1980, I'm waiting in line with my moms and two of my friends for our showing. The doors open and kids are exiting carrying copies of a magazine-sized adaptation of the movie, which, goddamnit, sold out before we even arrived. A week or two later I have my own copy, bought at the convenience store rack down the street from our pad. I proceed to read that sucker 20 or 30 times. Fellas...thank you a million. This means so much to me.
The Wampa never really appeared in the original cut of ESB. The 1997 special edition added in a full fledged version. It’s better when the Wampa was kept mysterious.
I read the shit out of this when they released a magazine sized version I found in my local 7-11. I also have fond memories of seeing Williamson doing the newspaper strips too. And no slight to Chaykin but I wish they would have commissioned Williamson to go back and do A New Hope to complete his own trilogy.
He did do 12 strips of a newspaper adaptation of A New Hope in 1978 before the strip properly started. It's reprinted in the second volume of IDW's hardcovers of the strip and it's amazing as expected. He and Carlos Garzón also ink Eduardo Barreto's A New Hope Special Edition adaptation from the 90s. I was flipping through my Marvel hardcover copy of it that I picked up on clearance and thought it was alright. I hit the end of the book and was pleased to see a small selection of original art. The uncropped art and lack of digital coloring really changes the vibe of the comic. I'd love to see a full version in this format even as a smaller artisan edition. It's still not really on the same level as his Empire or the comic strip but it's a worthwhile version to have if you can find it cheap.
Yours is one of my favorite comics channels on youTube. You folks are more interested on the craft of creating comics than rooting through boxes to find something to entomb in plastic for resale. Plus your experience and study allows you to make insightful comments about what is extraordinary and important about the things you discuss, leading me to greater insight and appreciation for the things I enjoy. I've found the issues of Williamson's "Classic Star Wars" in many dollar bins. This allowed me to easily complete the run, picking up those handful I didn't purchase new. They aren't going to make anyone rich, even entombed in plastic, but they are beautiful examples of craft to be appreciated by those who love the medium.
Al Williamson's work was elegant and dynamic. He was a contemporary of many of the EC greats. Any chance of an episode devoted to Wally Wood's work? His "Wizard King" work was beautiful.
I'll second that request. Wood was the man! They did an episode on his 22 panels that always work, but one focused more on his art would be great. If the guys are lucky enough to be able to show his Artist's Edition that would be epic!
Some of the panels are so spot on to the film stills that I would not be surprised if he used a lightbox for the bulk of this work (using production stills). I'm not dissing his craft. He is a master brush slinger.
I was in Al’s house 2 different times and he gave me so many comics and signed them..the only thing is they were 90s comics and we know the values of those toilet paper..he had originals hanging on his wall and it was so cool to see them
Growing up as a comic book fan and collector in the 1970s and 80s, Al Williamson was always my favorite comic book artist, especially for Star Wars related stuff. I'd spend hours studying his line work and layouts. One of my biggest regrets is never having met this man before he passed on.
Williamson was amazing! Flesk just released a collection of his work (Strange World Adventures), which is beautiful-his best retrospective yet. Great to see him get more exposure!
The transition from the lusher, more illustrative EC work to this had to have been helped along by assisting John Prentice on Raymond's Rip Kirby. A generation of artists went from copying Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon (evident in so many 40's comics such as Hawkman and Starman) to copying the Raymond Rip Kirby style (not just in newspapers but quite a bit in 50's DC books.)
I like Al's art but i noticed on the page opposite betrayal at bespin which has Lando and three other people in the drawing,he has copied the city drawn by Mike Noble from the British TV21 and Joe90 Star Trek comic strip from the early 1970's.
19:00 Actually to me, those shots of background tech done with heavy black inks with white highlights reminds me of Leiji Matsumoto's manga version of Space Cruiser Yamato (that's "Star Blazers" if you didn't know). He drew the instrument panels of the Yamato with heavy black inks with multiple gages done in white, creating a severe contrast effect.
I can still remember when I was 9, & the Marvel Empire Strikes Back TPB came out. The entire movie recreated on Baxter paper with bright RNG colors, for a whole $2!!! Damn, I wish I was able to take better care of it!
I had the treasury edition of this as a kid. Actually read it before I saw the movie in theaters, and couldn't believe Vader was Luke's dad til I saw it in theaters. Devastating spoiler. haha.
This might be the most beautiful b&w comic I've ever seen
Al Williamson Star Wars newspaper collected editions are so much fun!
I recall saving up to buy it! “Exquisite” is right!
1980, I'm waiting in line with my moms and two of my friends for our showing. The doors open and kids are exiting carrying copies of a magazine-sized adaptation of the movie, which, goddamnit, sold out before we even arrived. A week or two later I have my own copy, bought at the convenience store rack down the street from our pad. I proceed to read that sucker 20 or 30 times. Fellas...thank you a million. This means so much to me.
The Wampa never really appeared in the original cut of ESB. The 1997 special edition added in a full fledged version. It’s better when the Wampa was kept mysterious.
This is true, except the Wampa's face originally appeared in the original
some of those montage pieces and splash pages are so good that a lot of them are slapped on t-shirts to this day
Love your dives into inking. Thanks fellas!
