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Post by tarkintino on Jan 17, 2018 18:29:19 GMT -5
Summary: Han, Luke and Chewie finally make it to Hoth only to find that their presence has brought unwanted visitors from Han's past.
Plot: This is the story I had been waiting for after all the lead up of leaving Yarvin, and as an introduction of the dangers of the Rebel's new home Archie certainly doesn't disappoint. It's a story full of action and intrigue that has a great spotlight on both the relationship between Han and Luke but also a look at Han's more colorful past as a pirate and smuggler. That mix of character moments, action and even a creature feature really makes the story sing and gives it an authentic Star Wars feel. On top of that while the plot is tied to Empire Strikes Back it's only tangentially so it still feels like its own story and it does that with out feeling redundant or lessening the impact of any elements of the film. Being related to a film, but not retreading to the point where the film seems like just another, similar story (despite being released first as the source) is something almost all comic adaptations of films have struggled with. Its either trying to capture the same moments from the film, or in an attempt to find its own voice, go off in directions that lack any of the heart, substance, and appeal of the film. The Star Warsstrips hit that fine line to the point that reading it felt like the films in a way the novels of the period, and some early Marvel issues (monthly or the running strip in Marvel's Pizzazz magazine) did not quite capture. I give this trace a pass, only because its establishing a certain developing, emotional rhythm between Han and Leia that will be seen in ESB; each has certain habits physically expressed when dealing with certain people, and the leaning in, finger-pointing is how Han and Leia react to each other. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 17, 2018 19:30:38 GMT -5
Summary: Han, Luke and Chewie finally make it to Hoth only to find that their presence has brought unwanted visitors from Han's past.
Plot: This is the story I had been waiting for after all the lead up of leaving Yarvin, and as an introduction of the dangers of the Rebel's new home Archie certainly doesn't disappoint. It's a story full of action and intrigue that has a great spotlight on both the relationship between Han and Luke but also a look at Han's more colorful past as a pirate and smuggler. That mix of character moments, action and even a creature feature really makes the story sing and gives it an authentic Star Wars feel. On top of that while the plot is tied to Empire Strikes Back it's only tangentially so it still feels like its own story and it does that with out feeling redundant or lessening the impact of any elements of the film. Being related to a film, but not retreading to the point where the film seems like just another, similar story (despite being released first as the source) is something almost all comic adaptations of films have struggled with. Its either trying to capture the same moments from the film, or in an attempt to find its own voice, go off in directions that lack any of the heart, substance, and appeal of the film. The Star Warsstrips hit that fine line to the point that reading it felt like the films in a way the novels of the period, and some early Marvel issues (monthly or the running strip in Marvel's Pizzazz magazine) did not quite capture. I give this trace a pass, only because its establishing a certain developing, emotional rhythm between Han and Leia that will be seen in ESB; each has certain habits physically expressed when dealing with certain people, and the leaning in, finger-pointing is how Han and Leia react to each other. If it was traced from any other scene it may have gotten a pass, but that finger pointing scene is up there with, "I Know." as one of the best scenes from the film so it just seemed more blatant to me. |
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jan 18, 2018 4:48:15 GMT -5
Being related to a film, but not retreading to the point where the film seems like just another, similar story (despite being released first as the source) is something almost all comic adaptations of films have struggled with. Its either trying to capture the same moments from the film, or in an attempt to find its own voice, go off in directions that lack any of the heart, substance, and appeal of the film. The Star Warsstrips hit that fine line to the point that reading it felt like the films in a way the novels of the period, and some early Marvel issues (monthly or the running strip in Marvel's Pizzazz magazine) did not quite capture. I give this trace a pass, only because its establishing a certain developing, emotional rhythm between Han and Leia that will be seen in ESB; each has certain habits physically expressed when dealing with certain people, and the leaning in, finger-pointing is how Han and Leia react to each other. If it was traced from any other scene it may have gotten a pass, but that finger pointing scene is up there with, "I Know." as one of the best scenes from the film so it just seemed more blatant to me. It's actually traced from a trace. Williamson had already used that exact same panel in his ESB adaptation, a couple of years earlier. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 18, 2018 17:32:01 GMT -5
If it was traced from any other scene it may have gotten a pass, but that finger pointing scene is up there with, "I Know." as one of the best scenes from the film so it just seemed more blatant to me. It's actually traced from a trace. Williamson had already used that exact same panel in his ESB adaptation, a couple of years earlier. Ha, I hadn't thought of that. |
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Post by tarkintino on Jan 18, 2018 20:04:46 GMT -5
It's actually traced from a trace. Williamson had already used that exact same panel in his ESB adaptation, a couple of years earlier. Ha, I hadn't thought of that. Somehow, I missed that, too. |
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jan 18, 2018 21:12:18 GMT -5
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Post by rom on Jan 19, 2018 15:40:51 GMT -5
Great scan from a great page in the Empire Strikes Back comic book adaptation. It's worth noting that in the final panel, the wampa hand breaking through the ice is actually not in the final film. But, there were early plans to have a scene where the Rebel troopers fought off a group of Wampas who were breaking through into the Rebel base. I don't this scene was ever actually filmed, however.
