Star Wars Insider 207 (January 2022)

148-PAGES!
Including: interviews
with Anthony Daniels, Gary
Kurtz, and Matthew Wood, the
making of The Mandalorian, a
discussion with writer
Roy Thomas on Marvel’s
classic Star Wars comics
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A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR T H E O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E
WELCOME...
JANUARY 2022
TITAN EDITORIAL
Editor / Christopher Cooper
Group Editor / Jake Devine
Editorial Assistant / Calum Collins
Art Director / Oz Browne
Designer / David Colderley
A long time ago (in 1971), George Lucas founded
Lucasfilm, the motion picture production company that LUCASFILM
celebrates its 50th anniversary on December 10, 2021. Senior Editor / Brett Rector
Art Director / Troy Alders
In doing so, he joined a long line of cinematic innovators Creative Director / Michael Siglain
that began with the Lumière brothers in 1895 with their Asset Management /
Chris Argyropoulos, Gabrielle Levenson,
groundbreaking invention, the Cinématographe, that had Erik Sanchez, Bryce Pinkos,
people queueing around the block for a glimpse at the Sarah Williams, Jackey Cabrera,
wonder of moving pictures. Shahana Alam, Elinor De La Torre,
and Jason Schultz
It’s doubtful Lucas could have foreseen back then Story Group / Pablo Hidalgo,
just how huge an impact his new company would also Leland Chee
have, not only on popular culture but on the nature of
CONTRIBUTORS
moviemaking itself. Lucasfilm has spawned household Justina Ireland, Louie De Martinis,
names like Industrial Light & Magic and Pixar Animation Amy Richau, Lucas O. Seastrom, Jay Stobie,
Studios; innovated in the realms of editing, sound, digital Brandon Wainerdi, Pete Vilmur, and Dan Wallace.
photography; and, more recently, virtual reality. Best of all, SPECIAL THANKS TO
Lucasfilm continues to explore a certain galactic saga to Lucy Goldsmith, Erich Schoeneweiss
at Random House, Holly McIntosh, Joseph
which we’re all partial, and that alone is reason enough for Taraborrelli, Andrea Towers and Jim Nausedas
a birthday party. at Marvel Comics, Lizzy Draeger, and Tracy
With such an auspicious occasion to commemorate, Cannobbio at Lucasfilm. Chris Troise, Kevin P.
Pearl, and Eugene Paraszczuk at Disney.
this issue of Star Wars Insider brings you a fascinating
account of the company’s 50-year story from Lucasfilm TITAN MAGAZINES
historians Pete Vilmur and Lucas O. Seastrom, but that’s Production Controllers /
Caterina Falqui & Kelly Fenton
not the only anniversary we’ll be looking at. We trace Production Manager / Jackie Flook
the unique history and impact of Star Wars: The Old Art Director / Oz Browne
Sales & Circulation Manager / Steve Tothill
Republic, the eminently playable MMORPG that arrived Marketing Coordinator / Lauren Noding
a decade ago and is still going strong. We also speak to Publicist / Phoebe Trillo
artist Drew Struzan about his iconic Star Wars poster art, Digital & Marketing Manager / Jo Teather
Head of Rights / Jenny Boyce
get codebreaking with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Acquisitioins Editor / Duncan Baizley
(2019) actor Dominic Monaghan, and find out why a part Publishing Director / Ricky Claydon
in The Mandalorian (2019-present) was such a big deal for Publishing Director / John Dziewiatkowski
Operations Director / Leigh Baulch
guest star Diana Lee Inosanto. Publishers / Vivian Cheung & Nick Landau
Half-a-century on, Lucasfilm remains as fresh as a
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STAR WARS INSIDER JANUARY 2022
(USPS 003-027) (ISSN 1041-5122)
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CONTENTS
I S S U E 2 0 7 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 2
20
The Legend of Lucasfilm
Insider explores the five decade history of the
celebrated company that makes the Star Wars saga.
4 / STAR WARS INSIDER

NEWSSTAND COMIC STORE SUBSCRIBER
EDITION EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE
to
06 34 55
Launchpad Star Wars: The Old Republic The Force of... Fanzines
Our monthly roundup of the latest Exploring the history and impact of the Meet some creators and historians who
movie, gaming, merch, and publishing massively multiplayer online role-playing have kept the tradition of Star Wars
news from the Star Wars galaxy. game as it reaches its 10th anniversary. fanzines alive for more than 40 years.
20 42 60
Fifty Years of Innovation Dominic Monaghan Interview A Certain Point of View
Lucasfilm historians Lucas O. Seastrom The Beaumont Kin actor tells Insider how Our resident Star Wars expert
and Pete Vilmur tell the story of how the the dream of landing a part in a Star Wars answers a reader’s question about the
company changed cinema forever. movie was why he became an actor. chain of Imperial command.
28 48 74
Diana Lee Inosanto Interview Drew Struzan Interview Exclusive Fiction:
The actor, director, and martial arts expert The iconic Star Wars artist discusses “Shadows Remain”
reveals how her role in The Mandalorian his career, process, and decades-long Part one of an all-new The High
was a part she was born to play. collaboration with Lucasfilm. Republic story by Justina Ireland.
INCOMING TRANSMISSIONS
41 64 70 80
Prize Giveaway! Worldwide The Star Wars Archive Jedi Master’s Quiz
Win a copy of Star Wars: Battles Cosplay, fan art, and baking, The making of Maz Kanata Test your knowledge of our favorite
That Changed The Galaxy from DK! plus crafting inspiration in TK-101. in our visual history of the saga. clone trooper squad, the Bad Batch.
STAR WARS INSIDER / 5

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N E W S / B O O K S / C O M I C S / T O Y S / G A M E S / FA S H I O N
Boba’s Back!
Fett’s Fate Unfolds Starting December 29 on Disney+
atch out for disintegrations Mandalorian’s (2019-present) Season The show is executive produced
W when The Book of Boba Fett

debuts exclusively on the
Two finale, and is set to follow the
adventures of notorious bounty hunter
by series creator Jon Favreau, with
Dave Filoni, Robert Rodriguez,
Disney+ streaming service Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) and Kathleen Kennedy, and Colin Wilson.
on Wednesday, December 29, 2021. mercenary ally Fennec Shand (Ming- Karen Gilchrist and Carrie Beck are
The much-anticipated new series Na Wen) as they return to Tatooine to co-executive producers, with John
will reveal the full story behind the stake their claim on the territory once Bartnicki producing and John Hampian
surprise end-credits scene from The controlled by Jabba the Hutt. as co-producer.

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Read All
About It
2022 to be a Bumper
Year for Book Fans
ucasfilm have announced
L
a slew of new Star Wars
fiction titles that will
keep fans of The High
Republic and several classic
characters from the movies busy
throughout the coming year.
Beginning with a third wave of titles
bringing Phase One of The High Republic
to a climax, January and February will
see the release of three new books: The
Fallen Star by Claudia Gray, Mission to
Disaster by Justina Ireland, and Midnight
Horizon by Daniel José Older.
Releasing on May 10 from Del Rey,
just in time for the 20th anniversary of
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002),
Star Wars: Brotherhood by Mike Chen
revisits the Clone Wars in a story that
pits Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin
Skywalker against the Separatists while
forging a new bond as Jedi Knights.
An anthology of short stories, Stories
of Jedi and Sith, follows on June 7 from
Disney Lucasfilm Press, featuring
new tales for some of the saga’s most
popular characters by writers including
Delilah S. Dawson, Michael Kogge, Vera

Strange, Michael Moreci, and others,
with illustrations by Jake Bartok.
In Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith,
written by Adam Christopher and
releasing on June 28 from Del Rey,
Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissin
join forces some 20 years after the Battle
of Endor, in a story that connects the
dots between Star Wars: Return of the
Jedi (1983) and The Force Awakens (2015).
Last but not least, Star Wars: Padawan
by Kiersten White arrives on July 26
courtesy of Disney Lucasfilm Press, with
a coming-of-age adventure for a young
Padawan named Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Each of these books are available
for pre-order now, with further literary
exploits set to be announced for later
in the year.

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Artistic Vision
Star Wars: Visions gets Art of Book
ringing a fresh perspective Dark Horse Comics, The Art of Star anthology series to the screen, and
B to the visuals of Star Wars

was one of many aspects of
the Disney+ series of anime
Wars: Visions, available in stores in
spring, 2022, priced $49.99. The fully
illustrated 200-plus page book, written
will feature concept, storyboards and
designs from the artists at Kamikaze
Douga, Studio Colorido, Geno Studio,
shorts, Star Wars: Visions, that struck by Zack Davisson, will explore the Trigger, Kinema Citrus, Production I.G,
a chord with fans of the saga. design process of the seven renowned and Science SARU.
That creativity is set to be celebrated Japanese animation studios responsible Nine posters inspired by Visions can
next spring in a new book from for bringing the stylistically diverse be downloaded at StarWars.com now.

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PRODUCTION
Aren’t You a Little Small DIARY
for a Stormtrooper? Our regular summary of
Star Wars movies and television
series currently filming:
Black Series Action Figure

Debut for George Lucas IN PRODUCTION
asbro have immortalized
H Star Wars creator George

Lucas in action figure form Starring Diego Luna
before, as X-wing fighter as Cassian Andor
pilot Jorg Sacul; Baron Papanoida; Disney+
and as a mail-away in Stormtrooper
Disguise, as part of the 3 3/4-inch Episode Director: Tony Gilroy
range. To celebrate Lucasfilm’s Cast Includes: Genevieve O’Reilly,
50th anniversary, the toymaker has Stellan Skarsgård, Denise Gough,
and Kyle Soller.
doubled down on the Lucas likeness
with an all-new rendition.
Joining the popular 6-inch The
Black Series line, George Lucas (in
Stormtrooper Disguise) features the Starring Ewan McGregor
film director and founder of Lucasfilm as Obi-Wan Kenobi
dressed in the white armor of an Disney+
Imperial trooper, with a removable
helmet and E-11 blaster. Available Director: Deborah Chow
to pre-order now, priced $26.99, Cast Includes: Hayden
Christensen, Moses Ingram,
the highly articulated figure will be
Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse,
available in stores in March 2022.
Kumail Nanjiani, Indira Varma,
Rupert Friend, O’Shea Jackson
Jr., Sung Kang, Simone Kessell
and Benny Safdie.
COMING SOON
Starring Temuera Morrison

as Boba Fett
Disney+, Dec ember 29, 2021
Cast Includes: Ming-Na Wen

as Fennec Shand

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Fulcrum Fashion
Accessorize your look with Ahsoka-inspired jewelry
hen we were re-introduced these traits are elegantly represented
W to Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars

Rebels, the former Jedi had
grown into a more mature
in their new pair of sterling silver and
enamel earrings and a matching ring.
Available now at RockLove.com, the
warrior, sporting the longer montrals Ahsoka Tano Hoop Earrings are priced at
of an elder Togruta. In RockLove’s $135, while the Ahsoka Tano Rebels Ring
latest collaboration with HerUniverse, retails for $99.
THE LIGHT SIDE By Jamie Cosley

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The
StarWars
DotColumn
Fascinating features and
articles from the digital vaults of
StarWars.com
Add StarWars.com/Insider to
your browser bookmarks to enjoy
’s pick of the best of the
official Star Wars website.
The Phantom’s Fandom

Terrifying Tales
StarWars.com goes behind the
scenes to explore making of
the spine-tingling LEGO® Star
Wars Terrifying Tales special,
Put a pin in the galaxy’s woes with supersized style streaming now on Disney+..
tar Wars: The Phantom Menace
S (1999) introduced audiences

to a previously unseen era
of Star Wars, where Anakin
Skywalker’s turn to the dark side and
the Republic’s fall were still distant
events in the galaxy’s future. Funko
celebrates this epic movie with a
line of large enamel Pop! pins that
includes Anakin in podracer gear, his The Odyssey of Star Wars
duplicitous opponent Sebulba, the Sith Author Jack Mitchell shares
Lord Darth Maul, and a regal Queen his insights into his ambitious
Amidala. The roughly 4-inch-tall pins, retelling of the Skywalker saga
which retail for $15, can be ordered as an epic poem, including an
exclusive extract.
at Funko.com.
Buffing Up The Beskar

Premium wearable gear from a galaxy far, far away
enuo Novo are the new name
D
in high-end Star Wars costumes
and collectibles, with products
ranging from helmets and hats Galactic Garland
to a Han Solo Signature Line Craft a sparkly holiday garland
Ensemble of costume accessories. of Star Wars planets and moons
There’s also something special for fans (and a space station) with a fun
of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian and easy make-your-own guide.
(2019-present) too, in the shiny beskar
form of The Mandalorian helmet accessory.
Priced $700, this detailed recreation of
the headgear Din Djarin rarely removes
was developed through hands-on research
and a digital 3D scan of a screen-used
prop. Made of high-quality fibreglass with
a weathered metallic finish, the helmet
features a fully lined interior including
headliner pads, and can fit heads up to
U.S. hat size 8. You can order the helmet
now at www.denuonovo.com.

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A New Hope for the Holidays

Secure a bounty of holiday season cheer for your homestead
et into the seasonal spirit
G
by decking the halls of your
home with Hallmark’s latest
collection Star Wars Keepsake
Ornaments, available at
Hallmark.com now.
In what has become an annual
tradition, Hallmark’s new Keepsakes take
inspiration from a movie released a long
time ago. Top of the tree is The Merriest
House in the Galaxy Musical Ornament
with Light, priced $34.99, which turns
The Emperor’s ultimate weapon into the
ultimate decoration for your living room
with a synchronized sound and light show
featuring the Star Wars Main Theme.
Used in combination with the Keepsake
Power Cord, this and seven additional
Storyteller Keepsakes can be connected for
an even bigger show. Priced at $39.99 each,
the A New Hope Collection brightens the
room with three artist-crafted Storytellers
decorations—Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan
Kenobi, and C-3PO & R2-D2—that offer
a brilliant display of light and sound.
Hallmark’s collection also brings the
LEGO® Star Wars Holiday Special to life
with its LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader and
Stormtrooper Minifigure Ornaments, each
sold separately and priced $16.99.
A Christmas A Wish Fit for a Sith

Quest We’re in store for a
Gather together with festive Final Order
your covert to celebrate hen Emperor Palpatine
the holidays
he holiday season is
W revealed his return at
Exegol, he brought with
him legions of elite, red-
T a time for family and

friends and, as the
Mandalorian likes
armored Sith troopers and a fleet
of Sith Star Destroyers. These Sith
loyalists followed the Emperor’s
to point out, wherever he goes, every order, but Kurt S. Adler’s
Grogu goes! The Kurt S. Adler Sith Trooper 10-inch Nutcracker
19-inch stocking, priced at $19.99 could be yours to command.
(pictured above) brings this clan Retailing for $49.99 and available
of two to life with a vibrant color at KurtAdler.com, the nutcracker
scheme that will match any holiday features a base emblazoned with
decor. Available at KurtAdler.com. the Star Wars logo.

