"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" (2025)

Our Original Trilogy heroes prove that they're not just great at fighting the Empire, they also know how to sing for Christmas!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO wishes all its worldwide readers a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

more

REMEMBERING CARRIE...

As the Tenth Anniversary of her sad parting from us approaches next year, Star Wars Aficionado continues to remember our immortal Carrie Fisher and her never-to-be-forgotten, enduring portrayal of Princess Leia Organa, as seen here in this lovely colourised posed image from The Empire Strikes Back.

CLASSIC IMAGE: DISABLING THE BLOCKADE RUNNER!

The dreaded Star Destroyer Devastator has swiftly caught up with its Rebel Alliance prey over the far-off world of Tatooine, as its heavy weapons array soon outclasses and disables the fast but less well shielded diplomatic marked Blockade Runner and its vital solar fin.

A hit!

The opening scene as brilliantly rendered by Howard Chaykin for the first issue of Marvel's comic adaptation, from 1976.

CLASSIC ART: MIX AND MATCHING!

Light and darkness have never been pitted against each other more in the Star Wars saga than in The Empire Strikes Back, especially between Luke Skywalker and his relentless pursuer in the evil Darth Vader. The two characters, with other support, are well established in this fine Wayne Douglas Barlowe art for the US Random House published Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back Mix and Match story book, released in  1980.

EPISODE VIII: 'DON'T JOIN!'

He's successfully sold out young Resistance fighters Finn and Rose Tico to the First Order with the failure of their Star Destroyer infiltration, now the enigmatic rogue known as the DJ is preparing to take away and enjoy his excessive loot for his traitorous actions, in a tense scene from The Last Jedi.

We know that the DJ survived the 'Holdo Manuever' attack and fled across the galaxy. Perhaps the character, as played with creepy modern-day significance by Benecio Del Toro, will return for another Star Wars film or Andor-style TV project?  

EPISODE II: WHAT NEXT?

The Battle and Super Battle Droid armies have temporarily closed down their conflict against the remaining brave Jedi fighting within the vast Geonosian Death Arena, under the orders of Count Dooku, now fully revealed as the Separatists' clever and dangerous leader. As our heroes count the cost of their intervention against the enemy, what further evil will Dooku unleash?

A classic angle showing the Jedi, and Padme, from EPISODE II.

CLASSIC INDY: FIRE FIGHTING!

Indy's rescue of Marion Ravenwood within her Tibetan-based bar turned inferno soon sees him face off against a dangerous force of Nazi acolytes (including regular stuntman Pat Roach as a brutal Mongolian) intent on murdering him without compunction. Cue breathless action, violence and humour as only a classic Indiana Jones movie like Raiders of the Lost Ark can deliver!

ROGUE ONE: THE OTHER 'RESIDENTS' OF JEDHA!

A teeming city of various alien races and a diversity of droid servants, the religious culture world of Jedha certainly attracts a wide variety of travellers, as seen in this great behind the scenes shot from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

EPISODE II: POLITICALLY CHALLENGED!

Now returned to Naboo, Senator Amidala confers with the new Queen Jamillia about the state of the Republic and a place to hide from potential assassins, much to the chagrin of her Jedi Knight protector Anakin Skywalker, in a memorable moment once more filmed in Italy for Attack of the Clones.

Note the Italian background actor filling in for Oliver Ford Davies as Sio Bibble. Davies would be added to the film in Post Production.

CLASSIC McQUARRIE: LUKE VS RANCOR!

Luke Skywalker has effectively fallen into Jabba the Hutt's creepy hands and now finds himself in the sights of the loathsome crime lord's special 'pet', the Rancor, in this great concept art painting by Ralph McQuarrie for Return of the Jedi, which effectively shows the size of the underground vault housing the ferocious and always hungry beast! 

EPISODE III: WAR IN THE HEAVENS!

An army of Republic Cruisers begin their attack on enemy forces, launching waves of fighters and accompanied by a Jedi Starfighter, in this terrific fan artwork linked to the Prequel saga, capturing the epic flavour of intergalactic war that the saga does so well.

If anyone knows the name of the excellent artist here, please get in touch.