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jan 19, 2018 20:31:51 GMT -5
Great scan from a great page in the Empire Strikes Back comic book adaptation. It's worth noting that in the final panel, the wampa hand breaking through the ice is actually not in the final film. But, there were early plans to have a scene where the Rebel troopers fought off a group of Wampas who were breaking through into the Rebel base. I don't this scene was ever actually filmed, however. No, it was all filmed. The Wampa sub-plot was left out of the final edit of the movie though, obviously. As much as anything, I think this was because they weren't happy with how the Wampa's moved or looked. A clip of C-3PO removing a "warning" sign from a door, behind which the Wampa's were locked, as the Imperial troops advanced through the base, was included in the ESB trailer though. Here's a still from the Wampa attack inside the Rebel base scene...  |
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Post by rom on Jan 19, 2018 20:56:32 GMT -5
OK, good to know - I stand corrected. I found the scene online:
I'm glad it was cut - it looks terrible, and would have distracted the viewer from the bigger threat to the Rebels on Hoth - the Empire attacking them.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 21, 2018 19:53:44 GMT -5
I knew the scenes were filmed, and subsequently cut because Lucas didn't like the way they looked but I never knew the scenes survived; great find Rom! As a kid reading about these scenes in Star Wars Insider I was bumbed that we never got to see some Wampa versus Snow Trooper action, but as I grew up I found myself thinking it definitely would have ruined the pacing of the assault on Eco Base and now seeing it for real it seems Lucas was definitely correct in cutting them as they did look almost laughably bad; though I did like the shot of the arm grabing the trooper at the end.
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jan 21, 2018 22:16:08 GMT -5
There are vague traces of the "Wampa's in the base" sub-plot still visible in the finished film, if you look carefully. The most obvious is the scene in which Han Solo, all suited up to go and search for Luke, asks if the Rebel Snow Speeders are ready and is told that the Rebels have had trouble adapting them to the cold. Solo then says, "we'll have to go out on tuan tuans", leading to the famous, "then I'll see you in hell!" line.
Well, if you look carefully during that scene, there's wreckage everywhere, blaster marks on the walls, traumatised taun tauns in the foreground and background, and even a dead taun taun on the ground, with a 2-1B medical droid examining it. This is the scene of a recent Wampa attack, although that fact is never mentioned in the film due to clever dialogue editing. Once you notice it though, it's obvious.
Have a look. The scene I'm talking about begins at the 3:31 mark of this video clip from YouTube...
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Post by rom on Jan 22, 2018 9:21:19 GMT -5
I knew the scenes were filmed, and subsequently cut because Lucas didn't like the way they looked but I never knew the scenes survived; great find Rom! As a kid reading about these scenes in Star Wars Insider I was bumbed that we never got to see some Wampa versus Snow Trooper action, but as I grew up I found myself thinking it definitely would have ruined the pacing of the assault on Eco Base and now seeing it for real it seems Lucas was definitely correct in cutting them as they did look almost laughably bad; though I did like the shot of the arm grabing the trooper at the end.
Agreed. Film directors typically cut scenes because they just "don't work" in the film, ruin the pacing, etc. One of the many strengths of the original Star Wars films was their excellent editing. And, in this particular case editing out/cutting out the Wampa attack scene on the Rebel base was an extremely good idea. The scene looks laughably fake/awkward, and would have marred the brilliance of the film to an great extent. I'm a huge movie fan & a huge Star Wars fan, and IMHO The Empire Strikes Back may very well be the best motion picture to ever be made - period. So, we definitely did not need this scene in there.
If you pay attention to the way the Wampa was depicted when it attacked Luke in the original cut of ESB (1980), you barely see the creature - due to the effects/costume limitations of the time. However, they show just enough to make it clear it's menacing & dangerous. In the later 1997 Special Edition cut of the film, a new scene(s) was filmed in which the creature is shown full-body - and, it actually looks fairly good & convincing - obviously, they had come a long way in the 17 years between both versions of the film 
And, Thanks, Confessor for the clarification re: the remains of the Wampa attack that were seen in the final film. I remember noticing the dead Tauntaun & damage, etc. in the background during that scene you mentioned. It's interesting that in the continuity of the final film the Wampa attack did actually happen, but essentially occurred "off screen".