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Mando
Merch
The latest bounty on
which to blow your beskar
A
An Amban Arsenal An Armor Upgrade

Relive your favorite Mando Bask in the beauty of this
moments with his trusted weapon beskar-inspired figure
The Mandalorian had a seemingly endless The Bandai Meisho Movie
arsenal at his disposal, but his rifle Realization series returns
was perhaps the most distinctive tool to connect with The
that he deployed. From disintegrating Mandalorian once again,
opponents to scoping out the Client’s this time bringing out
stronghold, Din Djarin relied on this the highly detailed Ronin
weapon in many situations. Measuring Mandalorian & Grogu
over 50-inches in length, Hasbro’s Nerf (Beskar Armor) figure set
Amban Phase-Pulse Blaster A brings C . Standing at over
screen-accurate sounds, an electronic 7-inches tall, Mando is
scope, and 10 Official Nerf Elite foam accompanied by an in-scale
darts for an authentic-yet-safe cosplay Grogu, whose pram reflects
experience. Priced at $125.99, the blaster the design of wooden
is scheduled to arrive in January 2022. pushcarts from the samurai
era of Japanese history.
Retailing for $140 and
expected to ship in the first
quarter of 2022, you can
pre-order yours today at
C
Sideshow.com.
A Chia Pet for The Child D
The Force flows through all living

things, so it is undoubtedly quite strong Toasting with Spotchka Set D supplies the perfect way to sup
in NECA’s The Child Chia Pet B . The the beverage of your choice. These
Brighten your cabinets with these
handmade planter sees Grogu seated ceramic pieces also recreate Mando’s
Mandalorian mugs
in his familiar pram and comes with heart wrenching goodbye to Grogu
enough Chia seeds for at least three From Sorgan to Tatooine, the as the Child departed to train with
plantings that will leave the Child Mandalorian often received an Luke Skywalker. Priced at $29.99 and
surrounded by lush green foliage. Priced invitation to enjoy a glass of spotchka. shipping in January 2022, raise a mug
at $19.99, you can expect this legendary Silver Buffalo’s The Mandalorian and in a toast to the highly anticipated
Chia Pet to arrive in January 2022. The Child 3D 20 oz. Ceramic Mug third season of The Mandalorian.

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Book Club
Where the latest Star Wars
The Art of The Hunt

The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2 is a sure-fire asset for your bookshelf
The hit Disney+ Original Series The of serialized Star Wars adventures cover features an all-new work of
Mandalorian (2019-present) reached came to be. Lucasfilm’s Phil Szostak art created exclusively for this release
dizzying new heights in its second provides an insider’s perspective on by legendary Lucasfilm artist Doug
season, with unforgettable moments the show’s production, through Chiang, who also wrote a fascinating
like the revelation of the Child’s real extensive interviews with members foreword for the book.
name (it’s Grogu), a fierce duel with of the crew and behind-the-scenes Relive the adventure of The
Moff Gideon wielding the Darksaber, creative personnel including the likes Mandalorian’s epic second season and
and surprise appearances from of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. follow Mando (Din Djarin) on his
fan-favorite characters including The book is packed with conceptual quest to deliver the Child into safe
Bo-Katan Kryze, Ahsoka Tano, Boba art pieces, character designs, costume hands, on a journey from the bleak
Fett, and even Luke Skywalker! treatments, and numerous iterations of desert wastelands of Tatooine to the
The Art of Star Wars: The exotic weaponry, vehicles, and alien hostile Imperial mining outposts of
Mandalorian Season 2, on sale creatures—diving deeply into such Morak. It’s the perfect way to get up
December 14, is a 256-page hardcover subjects as how the crew translated to speed on this era of the Star Wars
from Abrams Books featuring more Ahsoka Tano from animation to live saga before the spinoff series The
than 300 color illustrations that action and the discussions around Book of Boba Fett premiers on
chronicle how this pivotal season updating Boba Fett’s iconic look. The Disney+ this December!

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02
01
03
01 02 03
Be More Boba Fett Star Wars: Jedi Artifacts Star Wars: The Story of
This lighthearted, pocket-sized Collect a dozen unique relics the Faithful Wookiee
book is packed with nuggets of plucked from interstellar space a In this all-new Little Golden Book,
hard-won wisdom, all framed from long time ago, in Star Wars: Jedi the animated adventure first seen in
the perspective of those who have Artifacts - Treasures from a Galaxy the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special is
trodden the same path as the Far, Far Away, retold for a new generation of Star
infamous bounty hunter! The book’s keepsakes, centered Wars fans!
Be More Boba Fett: Always Get around the greatest heroes of the With its imaginative alien
the Job Done is a 64-page environments and the first-ever
Star Wars saga, include keychains,
hardcover by Joseph Jay Franco appearance of Boba Fett, “The Story
stickers, a woven patch, a cut-out
that lays bare the brutal truths that of the Faithful Wookiee” is widely
starship model, a collectible pin, and
underpin anyone’s decision to regarded as the highlight of the
more—all in the cause of celebrating
reject a dull 9-to-5 career in favor special. In this fun storybook
legendary Jedi from the ancient High
of going freelance in the Star Wars adaptation, Luke Skywalker, C-3PO,
Republic era to the later heroics R2-D2, and Chewbacca must decide
galaxy. You might be able to get a
exemplified by Obi-Wan Kenobi, if Boba Fett is friend or foe as they
steady job pushing buttons aboard
a star cruiser—but those who aren’t Ahsoka Tano, Luke Skywalker, and try to rescue Han Solo. Colorful
afraid to become their own boss Rey. Get your hands on wonders that artwork, combined with the iconic
will soon learn that the work is span a thousand generations in this Little Golden Book format, make this
its own reward! Published by DK, must-have historical souvenir a can’t-miss release for parents of
Be More Boba Fett is in stores collection, published by Insight young Padawans. In stores on
December 7. Editions and on sale December 21. January 4, 2022.

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Comics Roundup
Explore the shadowy galactic underworld in this
month’s Star Wars comics
Target:
Crimson
Dawn
Darth Vader goes to
war against the criminal
syndicate in Star Wars:
Darth Vader #19
During his confrontation with Luke
Skywalker in the bowels of Bespin’s
Cloud City, Darth Vader tempted his
son with the line, “With our combined
strength, we can end this destructive
conflict and bring order to the galaxy.”
But is order what Vader truly desires,
especially when it comes to the fate
of all the galaxy’s people?
Writer Greg Pak and artist Guiu
Vilanova explore what the notion of
order truly means to someone who
follows the dark side of the Force,
and put Vader’s bold vow to the test
in Marvel’s Star Wars: Darth Vader #19,
as the Dark Lord leads an unlikely crew
of heroes and assassins against the
criminal organization known as Crimson
Dawn. Qi’ra—familiar to fans from her
big-screen role in Solo: A Star Wars
Story (2018)—is currently leading
Crimson Dawn to new heights, but
not even a rising star wants to have
Vader for an enemy!
The events of Darth Vader #19
occur during the aftermath of Marvel’s
Summer 2021 crossover event, War of
the Bounty Hunters, while tying into the
Star Wars: Crimson Reign miniseries
appearing this winter. During his quest to sights, but how far will he go once Stegman, will also be available
locate Han Solo’s carbonite slab (in order the depths of Crimson Dawn’s with variant cover art by Rafael
to lure his son into a confrontation), infiltration become clear? And what Grassetti, along with a Lucasfilm
Vader carved his way through countless fate awaits those who follow Vader 50th Anniversary variant cover
underworld figures who cloaked into battle? by artist Chris Sprouse.
themselves in shadowy deception. Now The issue, available on Star Wars #19 is on sale
Darth Vader has Crimson Dawn in his newsstands with a cover by Ryan December 8.

LAUNCHPAD Incoming
Don’t Miss These
Upcoming Releases
Star Wars #20

In Star Wars #20, Luke Skywalker faces
a series of dangerous lessons when he
finds a key piece of instruction in his
journey along the Jedi path—more
specifically, the voice of his teacher: DECEMBER
the Jedi Master Yoda. But Luke must
Doctor Aphra #17
learn a different lesson, one not taught
Marvel Comics
by his diminutive master, which will Writer: Alyssa Wong
take more from the young Skywalker Artist: Minkyu Jung
than he ever could have imagined. Cover Artist: Sara Pichelli
On sale December 29, the latest
installment in Marvel Comics’ ongoing
Star Wars series comes courtesy of JANUARY
writer Charles Soule and artist Marco Star Wars Adventures #14
Castiello, with a cover by Carlo IDW Comics
Pagulayan, and variants by John Tyler Writers: George Mann
Christopher and Chris Sprouse. and Justina Ireland
Artists: Butch K. Mapa
and Nick Brokenshire
Cover Artist:
Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #19 Francesco Francavilla
The Crimson Dawn criminal syndicate has Star Wars #21

spread chaos throughout the galaxy, and Marvel Comics
the events of the miniseries Star Wars: Writer: Charles Soule
Crimson Reign have plunged the Artist: Marco Castiello
interstellar underworld into all-out war. and Ramon Rosanas
T’onga and her team of bounty hunters— Cover Artist:
including Bossk, Zuckuss, and Tasu Carlo Pagulayan
Leech—don’t have much time if they want
Darth Vader #20
to safeguard the young criminal heir who
Marvel Comics
is key to ending the fighting! Meanwhile, Writer: Greg Pak
a mysterious hunter aims to eliminate an Artists: Raffaele Ienco
Imperial officer aboard a heavily armed Cover Artist: Aaron Kuder
cruiser, but does the assassin have the
right target? Bounty Hunters #19 features Bounty Hunters #20
the talents of writer Ethan Sacks, artist Marvel Comics
Ramon Bachs, and cover artist Giuseppe Writer: Ethan Sacks
Camuncoli, and is on sale December 15. Artists: Paolo Villanelli
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LUCASFILM:
50 YEARS OF
INNOVATION
Lucasfilm has been at the forefront of cinematic
storytelling for decades. Celebrating 50 years
since its founding in 1971, Star Wars Insider tracks
the history of the company from a
small independent to a multinational
legend of modern cinema.
WORDS: LUCAS O. SEASTROM AND PETE VILMUR
The 1970s: A Long Time Ago

There was no specific plan for
Lucasfilm, no finely tuned vision.
George Lucas simply wanted to
make his own movies on his own
terms. The company was first
incorporated in 1971, the same
year Lucas released his theatrical
debut, THX 1138, a co-production
between American Zoetrope and
Warner Brothers. THX showed
great command of the young
filmmaker’s craft, but the film met
with a quiet reception and an even
quieter box office.
Lucas’ friend and fellow director
Francis Ford Coppola encouraged
him to try a different approach.
“Francis and other people were
encouraging me to make a warm,
human film to prove I wasn’t
just some cold, arty director who
could only make science-fiction
02

LUCASFILM: 50 YEARS OF INNOVATION
01
“Once I had thought

up the idea for
American] Graffiti,
I was amazed that no
one had ever done
that story before.”
George Lucas
films,” Lucas told Bantha Tracks, For Lucas’ next film, he 01 Left to right: secured finance from 20th Century
Producer Rick
the Official Star Wars Fan Club remembered Graffiti’s heartfelt McCallum,
Fox to distribute The Star Wars,
newsletter, in Spring, 1980. “So, reception among teenage cinematographer as it was known, but Lucas still
I wrote American Graffiti (1973). audiences, and determined David Tattersall, faced a major hurdle in order to
and director
Once I had thought up the idea for to create a story that could George Lucas realize his vision of a believable
Graffiti, I was amazed that no one be similarly impactful for with the HD space fantasy—the visual-effects
had ever done that story before.” younger kids. “I started to camera technology of the time was not
developed for
Lucas adapted his experiences think about ten–and twelve– Star Wars: nearly good enough. By necessity,
as a youth cruising the streets of year–olds,” recalled Lucas in Attack of the and as he would do time and again
Clones (2002).
Modesto, California into a story 1980. “I saw that kids that age throughout his career, Lucas was
of teenagers yearning to break out didn’t have the fantasy life we 02 Lucas (with forced to innovate. He established
of their surroundings into a bigger had had as kids. They didn’t Samuel L. his own visual effects house north
Jackson as Mace
world. American Graffiti was as have Westerns; they didn’t Windu) on the of Hollywood in Van Nuys, by the
vibrant as a jukebox, and full of have pirate movies; they set of Revenge of name of Industrial Light & Magic
humor, music, and speed. Shot on didn’t have [the] serial fantasy the Sith (2005). (ILM), and tasked visual effects
a low budget with a small cast and life that we used to believe in. supervisor John Dykstra with
smaller crew, Lucas made the film They also didn’t have heroes. solving the complex problems
over weeks of exhausting night I felt, then, that Star Wars of photographing the dynamic
shoots in the San Francisco Bay would be a natural and could movement of spaceships.
Area. The first production to bear give kids a fantasy life that
the Lucasfilm name, Graffiti became they really needed to have.”
one of the most successful movies Rejected by two major
of its day. studios, Lucasfilm eventually

03
“George wanted me to look
at the entire process of how
movies are made, and figure
out how computers could
make it more manageable.”
Ed Catmull
03 Lucas during Lucasfilm’s post-production

production of
team organized as Sprocket
The Young
Indiana Jones Systems. During production of
Chronicles Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
(1992-1996).
(1980), Lucasfilm established an
experimental computer group to
research how digital technology
could influence motion-picture
and sound editing, the scanning
and recording of celluloid film,
and the graphic manipulation
of film images. Lucasfilm was
already laying the groundwork for
a revolution in filmmaking that
reverberates to this day.
The 1980s:
05 Dreams and Inventions
The Empire Strikes Back was the
movie that truly made Lucasfilm.
In order to control his vision,
George Lucas self-financed the
production, risking everything
to fulfill his hopes for the future.
At the core of his dreams was
Skywalker Ranch, a rural property
in the Marin County hills where
Lucasfilm would construct the
perfect creative setting. If Empire
succeeded, the Ranch could be
built. With so much riding on the
to become a phenomenon. 04 Cartoon success of the movie, everyone at
The film captured the public’s 05 spinoffs Star Lucasfilm breathed a huge sigh of
Wars: Ewoks
imagination worldwide. For (1985-1986) relief when Empire proved as big a
adults, it swept them back to and Droids hit as its predecessor.
(1985-1986)
the romance and whimsy of The company’s Los Angeles office
can now be
their youth, and for children it seen again relocated to northern California,
began to shape their sense of on Disney+. production began on Raiders of
04
imagination outright. the Lost Ark (1981) with Steven
Filmed in the United Kingdom Star Wars not only impacted Spielberg, and Lucas continued
and locations around the world, popular culture but fueled the with the design and construction
the production of Star Wars was growth of Lucasfilm as a company. of Skywalker Ranch. ILM began
fraught with technical problems The demands of ancillary programs taking outside clients including
and financial constraints. It including product licensing and Dragonslayer (1981) and E.T. the
proved a harrowing experience book publishing necessitated more Extra Terrestrial (1982). The entire
for Lucas, and he returned to staff. ILM moved north to Marin company worked to complete the
California dispirited. Yet Star Wars: County to produce visual effects Star Wars trilogy with Star Wars:
A New Hope (1977) was quickly for the Star Wars sequel. Nearby, Return of the Jedi (1983). After

