Card #047: Wedge Antilles
Again, the transition from production art to finished product is pretty amazing.
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Card #046: The Emperor Strikes Back
McQuarrie's Nosferatu-esque Emperor is cool, but I think it works better to have him just be a (mostly) regular old man.
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Card #045: The Speeder Bike Chase
We were so close to Space Vespas decades earlier!
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Card #044: Luke Skywalker's Confrontation
All things considered, the final scene from the film matches this production art pretty closely!
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Card #043: The Max Rebo band
DYK: "Lapti Nek", the OG Jabba's Palace song, was written by Joseph Williams, son of composer John Williams & vocalist for Toto (but NOT during the "Africa" years)?
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Card #042: Ralph McQuarrie
Over the years, the McQuarrie production art has become somewhat ubiquitous; that was probably less the case in '93 but pairing it w/the filmed scene is clever.
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Card #041: Leia As A Pin-Up
I appreciate that the cardback text acknowledges how largely sex-less the Star Wars universe is.
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Card #040: Ewoks
This seems like a canonical admission that the Ewoks were going to eat the Rebels.
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Card #039: Princess Leia's Hair
I still want to know which Ewok knows how to braid. My money is on Logray.
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Card #038: Creature Collaboration
A more primate-like Rancor would have been fun. Seems more classic sci-fi, for some reason.
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Card #037: Bib Fortuna
Def wish we'd gotten some lekku waving in Jedi.
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Card #036:Gamorrean Guards
Both are very pig-like, but there's something about the initial design on the cardfront that is very dark fantasy in a way the final product isn't.
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Card #035: Jabba's Menagerie
The denizens of Jabba's palace get unfairly maligned by too many RotJ haters. There's some great designs in there.
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Card #034: The Rancor
I like the kind of frog waddle on the cardfront design.
Also, the Rancor was a Good Boy pressed into evil acts by its cruel master.
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Card #033: Bad Hair Day?
Important to note these cards were out well before the Special Edition inserted Jabba into A New Hope.
The Jabba on the back has big "Pizza the Hut" vibes.
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Card #032: Yoda As Gremlin
Those feet still creep me out, but I continue to dig puck-ish Yoda in his various forms.
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Card #031: Lando Calrissian
Love the swagger-y cocked hip with the guard disguise look. Jabba's Palace could have used a little more himbo action.
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Card #030: Original Sketches
The way these cards are just titled based on the first words of the cardback text is weird.
Also weird? Han without a vest or jacket.
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Card #029: Princess Leia
More deep V's. I like the straps around the neck connecting to the belt as well.
The cardback sketch is very action figure-y as well.
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Card #028: Costume Design
Damn, dig that deep V-neck!
I also like the texture on the shoulders.
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Card #027: Jabba the Hutt
I don't love the Orientalism being tapped into here, but the bulging belly and Twi'lek-esque head tails are a nice touch.
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Card #026: The Death Star
As far as these design sketches go, this is remarkably similar to the final product.
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Card #025: IG-88
The term "Phlutdroid" was used during production but I have no idea where it came from.
McQuarrie's OG design was later used in Rebels for the IG-RM bodyguard droid.
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Card #024: A Space Slug
It's funny that this has always been called a space slug; it's really more like space whale or space eel.
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Card #023: Yoda
I've always liked the gnome-like proto Yoda on the cardback, which speaks to the cherubic charade he puts on when he first appears but the tripod feet on the cardfront are wild
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Card #023: The All-Terrain Armored Transport
So, are you Team "@@" or Team "A-tee A-tee"?
I have always been the latter.
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Card #021: Too-Onebee
Apparently at one point the idea was 2-1B was a General Grievous-like cyborg with a human brain?!? That's wild.
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Card #020: The Star Wars Holiday Special
All else aside, the #StarWarsHolidaySpecial did give us Boba Fett.
I'll let you decide if that's a good or bad thing.
"More like vaudeville" is an understatement...
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Card #019: Typical Wookiee Family
Behold, a rare official acknowledgement of the infamous #StarWarsHolidaySpecial!
Does directing The Rocketeer absolve Johnston's role in the special? 😏
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Card #018: Hammerhead
Love the chill vibe off ol'Momaw Nadon, and the way one of the leaves of the jellyfish plant alien on the back is draped over the chairback.
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