has
found a kindred spirit and a way that
he can make a difference. He may not
recognize it in himself, but the lonely
and isolated defector has been seeking
connection and a purpose. After a life
of being oppressed, Rose’s initial belief
in “the Finn” helps bolster the former
stormtrooper, giving him something to
aspire to become once more. With Rey
away on her own adventure, Finn is
called to protect the Resistance, a cause right to remove his helmet in The Force for Finn that their plan offers the best
he hasn’t quite embraced. Awakens. Her troopers may be fl esh chance for success. Rose’s willingness
and blood, but actually they possess to forgive his near-defection in favor of
Trust and Temptation less free will than BB-8 or R2-D2. After teamwork to stop the active tracking
In the Hero’s Journey, the traits a he defects, Finn readily accepts the makes her, as with Rey in The Force
character brings with them from leadership of others. Fleeing with Poe, Awakens, a newfound ally in whom
their Ordinary World often shape the experienced pilot explains how to Finn can place his trust. In order to


their reactions to experiences in the fire the TIE fighter’s weapons and Finn undertake the mission, though, Finn
Extraordinary World of adventure. follows his instructions. On the Falcon, must make a sacrifice, which is signifi ed

For Finn, his Ordinary World consists Rey sends Finn to the gunnery position by him handing Rey’s homing beacon
of two decades of living a life devoid and he trusts her word that she can fl y to Poe. It’s symbolic of one man
of choice. The First Order has defi ned them to safety. In the face of the First placing a special trust in the other as
his every waking moment. Captain Order invasion of Takodana, Finn takes he leaves on what could be a suicide
Phasma delineates the terms of this Luke’s lightsaber from Maz when she mission—recalling Star Wars: Return of
life to the point of denying him the urges him to fi ght. the Jedi, when Han Solo entrusts the
Just as Finn’s motivations have had Millennium Falcon to Lando Calrissian
no time to adjust to his experiences, before departing with Leia and Luke for
his core personality has also not yet the forest moon of Endor.
06 Rose, Finn and BB-8’s trip had time to shift. The slow deliberate Once Rose and Finn arrive at Canto
to Canto Bight informs
Finn’s heroic journey. reeling in of the Resistance fl eet creates Bight, the former stormtrooper has
a circumstance where the choice seems fully moved across a Threshold into
07 DJ (Benicio del Torro) clear to Poe: fight, because fl ight isn’t an extraordinary world full of choices

gives Finn a lesson in
galactic affairs. working. Finn and Rose, though, think and, more importantly, temptations,
they have found a vulnerability in the where he will experience Tests on his
08 During the Battle of Crait, First Order’s pursuit. Together the trio journey towards his true self. Money,
Finn is fully committed to
the Resistance cause. decide to implement a plan to thwart opulence, gambling, luxury, beautiful
the enemy rather than trust the chain of clothes—these are things Finn has
09 Finn ponders his best

course of action aboard command to find a way. Poe’s military never known. Everyone is smiling
the Raddus (see right). experience is the implicit confi rmation and enjoying themselves. His fi rst

STAR WARS INSIDER / 81

FINN’S CONTINUING JOURNEY



Rose is the 10
angel on Finn’s

shoulder, and
new ally DJ

is the devil.




reaction is awe and admiration until
Rose leads him to a balcony to take
a closer look at the bad treatment of
the fathiers and their child handlers.
Heroic journeys are about rising beyond
adolescence, where individuals with a
simplistic understanding of life begin to
comprehend the nuances of a broader, 11
more mature, and realistic perspective.
Facing choices posed by Canto Bight,
Rose is the angel on Finn’s shoulder,
and new ally DJ is the devil. He too
adds context to Finn’s understanding:
wealthy arms dealers didn’t just sell
to the First Order, but also to the New
Republic and Resistance. War is good for
business. DJ, whose nickname stands for
“Don’t Join,” suggests that Finn should
stick with his self-serving mindset, as
when he left Rey in Maz’s castle, and
watch out for his own interests. Despite
the many ways life has taught Finn that
people and organizations are fl awed, the
faith put in him by Poe, Rey, Han, Leia,
Chewbacca, Maz, and now Rose have
made an impression. Kylo Ren saw in
Finn the moral compass to do the right
thing, and the trooper formerly known
as FN-2187 chooses to stay on that path. defeat her alone. Rose offers an assist 10 Rose and Finn race to the
before he lands the triumphant blow. rescue of the endangered
Failure: The Best Lesson Finally able to look Phasma in the eye, Resistance fleet.
In the end, Finn and Rose do not Finn accepts the mantle of “rebel scum” 11 In confronting Captain
Phasma (Gwendoline
succeed in the objective of their before she falls into the fi ery bloom
Christie), Finn finally
mission, but does this render their below the hangar deck. Finn fi nally accepts who he is.
subplot futile or even worthless? Far becomes the person others had seen in
from it. Across storytelling, including him. The Battle of Crait reinforces the