06
completing this decade-long creative

journey, George Lucas semi-retired
from active filmmaking in 1983
to concentrate on overseeing the
company’s operations.
Sprocket Systems had grown to
a full post-production division by
1980, including a small computer
group led by scientist Ed Catmull,
a pioneer in computer graphics
technology and artistry. The group
evolved into its own division, and
soon debuted prototypes for the
EditDroid and SoundDroid, digital
editing systems that contributed
to foundational changes in the
filmmaking process. They also
invented a new high-resolution
graphics machine known as the 07
Pixar Image Computer, using it
to create a short, animated film, Originally under the direction 06 Industrial collaborated to tell original
The Adventures of André and of programmer Peter Langston, Light & Magic stories in games. Innovators
was formed
Wally B. (1984). Early in 1986, the the group was not allowed specifically to like Ron Gilbert, Gary Winnick,
graphics group was spun-off as an to make games based on create the and David Fox created games
VFX shots for
independent company, becoming Lucasfilm’s Star Wars and like Maniac Mansion (1987),
A New Hope
Pixar, Inc. (later Pixar Animation Indiana Jones properties, but (1977). Zak McKracken and the Alien
Studios). Perhaps you’ve heard of it? this proved to be a blessing Mindbenders (1988), and The
07 ILM set up
Within the Computer Division, in disguise, as the small shop in Secret of Monkey Island (1990).
a smaller group emerged with a band of young designers, Van Nuys, By the mid-1980s, the first
mandate to create videogames. programmers, and artists California. major phases of construction

computer-generated backgrounds
and crowd extensions. As Young
Indy was made through the
mid-1990s, series producer Rick
McCallum and many other key
crew members made Radioland
Murders (1994), a long-brewing
Lucasfilm project inspired by
George Lucas’ love for classic
radio broadcasts and screwball
comedy films.
In the summer of 1993, an ILM
production helped change the
perception of what was achievable
in visual effects. Directed by Steven
Spielberg, Jurassic Park—which
included some four-dozen shots of
computer-generated dinosaurs—
proved to Lucas that he could use the
08 same technology to make his wildest
dreams for the creatures, characters,
at Skywalker Ranch had been Young Indiana Jones shot and worlds of Star Wars a reality.
08 Jake Lloyd
completed as Lucasfilm made the in some two dozen countries as Anakin He returned to his writing desk to
location its headquarters. The across the globe. The series Skywalker and begin development of the Star Wars
and Ahmed Best
company busied itself with co- also provided an opportunity as Jar Jar Binks,
prequel trilogy.
producing theatrical films as varied for Lucasfilm to advance its with animation With more than 2,000 effects
as Latino (1985), Labyrinth (1986), digital filmmaking workflow, supervised by shots, Star Wars: The Phantom
Rob Coleman, in
and Howard the Duck (1986). The using the EditDroid and The Phantom Menace (1999) was the most
company closed the decade with SoundDroid, and adding Menace (1999). ambitious visual effects production
its own productions including the
fantasy-adventure Willow (1988),
09
historical drama Tucker: The Man
and His Dream (1988), and Indiana
Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).
The 1990s:
What Myths are Made Of
In 1990, George Lucas began to
develop The Young Indiana Jones
Chronicles as a television project.
Part historical romance, part
youthful adventure, the series
aimed to inspire curiosity in young
people, as Indiana Jones (aged 10-
20) encountered historical figures
such as Theodore Roosevelt and
Thomas Edison, and witnessed
events as varied as World War I
and Jazz Age Chicago.
“I wanted young people to
realize that history is really about
people more than it’s about events,”
recalled Lucas in 2007. “I wanted to
show that those people are just like
we are, regardless of their impact
on philosophy, music, religion and
culture. And Indy’s childhood was
a natural vehicle for the kinds of
stories I had envisioned.”

“I wanted young
people to realize
that history is
really about
people more than
it’s about events.”
George Lucas on
The Young Indiana
Jones Chronicles.
10
ever undertaken by ILM. More Lucas would press for would 09 Harrison Ford
practical miniatures than ever before take on celluloid itself. and George
Lucas on the
would be used in combination with set of Indiana
digital creations, including fully The 2000s: Jones and
CG characters like Jar Jar Binks and Pushing the Envelope the Kingdom
of the Crystal
Watto playing major roles. With Video cameras had been in 11
Skull (2008).
the onward march of digital use for years for broadcast workflow from concept to shooting
10 Star Wars:
technology, the next innovation television, but they were Attack of to editing. His ability to imagine
unsuitable for large-scale the Clones and craft the story was uninhibited
theatrical films. A defining (2002) was by analog processes that stifled
made with
challenge for Lucas was in an entirely his creativity. This continued
creating a high-definition video digital with Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
workflow.
camera system that shot at 24 (2005), which closed the saga of
frames per second, the standard 11 The Main Anakin Skywalker. As Sith reached
for motion pictures. Beginning House at movie theaters, Lucasfilm was
Skywalker
in the mid-1990s, Lucasfilm Ranch in already preparing future Star Wars
partnered with Sony to build Marin storytelling with the establishment
a camera and Panavision to County, CA. of Lucasfilm Animation.
develop specific lenses. The To supervise and direct the new
development took years, but animation team, the company
a prototype was ready to try hired 31-year-old Dave Filoni, a
out on pick-up shots for The veteran of the popular animated
Phantom Menace. series Avatar: The Last Airbender
For Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2005-2008), and an avid fan keen
(2002) Lucas opted to tell his story to learn from George Lucas. Star
solely with digital tools, which Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2014,
he admitted took some getting 2020) launched with a theatrical
used to. “I think that was difficult movie release in August, 2008,
for everybody because the whole followed by weekly episodes on
crew had to buy into this new Cartoon Network. Perhaps the
way of working,” he said shortly boldest element of The Clone
after completing the film. “But we Wars was the introduction of
were able to finish in a very short young Ahsoka Tano, a headstrong,
amount of time, and I was able to compassionate Jedi assigned as
get all the material I needed.” Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan
Attack of the Clones was learner. She became a fan-favorite,
the realization of his dream: a endearing herself to a younger
completely digital filmmaking generation of viewers.

12 13
The same year as the debut The 2010s: 12 Star Wars: producer Kathleen Kennedy
of The Clone Wars, Lucasfilm The Adventures Rebels
(2014-2018).
(who’d been an associate to Steven
released Indiana Jones and the Continue Spielberg on Raiders of the Lost
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and Early in 2012, Lucasfilm 13 Rogue One: A Ark) assumed the co-chair position
Star Wars
LucasArts introduced Star Wars: released the historical Story (2016). at Lucasfilm in mid-2012. By
The Force Unleashed for the adventure, Red Tails, inspired October, the company announced
newest videogame consoles. Since by the true-life actions of the 14 Star Wars: it had been purchased by the Walt
The Force
2005, when much of the company Tuskegee Airmen. George Lucas Awakens Disney Company, that George
relocated to San Francisco’s had long been motivated to (2015). Lucas would be retiring from active
Presidio, LucasArts had continued share their story, and Red Tails leadership, and that new Star Wars
another successful collaboration spent 20 years in development films would be made.
with LEGO®, releasing a series of before Anthony Hemingway Much change would come to
Star Wars and Indiana Jones-themed was hired to direct a cast that Lucasfilm as Star Wars: The Clone
games beloved by families. Among included Terrence Howard; Wars aired its final season and
many innovations, ILM advanced David Oyelowo; Leslie Odom, the company’s gaming division
motion-capture techniques Jr.; Michael B. Jordan; and Cuba reorganized. Lucasfilm entered
with the Pirates of the Caribbean Gooding, Jr. a prolific phase of feature film
film series, and made their own As Star Wars: The Clone Wars production, completing five
animated feature, Rango (2011). surpassed 100 episodes, longtime theatrical films in as many years,
including the Star Wars sequel
trilogy and two stand-alone
14
adventures, Rogue One: A Star Wars
Story (2016) and Solo: A Star Wars
Story (2018). In 2014, the Lucasfilm
Animation crew debuted the
television series Star Wars Rebels on
Disney XD. Set between the prequel
and original movie trilogies, Rebels
depicted a small group of fighters
resisting the Imperial occupation
of the quiet world of Lothal.
With a unified continuity,
Lucasfilm crafted a new effort
in cross-medium storytelling
between movies, series, games,
and publishing. A new medium
emerged with the establishment
of ILMxLAB, a group dedicated to
telling stories within immersive
entertainment. Using virtual-
reality and augmented-reality,
they debuted Vader Immortal: A
Star Wars VR Series (2019) and Star

Wars: Secrets of the Empire (2017), in

addition to stories outside the space
“A few times in my career I’ve had a chance
fantasy such as Alejandro González to be a part of game-changing technology,
Iñárritu’s Carne y Arena (2017). moments when a new way of filmmaking
The rising dominance of
streaming media platforms provided changed the way stories could be told forever.”
Lucasfilm with a new opportunity Kathleen Kennedy
in episodic live-action storytelling
when Disney+ launched in 2019.
In creating The Mandalorian
(2019-present), director and lifelong bluescreen or greenscreen, 15 The As Lucasfilm enters its sixth
Star Wars fan Jon Favreau was saving crucial time by capturing Mandalorian decade, the company is enjoying
(2019-
inspired by classic westerns to tell effects live and in-camera. present) was its busiest period to date, with
the story of a lone, Mandalorian “A few times in my career a test bed production on various feature
for ILM’s
bounty hunter who encounters a I’ve had a chance to be a part innovative
films and TV series underway.
young child strong in the Force. of game-changing technology, StageCraft These projects join stories from
As writer and showrunner, Favreau moments when a new way of technology. across the company like
was joined by Lucasfilm veteran filmmaking changed the way videogames with Star Wars Jedi:
Dave Filoni as an episodic writer stories could be told forever,” Fallen Order (2019) and Star Wars
and director, along with other said Kathleen Kennedy in Squadrons (2020), publishing with
filmmakers including Bryce Dallas 2020. “Working with Jon Star Wars: The High Republic,
Howard, Deborah Chow, Taika Favreau to create the world of immersive entertainment with Star
Waititi, and Rick Famuyiwa. The Mandalorian with our own Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge
To realize the visual effects in StageCraft technology has been (2020), and animation with Star
the series, ILM and Lucasfilm’s one of those moments.” Joined Wars Resistance (2018) and the
Advanced Development Group with other virtual production farewell season of Star Wars: The
partnered with Epic Games to create tools used for pre-production, Clone Wars (2020). There have
a pioneering virtual production ILM’s StageCraft continues been many stories to tell in the last
system called StageCraft. On the to grow as an end-to-end 50 years, and the next 50 promise
set, a large volume of seamless filmmaking workflow, in many only more to come. No matter
LED screens presented a digital ways combining Lucasfilm’s five what time—past, present, or
image of a landscape or interior, decades of innovation in a system future—it’s the people of Lucasfilm
all of it rendered in real-time and that has seen the company once who have fueled this constant
captured live by the camera. The again revolutionize the process drive for inspiration and
tool supplanted the traditional of filmmaking. innovation alike.
15

INTERVIEW: DIANA LEE INOSANTO
“SHOWYOURSELF,
JEDI.”
As Morgan Elsbeth, the Magistrate of Calodan, Diana Lee Inosanto
stepped into a Star Wars role that the actor, filmmaker, stuntwoman,
and martial artist was seemingly born to play.
W O R D S : B R A N D O N WA I N E R D I
01 Diana Lee iana Lee

01 “My dad was kind
D
Inosanto. Inosanto’s
02 Inosanto imposing
presence
of a cool, reserved
as Morgan
Elsbeth,
Magistrate
as Morgan martial arts man.
of Calodan. Elsbeth in
The Mandalorian Season Two
But he came out of
episode “The Jedi,” made good the theater excitedly
use of the actor’s passion for
filmmaking and lifetime of
telling us, ‘Can you
martial arts training. As Star imagine what kind
Wars Insider discovered, her
own story is as fascinating and
of fighting you could
exhilarating as any set in the do with Filipino
galaxy far, far away.
martial arts and
Star Wars Insider: It is an a lightsaber ?!’”
understatement to say that
you grew up surrounded that they both always stressed the Exposed to such a wide mix of
by an incredible group of importance of staying grounded. It martial arts, which styles did
martial artists, actors, and was always understood to not get you initially gravitate towards?
stuntpeople. What did you carried away with fame, and to just As a child growing up, the arts
learn from those people that enjoy the journey of whatever is and philosophy of Jeet Kune Do
you are still applying to your happening. They both also taught was always my foundation. That’s
career and life? me a love of creativity through really what catapulted my martial
Diana Lee Inosanto: I think martial arts. I know people tend arts education. My father taught
the beautiful thing about having to look at martial arts from the the Japanese and Chinese arts
your uncle and godfather be Bruce perspective of action or pain but, and, before there was ever mixed
Lee, while also having someone for me, there has always been a martial arts, was combining all
like my father (martial arts expert philosophical component: it is of those elements. Continuing
Dan Inosanto) in the picture, is my ancestry and my heritage. my godfather’s philosophy, he

DIANA LEE INOSANTO
02

also included French savate and It was like we were all just part of
fencing in his school. this orchestra of pure excitement.
Now that I’m older, I tend to To this day, I have still never
really cling to Filipino martial arts. experienced anything like that.
You can then supplement weaponry What was beautiful was that,
with those Japanese and Chinese normally, my dad was kind of a
martial arts, and there’s a wide cool, reserved martial arts man.
spectrum to it. It has weaponry But he came out of the theater
that’s flexible, like the spear. excitedly telling us, “Can you
imagine what kind of fighting
Which must have come in you could do with Filipino
handy when you made The martial arts and a lightsaber?!”
Mandalorian (2019-present). Talk about foreshadowing!
What was your first Star Over the years, my dad would
Wars experience? get plastic lightsabers from the
Oh my gosh, let me tell you! So, toy store for us to train with. And
it was 1977 and I was in Aspen, for even more foreshadowing,
Colorado with my father, who was he would come at me with two
hosting an international martial lightsabers when we practiced!
arts seminar. People had come in
from all over the world, just to You became known as an
study with my dad, because he accomplished fight and stunt
was just starting his role as a global choreographer, a “sensei to the
03 Diana Lee martial arts teacher. stars,” when they needed help
Inosanto It was a Saturday, everybody had with their action
with her
father, Dan. finished the seminar, and there was roles. How did you
this new movie with an awesome start on that path? 04
04 Inosanto poster that had just come out, called I initially started
with her
mother, Star Wars. A group of us went to this out as an actor, and
Sue, and small theater and it was packed. Of the first seed of that
godparents
course, the moment that the music idea came when I
Linda and
Bruce Lee. kicked in, the audience went nuts. was working as a
03
background extra on Demolition

Man (1993). The stunt team on
that movie had all been students
under my father and were telling
me, “Why don’t you consider
being a stunt woman?”
Later on, my husband was in the
process of training Temuera Morrison
for a movie called Barb Wire (1996).
They had been training for a few
months and were going over a
fight scene one day when Temuera
couldn’t remember a section of it.
Because I had been practicing it out
with my husband, he said, “Diana,
why don’t you come over here and
run through the scene?”