I read the shit out of this when they released a magazine sized version I found in my local 7-11. I also have fond memories of seeing Williamson doing the newspaper strips too. And no slight to Chaykin but I wish they would have commissioned Williamson to go back and do A New Hope to complete his own trilogy.
I thought he was better than Chaykin for Star Wars. I loved Chaykin's American Flagg though.
He did do 12 strips of a newspaper adaptation of A New Hope in 1978 before the strip properly started. It's reprinted in the second volume of IDW's hardcovers of the strip and it's amazing as expected.
He and Carlos Garzón also ink Eduardo Barreto's A New Hope Special Edition adaptation from the 90s. I was flipping through my Marvel hardcover copy of it that I picked up on clearance and thought it was alright. I hit the end of the book and was pleased to see a small selection of original art. The uncropped art and lack of digital coloring really changes the vibe of the comic. I'd love to see a full version in this format even as a smaller artisan edition. It's still not really on the same level as his Empire or the comic strip but it's a worthwhile version to have if you can find it cheap.
Columbian artist Carlos Garzon assisted Williamson on his Empire and Jedi adaptations.
@@wtk6069 Both Williamson and Carzon were/are Colombian
Yours is one of my favorite comics channels on youTube. You folks are more interested on the craft of creating comics than rooting through boxes to find something to entomb in plastic for resale. Plus your experience and study allows you to make insightful comments about what is extraordinary and important about the things you discuss, leading me to greater insight and appreciation for the things I enjoy.
I've found the issues of Williamson's "Classic Star Wars" in many dollar bins. This allowed me to easily complete the run, picking up those handful I didn't purchase new. They aren't going to make anyone rich, even entombed in plastic, but they are beautiful examples of craft to be appreciated by those who love the medium.
Al Williamson's work was elegant and dynamic. He was a contemporary of many of the EC greats. Any chance of an episode devoted to Wally Wood's work? His "Wizard King" work was beautiful.
I'll second that request. Wood was the man! They did an episode on his 22 panels that always work, but one focused more on his art would be great. If the guys are lucky enough to be able to show his Artist's Edition that would be epic!
Some of the panels are so spot on to the film stills that I would not be surprised if he used a lightbox for the bulk of this work (using production stills). I'm not dissing his craft. He is a master brush slinger.
I was in Al’s house 2 different times and he gave me so many comics and signed them..the only thing is they were 90s comics and we know the values of those toilet paper..he had originals hanging on his wall and it was so cool to see them
rewatching this for Revenge of the 5th. another great vid. thanks guys!
Growing up as a comic book fan and collector in the 1970s and 80s, Al Williamson was always my favorite comic book artist, especially for Star Wars related stuff. I'd spend hours studying his line work and layouts. One of my biggest regrets is never having met this man before he passed on.
Williamson was amazing! Flesk just released a collection of his work (Strange World Adventures), which is beautiful-his best retrospective yet. Great to see him get more exposure!
Flesk did a great book of all of his Flash Gordon work done over the decades. Nice big book, shot, I think, from the originals.
Woah $150! Time to get a part-time job. :)
Love the artist's editions!
When I was 9 years old, I read the paperback version of this to pieces. 1980, what a year.
Exquisite work! Al Williamson was so amazing!
Yes! I have been looking for this! THIS was what hooked me on Williamson's photo realism back in the day.
Because of this video I ordered the book. Thanks guys!
The transition from the lusher, more illustrative EC work to this had to have been helped along by assisting John Prentice on Raymond's Rip Kirby. A generation of artists went from copying Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon (evident in so many 40's comics such as Hawkman and Starman) to copying the Raymond Rip Kirby style (not just in newspapers but quite a bit in 50's DC books.)
My favorite style. Realistic shines, shadows, characters. Alternate Yoda is ok :)
I like Al's art but i noticed on the page opposite betrayal at bespin which has Lando and three other people in the drawing,he has copied the city drawn by Mike Noble from the British TV21 and Joe90 Star Trek comic strip from the early 1970's.
This was a real treat. Love the artwork from back then.
this was the first comics i've read when I was 6 in 2005
Supply and demand is issue #98, archie and Al slso did issue #50
19:00 Actually to me, those shots of background tech done with heavy black inks with white highlights reminds me of Leiji Matsumoto's manga version of Space Cruiser Yamato (that's "Star Blazers" if you didn't know). He drew the instrument panels of the Yamato with heavy black inks with multiple gages done in white, creating a severe contrast effect.
williamson did the return of the jedi appetition
I can still remember when I was 9, & the Marvel Empire Strikes Back TPB came out. The entire movie recreated on Baxter paper with bright RNG colors, for a whole $2!!! Damn, I wish I was able to take better care of it!
What is RNG color?
I had the treasury edition of this as a kid. Actually read it before I saw the movie in theaters, and couldn't believe Vader was Luke's dad til I saw it in theaters. Devastating spoiler. haha.
That C3PO at 15:20 HOLY SHIT
16:23
It reproduced like shit in my treasury edition
The original art pages must be worth a fortune! Famous comic artist doing Star Wars? $$$$$$$$$$$
I like the BIG books keep them coming ( might) Jack Kirby
Man, this book looks good in b/w! I would like to hear your takes on the recoloured "Special Editions"... (I think they look awful)
E X C E L L E N T V I D E O ! ! !
people dont have the attention to produce work like this anymore imo
Hah! Y’all hands look so small. 🙂