in film, there is a powerful legacy of change in him that occurred on the
telling tales where the characters don’t Supremacy. When the siege cannon is until Poe realizes the meaning of
accomplish what they set out to do, revealed, Finn does not hesitate this Skywalker’s apparent sacrifi ce.
from Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) to time: he wants to fight, to stall for time As the small band of Resistance


The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). until Leia’s allies can arrive. When the fighters led by Poe retreats through
But if the mission to thwart the First ski speeder attack wilts under the First the crystal caverns, Rey is waiting for
Order’s active tracking system is viewed Order’s onslaught, Finn is willing to give them on the other side, having faced
through the lens of molding Finn into up his own life to save the others—only her own decisions. Amid the fl uttering
a hero of the Resistance, then it is an stopped at the last moment by Rose’s saltflakes of Crait, the two heroes

undeniable success. intervention. When Luke Skywalker are reunited—and the next stage of
During his fight on the Supremacy strides out to face the First Order alone, their journeys to become a Jedi and a

with Captain Phasma, Finn cannot Finn wants to aid the legendary fi gure Resistance hero is about to begin.


82 / STAR WARS INSIDER

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Copyright © 2017 Marvano, Haldeman and Editions Dupuis. / © 2010 Jeremy Briggs. / Flash Gordon © King Features Syndicate, Inc. and TM Hearst Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. / BBC, DOCTOR WHO (word marks, logos and devices), TARDIS, DALEKS, CYBERMAN and K-9
(word marks and devices) are trade marks of the British Broadcasting Corporation and are used under licence. BBC logo © BBC 1996. Doctor Who logo © BBC 1996. Dalek image © BBC/ Terry Nation 1963. Cyberman image © BBC/Kit Pedler/Gerry Davis 1966. K-9 image ©
BBC/Bob Baker/Dave Martin 1977. / © Copyright 2010-2017, John G. Hemry. All Rights Reserved. / Copyright © John Barrowman and Carole E. Barrowman 2017. Torchwood is a BBC Worldwide Production for the BBC. Executive producers: Russell T. Davies, Julie Gardner, and
Jane Tranter. Original series created by Russell T. Davies, and developed and produced by BBC Cymru Wales. BBC, ‘Torchwood’, and the Torchwood logo are trademarks of the British Broadcasting Corporation and are used under licence. Al rights reserved.



Gentle Giant’s new R2-D2 monument is as big as the real thing,
yet takes its design cues from a much smaller source—the
original 1978 Kenner action figure!

W ORDS: ME G AN CROUSE


rom the movie What is the starting point for a up with an idea of what the end
screen, to the toy Gentle Giant sculpt? Is it different product will look like, and make
F box, to the display for something like this R2-D2 concept drawings that determine
monument compared to a statue
case of collectors,
the pose, size, costume, and the
the classic charm based on an actor’s likeness? environment, for example. The
of R2-D2 endures The processes can be wildly drawings are then passed on to
in Star Wars fans’ hearts, fed in different later on, but both start a sculptor, along with all of the
part by nostalgic memories of off the same—with us digging up reference material, and they get
inventing new adventures for the as many reference materials as we to work.
little droid with their own action possibly can to provide to our

figures. Now, those memories are artists. Basing a sculpt on an What was the process for R2-D2?