05
“I knew that, in
order to expand
my horizons and
express myself as an
artist, I had to try to
write and direct.”
It just so happened that a 05 Inosanto

few of the producers were there on set with
director Dave
that day, and they privately told Filoni (center)
my husband that there was a and Rosario
Dawson
second role they were casting
(Ahsoka
for a male, but they could easily Tano, right).
change it to a female. Did they
06 Diana Lee
think I would be interested? Inosanto
That was the beginning was honored
of my stunt career: a short to be inducted
into the 501st
fight scene between Temuera Legion. Photo by
Morrison and me. From there, I Duane Millares.
went on to do Buffy the Vampire
Slayer (1997-2003), Walker, Texas
Ranger (1993-2001), Face/Off
(1997), and so much more.
06

07
07 Lang You wrote, directed, and can happen, like it did for me. If
(Michael starred in an independent I had not taken that leap of faith,
Biehn) with
the Morgan movie called The Sensei (2008). Dave Filoni would probably never
Elsbeth. How did your experiences of have found me.
08 The
working with other filmmakers
Magistrate prepare you for that? Which brings us to The
offered As a stunt woman, I was grateful Mandalorian. What was
Mando a
beskar spear because I was working with some the casting process like?
in payment of the best directors and producers I had done The Sensei and some
for the life of in Hollywood. I would use those other indie films, but my career
Ahsoka Tano.
opportunities as my film school, really wasn’t going where I wanted
09 Diana Lee watching and taking notes. Every it to. I was about ready to hang it
Inosanto
employed
one of those days on set was a day up, pretty much. All of a sudden, I
her martial in class for me. got this call from my manager and 08
arts training I knew that, in order to expand he said, “Hey, so do you like The
to play the
magistrate. my horizons and express myself Mandalorian?” And I said, “That’s
as an artist, I had to try to write a stupid question. You know I like out of there, I actually teared up.
and direct. That’s why I decided The Mandalorian.” Then, three days later, my manager
to make The Sensei about tolerance “Well, the producers of the show called and said, “You got it.”
and diversity, and how hate can be want you to come in,” he told me, And then I cried again.
manifested in so many different and I thought it was a practical It took about a month from
directions. And, my goodness, joke. But he was so serious, and there, and I still didn’t know
nobody had ever introduced a then I got scared that somebody anything about my character when
character who was a gay teenager was pranking my manager. We I was invited to the set to walk
doing martial arts. If my career went on for five minutes, because through a fight scene with Rosario
hadn’t gone anywhere from there, I couldn’t even imagine how they Dawson. I drove out there and was
at least people would know who would know who I was. He said, immediately met by Jon Favreau.
I am and how I express myself. “I don’t know how they know you, He was very gracious, gave me a
Had I not done The Sensei, but you have to prepare!” tour, and took me directly to Dave
or taken some of those chances, I went into the audition and Filoni. And Dave was there to greet
I don’t think I would be here, just gave it my best shot. It was me with this big ol’ smile, and he
honestly. If you stick it out, you overwhelming, in a way, because said, “I suppose you’re wondering
never know! Something magical I love Star Wars. When I walked how the heck we found you?” He

proceeded to tell me that he and Jon computer in
wanted a real martial artist for the this technical
role, and hopefully somebody that other universe.
could act! It’s stunning.
They had actually Googled It truly feels like
“women martial artists”, and my filmmaking at its
picture came up, which led them to highest level.
The Sensei, and that’s when Dave said,
“Jon, I think we found her.” On set, how did you feel about 09
being in Star Wars?
How did you get into character, Because Ryan Watson (The
and what did you know about Mandalorian’s stunt coordinator)
Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth? and the stunt team knew my
I didn’t even know her name was background, they knew how to
Morgan Elsbeth until the night my create a custom-made fight scene
episode aired (laughs)! Everybody was that fit me and my sensibilities.
making a big deal that the Child’s name Anything that I had to suggest,
was Grogu, and I was like, “My name they accepted whole-heartedly. The
is Morgan Elsbeth!” beautiful thing was that I was also
From my conversations with Dave, able to improvise, which was an
I knew that she was a commanding incredible gift. That entire crew had
presence and someone that never an “empty your cup” philosophy,
saw herself as a villain. So, I did my and I am just so grateful that they
research and looked at people like were the team to lift me up.
Julius Caesar and Catherine the Great:
larger-than-life figures from history. What was it like working with
the legendary Michael Biehn?
When they first hinted that I was
going to work with Michael, I
couldn’t believe it, because I always
had such a schoolgirl crush on him.
But there I was, up in the rafters
with him on set for a good 15 hours.
We had time to really talk and get
to know each other. It was such a
privilege, and he’s such a gentleman.
You also share some electric

scenes with Rosario Dawson,
including the first live-action
duel between two women in
Star Wars.
We were very aware of that,
I tried to tap into those characters and actually. Rosario and I
bring that into the role. discussed it, and we both
knew the magnitude
What was it like working of this moment,
within the Volume? historically, and
When Jon was first showing me
around the set, I was already in a
honestly, to be the
first women of
“I did my research and looked
state of shock, since he was one of diversity to do it, at people like Julius Caesar and
my filmmaking heroes. He led me
down the corridors of the building,
as well. It was very
important, and we Catherine the Great: larger-than-life
and we were talking… and then we
entered the Volume. It was awe-
worked really hard
on it with our
figures from history. I tried to tap
inspiring. I know they’ve shown it stunt team, many into those characters and bring that
on Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian,
but that’s nothing compared to when
of whom were
part of my dad’s into my role as the Magistrate.”
you are actually in there. It looks like academy! It felt
NASA, with every person behind a like home.

A DECADE OF STAR WARS : THE OLD REPUBLIC
Star Wars Insider examines the history and impact of the massively
multiplayer online game as it reaches its 10th anniversary.
ack in 2006, coming million subscribers within three days. Star Wars Insider: What initially
B
off the enormously 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of led to the decision to turn
popular Star Wars: SWTOR, making it the longest running The Old Republic into a fully
Knights of the Old Star Wars game to date. immersive massively multiplayer
Republic (KOTOR) Star Wars Insider talked with Charles online game (MMO)?
videogame, BioWare Boyd, creative director at BioWare, and
Austin began working to create their Orion Kellogg, executive producer at Charles Boyd: By the time that I had
own version of an online Star Wars Lucasfilm Games, about their experiences come on the project in 2006, the team
experience, set thousands of years working on the game for the past decade, knew they wanted it to be a Star Wars
before the Skywalker saga. After five and to find out what players should game. But it was just a pitch for a Star
years of development, Star Wars: The expect with its latest expansion, “Legacy Wars game.
Old Republic (SWTOR) was released of the Sith,” which kicks off SWTOR’s The driving factor was that it was
on December 20, 2011, and gained a anniversary celebration this winter. the halcyon days of the MMO genre:
EverQuest had been pretty huge and and cinematically presented. When CB: To be fair, some of them are
World of Warcraft had become insanely I heard it was going to be an MMO, technically asteroids or moons or
big. I think that was a key part of it was almost like the cherry on top. planetoids (laughs).
BioWare’s interest: could we bring the It was already going to be this big,
story and choice that we were known expansive BioWare story, but to then What has made the relatively
for into that multiplayer space? say, “What if we let people play this unexplored period of the Old
It went through a lot of changes, together?” Well, I think everyone felt Republic such a rich vein to
with different ideas about what kinds like it was an absolute slam dunk. mine for stories?
of characters you would be and what
kind of stories you could do, but at Initially, the BioWare and CB: It’s very clever because the Star
its heart, it was always, “What if we Lucasfilm team identified the Wars setting is treated as sort of timeless.
made a really cool multiplayer Star 4 “pillars” of successful RPGs: Even though we are many centuries
Wars game, so that everyone could Exploration, Progression, in the past, it’s everything you still
experience KOTOR together?” Combat, and Storytelling. recognize: there is still hyperspace, there
How did those pillars translate are blasters, lightsabers, the Force, and
Orion Kellogg: On the Lucasfilm into SWTOR? Jedi. You have this freedom to use all the
side of things, as long as I had known cool toys, but to mash them together in
about the BioWare pitch, it was a super OK: You mention the four pillars totally new and different ways.
ambitious storytelling project that but, for Lucasfilm, the first pillar is And, because we’re kind of removed,
continued exploring the era of the always story, and it’s at the heart of you can actually become a galactic
Old Republic. everything. What does the story need? conqueror and it’s not contradicting
I was working with Star Wars What do the players need in order to anything, because it’s ancient history to
Galaxies at the time, a still beloved progress, and which of our characters the contemporary characters from the
MMO that blazed trails as an early or planets are they going to interact movies. But for the characters that you’re
open-world game, but I knew there with, to bring that to life? I can’t playing as, it’s very real, and it’s very
were conversations with BioWare even count how many planets we’ve important right now. You get to have an
about something more story-driven invented at this point. impact on the Star Wars galaxy.
01
Charles, you first began

your work as a writer on
the Trooper class. How did
you approach telling that
singular story, and how did
that then weave into the
larger SWTOR narrative?
CB: When we figured out that each

class would have a story all of its
own, it was really exciting because
that meant we could tell stories that
we wouldn’t have ordinarily done.
KOTOR was a Jedi and Sith story.
You start out as something else, but
you’re meant to become a Jedi or
a Sith. This was an opportunity to
still have these stories of the light
side and the dark side, which are
obviously dear to people’s hearts,
but have them right alongside the
bounty hunters and the smugglers.
What was life like for those kinds
of people?
The pilots in Star Wars: A New
Hope (1977) were a big inspiration
for me, because they were so human.
They were in this insane situation,
they’d bicker a little bit and get
overwhelmed sometimes, but they
were focused on the job and still did
everything they could to get that
job done. That is something about
Star Wars that I’ve always loved:
no matter how wild and crazy the
situation is, the characters always
feel relatable and down to earth.
That’s what’s heroic.
Orion, what was the process

to create what was awarded
02
a Guinness Record for the
“largest voice-over project 01 New weapon
in entertainment history”? options include
double-bladed
lightsabers.
OK: Every great game takes
02 Combat
a village. But I think SWTOR
has been
actually took a medium-sized revamped
metropolis to get it all done. for Legacy
of the Sith.
When we started the project,
the LucasArts audio group, of 03 Revan
course, had really blazed the trail and Malak
concept art.
in bringing voice to the interactive
medium. So, by combining our 04 A Mandalorian
character from
efforts with the talented team
the game.
at BioWare’s, we really helped
to extend our reach even more. 05 Galactic
Starfighter
We had studios in San Francisco, expansion
New York, London, Los Angeles, artwork.
03

THE STUFF OF LEGENDS
“That is something about thrilled as we knew they should

be. We had a very long marketing
Star Wars that I’ve always window, so we had to keep the
loved: no matter how wild momentum going for a while. But
there was no better way to keep
and crazy the situation is, the fans excited than with these
the characters always feel entries into Star Wars storytelling.
Blur was just an incredible
relatable and down to earth.” creative partner, and pulled out
Charles Boyd all the stops to make trailers that
Creative director, the industry hadn’t seen before.
Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare We’re still really pleased that
people like them.
as well as many talented sound Do any major milestones stand

designers at Skywalker Sound, Bay out for you over the years of
Area Sound, and elsewhere, plus working on this title?
composers, musicians, directors,
engineers, and more. It quickly CB: When I look back on it,
took on a whole life of its own, I think of it in terms of each
and we recorded hundreds of expansion. Those were the biggest
thousands of lines of English stakes in the ground. And it’s sort
04 dialogue. It was really just a of how I measure my adult life,
tremendous effort by literally since I’ve been doing this for so
hundreds of people. It still sounds long (laughs).
great, and we’re still adding to it. We have also been doing
these big, in-person fan events
Of course, even if a Star Wars called “Community Cantinas”
fan has never played SWTOR, at conventions like Star Wars
they have no doubt seen the Celebration. Those are opportunities
incredible cinematics from to chat about the game and have
Blur Studios. How did those a good time. Some of my best
come about? memories are just hanging out with
players, where we all just get to be
OK: Everyone at BioWare and Star Wars nerds together.
LucasArts was excited to take
on the challenge of introducing OK: I’ve loved getting to watch
SWTOR to the mass audience and the online community really grow.
making sure that they were as The game made the leap from a
pre-streaming world to a post-
Twitch world, which was really
nice, because we don’t control
that. The fans have got to want it,
and they built that community
themselves. There is no more
rewarding feeling than to watch
them connect to your game
and make their own content
and contributions.
How important has the

relationship between
BioWare and Lucasfilm
Games been during this time?
OK: I’ve been going down to

Austin and eating amazing
barbecue with the BioWare team
for the better part of my adult
05

06
life. We’ve talked every week
for a decade and have formed
real friendships. We know what
BioWare is really good at, and they
know how Lucasfilm Games can
make sure that SWTOR stands out.
CB: It always feels like Lucasfilm

wants to make what we want
to make, and to help facilitate
that the best way they can.
That’s the key to any good
working relationship: a shared
vision. They’re not gatekeepers,
they’re guides.
What can players expect from

the upcoming “Legacy of the
Sith” expansion?
CB: We’re focused on story every

time we release something new:
the next chapter in the tale of
your character. At this point in
the game, Darth Malgus, who was
introduced in those CG trailers,
is at odds with the players and
they’ve been hunting him for
a while. Certainly, the name of
the expansion, itself, “Legacy
of the Sith” is a hint at some of
the content that players will be
delving into. 07
We have new planets and new
areas: Manaan is a good example,
which was a planet introduced
in KOTOR and has shown up in
SWTOR briefly. Now you’re back
in very different circumstances
to fight for kolto (the healing,
medical fluid of this era). We’ve
also got Elom, a planet that has
existed for a very long time but we
had not seen much of it before.
There’s also a hollowed-out
asteroid facility in the upcoming
R-4 Anomaly operation that players
can go to in big groups, so they can
use their new combat styles to deal
with a Sith cult up to no good. 08
Tell us about the revamp to

the combat style?
CB: Systemically, we’re separating

your choice of storyline (the origin
of your character), and how you
engage in the gameplay, through
fighting and combat styles. The

