365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 28: Episode 3-D: Return of the Glasses

Put on your 3-D glasses now!



Panels from Blackthorne 3-D Series #47 [Star Wars 3-D #2] (Summer 1988), script by Len Wein, pencils and inks by Patrick Zircher, 3-D process color by Paul Tallerday, letters by David Cody Weiss
Me, I like it, but I'm just well-rounded that way.

The Entire Silver Age in One Comics Panel

Panel from "Lois Lane's Super-Brain!" in Lois Lane (1958 series) #27 (August 1961), script by Robert Bernstein, pencils and inks by Kurt Schaffenberger
Yes, truly, this was The Greatest Lois Lane Story Ever.

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 27: That's Snow Jedi

Uh oh! Luke Skywalker has flown directly into the Northeast/New England area! Brrrrrrr!



Panels from the "Iceworld" storyline in the Star Wars comic strip (October 4-November 14, 1982), reprinted in Classic Star Wars #12 (September 1993), script by Archie Goodwin, pencils and inks by Al Williamson, colors by Ray Murtaugh
What is it about Luke Skywalker nearly dying every time he sets foot on an ice planet? Oh, wait, yeah. He came from a desert planet. I forgot. At home, he's probably always bugging Mara Jade about who turned down the thermostat. "Geez, Luke, just put on a sweater!"

Anyway, Luke and Threepio have some thrilling space adventures and then get rescued.



Panels from the "Iceworld" storyline in the Star Wars comic strip (October 4-November 14, 1982), reprinted in Classic Star Wars #13 (October 1993), script by Archie Goodwin, pencils and inks by Al Williamson, colors by Steve Buccellato
The super-secret twist ending: this is the origin of the Rebel Base on Hoth, as seen in The Empire Strikes Back. Or, as Luke was heard to sing:

Oh my God, I was wrong
It was Hoth all along
You've finally made a wampa
(Yes, we've finally made a wampa)
Yes, you've finally made a wampa out of me!

Missing in Action (Figures): Black Widow

Check out Luke Brown's fine article over at Comics Alliance on the upcoming Funko assortment of Avengers: Age of Ultron toys. Luke, as befits the Force-sense of his Star Wars namesake, cannily points out the complete absence of a Funko figure portraying Marvel Cinematic Universe Avengers founding member Black Widow in the set.


Um, hello, Funko? Who doesn't want a super-deformed big-eyed Scarlett Johansson sitting on their desk? As proof of concept, here's Skottie Young's take on the idea of Mini-Natasha. CUTE!


Variant cover of Black Widow (2014 series) #1 (March 2014), art by Skottie Young
(Fairness in disclosure: Yes, Funko did issue a Natasha figure to coincide with last year's Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Sundance Kid movie, but that's long since vanished from the shelves. I know the character is going to be in Avengers 2...why omit her this time?)

Anyway, my point...and I do have one: I'm reminded of my recent visit to The Disney Store, which, among the Mickeys and Elsas and Lightning McQueens and Pocahonti, carries a small variety of Marvel superhero clothing and toys, especially those directly connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You know, like the movie that starred these guys?:


That's one of several dozen figurine playsets the Disney Store sells, ranging from their classic movies to modern Pixar films. Please note there are exactly five figures in this set, and one of 'em ain't Black Widow. Really, guys? I know it's "traditionally" boys who buy action figure sets, but A) do you think they're going to avoid a set like this because it has one woman in it, and B) this is the ferschluggin' Disney Store. With all those members of the Princess Pantheon, young girls are your target market. Is it maybe because you can only fit five figures in the case? Hmmmmm?


Nope. Not only does the Incredibles figure set fit its the entire team in the same size box, plus the baby, and Frozone, not to mention the villainous Syndrome. Admittedly, I did not weigh these two sets, and maybe Hulk weighs too much for them to have profitably added a sixth figure to the Avengers set. But seriously, Disney Store? Do you want to make the point that action women aren't collectible or fun to play with? What's next, a Star Wars set minus Princess Leia?

I know, I know, the first rule of business: "never assume ill-intent when profitability is probably the real reason." But like Funko, for Disney to omit featuring a truly kick-ass hero like Black Widow is dangerously setting a trend for toys and collectibles.

I'm reminded of this politically incorrect but still funny cartoon by B. Kliban.


