AFICIONADO REVIEW: 'RETURN OF THE JEDI: THE ORIGINAL TOPPS TRADING CARD SERIES'

A new breed of hero becomes a cover star to the new RETURN OF THE JEDI TOPPS book. Images: ABRAMS BOOKS and STARWARS.COM

Back in early April 1982, on the Elstree Studios set of the then titled REVENGE OF THE JEDI, Mark Hamill told the official fan newsletter Bantha Tracks that filming on this seemingly last adventure for the Original Trilogy characters felt like coming to the end of senior year in high school- getting ready to leave but also feeling nostalgic for what had come before. I think that such a potent feeling was similarly felt across the board by everybody then working on the ambitious wrap-up blockbuster, and especially beyond its studio home, via those serendipitous merchandisers who had the wisdom and the guts to get licenses on what many Hollywood moguls originally thought was going to be either a disaster or a flash in the pan. Certainly, the TOPPS card company were an early sign-on for STAR WARS, and would enjoy unprecedented success with their cards sets for the first two films back in 1977 and 1980, with the excitement yet also sadness of the trilogy's completion with the eventually renamed RETURN OF THE JEDI fast becoming a very palpable and exciting reality and experience for the series range editor Gary Gerani and the small team, whose work delivering colourful cards and exciting picture selections would become such a locked-in and beloved part of the lives of early generation STAR WARS fans. Gerani's opening history notes for the latest chapter in the collected card series tribute to the TOPPS range, RETURN OF THE JEDI: THE ORIGINAL TOPPS TRADING CARD SERIES - published by ABRAMS COMICARTS, are a wonderful time capsule for those final spirited two years of The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, dealing with an even more efficient and corporate-changed LUCASFILM, talking about the top secret script of which Gerani was one of the few to read it in its entirety, and his fun recollections of getting unique visual glimpses of all the new and striking sequences, worlds, aliens (Jabba the Hutt and his other gross creatures, plus the sweet Ewoks of Endor, who'd all become major selling points to the new run), and cool land and space vehicles that the TOPPS cards would soon so ably display, during a rousing finale period.

Blues and bubblegum! 

The diverse character series wrappers.

Rare shop box packaging.

All of the uniform features of the previous two TOPPS books are present and correct: reproductions of the front photos and back text/art of every card in this two-set series and its stickers (the first set having a bigger card concentration than the second- a deliberate choice in capturing the core audience in the film's primary release window, and the company expecting tail-off sales with the second), some great photos/scans of the individual bubble gum wrappers, boxes and other aspects of the marketing campaign, plus a commentary on selected images by Gernai. Sadly, alongside a few niggly errors, this latter aspect proves mildly disappointing this time out- unlike the previous books, the author's observations/notes accompanying the cards feels a little thin on the ground in places, with few behind the scenes anecdotes and snippets of info actually revealed- a shame, as there are many deleted scenes cards across this particular run whose details would have proved informative to appreciating fans old and new.

Free bonus cards are another welcome treat.

STAR WARS and George Lucas may have gone into a limbo of sorts after 1983, but the TOPPS universe would nonetheless remain a vital part of the franchise's success across the generations to come, celebrating the space fantasy's past and future with further creative ambitions and production drive heading into the nineties.

The saga, and the TOPPS saga alongside it, continues...

The first TOPPS saga is complete...

AFICIONADO RATING: A satisfying and colourful conclusion to this first era of TOPPS and Classic STAR WARS. 3 out of 5

Get hold of the book here: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: The Original Topps Trading Card Series, Volume Three (Topps Star Wars): Amazon.co.uk: Lucasfilm Ltd, The Topps Company, Gary Gerani: 9781419720925: Books

ROGUE ONE: THE MON CALAMARI REBELS

Not much has been said online about the return of the Mon Calamari race to the STAR WARS universe with ROGUE ONE. Yes, we'd seen an older Admiral Ackbar recently with EPISODE VII, but his species appearance will surely prove critical in this prequel to the original STAR WARS. Technically, this is the first time they've appeared onscreen as part of the Rebel Alliance against the Empire, after a brief, ultimately deleted scene cameo of one of their species within the Delegation of 2000 committee against Palpatine's building power base in EPISODE III. Ever since Ackbar and his aquatic buddies were first announced back in 1982 (originally to have come from the planet Dac) for RETURN OF THE JEDI, they were always a critical part of the Alliance since its early days. This scene from ROGUE ONE, on Yavin IV, shows all the various spread out fractions finally coming together for this vital mission against the Death Star, and the Mon Cal sitting down must surely be one of the original leaders, before Ackbar.