09
06 Nar Shaddaa
is one of
numerous
planets in
SWTOR.
07 Concept art
of the planet
Manaan.
08 The planet
Onderon.
09 The Rise
of the
Hutt Cartel
expansion
was released
in 2013.
10 Concept art
of the R-4
Anomaly.
“We’ve really worked hard to develop more elegant fights and

give difficult challenges to advanced players, while also making
everybody else feel like they stepped into the films.”
Orion Kellogg Executive producer, Lucasfilm Games
10 team really wanted to give players

more options for weapons, like
double-sided lightsabers or dual
pistols, as opposed to the set
weaponry for your class.
OK: I’m excited to see what players

do with the freedom that we’re
giving them to pair combat with
who they have become over these
last 10 years. We’ve really worked
hard to develop more elegant fights
and give difficult challenges to
advanced players, while also making
everybody else feel like they stepped
into the films.
For those who haven’t played

before (or haven’t played in a
little while), is this the time
to join The Old Republic?
OK: When we come out with an

expansion, it’s a promise from us
to the players that, yes, there’s
going to be new storytelling and
new high-level content. But there’s

11 A LONG
TIME AGO
The landmark
expansions in the
history of Star Wars:
The Old Republic
Original Release
Date: December
13, 2011
Rise of the
Hutt Cartel
Released:
April 9, 2013
Galactic
Starfighter
Released:
December 3, 2013
Galactic
Strongholds
Released:
August 19, 2014
Shadow of Revan
Released:
December 2, 2014
Knights of the
Fallen Empire
Released:
October 20, 2015
Knights of the
Eternal Throne
Released:
December 2, 2016
13
12 Onslaught
Released:
also going to be some graphical “We’re going to be doing some October 22, 2019
upgrades and quality-of-life
improvements that will make it really cool stuff with Malgus” Legacy of the Sith
the best entrance to the game for Charles Boyd Coming Late 2021
new players. We truly believe that Creative director,
we have a great offer for players Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare
here, particularly because it’s free
for subscribers! expect more, and there is more really broadened the galaxy and
coming down the road. expanded what people think can
CB: It’s the opposite of Vader and happen in a Star Wars story.
Lando: the deal gets better all the OK: We all laughed when we were
time. If you subscribe today, you’re looking at the production plan for CB: For me, it’s the impact it has
getting everything we’ve ever put out. the year and at the various names, had on people. I’ve been lucky
It’s a great time to jump in. and it felt very fitting that “Legacy to meet so many wonderful fans
of the Sith” shortens to “LOTS.” It because of the game. I’ve seen
This is technically just was almost too corny to be true, couples that met playing and now
the start of your 10th 11 Darth but we hope that’s what it feels they’re married and even have kids.
anniversary celebration. Malgus like to players. It’s easy to underestimate the kind
will wreak
Any hints at what else havoc in of impact it can have on someone’s
fans can expect in 2022? Legacy of Looking back on a decade of day-to-day life, because “it’s just
the Sith. SWTOR, what do you think a game.” It gives that escape, the
CB: We’re going to be doing some 12 Valcorion the legacy of the game is and ability to choose and create your
cool stuff with Malgus, and it’s using the continues to be? own story, and feel like you are part
Force.
going to set off a new direction in of something bigger than yourself.
the storyline that I think will be 13 A Jedi OK: From a Star Wars perspective,
really intriguing. We never seem sentinel I think it is, without a doubt, one Become a player in the galaxy
wielding
to run out of cool things we can a pair of of the biggest and most beloved of Star Wars: The Old Republic
do in this storyline. But always lightsabers. Star Wars games ever made. It has at swtor.com.

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INTERVIEW: DOMINIC MONAGHAN
Decoding the Dark Side

Best known for playing a diminutive Hobbit in the Lord of the Rings
trilogy, Dominic Monaghan’s first love has always been the Star Wars
saga. The actor reflects on scoring a full-sized part in its epic finale,
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
W O R D S : J AY S T O B I E
rom uncovering world-building captures my interest. that we are able to achieve great
F
historical facts Star Wars introduced me to those things. With the past few years
to storming a elements and helped me quantify that we’ve all been through, from
Star Destroyer, my taste in art. the COVID-19 pandemic to acts of
Resistance ally Every droid or creature, even social injustice around the world,
Beaumont though they were different, they I think it’s important to remind
Kin—portrayed by Dominic all seemed to correlate to the ourselves that we can all do better.
Monaghan—brought a wealth of same galaxy. It was a fully realized
skills to their cause in 2019’s The world and sparked so much of my Beaumont served the
Rise of Skywalker. Insider caught imagination. I knew I wanted to Resistance as an intelligence
up with Monaghan to discuss spend the rest of my life as an actor officer and historian. Is this
the actor’s passion for Star Wars, working toward getting a chance to how the character was initially
Beaumont Kin’s origins, and his contribute to that world. described to you, or did the
favorite moments from the set. part evolve over time?
You’re also a huge fan of Yoda. Honestly, I think J.J. Abrams just
Star Wars Insider: You’ve As I’ve matured, Yoda has become wanted to get me off his back
played pivotal roles in The my favorite character. There’s a (laughs). I’d been teasing him as to
Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001- huge amount we can learn from why he had made Star Wars:
2003) and other blockbuster Yoda through his very old, kind The Force Awakens (2015)
franchises, but Star Wars holds of sedate wisdom. I have a tattoo without having me
a special place for you. How inspired by Yoda’s line reminding do anything in it.
has the galaxy far, far away Luke that we are luminous beings, When the third film
influenced your life? and this body that we live in is just came along, J.J. knew
Dominic Monaghan: Star Wars is a shell for who we actually are— I was in England to watch a soccer
the reason I became an actor, and what we say, how we behave, and tournament. He emailed me to tell
it’s dictated so much of my life. the choices that we make. me that he might have a role for
I love fantasy, whether it’s in the Yoda is an excellent teacher, me, but it was still early on, and he
videogames I play or the television because he is quick to remind couldn’t tell me about Beaumont
shows I watch. Anything with anyone who has fallen off the path right then.

43
01
“I looked around, and it was

just me and R2-D2 there…
It was a special moment.”
He said that I’d have the part I also had a moment with
if England won their next match, Joonas that was very sweet. After
but that was just another way we finished a take, I asked him
for J.J. and I to have fun with if he could keep his Chewbacca
our friendship. He started to feed costume on so that I could give
information to me once it was him a hug. Of course, Joonas
able to be divulged. He told me didn’t just hug me, he did the
the character had a background whole Chewie thing (makes
in science and was well educated. Wookiee noises and laughs). Hugging
When I learned Beaumont was a Chewbacca made me realize that
codebreaker, I started to read books I’d gone on this incredible journey
about coding and watched films and everything I’d worked for had
about codebreaking. come to fruition.
I was a tiny cog in the wheel, so
I tried as hard as I could to not put As an original trilogy fan,
J.J. under any extra pressure. When how did you react when you
he had the bandwidth to chat, learned that the Emperor
he’d ask me if Beaumont would had returned?
wear military clothes, if I could Well, they weren’t giving out paper
grow a beard, and how I thought scripts to an extraneous character
Beaumont felt about droids and like myself. In the version I read,
Chewbacca. It was a treat to be there was no Emperor. The script
asked those questions about Star I saw was dramatically different,
Wars. I wondered if a 7-year-old because I think J.J. had written a
Dom would believe this. few different versions—one that
he was working from, one that he
Was there a particular gave to the main characters, so
moment while you were they knew most of the story, and
filming The Rise of Skywalker then a red herring script for the
where it truly sank in that other characters.
you were in Star Wars? With a project that was under
There were a lot of beautiful lock and key, the production
moments, but two were personal couldn’t run the risk of having
for me. We did a scene with the four hundred people read a top-
entire gang, with John Boyega secret script. When I came back
(Finn), Daisy Ridley (Rey), Oscar for reshoots, we heard talk about
Isaac (Poe Dameron), Joonas the Emperor, but J.J. was very
Suotamo (Chewbacca), and a whole hush-hush about it and said, as
bunch of the cast. It was going to a fan of the movies, that it was
take time to change lighting and probably better for me to wait and
move cameras, so everyone went be surprised, as well.
outside to get some fresh air.
The set became very quiet. I Beaumont also fought
looked around, and it was just me the First Order on a Star
and R2-D2 there. No one was in Destroyer. What was being
the droid, so I went over, put my in a space battle like for you,
hand on his dome, and spent a considering you grew up
few minutes trying to meditate loving the franchise?
my thanks into this droid for what We had a great time with all of
it had given me over the years. It the explosions. We were waiting
was a special moment, because R2 around quite a bit between takes,
is someone we all have protective so the crew ended up playing
feelings for. “Body Movin’” and “Intergalactic”
02

01 Dominic
Monaghan with
J.J. Abrams
on the set of
The Rise of
Skywalker
(2019)
02 Monaghan as
Beaumont Kin.
03 Beaumont Kin
(Monaghan)
and his
Resistance
allies receive
devasating
news.
03
DOMINIC
MONAGHAN
CAREER NOTES
Dominic Monaghan’s
extensive acting career
has seen him travel
from rural England to
a mysterious island via
Middle Earth before
taking flight to a galaxy
far, far away....
Prior to his breakout role role as
Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck in
The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-
2003), Monaghan starred in the
BBC crime drama Hetty Wainthropp
Investigates (1996-1998), before
working with J.J. Abrams on the
fantasy series Lost (2004-2010). He
also played superpowered mutant
Bolt in Marvel’s X-Men Origins:
Wolverine (2009), and shady physicist
Simon Campos in Flashforward
(2009-2010). Monaghan also
hosted and executive produced
the acclaimed wildlife documentary
series Wild Things with Dominic
Monaghan (2013-2016).
04
“To shoot a blaster on a Star Wars Now that you are a part
of the Star Wars galaxy,
set was pretty epic!” has your perception of the
franchise changed?
I don’t think it really has, as I’ve
by the Beastie Boys. The Resistance of time with each other because 04 Monaghan always had a huge amount of
and the dark side all had a dance we were generally in the same had fun with reverence for the films and have
party—we were body popping scenes together. They’re lovely co-stars held them in such high regard.
Kelly Marie
and doing the robot with all the people who kept the energy on set Tran and I’ve yet to be invited to Star Wars
stormtroopers (laughs). really light and fun. We just tried Billie Lourd. Celebration, so I hope I’ll get a
That probably sounds like a to make sure that everyone was chance to go to one and be part
05 Monaghan
silly way to spend time, but it was happy and having a good time. as Resistance of that extended family. As a Star
a device to keep our energy in Kelly Marie and Billie are both intelligence Wars fan, and as someone who was
captain
the right place and all of us in a great performers too, so being in Beaumont lucky enough to be involved in a
positive mindset. When we started scenes with them made my work Kin. film, it would be a real privilege.
filming again, our energy hadn’t a lot easier.
dropped. I also had a mini-hero
moment getting to shoot a blaster Kelly Marie Tran is a big fan
and making sure my co-workers of The Lord of the Rings. Did
stayed alive. To shoot a blaster on she mention that at all?
a Star Wars set was pretty epic! Oh yes, definitely. Kelly is cool and
keeps it pretty mellow, but at some
You worked primarily with point she was like, “Okay, we have
Kelly Marie Tran and Billie to talk about The Lord of the Rings!”
Lourd on the film. Could you (laughs). The lovely John Boyega did
tell us about what it was like the same thing. It was wonderful
to act alongside them? to hear from my fellow performers
We were buds! I took them to a just how much of a great cinema-
Manchester United soccer game at going experience that trilogy was
Wembley Stadium. We spent a lot for them.
05

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DREW STRUZAN INTERVIEW
DREW
A
STRUZAN
M A S T E R A T W O R K
The artist behind some of the most iconic posters in movie
history tells Star Wars Insider about his career, his process, and his
decades-long collaboration with the makers of Star Wars.

01
rew Struzan’s Star Wars Insider:

“Most of My iNflUEncEs
D
art is instantly How and when did your
recognizable. love of art begin? came fRom the olD
Inspiring, bold,
and powerful,
Drew Struzan: My love of
painting and drawing was there
MasTeRs, like PoNtormo
his style has when I was born. I have always aNd MichElangelo.”
almost singlehandedly defined preferred communicating
our notion of what a “classic” with my drawings, rather than 01 Cover art California. So, I gathered up all
from 2001 for
movie poster should be, whether with my words. When I was Wizards of of the drawings I had done in
hanging in theatres, plastered on in grammar school, I was the the Coast’s his class and sent them in. They
Rebellion Era
billboards, or carefully taped onto designated decorator for every accepted me right out of high
Sourcebook.
a bedroom wall. holiday. While other kids were school and actually bumped me
And if his posters for films like stuck doing homework at their up to the third semester.
Blade Runner (1982), Back to the desks, I was given colored chalk It was a small school in those
Future (1985), and The Goonies and free reign on the blackboard. days, but with some of the best
(1985) weren’t iconic enough, As a senior in high school, I educators in the world. Lorser
his art for both the Star Wars and really began contemplating my Feitelson, a forerunner of modern
Indiana Jones movies has become future. I asked my art teacher what design, was one of them and he
almost synonymous with the films the best art school in the country taught me not only how to draw,
themselves, like a John Williams was, and he told me it was the but also how to channel the spirit
score, or a Ben Burtt sound effect. Art Center College of Design in of an artist.