being rekindled in Gentle Giant’s existing action figure can be much For the R2-D2 monument, which is
new monument statute, which easier, because you can start with a scaled-up replica of a vintage

re-creates the original Kenner the actual figure and have that product, we started by sourcing a
R2-D2 toy—at a scale to match reference in hand. If the item is mint-condition R2-D2 fi gure from
the on-screen R2! based on an actor’s likeness, then 1978. Then, in order for our replica
Standing at over three-and-a- we rely on photographic reference to be as accurate as possible, we
half feet tall, with the simplifi ed and, increasingly these days, on disassembled it and painted all the
details of the 3.75-inch fi gure from three-dimensional digital scans of parts gray so that they were all
1978, Gentle Giant’s latest Life-Size that actor, and potentially their equally readable by a digital
Monument is the fourth in their costume and props. We then come scanner. It’s the part of the
vintage series, following on from
Boba Fett, Darth Vader, and a
classic stormtrooper. Star Wars “WE DISASSEMBLED IT AND PAINTED ALL THE
Insider spoke to Daniel Pickett, PARTS GRAY SO THAT THEY WERE ALL EQUALLY
Marketing Manager at Gentle
Giant, to learn about the process READABLE BY A DIGITAL SCANNER. IT’S THE PART

of re-creating a figure at such a OF THE PROCESS THAT WILL BREAK SOME FANS’
large scale, and the challenge of
replicating that clicking head... AND COLLECTORS’ HEARTS.”

“THE HARDEST PART WAS MAKING SURE THAT along the way. First the legs are
painted, then the head piece is
THE CLICKING MECHANISM WORKED, SO THAT vac-metalized, and fi nally the body
YOU COULD TURN THE HEAD ON A FIGURE THIS sticker is applied.
LARGE AND STILL GET THAT SATISFYING, Presumably, though, the whole
NOSTALGIC EXPERIENCE—ONLY LOUDER!” process is a lot easier than
making a screen-accurate R2-D2?
Well, it’s true that there is a lot less
surface detail on this piece than on
process that will break some fans’ Choosing the correct materials, a screen-actuate R2-D2, but that
and collectors’ hearts—especially and making sure that the quality doesn’t mean we’ve let down our
when they learn we did the exact and standards of the fi nished guard when it comes to attention
same thing with some extremely piece meet our expectations as to detail. If fans are going to spend
collectible characters to create our designers and fans ourselves, is a this much money and dedicate this
jumbo Power of the Force fi gures! big part of the job. Our R2-D2 is much space in their homes, we are

made of fiberglass, which requires determined to ensure that what
And how does the production a very different manufacturing they’re getting is as close to the
process differ from other statues? process to our usual materials, vintage figure as possible. That

We try very hard to make sure we such as injection-molded plastic, includes the design, the materials,
can stay true to the vintage fi gure, resin, and polystone. Usually, the and the engineering that makes
while also making sure that it will painting is the second-to-last thing the clicking head function work
hold together at this much larger to happen, prior to fi nal approval properly at this scale. That is a
scale and function in the same way from Lucasfilm. But for R2-D2, feature that you would not get

as its vintage counterpart. each piece has been hand-fi nished with a screen-accurate version of




































01 / Despite its life-sized proportions, Gentle Giant’s upscaled R2-D2 figure re-creates the original toy exactly, even down to the molding seam on its legs.

R2-D2, but it’s a feature that is
built into fans’ memories and
emotions of playing with the

vintage action figure, so it’s an
important feature to capture in
our monument version.

What was the hardest element of

this particular figure to replicate?
Making sure that the torso sticker
was accurate in scale, design, and
materials took some work. And
vac-metalizing at this scale can
be tricky. But the most diffi cult
part was in making sure that the
clicking mechanism worked, so
that you could turn the head on a

figure this large and still get that
satisfying, nostalgic experience—
only louder!