New Mon Cal hero Admiral Raddus, played by Paul Kasey.

Much to Learn You Still Have: 10 Things You Might Not Know About Mon Calamari | StarWars.com

Is Admiral Ackbar's Mon Calamari Cruiser Returning in Rogue One?

ROGUE ONE: BAZE'S BATTLEFIELD!

Image: LUCASFILM/DISNEY.

His hatred of the Empire as big as the heavy duty blaster weapon he uses ferociously against its soldiers, Baze Malbus, loyal friend and battle comrade to the blind spiritual warrior Chirrut Imwe, shows the courage, nobility and honour that will weaken the brutal Imperial war machine at a critical time during the history-making events of ROGUE ONE.

New international trailer for ROGUE ONE. Potential SPOILERS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48XWkN0jBQY

EPISODE VII: LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER!

General Leia Organa and Lieutenant Connix with communications droid PZ-4CO, within the D'Qar Resistance base.

Carrie Fisher remains the defining heroine of the STAR WARS saga as Princess, now General, Leia Organa, but that doesn't mean her daughter Billie Lourd can't also enjoy some of the action against the dreaded First Order, too, playing the spunky Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix, a soldier and technician at the D'Qar Resistance Base, who also travels to Takodana to aid in the rescue of Han Solo and friends, during the final act of THE FORCE AWAKENS.

Billie Lourd in a character promotional image for THE FORCE AWAKENS.

Connix is seen briefly with the Resistance's arrival on Takodana.

Working at communications with PZ-4CO.

TOPPS electronic card for the character.

Lourd and Connix will be returning to duty for the upcoming EPISODE VIII, in a surely expanded role.

THE CLONE WARS: TWO KINDS OF FURY!

The emotional pain and harsh realities of growing up within the desert realms of Tatooine haunt Anakin Skywalker whenever he returns there, as well as attracting the worst kind of trouble, as seen here when he locks lightsabers with the always taunting Sith Lord Count Dooku, from the memorable duel ending to the one and only THE CLONE WARS movie from 2008, whose initial US release we celebrate today via this very rare French release poster. Interestingly, the poster transplants their conflict to a city world that's presumably Coruscant.

EPISODE VII: A STEALTHY CAPTAIN!

Having detected unusual behaviour from First Order Stormtrooper FN-2187 during his prior actions on Jakku, the statuesque and totally intimidating Captain Phasma is determined to find out what's going on, slowly going up the steps of the newly docked transport towards him, in this unseen moment from THE FORCE AWAKENS.

Phasma is stealthily monitoring FN-2187.

On the set, Gwendoline Christie as Phasma with costume designer Michael Kaplan.

Michael Kogge's Young Readers adaptation of the film establishes that Phasma is annoyed that one of her soldiers, particularly Finn, has gone rogue, and is determined to get some kind of personal retribution- an element in the screenplay that was watered down by the time of filming.

CLASSIC IMAGE: NET TRAP!

They've previously fought Stormtroopers, faced a Sith Lord, evaded star fleets and attacking ships, only to now get felled by a simple but effective hunter's trap on a forest moon. Yep, its not a great day for General Solo and his friends, but it'll lead to a meeting where additional furry firepower will make all the difference to them in their struggles against the Empire, in this comedy moment from RETURN OF THE JEDI, immortalised on TOPPS card from 1983.

Look out for the final classy and colourful TOPPS celebration book for the Classic Trilogy, showcasing JEDI, out tomorrow (August 16th), courtesy of Gary Gerani, original STAR WARS TOPPS series editor, and ABRAMS COMICARTS, compiling together for the first time all 220 cards of the two-part series set and 55 stickers, plus four all-new bonus cards, and rare promotional imagery.

Get hold of the book here: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: The Original Topps Trading Card Series, Volume Three (Topps Star Wars): Amazon.co.uk: The Topps Company, Gary Gerani, Lucasfilm Ltd: 9781419720925: Books

GOODBYE, KENNY BAKER...

You'll believe a droid can bleep, bloop. Kenny Baker with his iconic STAR WARS alter-ego: Artoo Detoo.