02
“They weRe
iNiTiAlly asking
foR one PoSter,
b t i saw
This As An
opPortuNiTy To
do somethiNg
diffeReNt,
somethiNg
AnDER.”
Which artistic styles and eras
did you gravitate towards in
your early career?
Most of my influences came from
the old masters, like Pontormo
and Michelangelo, who knew the
human form and revealed it to us
04
through drawings. I also delved
into Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and
the modernists. But when I left
school and started working, I had
to find my own style. Occasionally,
an art director would ask me to
work in the style of someone, or
in the style of a period, but after a
while they just started asking me
to “work my magic.”
How did your technique

change as you began making
more movie posters?
Actually, the technique I primarily
use for movie posters was created
out of necessity. The movie industry
almost always makes changes to the The first Star Wars poster 02 The idea of the portraits if he showed me how
art, because there are a lot of people you worked on was for a tryptych to use the airbrush. So, I did Luke
of posters to
involved and, therefore, a lot of the 1978 re-release of A promote the and Leia, and he did all the ships
different opinions. My technique New Hope, for which you Special and critters.
allows me to make any changes partnered with Charles Editions He was nearly done with his
came from
without much stress. White III. How did the Struzan. part of the work, but while he
My early work had all been done now-iconic “torn” Circus was making a small change to the
in oil paint, but it took forever to poster come about? art he accidentally spilled bleach
dry and was impossible to change. Charles actually got the job to down the front of the painting. We
I leaned on my education to find a create a new poster for Star Wars stood there watching everything
different method and learned that first, but he didn’t see himself as a disappear under a bleach waterfall.
acrylics are fast drying, especially portrait artist. He called me up and But Charlie recovered with grace,
when using an airbrush. And, since asked if I would do the portraits. as you can see in the original art.
drawing had always been my favorite At that time, I had never used an The “torn” aspect of that
thing anyway, the pencil work airbrush, but I was eager to learn. piece arose from us having left
seemed to be an obvious choice. That was our trade-off: I would do inadequate room for the movie’s

credits. We added extra space by stills taken on the set. From those
imitating the look of “wild posting” shots, I could see how the movie
(traditionally paper posters, looked, and good photographers
pasted onto the sides of walls and were worth their weight in gold. If
buildings). It remains one of George they didn’t know how to do their
Lucas’ favorites, since the style fits job, my job became a million times
perfectly with the film’s history, more difficult. And if there was no
and with poster history in general. coverage of the characters or sets,
it was like working blind.
How do you work out the I never had trouble coming 03 The Industrial 03
Light & Magic
composition for one of your up with ideas. A lesser-known logo, painted
posters? Are you ever able to tool I used (and still use) is “lucid by Drew All I had to do was get up and paint
watch a near-complete film dreaming.” After filling my head Struzan. the actual work. I once heard John
for inspiration? with ideas, I would work on 04 Struzan’s Lennon speaking about how he
More often than not, I did not the compositions while I slept. theatrical wrote his songs in his sleep. It’s very
one-sheet for
see the film. What I saw in those By morning, I had the painting Attack of the
interesting to hear how many creative
days were piles of notebooks of already done in my mind’s eye. Clones (2002). people have used this method.
For your movie posters,

especially, what was your
typical artistic process?
Get up early, work hard all day,
get some rest. Do it all over again
the next day. Enjoy the work. Seek
to understand both the needs of
marketing and the needs of the
filmmaker, and do the best job
possible marrying these two goals.
I never let a painting leave the
studio that I am not one-hundred-
percent happy with.
My process was to get inspired, 08
think about it, and then do it. It was
pretty much that simple. Just like no
two movies are alike, hopefully no
two posters are alike.
Mel Brooks once said that the
poster is “the invitation to the
film,” and I like that expression.
The difference for me, however, is
that I not only want the poster to
speak of the film before one sees it,
but to also fill the soul with great
memories afterwards. That way, it
is not just a pop of creativity, but
a long-lasting reminder of what
a wonderful experience it was to
watch the movie.
In the 1990s, you provided

cover art for a number of Star
Wars novels. What influences
did you draw from in order
to realize characters who only
existed on the printed page?
Book covers are different animals
from movie posters. For one
thing, there is a lot of freedom.
I would get a few paragraphs
04

05
of what the story was about, and for the character, he was eager 05 Struzan last-minute request. They
created the
then go from there. to do so and actually turned are now some of the most
evocative
Fewer people are making decisions out to be a very good model. teaser poster instantly recognizable pieces
about what the cover should look like, Looking back now, it is a fond for Return of of Star Wars art of all time.
the Jedi
as opposed to a whole cast of people memory of those times, and the (1983). I was taking a break: my wife and
in the movie industry. The 1990s interaction between fiction and I went to Yosemite to relax and,
were a great time for Bantam and Del real life. But I did consciously somehow, people at Lucasfilm
Rey, with so many authors creating try to be truthful to the author’s found me. And, honestly, although
backstories and filling the great chasm vision. So, in that regard, it was we were on vacation, how could
of wonder and “what if’s” around the very much the same as composing I possibly say I didn’t have time
film’s characters and galaxy. a movie poster. for such a great project? So, we
I remember for one series I had packed our bags on the spot and
a good friend in mind. He fit a Your beautiful triptych drove home, and then I got on
character’s description perfectly. for the Star Wars: Special the phone with everyone at
When I asked him if he would pose Editions was actually a Skywalker Ranch.

06
They were initially asking for
one poster, but I saw this as an
opportunity to do something
different, something grander. I
presented my idea. There was some
faxing back and forth—remember
faxing?! George liked the idea and
said, “Do it.”
There was a bit of a rush because
the original deadline was set for
just the one poster, and now I was
doing three. Looking at the end
result, though, I’d say it was well
worth that short vacation in order
to do the work. And, fortunately,
my wife agrees.
What was it like coming back

for Star Wars: The Phantom
Menace (1999), with George
Lucas even stipulating that
no changes could be made to
your poster?
George knows illustration touches
the heart and imagination much good, even then, and remains 06 Cover art And it was just an absolute pleasure
more readily than photography. It one of my very fond memories. for Shield to work with J.J. Abrams. As the film
of Lies.
was nice to be respected and to not was being cut, and special effects
have to change things constantly. Moving on to your teaser 07 Struzan were being developed, I worked on
also created
And it was actually a bit of a shock poster for Star Wars: The cover art for
the poster and got sneak peaks that
to hear that George made the Force Awakens (2015), what a number provided the essence of his vision.
decision to use just that one piece was it like revisiting Star of Indiana What I loved the most was the
Jones books.
of art worldwide. That was the Wars for a new generation relationship between Rey and Finn,
first time anything like that had of fans and of characters? and, naturally, I appreciated seeing
ever been done. I suppose I didn’t The Force Awakens was a new Han Solo back with Chewbacca.
know how to absorb that level of vision, filled with my old friends. Seeing them all on the big screen
exposure. I still don’t. But it did feel I knew the stories and felt at home. took me back to the joy of taking my
young son to the Chinese Theater,
to see the original film in 1977. I was
honored to be part of the transition
of the franchise, as it was turned over
to new, talented hands.
Recently, you’ve spent some time

meeting fans at conventions all
over the country. What has that
been like for you?
The fans make me cry. No joke.
I am overwhelmed by their
kindness and their stories.
Although I never imagined
I would have the opportunity to
speak with people who were moved
by my work, I did dream that the
work would bring happiness and
a smile to the world. Just knowing
that my work reached out and
touched so many people is a very
emotionally moving experience.
Their stories inspire me.
07

The Galactic Gallery in Dallas, heart and soul of my work. And 08 Struzan’s Enjoy the work of others. Delve
Texas, is a beautiful home for for those striving to find their cover art for into their thinking. Identify what
The Paradise
much of your art where fans own creativity, don’t give up. It is Snare, by moves you in their work and
can see your work up close. a long process and a lot of hard A. C. Crispin. see if that is coming through in
What would you say to artists work. It is time consuming, but your own. And, when you find
and fans who find inspiration the joy is always there, and the something of value, you can add
in your artwork, and who communication gets stronger and your voice to the choir, so to
are constantly striving for stronger with every new challenge speak. In that way, we keep the
creativity in their own? and experience. faith alive.
I’m trying to give the gift of art to
people, the gift of beauty and peace.
If you find something that you love
in it, then you’ve discovered the
“Just kNowing that my WoRk ReAchEd
o t and toUched S Any peoplE is a
veRy EMotionally moving exPerieNce.
thEir sto iEs inSPirE mE.”
08
INDIANA STRUZAN
Drew Struzan was the artist
behind the international poster
for Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
and the subsequent Indiana Jones
movies, and in some cases he was
even the star:
“I actually body doubled for
Harrison Ford for many of the Indy
posters,” reveals Drew Struzan.
“You need to understand that, by
the time I began working on the
advertising art for the film, the
actors had long moved on to other
projects. They don’t necessarily
even look the same.
The job is rarely a one-shot
image. It’s really to explore many
ideas that could represent the
film. Harrison Ford, even in those
days, had better things to do
than hang out and wait for me to
pose him endlessly for ideas. My
wife was always my photographer
(and occasional model), so, long
before the advent of one-hour
photo shops, she would shoot the
film, develop the film, and make
my prints. If I had to send the
film to a lab, it would take days
before I would have my reference
material. Hollywood isn’t patient.
Everything is a rush!

THE FORCE OF… FANZINES
THE FORCE OF…
FANZINES
Star Wars Insider
01
meets the creators and
historians who have
kept the tradition of
Star Wars fanzines alive
for more than 40 years.
WORDS: AMY RICHAU
efore Star Wars

blogs, podcasts,
B and YouTube
channels,
Star Wars
fans produced
and purchased
hundreds of unofficial Star
Wars fanzines that explored and
celebrated the characters and
storylines of the galaxy far, far
away. The first fanzines focused
on the saga began popping up
shortly after the release of Star
Wars: A New Hope in 1977, and
even today, when most fan-
generated content is exclusively
digital—some continue to
produce and distribute
physical Star Wars fanzines.
NONE OF THE FANZINES MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE

OFFICIALLY LICENSED, APPROVED, ASSOCIATED WITH,
SPONSORED, OR ENDORSED BY LUCASFILM LTD., DISNEY, OR
STAR WARS INSIDER. ALL IMAGERY IS REPRODUCED WITH
02 THE PERMISSION OF THE ORIGINATORS.

04
05
03
Dr. Amy H. Sturgis teaches Cargill. “The first five years was with
classes about the impact of Star Star Trek zines, publishing five issues
Wars and other media at several of a zine called Tal-Shaya. In 1977
U.S. universities. She defines I fell in love with the first Star Wars
fanzines as amateur publications, movie, and began reading, writing,
“created and distributed not and illustrating for several of the
for profit but for the love of the new Star Wars zines that were 01 Meg “Most zines that came out more
Humphrey
fannish subject.” As she explains, coming out. By 1983, when with her
than once had a comments column
“The subject may change, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was fanzine, where readers could contribute
the ingredients making up the released, I was doing my own Ceebs and their ideas for zine content,” says
Beebs.
fanzine may change, but I see zine, A Tremor in the Force.” Nowakowska. “Most zines also had
one constant: that fanzines are Maggie Nowakowska 02 Into a Larger adverts and listings for available
powered by passion, dedication, contributed to and edited Star 03 World is put and upcoming zines, along with
together by
and creativity.” Wars fanzines in the late 1970s Kara DJ. requests for contributions. Most
The content of Star Wars fanzines and 1980s. She remembers first zine publishers were reliant on
04 Cheree
has always been varied, and might seeing a Star Trek fanzine during Cargill’s 1983
down payments from readers to
include fan fiction, art, letters and a meeting of the Puget Sound fanzine, A get the zines printed at all.”
essays; commentaries and reviews; Star Trekkers. After reading a few Tremor in
the Force.
cartoons; and poetry. Some fanzines different zines, she started to Time Equals Money
talk about anything related to the submit her own stories. Excited 05 Fanzines In addition to the financial
saga, while others concentrate on to write Star Wars fan fiction, often focus demands of self-publishing, putting
on and
a particular film, a certain character, Maggie reached out to her celebrate a fanzine together involved no
or sometimes a very specific niche contacts and found someone a specific small editorial effort, especially in a
Star Wars
element of the Star Wars galaxy. The who was equally as interested character.
more analog age. The publications
possibilities are seemingly limitless. in putting out a Star Wars zine. were often text heavy and could
Several Star Wars fanzine creators “I wrote to Bev Clark,” said be quite lengthy, and fanzine
became hooked thanks to another Nowakowska, “and that took publishers did everything—from
space-bound fictional enterprise— care of the rest of my life.” soliciting for written submissions
Star Trek. “I have been involved in Many fans communicated with and artwork, designing the layouts,
fanzines since I got into fandom each other via fanzines in Letters arranging printing and binding,
in 1972,” remembers Cheree of Comment columns (LoCs). and all the marketing.

“Those who published fanzines “I really appreciate and am 06 Issue #10 of

Into a Larger
learned a whole lot about customer fascinated by the fanzines that World was
demands, costs and over-runs, and appeared in response to The themed
being the sole person responsible Phantom Menace and Rogue One: around LETTERZINES
Obi-Wan Letterzines were how many Star
for producing a product and paying A Star Wars Story (2016),” says Kenobi. Wars fans talked to each other
the bills,” says Nowakowska. “A Dr. Sturgis. “The writers and before internet mailing lists or
07 Found is
different experience, and I’d say a artists in those fanzines created email. Cheree Cargill produced
a zine for
54 issues of the letterzine
worthy one, if of its own time.” works in homage to characters fans of Star
Wars: The Southern Enclave from 1983
Readers could find fanzines in who came to life and died in the to 2000. “It was a quarterly
Clone Wars
dealer rooms at conventions or space of one film, yet the stories, (2008-2014). publication. Fans would send me
purchase them through the mail. essays, and works of art provide letters commenting on the Star
Wars movies and I would retype
Many zines were so time intensive testament to the powerful them into a format for the zine,
to produce that they only came impact made by these heroes, publish it, and send a copy to
out once or twice a year. “When however short-lived.” everyone on the mailing list.”
the personal computer came along,
zines became so much easier to A Galaxy in Training
create,” says Tish Wells, who Some things never change. Today,
contributed to Star Wars fanzines lengthy discussions between fans was (and remains) fan fiction—a
from the late 1970s to the 1990s. concerning the finer details of work of fiction written by fans for
“Before, if you found a typo you Star Wars storytelling dominate other fans, based on an established
had to re-type a whole page. With internet forums. Similarly, after the fictional universe.
a computer, you just made the release of Return of the Jedi, fanzine “When Star Wars came out,
correction and reprinted it.” discussion topics included whether I wanted to read everyone else’s
While a lot of Star Wars-related Han Solo was actually a Jedi but ideas on the plot, the characters,
discussion and fan fiction moved didn’t know it, why Leia and Mon and the history of the Star Wars
online during the late 1990s, printed Mothma were almost the only galaxy,” Nowakowska recalls.
Star Wars fanzines continued to be women shown in the saga, and
produced. Star Wars: The Phantom why Obi-Wan Kenobi lied to Luke
Menace (1999) inspired several about his father in A New Hope. 07
fans to create zines focused on the Alongside airing thoughts and
characters and relationships from opinions, another huge part of
the prequel era. the appeal and success of fanzines
06
personal
computer
so much
easier to
create.”
Tish Wells