Cartoon from Two Guys Fooling Around With the Moon and Other Drawings (March 1982), by B. Kliban

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 26: Old Yeller

Panels from "Thank the Maker" in Star Wars Tales #6 (December 2000), script by Ryder Windham, pencils and inks by Kilian Plunkett, colors by Dave McCaig, letters by Steve Dutro

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 25: Thus was the Chewbacca bobblehead invented

Panels from "An Empty Galaxy" in Star Wars: Chewbacca #4 (April 2000), script by Darko Macan, pencils by Dusty Abell, inks by Jim Royal, colors by Dave Nestelle, letters by Vickie Williams

Psylocke Psaturday: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Madripoor

Welcome to Madripoor!


from Marvel Atlas #1 (January 2008), art by Klaus Janson
Yes, Madripoor! The island nation so full of vice they named it twice! (Truth in disclosure: they did not name it twice.) In the Marvel Universe you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy, except perhaps for that T.G.I. Friday's in downtown Doomstadt, Latveria. Madripoor, home of the world's weirdest hot air balloons!:


from Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Wolverine one-shot (December 2004)

Today in Comics History, January 24, 2001: J'onn J'onzz writes in his My Little Pony diary

text page segment from Justice Leagues: Justice League of Aliens one-shot (DC, March 2001), writer unknown

Today in Comics History, January 24, 2001: Barbara Gordon puts a mark on Batman's permanent record

text page segment from Justice Leagues: Justice League of Arkham one-shot (DC, March 2001), writer unknown

Today in Comics History, January 24, 2001: Diana steals Wil Wheaton's stationery

text page segment from Justice Leagues: Justice League of Amazons one-shot (DC, March 2001), writer unknown

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 24: This is not a trick question

Panel from Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind's Eye #3 (April 1996), script and inks by Terry Austin, pencils by Chris Sprouse, colors by James Sinclair, letters by Steve Dutro

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 23: Lego My Jar Jar

Panels from Lego Star Wars comic, creator and date unknown

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 22: Chewbacca has a bad feeling about this

Panels from Star Wars: Underworld: The Yavin Vassilika #1 (December 2000), script by Mike Kennedy, pencils and inks by Carlos Meglia, colors by Dave Stewart, letters by Steve Dutro

Today in Comics History Future, January 22, 2061: In the future, everyone gets a free purple bathrobe

from 100th Anniversary Special: X-Men one-shot (Marvel, September 2014), script by Robin Furth, pencils and inks by Jason Masters, colors by James Campbell and Verto Gandini, letters by Cory Petit

Today in Comics History Future, January 22, 2061: The Right to Peaceful Idiotic Protest

from 100th Anniversary Special: X-Men one-shot (Marvel, September 2014), script by Robin Furth, pencils and inks by Jason Masters, colors by James Campbell and Verto Gandini, letters by Cory Petit

Today in Comics History Future, January 22, 2061: Protestors demand Scott Summers' birth certificate

from 100th Anniversary Special: X-Men one-shot (September 2014), script by Robin Furth, pencils and inks by Jason Masters, colors by James Campbell and Verto Gandini, letters by Cory Petit

Today in Comics History Future, January 22, 2061: Emma has a bottle of Ambien

from 100th Anniversary Special: X-Men one-shot (Marvel, September 2014), script by Robin Furth, pencils and inks by Jason Masters, colors by James Campbell and Verto Gandini, letters by Cory Petit

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 21: The sarcasm force is weak with this one

Panels from Star Wars: Vader's Quest #1 (February 1999), script by Darko Macan, pencils and inks by Dave Gibbons, colors by Angus McKie

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 20: Han never even suspected that she was Boba Fett in disguise

Panel from Star Wars Annual #2 (1982), script by David Michelinie, pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Rudy Nebres, colors by George Roussos, letters by Joe Rosen

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 19: Apparently it was a trap after all

Panel from Star Wars: Legacy (2006 series) #22 (April 2008), script by John Ostrander, pencils and inks by Alan Robinson, colors by Brad Anderson, letters by Michael Heisler

Star Wars Cosplay Theater Week, Episode VII: He's No Good to Me Deadpool

Deadpool! Do you get any sense that he might have watched Star Wars at some point? Why, he references it when he battles Dracula!


Panels from Deadpool: The Gauntlet (digital series) #13 (April 2014), script by Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan, pencils and inks by Reilly Brown, colors by Jim Charalampidis, letters by Joe Sabino


He can't resist quipping about Star Wars in the middle of a SHIELD mission!