Though the legacy of the original STAR WARS is shining brighter than ever, one of its most memorable candles has sadly flickered out today, as the news comes to AFICIONADO that the man who indelibly brought to life, character, quirky humour, and even pathos, to the original R2-D2 shell of the Classic Trilogy, and for the opening films of the later Prequels, Kenny Baker, has passed on into the great unknown ahead of us, at the age of 83.

Kenny Baker, the Actor Who Brought R2-D2 to Life, Passes Away | StarWars.com
Kenny Baker, Star Wars R2-D2 actor, dies age 83
Kenny Baker, Star Wars R2-D2 actor, dies aged 81 - BBC News
Kenny Baker who portrayed Star Wars' R2-D2 is dead at 81 | Daily Mail Online
Kenny Baker, actor behind R2-D2, dies | Film | The Guardian
Kenny Baker Dead: ‘Star Wars’ R2-D2 Actor, Dies 83 | Variety
Kenny Baker dead: Star Wars' R2-D2 actor dies at 83 | EW.com
Mark Hamill and others pay tribute: Epicstream

Early days with George Lucas and John Barry working out the R2 shell and its mechanics.

Though they were never close friends off camera, there was no denying that Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker made on screen magic together as droid buddies Threepio and Artoo across two sagas.

At camera level watching filming at Elstree in 1976.

Squaring up to the legendary Mohamed Ali, no less!

Though he'd been prior involved in showbusiness to varying degrees, Baker, would be a rising star in the entertainment world by 1975, via the diminutive Mini Tones television and cabaret double act he shared with his friend and career partner in the also late, great Jack Purvis, and wasn't originally all that keen on playing a robot, nor operating its often very uncomfortable (at one point almost terminal-bringing) internal mechanics, for some strange, hard to fathom at the time science fiction film with overseas location lensing in Tunisia and at London's Elstree Studios. But the coercion of Production Designer John Barry and his team, the presence of Sir Alec Guinness as a key cast member, and the commitment of having Purvis doing additional character role work in the film, soon had him jumping aboard for an endeavour that nobody really had any high hopes about it being a huge success. Two years later and beyond, it was an altogether different story- Baker going on to enjoy a terrific, life-altering, world encapsulating career, carrying on his STAR WARS work and publicity whilst appearing in a diverse array of further entertainment projects, including TV comedy such as THE GOODIES and THE DAVE ALLEN SHOW, as well as acclaimed films like Terry Gilliam's zany and beloved family adventure TIME BANDITS, the colourful and exciting Sam Jones starring FLASH GORDON (which was filmed shortly after THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK at Elstree Studios), and cult favourite LABYRINTH.

On murky ground on the Dagobah set in 1979.

Always by Luke Skywalker's side in his X-wing.

A vital part of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK publicity tour.

On location as Paploo the Ewok for RETURN OF THE JEDI.

Back in the shell, and back in the Tunisian heat, for EPISODE I.

Always a friendly face at worldwide conventions, full of humour, anecdotes, cheeky charm, and loving the nightlife and a good seat at the bar, Kenny was much loved and respected by fans and filmmakers alike, and will be greatly missed by everyone in the STAR WARS community, of which he was such an important family member.

Official site: Kenny Baker | Actor Kenny Baker R2-D2

R2 D2 Actor 'Pleased' At News Of New Star Wars Films - YouTube
Kenny Baker interview - YouTube
R2-D2 builders wish Kenny Baker a happy birthday - YouTube

Always the fun centre of attention in Tunisia in 1976.

Making a visit to the EPISODE VII set, as an advisor, and for a photo shoot with R2.

R.I.P., Kenny, and thank you for the incredible mark you've made on film and genres history...

CELEBRATION 2017 clip tribute:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnYR-QM0zAU

'RAIDERS' AT 35: THE BIG SQUEEZE!

The Well of Souls has plenty of snakes - why did it have to be snakes! - but just as loathsome for Marion Ravenwood are the multitude of mummified corpses she's soon trapped with, in a filmed sequence ultimately trimmed down for the final version of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE DYING DAYS!

Darth Sidious's final ominous act in destabilising the political influences of the Senate and fracturing their trust in the Jedi is put into motion, with the attempted "kidnapping" of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine by General Grievous and his Droid armies- George Lucas's bold opening to EPISODE III, and one of the biggest CGI space battles ever created for the screen.