Looking back at Star Wars Weekly – issue 12

The cover of Star Wars Weekly issue 12

It was April 26, 1978, and young Star Wars fans across the UK were handing over ten of the most important pennies they would ever spend.  Star Wars Weekly issue 12 was out.

This, we knew, was the edition in which Marvel’s adaptation of Star Wars would reach the end.

The Force Beam: possibly the first Star Wars bootleg toy

The Force Beam, as advertised on the
back of the UK's Star Wars Weekly

It is hard to believe today that someone would have had the audacity to produce an unlicensed Star Wars toy and sell it right under the noses of Lucasfilm, even running big advertisements in at least one official Star Wars publication.

Looking back at Star Wars Weekly – issue 11

The cover of Star Wars Weekly issue 11

It's taken longer for Episode Nothing to finish reviewing Marvel's adaptation of Star Wars than it took Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin to write and draw it. But at last, here's my account of Star Wars Weekly issue 11, published in the UK on April 19 1978.

Casting Star Wars: How George Lucas and Brian De Palma found their stars

The alternative cast for Star Wars: Will Seltzer (Luke Skywalker), Christopher Walken (Han Solo),
Terri Nunn (Princess Leia)

Brian De Palma’s Carrie is well worth owning on Blu-Ray just because it’s a great horror film – and a reminder of how much talent was around in 1970s commercial cinema. But for anyone interested in Star Wars in the 1970s, the UK and Ireland Blu-Ray release of the film contains a bonus feature that makes fascinating viewing.

Star Wars: The Deleted Scenes #8: Reunion with Biggs

Reunited: Luke Skywalker and Biggs Darklighter 
at the Rebel base

In the last instalment of our series looking at the deleted scenes of Star Wars, we come to Luke's tragically brief reunion with Biggs Darklighter.

Star Wars: The Deleted Scenes #7: Darth Vader and the Death Star commander

Leslie Schofield as Commander #1 – later renamed Bast – with Darth Vader in a deleted scene from Star Wars 

As our look at the deleted scenes of Star Wars nears its end, we look at some intrigue unfolding on the Death Star and ask ourselves: Who is Bast?

Star Wars: The Deleted Scenes #6: The original Jabba the Hutt

George Lucas directs Declan Mulholland as Jabba and Harrison Ford as Han  Solo, with Peter Mayhew – minus his Chewbacca mask – in the background

Our look at the deleted scenes of Star Wars continues with our introduction to the original Jabba the Hutt – as played by actor Declan Mulholland.