AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: CARBON HELL!

Our shocked heroes are witness to the living death inflicted on Han Solo by Darth Vader, in this memorable specially created cover for one of the UK issues of The Empire Strikes Back Weekly comic, from famed classic comics artist Carmine Infantino, himself a regular artist on the US Marvel Comics Star Wars monthly colour comics for the previous two years.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: ENTER THE IMPERIALS!

'Imperial troops have entered the base...'

Terrifying words for our heroes as the final stages of the evacuation of Echo Base continue, and the death-bringing forces of Darth Vader arrive, in this great cover art by comics legend Carmine Infantino exclusively created for the UK's The Empire Strikes Back Weekly comic, published in June 1980.

CLASSIC ART: BEYOND THE FILM! BEYOND THE GALAXY!

Cover art by Carmine Infantino and Rudy Nebres.

Though Han Solo's life in the cinematic version of the Star Wars saga was always full of derring-do and dangerous pursuit, what abut the adventures he and Chewbacca shared both prior to and after the Classic Trilogy? Fans thirst for these inspiring tales would be satiated happily from the get-go via Marvel Comics, who soon launched the crew of the trusty Millennium Falcon into all new directions in 1978 after their initial six-issue 1977 adaptation of the original film (like the above all-new adventure Shadeshine!, from one of  the company's 'King-size' Annuals of 1982). So too did popular US sci-fi/fantasy author Brian Daley, who'd pen three of the most influential and successful books for the characters that, for many readers, have yet to be equaled.

Find out more about the amazing and capable women whom Han allied, wooed and admired, the many diverse, cunning adversaries he and Chewie fought, and the epic space journeys undertaken from 'one side of the galaxy to the other' inside the encompassing Expanded Universe, via the all-new pop culture celebration of our legendary Corellian adventurer and self-made man that is Star Wars Icons - Han Solo, the truly lavish and highly informative new coffee table book from Ilex Press, written by Gina McIntyre, available in the UK from November 27th, 2018.

Here's the advance book release information:

Smuggler. Rogue. Hero of the Rebellion. Scruffy-looking nerf herder. 

Han Solo has been called all these things and more since making his debut in the original Star Wars film back in 1977. Four decades later, the irrepressible Solo continues to be one of the most iconic and enduring elements of the saga.

Star Wars Icons: Han Solo covers the character's entire journey, from his genesis in George Lucas's first drafts of Star Wars to Harrison Ford's iconic performances in the original three films and The Force Awakens, and the character's rebirth in Solo: A Star Wars Story. The book also takes an in-depth look at Solo's role in the Star Wars universe, through novels, comics, video games, and more, and the indelible impression the character has made on pop culture.

Illustrated with a treasure trove of rare and previously unseen imagery, including candid on-set photography and stunning concept art, this deluxe volume also features exclusive new interviews with Harrison Ford, Alden Ehrenreich, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Peter Mayhew, Ron Howard, J. J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, Jonathan Kasdan, and many more key creatives.

Comprehensive and revelatory, this is the definitive book for Han Solo fans across the galaxy.

Get the book here (available from November 27th, 2018)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Icons-Han-Solo/dp/1781576971/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542378341&sr=8-1&keywords=star+wars+icons+han+solo

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 35: REMEMBERING 'DEATH PROBE'

Continuing the air of darkness and violence so prevalent during events of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, MARVELS's first all-new original adventure from the sterling team of writer Archie Goodwin and artist Carmine Infantino, after the series previous acclaimed six-issue adaptation, sees Luke Skywalker, trapped on a derelict Rebel cruiser alongside buddy Artoo Detoo, using all of his skills as a pilot and a Jedi-to-be against an augmented and heavily armed Probe Droid that's under remote control from a glory-seeking Imperial commenader. Can Luke stop the droid before it discovers his identity, and locks onto the path of the incoming, on-the-run Rebel fleet?