How are the legs attached to the
body? Was that a challenge,
given the monument’s weight?
We had to use metal bolts, since
our R2-D2 weighs in at around
300 lbs. but it’s really the same
idea as the original fi gure, which
was just four pieces and a screw.
Ours is built the same way, with a
head, two legs, and a body with
an internal tab to provide the
clicking sound. It’s five pieces if

02 / Action figures of R2-D2 and C-3PO were part of Kenner’s initial 12-figue set, released in 1978.
you count the body sticker, and
then it’s just the bolts.
we’re fans ourselves, we all knew
How does Gentle Giant make its we would love to have a life-size EARLY BIRD R2
decisions on which Star Wars vintage R2-D2 become a part of
The 1978 Kenner toy was one of the
characters to produce? our own collections. fi rst ever Star Wars fi gures to fi nd its
There are a lot of different factors way into the hands of those lucky kids
who had received the Star Wars Early
that can go into that decision. Is a Do members of the development
Bird Certifi cate Package for Christmas
character going to be making an team have memories of playing in 1977. This stopgap gift amounted
appearance in any upcoming with the original R2-D2 fi gure? to little more than an envelope and
movies, TV shows, games, or We have a wide range of ages on some stickers, and was Kenner’s smart
response when it realized it couldn’t
comics? Who are the fans asking the development team, so there get Star Wars action fi gures into stores
for? If it’s a character that we’ve are some who got their fi rst R2-D2 in time for the holiday season. As a
done before, have there been any as part of Kenner’s original Early result, many children spent Christmas
poring over its illustrations in lieu
advancements in technology since Bird wave [see sidebar], and some
of any actual Star Wars toys. Those
we last did them? But most of all, who weren’t even born during the illustrations included a sticker of R2-D2
we ask ourselves: What would vintage run! But regardless of age, that faithfully captured the look of the
eventual action fi gure, and a lifelong
look amazing? So, with R2-D2, we are all big fans of the vintage
love for the plucky, pocket-sized droid
for example, we knew that the line and are thrilled to be working was instantly fi red in hundreds of hearts.
character is a fan-favorite, and as on a project like this.

WORLDWIDE






CELEBR A TING THE S A G A











































STAR WARS UNDER WEAR



The latest detachment of the 501st is dressed for the Underworld


ou will never a find a more Ramey Chanadet (Underworld’s up at the group’s launch. Many of
wretched hive of scum and fearless leader and the fi rst 501st those passionate cosplayers enlisted
Y villainy than within the ranks cosplayer to create his own Dr. as stormtroopers, and have since
of the 501st Legion’s new cosplaying Evazan!) decided they needed to expanded their costume closets to
detachment since 2006, Underworld. establish a home base for space include other favorite characters
The premier group for screen- pirates, scoundrels, and other scum. such as Mos Eisley Cantina regulars
accurate Star Wars armor and other “These groupings of costumes Muftak and Ponda Baba, animated
finery is perhaps best known for its into detachments helps our huge reprobate Hondo Ohnaka, and even

legion of identical stormtroopers, community of costumers band a few of Rogue One’s less savory
deployed across the globe to do together to assist new members, characters. Underworld opened up
good—raising money for charities share expertise, and collaborate on with costume guides for 19 different
and leaving fans young and old in a the building of new costumes as characters, but Chanadet expects
state of wonder. new movies or media come out,” that to grow quickly now that there
But with an ever-expanding Chanadet explains. Underworld is a dedicated detachment.
galaxy of heroes and villains with encompasses all eras of Star Wars Chanadet has the following
costumes to recreate, members like lore, with about 50 members joining advice for budding cosplayers:



88 / STAR WARS INSIDER

INSIDER 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:
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U.S.A. U.K.



















01. THE HOLDO MANEUVER
Héctor Vives Arias, a 29-year-old fan based in Spain, was particularly taken by a
quiet moment in Star Wars: The Last Jedi that has been dubbed by some as the
Holdo Maneuver. “This scene was both so beautifully stunning and so close to what I
imagined such a collision would be like, that—as an astrophysicist—I was thoroughly
delighted,” he says. Using simple pencils and paper, and some technological
wizardry that allowed him to invert the colors after scanning the image into a
computer, he made his own homage to the vice admiral and her daring feat.










