TreasuryCast #80 – Star Wars

Rob welcomes fellow network all-star The Irredeemable Shag to discuss Marvel's treasury-sized adaptation of STAR WARS!

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20 responses to “TreasuryCast #80 – Star Wars

  1. What a nice holiday surprise – and I can’t believe that this is Shag’s first appearance on the Treasury Cast.
    Great topic: I recall how much I used to love these Star Wars comics, i.e., the first six issues of the ongoing Marvel series. I read and re-read them back in the day. In fact, I only saw the movie long after it had come out – like some time in the late autumn of 1977 – so I had already read the entire story beforehand. And I recall being a bit surprised that the scenes with Biggs and Jabba weren’t in the movie at all – the comic adaptation makes Biggs in particular seem like an important character.
    About the art, I have to say up front that I’m a big fan of Chaykin’s art across the board, and after looking at your gallery page, I remembered that I preferred the art in the first few issues over the art in the last three. Now I kind of wish that Chaykin had more time to do the complete art throughout, so that it all looks like the first issue.
    And yes, I loved back then and still love the way hyperdrive was depicted with the multiple colors.
    Anyway, great show, gentlemen. I enjoyed your perspectives on these comics, as well as the walk down memory lane when all of this Star Wars material was fresh, new and exciting.

  2. Happy easter every body . Another great episode and shag times two today . That is a great Easter surprise. But the question remains can shag do the bunny hop . Rabbit jokes done . I’ve read several of epic collections for Star Wars , I’ve got two volumes one with all the comics up to return of the Jedi and the collection of the Bobba fett comics . (Insert cheap plug ) if you looking for sci-fi action with a pro wrestling twist check I.W.S Star brawls , on Bucky749 on you tube . We just did a big event Show Down at bobs country Bunker .

  3. Just started listening so you may cover this but I’m amazes as to how on the ball Marvel were when it came to Star Wars. If this came out on Aug ’77, the it was on the stands BEFORE #6 of the comic that wrapped up the adaptation. Also – Roy Thomas was at the infamous screening of the film at Lucas’ house when Brian De Palma was slagging it off so he’d have at least an idea of what the finished film would look like. IIRC, Chaykin has said he saw the film once and never felt the need to see it again!

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  4. Just started listening so you may cover this but I’m amazed as to how on the ball Marvel were when it came to Star Wars. If this came out on Aug ’77, then it was on the stands BEFORE #6 of the comic that wrapped up the adaptation. Also – Roy Thomas was at the infamous screening of the film at Lucas’ house when Brian De Palma was slagging it off so he’d have at least an idea of what the finished film would look like. IIRC, Chaykin has said he saw the film once and never felt the need to see it again!

    1. I wouldn’t ever 1) suggest calling Chaykin “Howie”; or 2) expect Chaykin to say anything much about his SW work!

      1. The one time I heard him talk about it was YEARS ago on an episode of WORD BALLOON. He said something that I have been quoting for years. When the subject of royalties came up and the fact that the royalty system was not in place when these issues came out, Chaykin said, “Am I bitter? Only in retrospect.”

        I say that a lot.

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  5. Fun discussion guys. I only had a handful of Marvel Star Wars comics as a kid, and to be honest, the lack of fidelity to the source material somewhat put me off. Compared to the DC Star Trek comics, they seemed to be from another Galaxy, even Farther, Farther Away! Now, I can really appreciate what the creators were working with, and with trying to adapt the concept to the Marvel template. As somene who now loathes overally agressive “style guides” for licensing, that make every product look like every other product based on that franchise, I like these off-brand “Star Warriors”!

    1. Chris, I was just like you when someone purchased me my first Star Wars Treasury, lo, those many moons (of Endor) ago. That said, Rob, Shag, and you are helping me understand that there’s more than one way to see a galaxy, even if it’s far, far away.

      Best of all, I’m neck and neck with Shag in the Race to the Robbie! Who’da thunk it?

  6. I remember getting a few UK Hardback Marvel Star Wars Annuals and I recall seeing some non Star Wars movie stories – I want to say it was something to do with a massive Droid Run Weapons Manufacturing Planet but I couldn’t tell you for sure.

    This coverage of the original Treasury Editions and the original Comics they reprinted was a revelation for me. Green Humanoid Jabba the Hutt? Wow. Ben burning like fire! Colouring difference of the various people? And of course BIGGS! It’s always clear to me that BIGGS was supposed to be an important character just so they could kill him off. After all it’s Star WARS and a war story should have someone who you care for die. I had no idea that the original Comics came out before the film and had loads of BIGGS showing up.

    This was a great show to listen to and enlightening even if it did feel at times like an extended podcast promo for Once Upon a Geek “Battlestar Galactica” 🙂

    I do have one thing that stuck out there was a a big discussion about the use of English – or more accurately Latin Alphabetic/Arabic Number characters which normally don’t appear in Star Wars universe. But I recall that they were obvious in Star Wars IV (Aka A New Hope) at least the numbers were – in both the Targeting Computer screen and the animation showing the countdown until the Death Star was clearing its orbit to destroy Yavin .

    Finally I know there’s an award for someone who has appeared on all of Rob’s podcasts. I presume there is also something similar for appearing on Shag’s Podcasts (and I don’t mean a free STI screening) would it be a “Shaggy”?

    1. Doug, Shag hasn’t mentioned anything, but Rob warned me that I could earn a mandatory psych eval. I took note, too. For me, those always kill at least an afternoon. Who has that kind of time?

