'STAR WARS' AT 40: THE NEW BOOGEYMEN!

Making an impact right from the start, the evil Darth Vader and his white-clad terror minions, the Imperial Stormtroopers, pose for an unusual publicity photo that was seemingly only ever used once, for the STAR WARS poster magazine series of 1977/78. If anyone knows more about this shoot, whether it was shot in the UK or US for the poster magazine itself rather than by the then STAR WARS Corporation, and who was in the Vader suit, please get in touch...

The iconic Stormtroopers in all their superb evolving variations across screen and media, both Imperial and First Order, as well as the Clone Troopers that Prequel-originated them, are the showcase of a lavish and informative new book, out now in the UK from HARPER DESIGN: Stormtroopers: Beyond the Armour. Written by Ryder Wyndham and Adam Bray (with a fun foreword from new era STAR WARS rising star John Boyega), this nostalgic and packed tome makes for a superb Christmas present, and another worthy entry into the Lucasfilm Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi overall book release banner during the saga's Fortieth Anniversary.

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FiVoXELVyA

Get the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Stormtroopers-Beyond-Journey/dp/0062681176/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512152242&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Stormtrooper+beyond+the+armour

REMEMBERING THE UK 'STAR WARS' POSTER MAGAZINES...

The 1978 UK edition of STAR WARS poster magazine issue 4 with a new Vader posed photo overlaid on a classic Blockade Runner scene. Note how the Vader helmet has not been attached properly!

With the STAR WARS merchandise blitzkrieg of 1978 in the UK, one of my first essential purchases with the weekly pocket money from my much missed Grandma were the colourful, picture-packed monthly poster mags, printed here by GALAXY. Only four were officially published in the UK, but the line continued in America well into 1979. (One of it's final issues having a preview of the then upcoming THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.)

Those four UK issues may have had the same features as their US counter-parts, but three of them (issues 2-4) had different covers that were deemed more appealing to the UK buying public-most notably showcasing the droids, villains and technology, as seen in the covers above and below.

One of the most important writing contributors to the poster magazine series, and the subsequent EMPIRE limited run that followed in 1980, was the work of British journalist John May. Check out this terrific blog article by the man himself, where he fondly recalls the incredible period he spent writing for the title, being involved with LUCASFILM, going to the ESB set at ELSTREE and meeting George Lucas: The Generalist: Star Wars: Memories of A Galaxy Far, Far Away

May talks about a lot of interviews he conducted with some of the Classic Trilogy's top names of the time. Lets hope one day that May and LUCASFILM (J.W. Rinzler, perhaps?) can work together in getting the full interview transcripts/tape conversations of this fascinating time period/capsule released for public enjoyment.

With thanks to STARWARSMAGAZINESONLINE website (The Star Wars original trilogy magazines reference guide - Poster Monthly) for selected scans.