“Never underestimate the everyday
objects you encounter and how
they might become a part of your
favorite Star Wars costume,” says
Chanadet. “I have seen everything
from a Tupperware container lid to
an automotive oil funnel used to
successfully reproduce minute
details on people’s costumes. You
never know, you might just have half
of Darth Vader’s lightsaber sitting in
a box in your attic!”
So, what is it that really makes
Underworld so different from the
02. ALWAYS ROYALTY
rest of the 501st Legion?
“Being the pirates, thugs, and
Fan artist Erica Leve, 20, from Columbus, Ohio, uses her artwork to celebrate
thieves of the Star Wars universe,
favorite characters and striking moments across the Star Wars saga—including
we’re bad guys just like the rest of General Leia’s eerie flight through space back to her battle-ravaged ship, which was

the 501st, but we’ll also steal your drawn in honor of Carrie Fisher. Leve also enjoyed making a character study of Kylo
wallets at any chance we can get,” Ren. “I wanted to demonstrate that, though he feels he can become Darth Vader, he
Chanadet jokes. is also the son of Han and Leia,” she says.


STAR WARS INSIDER / 89

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

ongtime Star Wars Insider reader
Stuart Trevorrow captured the
Lultimate bounty in October 2017 at
a small but mighty film and memorabilia

FUNKO FILONI
festival in the historic market town of
Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, England.
Trevorrow describes the event as “a
small and sleepy but superb sci-fi con Rebels showrunner goes Pop!
that usually gets a great guest in.”
Each year he takes his daughter, his tar Wars Rebels executive The next problem was how to
best friend, and his son to meet the likes producer Dave Filoni was get the figure to Filoni. Luckily,

of Paul Blake and Dave Prowse. Most S feeling left out. Macias had been invited to host a
recently, they spent a few moments with During the “Heroines of Star Wars” Q&A with the showrunner at a Star
Boba Fett himself, actor Jeremy Bulloch, panel at Orlando’s 2017 Star Wars Wars Rebels fan screening during
who was happy to sign the cover of a Celebration, the reveal of the new February—a deadline that helped
Fett comic book, chatted about Zuckuss Forces of Destiny adventure fi gures inspire her to put the fi nal touches
(emblazoned on Trevorrow’s T-shirt that left Filoni as the only guest on stage to the piece in time for her trip to
day), and even made some restaurant who didn’t have his very own action Lucasfi lm headquarters.


recommendations in the area. “He was figure. His vocal disappointment was “It was my first attempt at
charming and a true gent,” Trevorrow only meant in jest, but the quip gave creating a custom Funko Pop!
told Insider. long-time fan Johnamarie Macias, 31, figure,” says Macias, “and it was

an idea. worth it because he looked so
The Bronx-based creative force overjoyed when I was fi nally able
01
behind The Wookiee Gunner fan to present it to him.”
site, Macias gathered the materials The experience brought Macias
to make a custom Funko Pop! vinyl full circle as a Star Wars fan, she

figure, watched as many tutorial says. “I remember sitting down in

videos as she could find, and then the theater in 2008 and being so
set to work. After one false start, captivated by the Star Wars: The
Macias spent a fortnight, painting, Clone Wars movie, a fi lm that Dave
sculpting hair, and attaching the Filoni had a hand in creating. Ten
miniature cowboy hat (because no years later, I found myself on the

Filoni figure would be complete same stage with him, and it was
without his ever-present hat!). such a surreal experience.”

















01 Stuart Trevorrow and his children meet Jeremy
Bulloch, AKA bounty hunter Boba Fett.



90 / STAR WARS INSIDER

WORLDWIDE




























































RHYTHM OF THE FORCE


Marching to the beat of the Star Wars drum.

I Round Rock and Round Rock this? Percussionist Ed has created a
So how does Star Wars fi t into all
have been a fan of Star Wars ever
since my third-grade class went
Drums, that offers free workshops in
schools, libraries, and community
out on a field trip to watch the
unique and ever-evolving Star Wars
original movie back in 1977,” says Ed centers—Ed is able to channel both drum kit which, he tells us, “we
Francis of Round Rock, Texas. “To passions toward a good cause. bring out for the kids to experience
say the experience changed my “Our mission is to empower ‘at during our free programs.”
seven-year-old life would be an risk’ kids using the magic of music,” Each drum represents a different
understatement.” Ed told Star Wars Insider. “We focus episode in the Star Wars saga, and
Ed’s other great passion is music, on helping elementary school kids Ed’s latest incredible creation is a
and specifically the power of music from the poorest areas in our set of cymbals he has decorated as

to enrich lives. As artistic director of community and guide them as they The Last Jedi’s heroic droid BB-8.
Rhythm Workshops—a non-profi t make choices which will impact the Ed even fashioned the cymbal stand
venture part-funded by the City of rest of their lives.” to resemble the droid’s “thumb.”