  7. Now this takes me back! I had both of these Treasuries as a kid, and read them repeatedly. So many of the images, like the hyperspace jump, Ben being zapped by the lightsaber, and the full-page Death Star explosion, are absolutely seared into my memory. I even remember that little note about Chewbacca getting a medal that he would have to put on himself! Kudos to Roy Thomas for correcting that injustice!

    The fact is, both this and the Star Wars novelization (credited to George Lucas, but actually written by Alan Dean Foster) were my primary memory of Star Wars for quite awhile. I saw the movie two or three times on its initial release. But then it was gone from the theaters, and of course there were no videotapes or anything like that. But I could still read the comics and the novelization! They sort of overlaid the film itself in my memory. So for a long time, as far as I was concerned, Luke’s callsign was Blue Five, Biggs was a prominent supporting character, and Jabba was a green guy with muttonchops! When the movie was re-released a few years later, I had to re-adjust my memories. It was kind of a weird experience.

    I also had that Battlestar Galactica treasury, so I think I’ll listen to the Once Upon a Geek show as well! Wonderfully fun episode, guys, I loved it.

  8. I love the period of Star Wars that wasn’t governed by style guides and corporate oversight. These issues certainly fall within that timeframe. I hadn’t read this issue in years so I had to stop your podcast, dig out my treasury editions, read them, then go back to your podcast. I still have my Battlestar Galactica treasury from my childhood so I got it out, too. Reading them back-to-back did indeed bring me some joy. Looking forward to that BSG episode mentioned in this SW episode.

  9. This is really a very welcome trip down memory lane. I used to read a Star Wars Treasury edition of the 2nd issue. All those panels a very familiar to me; read them hundreds of times as a kid. Didn’t own it, it was at my grandparents’ place and my cousins and I read it together there (shared ownership). I think someone bought it from the States.

    There’s something about the dynamic composition in a lot of the panels that really captured the feeling of action and adventure here. Hard to believe it was Chaykin, because of all the other art I’d see him do later in life when I actually knew about writers and artists behind the comics.

  10. Great episode! I love hearing you both talk about Star Wars. The love you have for the franchise in general and these comics in particular is just heartwarming.

    I can’t add anything to the main conversation, so I will just echo and add to what Shag said about Marvel’s Epic Collections. Back when Marvel discontinued the Essential line in favor of the Epic Collection I was annoyed and I stayed that way until I saw what Marvel was actually doing. They don’t simply put out collections. They currate a reading experience. I have been collecting both the Hulk and Captain America Epic Collections and not only are they great packages but they give a full reading experience. The best example is the first Hulk collection. Usually Marvel reprints the first six issues and then jumps into the Tales to Astonish run. With the Epic Collection, you get the first six issues and then all of the guest appearances Hulk made before moving in with Giant Man and the Wasp in Tales to Astonish. It may seem like a small thing, but it makes the book so much more fun to read.

    Great show as always.

  11. Great show as always Rob! Nice of you to continue to give new podcasters a chance. Only thing to add was that Marvel eventually did do a Star Wars magazine for Return of the Jedi (Marvel Super Special 27). Slick look.

  12. Great show, Rob and Shag. Always nice to hear the OG’s back together, complete with Shag interupting to add corrections and Rob’s exhaustive sighs. It’s gold, Jerry, gold!

    I never had this Star Wars treasury, but I still have my beat-to-hell black and white paperback version which came out in November of 1977.

    I absolutely love the Chaykin art in the first few chapters. All the art is great, in fact. My favorite moments of artistic liscence are:
    1. Vader casually floating a cup of coffee to himself as he force-chokes the imperial officer. How’s he going to drink that? Maybe Mel Brooks read this comic
    2. Chewbacca’s grey mustache turns light brown by chapter 3. The Falcon must have a stash of “Just for Men” hair products
    3. Jabba the Hutt’s Sergeant Pepper look, complete with flashy mutton chops. Extra points for his chubby henchman with the greying crewcut
    4. Obi-Wan looking like the cat from Christmas Vacation after Vader nails him with the lightsaber
    5. And not one, but TWO separate smoochin’ sessions for brother and sister

    Just a terrific collection. Like Shag said, It’s a shame they didn’t include the covers for the 6 individual issues. They’re awesome and have almost zero connection to what is actually happening in the story. If Lucas had filmed the Cantina brawl like it looks on issue 2’s cover, it would have made the movie twice as good! That cover was seared into my brain as a child.

    Quick Star Wars story: I was 6 when Star Wars came out. Leading up to the movie release, you could send away to Kenner for the Luke Skywalker figure ahead of time. I begged my dad to get it for me. A few weeks go by and my dad excitably hands me a box. I tear it open and there is a small metal C-3PO on a necklace chain. I have no idea where he got it, or why he thought C-3PO was Luke Skywalker. The C-3PO’s arms moved, so I guess he thought that’s what an action figure was. I couldn’t hide my disappointment. My dad was crestfallen. He felt awful. Or more acurately, I made my dad feel awful with the look on my face. He did end up sending away for the figure and eventually, I got the Luke Skywalker in the mail. I always felt bad about the way I handled it. Fortunately, my dad is still around and we laugh about it to this day. Now as a father of three myself, I have endured the sight of dissappointment on my kids’ faces due to a failure on my part. It’s allowed me to better understand how my dad must’ve felt that day. And with that understanding, It’s provided me the wisdom to look them in their sad eyes and say, “Hey, you fucked up. You trusted me.”

      1. I was just happy the tone flipped back to normal, Brett. Not that you can’t bring it down a few notches and say something real to the audience when you want to; I wouldn’t be so reductive as to pigeonhole you as nothing more than a creative master of snark. But I’m in the middle of a Daredevil rewatch, and I already hit my quota for family drama feels this evening.

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