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 23, 2018 16:24:18 GMT -5
Showdown December 26th, 1983 - February 5th, 1984 Written by Archie Goodwin Art by Al Williamson LA Times Syndicate Summary: Han, Luke and Chewie may have succesfully helped avoid detection for the new Rebel base on Hoth but for the heroes it's a definite case of out of the frying pan and into the fire as they are captured by Boba Fett and his gang of cut throats and are now being brought to Ord Mantel before returning to Jabba the Hutt...
Plot: This is another win in my book from Archie; no weird un-star warsy monsters, the plot doesn't feel like filler and there are some fun character beats as well. I was a initially a little worried when I saw that Boba Fett and Darth Vader were going to be here as I was worried that it would ride on the coat tails of Empire Strikes back a little too much, and to be fair the plan to use Han to lure Luke is lifted from the film, but Goodwin averts the feeling of over familiarity by instead focusing on the bounty hunter Skorr whom he first introduced in the strip" Bounty Hunter of Ord Mantell" back in 1981(his very first strip). Based on a single line from Empire from Han, he wasn't my favorite villain but I really liked his motivation here, that his grudge with Solo is so strong that he'd rather kill Solo rather than see him in the hands of anyone else. What strikes me the most here is just how much of a book end this story is to how Archie opened his run; a lot of writers when facing an ending like this(there's only one story left until cancellation) aren't focused on providing a real ending but Archie really seems to be trying to tie things up and set things up so readers can go right from these strips to Empire in a seamless way which is fantastic. Art: As always, the space scenes are my favorite. I love the way Williamson draws the ships and his depictions of space in general with the various bits of debris and cosmic clouds are just awesome to see. Once again though his tracing in certain scenes is really blatant here; and it's weird because looking back at previous strips it wasn't nearly as frequent, he'd use it occasionally to nail a particular facial feature for a character but here he's doing whole scenes which just seems lazy to me. As an aside, I don't know if it was Williamson's confusion or Archie's but the bounty hunter that is talking to Korr through out the strip is continually referred to as Zuckuss but the character is shown to be Dengar. It didn't take me out of the story but it did seem weird considering how accurate they are with other elements. Grade:8/10 |
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Post by rom on Jan 24, 2018 13:24:35 GMT -5
Great review. I liked that the first?! Williamson/Goodwin SW newspaper strip chronicled what happened to Han & Co. on Ord Mantell, re: the throw-away line from ESB (that Han made reference to on Hoth). I suspect that the reason for the possible "confusion" regarding Zuckuss/Dengar was that back in the early days of the SW franchise, it wasn't clear what the correct names of most of the bounty hunters were - with the obvious exception of Boba Fett & IG-88. I remember that it wasn't until the 1990's (when Star Wars was getting a "second wind" with new novels & comics, etc.) when it was made clear that Zuckuss was referring to the name of the shorter tan alien in the robe & breathing apparatus, and that 4-LOM was the taller gray robotic alien. I guess Lflm./Kenner wasn't sure about this back in the 1980's either, since it sound like the 1990's "corrections" were retroactive - LOL: serkworks.blogspot.com/2010/02/zuckuss-4-lom-confusion-answered.html |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 24, 2018 18:36:27 GMT -5
Great review. I liked that the first?! Williamson/Goodwin SW newspaper strip chronicled what happened to Han & Co. on Ord Mantell, re: the throw-away line from ESB (that Han made reference to on Hoth). I suspect that the reason for the possible "confusion" regarding Zuckuss/Dengar was that back in the early days of the SW franchise, it wasn't clear what the correct names of most of the bounty hunters were - with the obvious exception of Boba Fett & IG-88. I remember that it wasn't until the 1990's (when Star Wars was getting a "second wind" with new novels & comics, etc.) when it was made clear that Zuckuss was referring to the name of the shorter tan alien in the robe & breathing apparatus, and that 4-LOM was the taller gray robotic alien. I guess Lflm./Kenner wasn't sure about this back in the 1980's either, since it sound like the 1990's "corrections" were retroactive - LOL: serkworks.blogspot.com/2010/02/zuckuss-4-lom-confusion-answered.htmlYeah, there have been a few stories about that bounty hunter line but the one from the strip is definitely my favorite. |
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