STAR WARS INSIDER / 91

WORLDWIDE



SABINE ON THE SEINE


Rebellious grafi tti in France’s artistic center


he streets of Paris are starting While graffiti isn’t technically

to look like the alleyways of legal in France, [qub] says he only
TLothal, thanks to a street tags walls where the art form is
artist who is painting the city in the covered by an agreement with
style of Star Wars Rebels resident authorities, and his work has
artist Sabine Wren. connected him with other Star
The 28-year-old French street Wars fans. “Street art is a very good
artist known only as [qub] has way to meet people,” he says. “This
always been a Star Wars fan, but he world is so full of inspiration, you

only created his first piece of art want to be part of it, to be part of
inspired by the saga earlier this an adventure, and meet other fans.”
year. The piece was, naturally, an
homage to the colorful Mandalorian.
“To tell you the truth, Sabine was
my inspiration, and my very fi rst

graffiti too, as a tribute,” he says.
“She is a mix of a warrior, an artist,

and a pilot, and is definitely one of
the best characters of the Star
Wars universe,” [qub] says.
His tags have also included the
Seventh Sister, and a send-up of
Grand Moff Tarkin, with a caption
playfully declaring that “Alderaan
Shot First.”











































92 / STAR WARS INSIDER

WORLDWIDE
ARTISTS’


ALLEY


More incredible fan art
inspired by Star Wars


03. SPACE LADIES

Hayley Blair, a 25-year-old trans woman
in Melbourne, Australia, has channeled
her passion for art and her adoration of
the women of Star Wars into a collection
of illustrations she calls “Space Ladies.”
According to Blair, her series of artworks
celebrates just about every female Star
Wars character to have ever appeared in
the films, cartoons, books, and comics.

JYN, STARBIRD
(Pen and ink over
pencils with marker
color, 2017)
“Jyn is one of
my favorite Star
Wars characters,”
Blair says. “Her
grim resolve
in the face of
adversity makes
me well up every
time I watch
Rogue One.”



UTINI! HERA IN GHOST
(Pen and ink over
pencils with digital
color, 2016)
Whatever happened to “Space mom,
Luke’s landspeeder? hero pilot,
ably voiced by
Vanessa Marshall.
anadian Ken McCulloch is a
Good stuff.”
long-time Star Wars fan with
Ca fascination for Tatooine’s
scrap-recycling Jawas, so much so
that he was inspired to wonder what
they get up to when not collecting
and selling used droids.
BAZINE
“I wanted to show how these
(Pen and ink over
scavengers try to eke a living from pencils, 2016)
the back alleys of Mos Eisley,” says “Bazine’s fashion
McCulloch, whose painting depicts sense is just
a gang of Jawas busy appropriating too good not to
‘discarded’ scrap and parts from a draw, and her
eyebrow game is
‘derelict’ landspeeder, presumably
on point.”
after its sale by a previous owner
trying to get off-world quickly. “I
thought it might explain why Luke
didn’t get very much for it when he
sold it,” says McCullock.



STAR WARS INSIDER / 93

UGNAUGHTS





UGTHOUGHTS



ON THE
UGNAUGHTS




They may not be pretty, but they’re pretty essential, so spare a thought for
the Ugnaughts—true heroes of the Star Wars universe!