Panels from Deadpool (2013 series) #2 (January 2013), script by Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn, pencils and inks by Tony Moore, colors by Val Staples, letters by Joe Sabino


Even his love life is riddled with Star Wars quotes that nobody gets!


Panels from Deadpool (2013 series) #36 (December 2014), script by Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn, pencils by Mike Hawthorne, inks by Terry Pallot, colors by Jordie Bellaire, letters by Joe Sabino


Why, he even got Captain America into Star Wars!


Panel from Death of Wolverine: Deadpool & Captain America one-shot (December 2014), script by Gerry Duggan, pencils and inks by Scott Kolins, colors by Veronica Gandini, letters by Joe Sabino
Hmmm. Maybe it's Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn who are the ones really into Star Wars.

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 18: I bet you have never thought this much before about Chewbacca's ass

All the past week it's been Star Wars Week over at Dimension 13, the blog that's ten dimensions beyond your puny three dimensions! Check out George Folz's ambitious project of sketching a Star Wars original trilogy drawing every day this year (and how you can enter to win one of them, but hurry, entries close at 11PM EST tonight!). Thrill as Comics Creators Pick Their Fave Star Wars Moments, find out how Mark Hamill changed Seth Kushner's life, or even the Top 13 Grooviest Vintage Star Wars Figures (hey, where's Boba Fett with Rocket-Firing Backpack with Patented You'll- Put-Your-Eye-Out action?).

And then there's a little article by my pal John which is on a subject that's only about as important as, oh, how he got started on comics reading and collecting the the first place. (So it's kinda my comics fan origin, too!) Check out How I Became a Comics Fan, Thanks to Carmine Infantino’s Darth Vader, in which pal John tells us about his love for the first Marvel Comic he ever bought, Star Wars #21! (He lets me read it if I am not eating jelly sandwiches at the time.)

Here's some panels that aren't from #21 but is from #19, part of that same story that compasses issues #18-23: The Wheel Saga, which is a dandy Star Wars-ing saga and one about which John may tell you more someday in the future when he can get around to it. I have chosen to feature it because it stars everyone's favorite walking carpet, Chewbacca R. Wrarrararrarrrr. (The 'R' is for 'Rarrrrrrrrr.')


Panels from Star Wars (1977 series) #19 (January 1979), script by Archie Goodwin, pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Bob Wiacek, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Irv Watanabe
Yes, visually-suck in the splendor that is the tight and toned and yet still furry ASS OF CHEWBACCA.


So don't forget, mosey on over to 13th Dimension to check out How I Became a Comics Fan, Thanks to Carmine Infantino’s Darth Vader! And never forget

CHEWBACCA'S ASS

Star Wars Cosplay Theater Week, Episode VI: Laugh It Up, Cueball

Panel from Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse #24 (October 2014), script by Dan Abnett, pencils and inks by Christian Duce, colors by Alejandro Sanchez, letters by Wes Abbot

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 17: Shoot that lightsaber arrow through my heart

Panel from Star Wars: Dark Times #10 (April 2008), script by Randy Stradley, pencils and inks by Dave Ross, colors by Alex Wald, letters by Michael Heisler

Star Wars Cosplay Theater Week, Episode V: The Phantom Stranger Menace

Panels from The Phantom Stranger (2012 series) #2 (January 2013), script by Dan Didio, pencils by Brent Anderson, "embellishments" by Philip Tan, colors by Ulises Arreola, letters by Travis Lanham

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 16: Well, that'll happen.

Panel from Star Wars (1977 series) #65 (November 1982), co-plot and script by David Michelinie, co-plot and layouts by Walt Simonson, finishes by Tom Palmer, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Joe Rosen

Star Wars Cosplay Theater Week, Episode IV: May the Fur-ce Be With You

Panel from "The Best Fight Ever!" in Aw Yeah Comics! #2 (June 2013), script by Brad and Theo Meltzer, pencils and inks by Franco Aurelaini, colors by Art Baltazar

365 Days of Star Wars Comics, Day 15: He does have a point

Panels from Star Wars: Infinities: A New Hope #1 (May 2001), script by Chris Warner, pencils by Drew Johnson, inks by Ray Snyder, colors by Dave McCaig, letters by Steve Dutro

Star Wars Cosplay Theater Week, Episode III: The Carbonite Maneuver

Panel from the Doctor Thirteen story "Architecture & Morality, Part Eight" in Tales of the Unexpected #2 (July 2007); script by Brian Azzarello, pencils and inks by Cliff Chiang, colors by Patricia Mulvihill, letters by Jared K. Fletcher