365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 361: Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Little Golden Book

Hey, look at what else Bully me! got for Christmas this year: the complete boxed set of Star Wars Little Golden Books!


Now you may say, Hey Bully! I thought those books were for little kids? Doesn't it say on the books that they are recommended for ages 2-7? And yes, you're right. But might I please remind you that despite my erudition and innate sophistication, I am only six.


Hey, lookit the way-cool special little golden spines on these things! They have substituted the usual poky little puppies and saggy baggy elephants for the heads of your favorite Star Wars characters: Darth Vader, Yoda, R2-D2, and of course everyone's true favorite, Jaxxon the Giant Green Star Wars Rabbit. (Aw, you wish!)


There are six books in the series (to go with, natch, the six movies of the Star Wars saga:

(Click picture to Death Star-size)
And whatdaya know, I collected them all! (It's fun!)


The books cover all the best, most exciting parts of the Star Wars saga:


And, let's face it, some of the parts we wish we didn't remember.


Hey, these aren't comic books! you're no doubt saying now, as you comfortably sit in your post-Christmas snug living rooms with a mug of eggnog and some leftover cheese log. Well, technically not. But I'm featuring them on "365 Days of Star Wars Comics" partly because the illustrations are absolutely wonderful, but most because it's my blog, not yours, and how come you're not sharin' that cheese log, huh? Here's Episode I, reminding us that even when we cringe at the character they can look cute in cartoon form. Or, to put it another way: YIPPEE! (PS: I've put links below to all the artists' names where available, so you can check out their other excellent work! And where not available? Guys, really: you oughta have an easily findable webpage of some sort!)


Page from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Little Golden Book (July 2015), adapted by Courtney Carbone, illustrated by Heather Martinez
The general action of the movies is well represented without any of the gore or violence.


Page from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Little Golden Book (July 2015), adapted by Christopher Nicholas, illustrated by Ethen Beavers
Check it out: Little Golden Book Belly Shirts of the Star Wars Universe!


The books nicely depict the iconic moments from the series...


Page from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Little Golden Book (July 2015), adapted by Geof Smith, illustrated by Patrick Spaziante (No official webpage. Here's Tumblr reposts of his art.)
...and tho' each is by a different artist, they feature a complementary but distinct cartoon art style for each book. Check out this cooly styled Dark Helmet Darth Vader!


Page from Star Wars: A New Hope Little Golden Book (July 2015), adapted by Geof Smith, illustrated by Caleb Meurer and Micky Rose
And there's plenty of the signature Star Wars humor that characterizes the six first three movies.


Page from Star Wars: The Empire Strike Back Little Golden Book (July 2015), adapted by Geof Smith, illustrated by Chris Kennett
Also: cool sound effects you can read aloud, or if you like people reading to you (and who doesn't?), have read aloud to you.


Page from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Little Golden Book (July 2015), adapted by Geof Smith, illustrated by Ron Cohee
Plus: ohmygolly isn't this these the cutest depiction of an Ewok, ever? (Also cute: Woodland Leia.)


Hey, where's The Force Awakens Little Golden Book? Don't stress, it's on the way! But you'll have to wait until April for it to be published. In the meantime, there's also another group of more general Star Wars Little Golden Books that you can look for, because boy, I can tell you're lookin' to quench your Little Golden book hunger.

(Click picture to Big Golden Book-size)
Yes, truly it can be said that, just like the world's greatest Little Golden Book...


...this one has a monster at the end, too.


Now, are these totally suitable for young children? Well, I'm one of them, and you know the kind of garbage I read. But I think that for most children these are going to be perfect retellings or introductions to the Star Wars Universe without some of the scary stuff or the obvious violence. There's no arms being cut off here, the word "killed" is never used (it's occasionally phrased as "destroyed"), and scenes of Anakin wiping out the Younglings and Obi-Wan thwackin' off Dr. Evizan's arm are not included in these books. Still, your child-mileage may vary, and you might do well to check them out before you give 'em to a child, just like a responsible parent or guardian should. For example, this Amazon.com reviewer found them a bit disturbing:


Wha...? Inferred? My good sir, you should always remember the difference between inferred and implied. Why, I learned it myself thanks to a talking aardvark!


Panels from Cerebus #33 (December 1981); script, pencils, inks and letters by Dave Sim
Because once you learn this lesson, you can't unlearn it!


Panels from Cerebus #36 (March 1982); script, pencils, inks and letters by Dave Sim