W ORDS: SHANA O’NEIL


hey keep the heating running. They keep In fact, Ugnaughts are the workers we may not always
the lights shining. They maintain gravity, see or appreciate, but further research shows them to be
T run critical systems, work in inhospitable resourceful and highly adaptable. Their homeworld of Gentes
environments, and people seem to ignore
isn’t the most hospitable of planets, and the Ugnaughts were
them for the most part. They’re Ugnaughts, often raided and taken all over the galaxy to be slaves and
and Cloud City (not to mention all sorts of indentured servants. However, in the end, they wound up
other places) would be lost without them. being an integral part of the infrastructure of many worlds.
It’s true, they’re not the most attractive aliens in the galaxy, They also have personality! Star Wars Rebels has shown us
and their language is mostly squeals and grunts, so it is hard that Ugnaughts are more than willing to help in a pinch. In
to bond with them. But Ugnaughts help make the Star Wars “Steps Into Shadows,” Ezra, Sabine, Zeb, and Chopper are on
universe function and it’s time someone gave them more than a mission to steal Y-wings for the Rebellion with some help
a little credit for that. from Hondo Ohnaka. That plan goes sideways multiple times
and could have ended in everyone’s death. But the Ugnaughts
Have Ugnaughts Gotten a Bad Rap? on Reklam help our heroes, and even show us how Han’s
The Ug-haters will always point to the same obvious “situation normal” conversation on board the Death Star
examples to support their argument that our might have gone if Han had been an Ugnaught.
diminutive porcine pals are a blight on the Ugnaughts Ugnaughts even built their own city. When
galaxy. “Ugnaughts tried to melt down C-3PO,” help make the Corellian Lord Ecclessis Figg set out to build
they will complain. “They helped carbon-freeze Cloud City in the sky above Bespin, he recruited
Han Solo, which enabled Darth Vader to hand the Star Wars three different Ugnaught clans to build it and
him over to Boba Fett,” others will cry. universe freed them from slavery. They then built their
But let’s look at the actual evidence, shall we? own floating metropolis in orbit of the planet,

The Ugnaughts weren’t the ones who shot function. known as Ugnaught Surface, with a capital city
C-3PO and, really, they don’t know who he is called Ugnorgrad.
or that he speaks and understands 6 million
languages (or that he’ll pick up another million). He’s metal. All Hail The Ugnaughts
He’s scrap. He gets put on a conveyor belt and sent to be As the Star Wars adventure continues, it’s possible we will
melted down into who knows what. It makes sense. It’s what see Ugnaughts in yet more places. Maybe we’ll learn more
they do for a living. about their lives and their clans. With any luck, we’ll see little
Some Ugnaughts happen to work in the carbon-freezing Ugnaught kids working away with toy hammers as they learn
chamber, where Vader has everyone doing his bidding, but about the systems their parents helped to build and maintain.
they may be the reason that Solo’s freezing procedure goes as Whatever we discover, one thing’s for sure: Ugnaughts
well as it does. They had done it before. In “The Citadel,” an keep things running smoothly. They’ve proven they can fi x
episode from the third season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, pretty much anything, given a chance, and work in conditions
Anakin Skywalker suggests everyone on the mission be frozen that are inhospitable even to a droid. In real-world terms,
in carbonite so that their life signs won’t be detected by battle Ugnaughts are like duct tape—essential, ready when needed,
droid scanners. The carbon-freezing is done by Ugnaughts able to work in any environment, and what keeps everything
in a facility in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Given that together on a day-to-day basis.
Ugnaughts can live up to 200 years, who knows, maybe one So the next time you see one, just remember, they have
of those same Ugnaughts was in the chamber on Bespin that a family and they’re working to take care of them just like
day. It’s certainly a skill that would have been taught to others we all do. They’re out there doing the jobs that keep the
as Ugnaughts found their way across the galaxy. infrastructure of the galaxy together. They’re heroes, too.



94 / STAR WARS INSIDER

01



02



















03













04
























05

01 The reputation of 05 An Ugnaught scrap
the Ugnaughts may merchant sizes up
be down to their the value of a new
grim appearance. acquisition.
02 A trio of Ugnaughts 06 Ugnaughts (with a
repair Cloud City’s human co-worker)
carbon freezing head for their next
chamber. assignment on
Cloud City.
03 They carried out a
similar role on 07 Melch, an Ugnaught
06
Coruscant during laborer, helped a
the Clone Wars. goup of rebels steal
several Y-wing
04 Melting down used starfighters from
droid parts is just the Empire.
07 another job.

The


Star Wars

Archive

Lights! Camera! Action!
Rare images from the
Star Wars photo archives.







































































96 / STAR WARS INSIDER

The cast and
crew prepare to
shoot the Death
Star escape scene
for Star Wars: A
New Hope, against
the backdrop of
the Millennium
Falcon prop.





STAR WARS INSIDER / 97

NEXT ISSUE



























182 “Asteroids do


What not concern me,


Scares Admiral.”

Darth


Vader?

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