“Also, I wanted to make sure 08 Modern own ideas about everything that
that there was a woman Jedi fanzines Star Wars introduced. Most of us
A WINDOW ON being written about as soon as
benefit from
improved print wrote more ‘grown-up’ stories
THE WORLD possible. Dyane Kirkland and quality and
full-color.
because many of us putting out
Fanzines are a global I started writing our version of fanzines were in our 20s and 30s,
phenomenon, and their Star Wars history together, and and we were the ones who could
study can offer a unique
we were adamant about making scrape together the money it took
window into non-Western
perspectives on the sure that there were female to put out a zine. That began to
characters of Star Wars Jedi around in fan fic before change with the release of The Empire
and their stories. the boys started saying that there Strikes Back. Now there were some
“I believe the fanzines
that represent a global couldn’t be girl Jedi, because the boundaries to the story. Now there
response to Star Wars are movie only showed boy Jedi.” was a romance!”
and will be important to That period between A New Hope, At a time when official Star
study and learn from,”
Doctor Amy H. Sturgis
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Wars fiction was thin on the
suggests. “Star Wars itself (1980), and the release of Return of ground, Cheree Cargill recalls how
draws ingredients from the Jedi in 1983 was an exciting time the fan fiction of zines allowed for
around the world and across
for fanfiction and fan speculation, a deeper understanding of the Star
time; fans from different
cultures and traditions as so much of the Star Wars galaxy Wars characters and their emotional
connect to different parts remained unknown. “There was so baggage. “Han Solo was my favorite
of the saga and see different little backstory, writers could make (and still is),” says Cargill. “I loved
aspects of the tales to
appreciate. Learning from up their own and did so in diverse reading stories about him and Leia.
those fans and their fan ways,” says Wells. “They used Star There were entire series of stories
works can enhance our Wars to explore many different published in the zines.”
own joy in and appreciation
topics, from gender to fascism, A number of contributors
of the franchise.”
Fans and scholars death, and discrimination.” to fanzines went on to write
interested in learning “Those were magical years for professionally, having gained
more about the history fan fiction,” Nowakowska agrees. valuable experience working on
of Star Wars fanzines can
visit the Mariellen (Ming) “Initially we only had one movie the fan-made publications. “For
Wathne Fanzine Archives that provided pretty sparse lore, but aspiring writers, it was a good way
Collection at The University it gave us a whole galaxy to explore. to learn how to tell stories in a
of Iowa. Ming Wathne ran
the archive, which both
Fans took the story that George galaxy that had a well-known
preserved and circulated Lucas had created and explored their foundation already, rather than
fanzines to fans, from her
garage for many years
before the collection moved
to the university. Originally
called The Corellian Archives,
the collection includes more
than 3,000 fanzines.
struggling to create their own

from the very start,” notes Wells.
“I think fandom
“Zines aren’t as convenient as a whole does
as the web. It’s not an activity
that rewards you with immediate enjoy having
gratification,” says Nowakowska.
“We nourished a whole lot of future
physical things
pro-writers with the experience of
working with editors, with tight
and collecting.”
deadlines, with the nail-biting Meg Humphrey
experience of sending a manuscript
off in the mail without knowing
whether someone else might like
our story.”
The Future of Fanzines

Star Wars fanzines being made Wars, and there’s so much about
today are just as eclectic as the their culture and their world that
zines of decades ago. Some are could be explored, so that’s what
produced by a group of fans with I’m doing with my zines.”
a host of contributors, while others Kara DJ edits the fanzine Into
are the sole creation of a single a Larger World and made her first
fan, working on their own to pocket-sized zine with the purpose
express their devotion to the saga. of trading it at Star Wars Celebration
“I love collecting fan-made Chicago with other fans. “I printed
works, and I eventually got to the fifty copies and gave it out to
point of having so many ideas of my cosplayers and other people I met,”
own that I finally decided to make says Kara. “Once I got home from
one,” says Meg Humphrey, who there, I was on such a Star Wars high
began making Star Wars fanzines that I decided to try my hand at a
after buying zines that covered full-sized issue.”
a variety of her other interests. Into a Larger World is an analog
“I especially wanted to focus on creation, made with paper and glue,
characters and circumstances that and regularly includes contributions
are brief or niche but that I’ve come from other fans. Topics include
to really love. Fan works allow us to upcoming Star Wars TV series,
do that, and I’m grateful that I can character studies, and topics such
take something small and specific, as Star Wars podcasters. “I wanted
make a whole thing about it, and the fanzine to be part of the
discover that others love it too.” community. People pitch article
The first zine Humphrey made ideas to me and I’m always in
was called Ceebs and Beebs, which awe of how cool their ideas are, easier to treasure a physical copy
featured the astromech droids CB-23 that I would never have thought than something that just exists
and BB-8. “At Star Wars Celebration of on my own! I also love digitally, and that’s what makes
Chicago, I got a copy signed by featuring fan artists and doing them worthwhile. Zines don’t
Christopher Sean, who plays Kazuda Q&A interviews with other fan take up that much space, aren’t
Xiono on Star Wars Resistance, and creators. It’s a way to continue usually too expensive to make (and
I’ll always treasure it!” growing the community, therefore are affordable to buy), and
Humphrey also created a series learning new things, and can cover topics or characters that
of zines featuring the Ewoks. All of making some amazing Star maybe don’t get as much love as
Humphrey’s zines are hand drawn Wars friends.” they deserve,” she adds.
with pencils, pens, and markers “I think fandom as a whole does With many more Star Wars
before being digitally scanned to enjoy having physical things and stories on their way, it seems likely
add text. “I have two volumes done collecting,” suggests Humphrey. that the Force will remain strong
right now: Luu Na-Chin, which “There really is something different with fanzines. No matter where
means ‘beautiful tribe’ in Ewokese, about holding a zine in your hands, your interest in the galaxy far, far
and Chattu Kla Tana, meaning knowing that a person—a fan just away might lie, it’s a pretty good
‘blessings from our earth.’ Ewoks like you—has put in so much effort bet there is a Star Wars fanzine
are my favorite creatures from Star to make this beautiful product. It’s out there for you.
Our resident Star Wars expert, Jay Stobie, consults
his library of holocrons and ancient Jedi texts to
answer your questions about the events, people,
and places of the galaxy far, far away….
“When Darth Vader Force-chokes Admiral political will. On the military side, each
Motti in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), Grand Moff oversaw a galactic sector and dealt with
Moff Tarkin orders him to stop. Was Vader’s planetary governors, while Grand Moffs were
military rank low enough at the time for given domain over vast territories of space.
Tarkin to give him such an order?” Upon completion of the Death Star, Palpatine
Walter Snelson, U.S.A. disbanded the Senate and dispersed its authority
to the regional Moffs, essentially consolidating
Who wields more power, a Grand Moff or the Empire’s political and military branches
a Sith Lord? As with the majority of Sheev into a single entity. With Moffs looking after
Palpatine’s machinations, the answer is local affairs and the Death Star keeping systems
multi-layered and complex. in line through fear, the Emperor required a
After Palpatine established the Galactic trustworthy subordinate to coordinate these
Empire, the Imperial Senate controlled the efforts. As Palpatine’s personally appointed
various star systems and enacted the Emperor’s Grand Moff of the Outer Rim Territories,
The Grand Moff’s Minions

Admiral Motti Colonel Yularen General Tagge
One of the Imperial military’s joint A veteran of the Clone Wars As chief of Imperial military
chiefs, Admiral Motti considered who fought for the Republic operations aboard the Death Star,
the Death Star as the ultimate alongside Anakin Skywalker, General Tagge often disagreed
power in the galaxy, downplaying Yularen eventually became a colonel with Admiral Motti about the
the Force’s influence and earning the in the Imperial Security Bureau and battle station’s tactical superiority,
ire of Darth Vader. Motti commanded the naval investigated possible acts of sedition in the considering the superweapon to be “Tarkin’s
forces attached to the Death Star, perishing with Senate. Yularen was later appointed to Tarkin’s Folly.” Unlike Motti, Tagge recognized that the
Tarkin when the station was destroyed. staff as the Death Star’s senior ISB officer. Rebel Alliance posed a real threat to the Empire.

Wilhuff Tarkin held significant influence within
the Empire.
In most societies, such a position would
appear to rank second only to the Emperor
himself. However, Palpatine’s plans extended
beyond simple political matters and military
might, as he also emphasized the teachings of
the mysterious, Force-wielding Sith.
The Ultimate Power in the Universe?

After Darth Maul’s (apparent) death on Naboo,
the then-Supreme Chancellor Palpatine saw
great potential for a future apprentice in the
form of young Anakin Skywalker, who would
Director Krennic General Romodi

The Director of Advanced Weapons Another Clone Wars veteran who chose to
Research for the Imperial Security join the Imperial military, General Romodi
Bureau, Orson Krennic was tasked worked closely with Tarkin during the latter’s
with overcoming the obstacles days as a Moff quelling local rebellions.
necessary to complete the Death Romodi accepted Tarkin’s personal
Star. However, any hope Krennic entertained invitation to return to military service and
of impressing the Emperor faded when Tarkin help his old friend prepare the Death Star
assumed complete control over the project. for its galactic debut.

eventually go on to become known
as Darth Vader. After the Empire rose
TRACKING
to power, Vader undertook the crucial TARKIN’S
task of extinguishing the Jedi and ASCENT
eliminating those who could oppose
the Sith. Beginning with his leadership
64 BSW4:
of the massacre at the Jedi Temple on • Wilhuff Tarkin was born on
Coruscant, Vader served as the Emperor’s the planet Eriadu.
enforcer, hunting down any Jedi who
36 BSW4:
survived Order 66. Just as Tarkin presided • Tarkin attended a
over bureaucrats and officers, Palpatine’s conference where he met
apprentice guided the Inquisitors who Sheev Palpatine, who took
an interest in the young
searched the galaxy for any remaining man’s career.
Force-sensitive foes.
So, in essence, Tarkin and Vader both 20 BSW4:
• Captain Tarkin served the
did the Emperor’s bidding while focusing
Republic on a mission
on two very different fronts. Since he involving the Nexus Route.
was not a part of the military hierarchy, Tarkin was captured by
Darth Vader held no rank, yet he also Separatist forces and
imprisoned in the Citadel
owed no allegiance to the command on the planet Lola Sayu
structure. Vader’s stature came from his his “friend” when the pair discussed the before being rescued
connection to the Force and the prestige presence of Obi-Wan Kenobi on the Death by Obi-Wan Kenobi and
Anakin Skywalker.
bestowed upon him by Palpatine, who Star. The two appeared to have established
simultaneously supported Tarkin’s career. a genuine rapport with one another. 19 BSW4:
If Tarkin did not outrank him, why Thus, when Tarkin asked Vader to • Admiral Tarkin began
would Darth Vader yield to the Grand spare Motti, the Sith Lord likely perceived his involvement with
the construction of
Moff and release Motti from his Force it as more of a request than an order. the Galactic Empire’s
grip? Given their mutual allegiance to With his point about the Force made, dreaded Death Star.
Palpatine, one could view Tarkin and Vader clearly felt punishing Motti for
1 BSW4:
Vader’s collaborative efforts as obedience his lack of faith was less important than • Following a successful test
to their immediate superior. In addition maintaining his relationship with the at Jedha, Tarkin usurped
to this, Anakin Skywalker was shown to Grand Moff, enabling them to continue control of the Death Star
from Director Orson
respect Tarkin during the Clone Wars, and to work together to impose Emperor
Krennic. However, Tarkin
the Grand Moff even referred to Vader as Palpatine’s will. arrived at Scarif too late
to prevent the rebels from
escaping with the battle
station’s plans.
0 ASW4:
• Tarkin demonstrated the
Death Star’s power by
wiping out Alderaan, but
was killed when the Death
Star was destroyed by rebel
starfighters that exploiting
a weakness built into the
station by Galen Erso.
Embracing The Empire CONTACT US

Send your in-galaxy queries to
With the fall of the Galactic Republic, many newly minted Imperial officers used the birth of the Galactic starwarsinsider@titanemail.com
Empire to advance their own interests. As an admiral and later a Grand Moff, Tarkin made a name for with the subject header,
himself as he mercilessly subdued uprisings on Mon Cala and the Gotal moon of Antar 4, as well as by “A Certain Point of View.”
establishing the Tarkin Initiative and exploring the potential for superweapons to be used to benefit
Emperor Palpatine’s aims.
Director Orson Krennic had his own visions of grandeur, believing that delivering a fully operational
Death Star would gain him favor in the Emperor’s eyes. Similarly, Thrawn of the Chiss Ascendancy
perceived the Empire as superior to its predecessor, so much so that he joined the Imperial fleet and
utilized his cunning intellect to rise to the rank of Grand Admiral.

FOLLOW THE WAY
OF THE MANDALORIAN!
A deluxe collector’s edition
exploring the debut season
of the hit Star Wars series
The Mandalorian, streaming
only on Disney+!
Featuring never-before-
seen photographs, complete
episode guide, and a behind-
the-scenes look at the
show’s creation!
OUT
NOW $19.99 | Hardcover
ISBN: 9781787737105
Also available as a softcover

WORLDWIDE C E L E B R AT I N G T H E S A G A
AMAZED BY
ARMOR
Suiting up for Mandalore
and the Empire
J
asmin Schröder’s initial
cosplay encounter took place
when she met members of
the 501st Legion’s German Garrison
at LEGOLAND® in 2017. Many of
the fans at the event were wearing
sandtrooper armor, and Schröder
fell instantly in love with the iconic
design. By January 2019, the new
cosplayer had completed her own
sandtrooper costume and joined
the 501st Legion herself.
Schröder felt the same level of
excitement when she saw the
Armorer in The Mandalorian
(2019-present) and immediately
knew that would be her next
project. “I studied every scene of