Death Probe is a great first adventure launching the new series- the idea of using the Probe Droid as a combatant is one of the best seen in what was once the early days of the Expanded STAR WARS universe, and its artistically brought to striking life (check out the opening spread of the Probe Droid smashing into the cruiser's hull and blasting away at its Rebel prey- truly impactful)- a fine way to tell the comic reading audience that the encapsulating post EMPIRE storytelling/timeline has begun with a bang. As a solo story for Luke its equally important: seeing him testing his abilities after the mental and physical scars he received from duelling Darth Vader. Here, as his predicament worsens, he also uses the Force in a new way: controlling his breathing in order to make it look as if he's barely alive to the Probe Droid's sensor readings, and gets to wield his lightsaber (still being mis-spelled "Lightsabre"), presumably written and pencilled before the EMPIRE adaptation had been fully completed and it was known that Luke would ultimately lose the civilised weapon at Bespin.

CLASSIC ART: COMETH THE DARK LORD!

Art by Carmine Infantino, inks by Bob Wiacek.

He'd been much missed after the acclaimed six-part film adaptation had been concluded, but everyone's favourite black-suited baddie, Darth Vader, would eventually return in top villainous form to the STAR WARS universe of MARVEL COMICS for the exciting conclusion to Archie Goodwin and Carmine Infantino's Space Wheel storyline.

The new MARVEL range launching in January looks set to continue the classic traditions, with ambitious storylines exploring our heroes and villains even more closely:

SDCC 2014: Inside Marvel's New Star Wars Comics - Exclusive | StarWars.com
Star Wars #1 Variant Cover By Joe Quesada - First Look! | StarWars.com

And Darth Vader will also be making a welcome reappearance in a new, specially created scene set to be included within the ABC TV US screening of STAR WARS REBELS opening episode, this October 26th, 2014 (7pm). Here's hoping the UK gets it, too! Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion With Darth Vader Coming to ABC | StarWars.com

GOODBYE, CARMINE INFANTINO...

Sad to hear of the passing yesterday, at 87,  of the legendary DC and MARVEL COMICS artist Carmine Infantino, who brought so much joy to millions through his exciting and innovative work. I'll always personally remember him for his much admired period working on the US MARVEL monthly STAR WARS comics of the late seventies- the intriguing way he translated George Lucas's very visual, action-packed universe set between the original STAR WARS and EMPIRE to the four-colour medium, and for helping to bring in further new and intriguing icons within the early days of what would soon become known as the Expanded Universe...

Gone but not forgotten, Infantino's bravura work will be remembered and celebrated for decades to come.

Covers to some of my favourite STAR WARS comics featuring Infantino''s eye catching work.

With thanks to the Rebel Scum website for the selected cover images.

AFICIONADO ARCHIVES REVISITED: 'WORLD OF FIRE'

Luke and Leia have their hands full fighting an Imperial garrison, in an action-packed cover for the UK's STAR WARS WEEKLY comic. Image via the REBELSCUM site.

My local newsagents never had the original US full-colour STAR WARS MARVEL COMIC monthlys (I would eventually acquire most of them through the likes of book stores like FORBIDDEN PLANET and DARK THEY WERE AND GOLDEN EYED later in my childhood), though my dad religiously got me the STAR WARS WEEKLY COMIC published by UK's MARVEL office. Despite it B/W printing, one of the nice things about the title was that it often printed original material and stories that wouldn't appear States-side until a few years later, and not necessarily in the main title, but special SW publications or in other magazines, like PIZZAZ. One such notable strip in the UK edition was towards the end of the original comics run-before it became THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK WEEKLY in May 1980: World of Fire, a terrific Luke/Leia adventure written by X-MEN legend Chris Claremont, with art by Carmine Infantino and inks by Gene Day. It would become one of my all-time favourite SW adventures. Back when the first issue of AFICIONADO came out in 2003, it was also to be the premiere Archive feature.

A few years ago, I revised the original archive with additional material and scans, but never got round to putting it online. In this Tenth Anniversary of AFICIONADO, readers can now check it out here: STAR WARS ARCHIVE WORLD OF FIRE