INSIDER NEEDS YOU!
We want to hear from you! Tell us about your
Star Wars experience. What made you want
ARTISTS’ ALLEY
to become a fan? What have you done in the
name of Star Wars? Tell us your Star Wars
story by sending your photos, art, and
letters here:
starwarsinsider@titanemail.com
Or via regular post:
Talented Star Wars fans share their amazing
UNITED STATES
Star Wars Worldwide,
UNITED KINGDOM
Star Wars Worldwide,
drawings inspired by the galaxy far, far away....
Star Wars Insider, Star Wars Insider,
Titan Magazines, 144 Southwark
2819 Rosehall Lane, Street, London,
Aurora, IL, 60503, SE1 0UP, 01 “LANDO CALRISSIAN”
U.S.A. U.K.
BY RACHAEL SMITH
Fan artist Rachael Smith

expresses her love for
Star Wars through her
work, such as this stunning
portrait of a young Lando
Calrissian with his sabacc
cards as depicted in Solo:
A Star Wars Story (2018).
“Ever since I was a kid, Star
Wars has always played an
important part in my life,”
says Smith. “My family and
I continue to bond over the
franchise, and our love has
motivated me to express
this artistically.”
02 “COZY CALAMARI”
AND “HIGH REPUBLIC”
BY MEGAN POEHLER
Inspired by Charles Soule’s

novel Light of the Jedi,
fan artist Megan Poehler
her to check all the details of the
wanted to illustrate
costume,” recalls the cosplayer. The Bell Zettifar and Loden
most significant challenge proved Greatstorm in action. “I
to be the ensemble’s soft parts, felt very connected to
because Schröder had never sewn Bell’s character,” explains
before. With determination that the artist. Poehler also
would make the Armorer proud, crafted a tribute to the
Schröder purchased a sewing Mon Calamari dock worker
who wore an attention-
machine, fabric, and all the other
grabbing sweater in The
parts necessary for the costume.
Mandalorian’s second
A good friend was also able to 3D
season. “I think he
print a helmet for her. has a future in fashion
Much like the Armorer and her modeling,” Poehler quips.
forge, Schröder discovered that
sewing came naturally to her, thus
allowing her to craft every soft
element on her own. After a
four-week build, the cosplayer’s
devotion to the project paid off
when Brian Matyas, a concept
designer for The Mandalorian,
noticed the completed costume.
According to Schröder, Matyas
complimented the armor’s accuracy
in comparison to the wardrobe
assembled for the show. What
did Schröder think of Matyas’s
response? “Best compliment ever.”
BOUNTY HUNTERS
Scouring the galaxy for the
stars of Star Wars...
Meet the stars, show the evidence, win

the bounty! Bounty Hunters is sponsored
by Kotobukiya. Each issue's winner will
receive a fantastic Kotobukiya Star
Wars statue kit! To see more,
visit www.facebook.com/kotobukiya
01 02
GREG GRUNBERG
HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
AND DONALD FAISON: Gingerbread treats and other Star Wars goodies
O
Don’t Resist The Hype riginally from France, Yeni
found her interest in Star
M
atthew Crandall’s experience at Star Wars crafts and cosplay
Wars Celebration Chicago 2019 was reached new heights after moving
made even more exciting when he to Denmark. While endeavoring
met two of the saga's hotshot pilots. to make her new hometown of
Upon meeting Greg Grunberg, who played Randers the Danish epicenter of
ace Resistance hero Temmin “Snap” Wexley all things Star Wars, Yeni also finds
in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and joy in expressing her fandom by
The Rise of Skywalker (2019), Crandall was baking cakes and other goodies
impressed by the actor’s genuine nature. influenced by the saga.
“Greg brought a grounded and relatable Whatever her inspiration happens
quality to Snap that made him stand out,” to be at the time, Yeni always aims
says Crandall. “I was truly sad when his to put her own galactic twist into
character met his fate."” every project that she tackles. “My
A longtime fan of Donald Faison’s biggest challenge was a gingerbread
comedic work, Crandall was thrilled when the AT-AT I made last Christmas,” says materials to create her very own
actor joined the Star Wars galaxy to voice Yeni. “It was tall and heavy. I had version of a carded Leia toy for her
Hype Fazon in Star Wars Resistance feared it would not stand up long daughter. “I also like to be creative
(2018-2020). As you might expect, meeting enough for me to take a picture, but with my daughter’s lunch boxes,”
Faison lived up to the hype. “Donald makes the Force was with me and it stayed explains Yeni. “Star Wars is the most
the most of his fan interactions and left me on its feet throughout December!” recurring theme there!” Yeni has a
with a big goofy smile on my face,” beams A gingerbread Millennium Falcon Darth Vader helmet and costume
Crandall. “I love the energy his character joined the AT-AT’s ranks, as did a already, but she is looking forward
brought to the series.” cake Yeni baked for her daughter’s to taking that hobby even more
01 Matthew poses with Greg Grunberg, known for school that resembled a LEGO® seriously. “For now, I have been
portraying Snap Wexley in The Force Awakens build of Han Solo's infamous buying my costumes, but I would
(2015) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
smuggling ship. like to be able to make my own from
02 Matthew enjoys a photo op with Donald Faison,
Also enamored by do-it-yourself scratch, and maybe try to join the
who voiced Hype Fazon in Star Wars Resistance
(2018-2020) crafts, Yeni made use of recycled Danish 501st.”

WORLDWIDE
AS BRAVE AS BAZE
A fan connects with the Rogue One hero’s journey
F
or Philip Odango, Star Wars brought so much humanity to his Wars cosplay community itself.
fandom means so much more portrayal of a disbelieving man who “Star Wars inspires artists from all
than mere entertainment. “As regains his sense of faith, if not in areas of craftsmanship to explore
a Filipino-American child growing the Force then at least in his friend, their own interpretations of the
up in Virginia, I looked to the Chirrut Îmwe,” says Odango. “As a characters they love,” explains
adventures of the Jedi as a way to cosplayer of Asian descent, it was Odango. “No matter what their own
escape bullying. In the worlds of Star thrilling to see myself represented cultural background is, cosplayers
s, those who may look different on-screen through a tough and can creatively express themselves
find ways to work together.” enigmatic character like Baze, which through so many Star Wars
Odango related to the humanity inspired me to elevate the details of characters. Star Wars is pure
inherent in Baze Malbus, played by my costume craftsmanship.” escapist fantasy, yet its themes
Jiang Wen in Rogue One: A Star Odango sees the same sort of have helped a young immigrant
Wars Story (2016). “Jiang Wen universal camaraderie in the Star boy discover the Force within.”

TK-101
HINTS, TIPS, AND IDEAS FOR CRAFTING
Y O U R O W N S TA R WA R S G A L A X Y
BUCKET
“The Duel.” It might not be full-sized,
but that little helmet would make the
perfect base for a cool samurai-
MAKEOVER!
infused stormtrooper helmet like the
ones seen in the show.
Mix and Match

In this edition of TK-101, we experiment with a mash- Garage sales are fine for impulse
up of old toys to transform them into a child-sized buys and lucky finds, but sometimes
you’re looking for something more
stormtrooper helmet inspired by Star Wars: Visions. specific, which is when online
WORDS: CHRISTOPHER COOPER auction sites come into their own.
In the case of our trooper helmet, we
W
hat do you keep in your Recently, when an old friend of needed one very recognizable
garage? Chances are you TK-101 relocated to a new home, stormtrooper element, namely the
don’t have enough room they emptied one garage only to fill “nose and mouth” section that gives
for an actual automobile, given the up another almost instantaneously. stormtroopers their menacing jaw
boxes of random stuff filling up But along the way various finds line. One option would have been to
every available space until there’s came to light, including a random craft something out of EVA foam
no room to turn around, let alone toy helmet with no connection with (a stiff yet pliable material used by
drive in. That’s why some bright the Star Wars galaxy whatsoever. It cosplayers worldwide to create
individual invented garage was bright white with a moveable bespoke armor and helmets), but
sales—the chance to offload all the clear visor, and it almost screamed as usual TK-101 decided to take
things you no longer have any use “project!”—despite obviously being a shortcut.
for to passers-by (with their own far too small for our adult cranium. Thankfully there have been plenty
garage, attic, wardrobe, or “Can I have that?” asked TK-101, with of toy trooper masks produced over
wherever destined to become no idea what we would do with it. the years that would hopefully scale
similarly overwhelmed). But what is Inspiration would soon strike when just right with the helmet we’d
one person’s castoff can be a Star Star Wars: Visions debuted on already procured, and as the
Wars maker’s dream find. Disney+ with the animated short, troopers in “The Duel” sport helmet
PASS ME THE
HYDROSPANNER
What we learned along the way,
and what we'd think about doing
differently next time:
• Materials are everything, and

not every plastic is happy to
be glued together. Always
lightly sand surfaces to ensure
a tight bond.
• A clean finish maketh the Make.
Have a variety of sandpaper
grades on hand, and spend time
and care smoothing out any
rough edges (unlike TK-101!).
• Liquid glue
• Scissors and a craft knife

WORLDWIDE
parts from both the original and crucial to any make, and for TK-101 iconic element of samurai helmets
sequel trilogies, there were plenty it’s the most fun part, where incorporated into some of the
of options out there. In the end, we anything is possible because Visions versions). This was then
picked up a First Order you’ve yet to discover what isn’t detailed with self-adhesive
stormtrooper mask, and crossed entirely practical! furniture protectors to suggest
our fingers we could somehow rivets. The mish-mash of materials
make the parts fit together. Painting Makes Perfect in various hues looked dire at this
As we waited for the mask to Having hacked sections from the stage, but the mess would be
arrive in the mail, we rewatched stormtrooper mask (which meant totally obscured when it came to
“The Duel” (several times!) and cutting out the bridge of the nose painting the helmet, which
researched genuine samurai to make it fit—much more than involved a spray coat of grey
helmets to get a clear idea of the we'd intended to lose!), we affixed primer then another of white
kind of detailing we might add, what was left to the visor of the gloss. With some added greeblies
then we set about visualizing what original helmet. We used sheets as finishing touches, TK-101 wasn't
the end result could look like by of multi-colored EVA foam from unhappy with the result. If only
sketching ideas over photographs a craft store to construct a neck it was big enough to wear!
of the toy helmet. Designing is shield for our helmet, based on an Maybe next time…

The
Star Wars
Archive
The behind-the-scenes
story of a galaxy far,
far away....
MAZ’S
COUNSEL
The behind-the-scenes journey
of Maz Kanata, the “pirate queen”
whose castle on Takodana played
host to smugglers and outsiders
from across the galaxy, is as varied
as the character’s storied life
within the saga.
Originally planned to be realized
as a puppet, in the same way that
Yoda was in the original trilogy, 01
Kanata was eventually brought to
life in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
(1999) through CG and performance
capture technology. Oscar-winning
actor Lupita Nyong’o was cast
in the role and worked closely
with experienced motion-capture
performer Andy Serkis (Supreme
Leader Snoke) to acclimatize herself
to this different way of working. By
The Rise of Skywalker (2019), Kanata
was realized via a highly advanced
animatronic puppet.
02
01 Lupita Nyong’o knelt down
during filming of some scenes
to ensure her fellow
performers had correct
eyelines with her character.
02 Cameras tracked reference

dots on Nyong’o’s face to
capture her entire
performance as Maz.
03 Concept art of Maz’s chamber

by Christian Alzmann
04 Concept art of Maz Kanata

by Glyn Dillon.
03 04

THE STAR WARS ARCHIVE
05
06
05 Joonas Suotamo
(Chewbacca)
rehearsing a shot with
the animatronic Maz
Kanata puppet, whose
movements were
performed by
puppeteer Claire Roi
Harvey, on the set of
The Rise of Skywalker
(2019).
06 Concept art by Luke

Fisher detailing Maz
in various poses.
07 Director J. J. Abrams
photographing the Maz
puppet during its
development.
08 The completed Maz

Kanata puppet on set.
72/ STAR WARS INSIDER

THE STAR WARS ARCHIVE
07
08
Sure
Shot
Maz Kanata returned briefly in
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017),
passing on vital information to
Finn, Rose Tico, and Poe Dameron
via hologram while in the midst of
an adventure of her own.
Lupita Nyong’o once again
donned a grey motion-capture
bodysuit to shoot Maz Kanata’s
cameo scene, under the direction
of Rian Johnson (pictured below).
Despite playing out in the form of
a hologram, the scene ironically
required a far more physical
peformance from Nyong’o than
those in the previous movie.
S T A R L I G H T
Shadows Remain
PA R T O N E
By Justina Ireland
Previously: But perhaps that was because it was “You have my attention,
An almost catastrophic incursion by less a dream and more a memory. And a Administrator Jahen,” Ghal said.
the Nihil on Starlight Beacon itself has painful one at that. She’d had this same Formality was a safe fallback. “I will
left those tasked with maintaining the dream more than a dozen times since depart for my rest, shortly. Is there
station’s safety stretched to their limits, arriving on Starlight Beacon more than a anything else?”
some seemingly more than others.... year ago, and their increasing frequency Velko shifted uncomfortably. The
was beginning to unnerve Ghal. Soikan wore her emotions too obviously,
hal Tarpfen, What warning was her subconscious an open data file for anyone to read.
G
head of trying to impart to her that she had not “Look, Ghal, about the incident in the
security on yet heeded? security block—”
Starlight “Ghal, we are truly in awe of the “We’re past that,” Ghal said. She
Beacon, was service you have provided the crown didn’t want Velko’s apologies, especially
dreaming. She these past few turns,” the figure on the not when the pain of the dream was so
knew it wasn’t dais said. The Mon Calamari there had fresh. “What seems to be amiss?” She
real, because no face, even though real Ghal knew the tried to soften her tone, so that Velko
instead of the peaks and valleys of his visage. “And it would not start up once more with her
gleaming metal corridors of the station is with a heavy heart that we grant your blasted apologies.
her surroundings were an iridescent request to be removed from your service “We have a new official on board
pink shell. She was somehow back to the crown.” and the Jedi are requesting a secured
on Mon Cala, dressed in the garb This was the part where dream Ghal berth. Vice President Hackrack Bep,
of the royal guard: flowing kelp drew back in shock, desperately trying to from Dalna.”
gauntlets, fitted scrye-fish skin tunic keep the hurt from her face. She hadn’t “All planetary officials require secured
and trousers, feet bare to better swim seen the betrayal coming, she never did. berths while on official business, that’s
through difficult currents. But what else had she expected from nothing new. We’ll put him in the same
In the dream Ghal stood at attention falling in love with a male too far above wing as Senator Starros,” Ghal said.
in an anteroom she didn’t remember, her station? “Yes, that’s what I figured. But I keep
THIS WAS THE PART WHERE DREAM GHAL DREW

BACK IN SHOCK, DESPERATELY TRYING TO KEEP
THE HURT FROM HER FACE.
even though her subconscious did. “Ghal! Did you hear me?” getting an error from the security suite
“Ghal Tarpfen, daughter of Rhal and Ghal startled awake, the watery filter in corridor sixteen. Have you ever seen
Gera, Captain Third Class of the Royal of the dream evaporating as she came anything like this?”
Guard. Please approach.” back to herself. Ghal stood from her chair, taking a
Dream Ghal was filled with a sort “I was asleep.” moment to stretch before going to stand
of quivering excitement about being “That’s the third time this shift. behind Velko where the administrator
summoned to the dais by the regal figure Maybe you should call it a day. Or a sat at her workstation and watched the
of Shenrick, who sat there with a crown night,” Velko said with a forced laugh. code flow past. After a moment Ghal
that should not have belonged to him. “What time is it, even?” reached over Velko’s shoulder and typed
But real Ghal could feel the sorrow that “Not until I finish this report,” Ghal in a couple lines of commands. There
this moment was about to deliver, and said, turning back to her terminal. was a beep and a whirring sound, and
she grieved once more. Not far away Velko Jahen watched then the status came back as normal,
Ah, thought Ghal, watching her Ghal with a slight frown. Their feeds from the cameras populating the
dream self approach the dais in the relationship had been strained ever screen once more.
center of the room, this one again. since the incident with Velko’s former “Looks like one of the security droids
Ghal did not know how others lover, Vane Sarpo. Ghal would almost shut down the hall cams. Strange. They
dreamed. She’d watched her co-worker, swear that was what was causing her aren’t supposed to do such a thing.”
Velko Jahen, doze off once or twice nightmares, because that’s what they Ghal burbled a bit, the Mon Calamari
during long shifts in the command hub, were, reliving that moment when the equivalent of a yawn. “I’ll check on it
and the silver-skinned, silver-haired love of her life had cast her aside. But when I get back from the refresher.”
Soikan seemed to be wholly consumed she’d been having the nighttime visions “Go ahead and catch some rest as
by her sleeping visions, but for Ghal her long before the issue with the Nihil in well,” Velko said, swallowing a yawn
dreams always left her with a strange the security block. of her own. “That report will wait, and
sense of detachment. It was odd that “Ghal—” Velko began again, but Ghal we’re all tired. Things will just have to
this dream should feel so immediate. held up a hand. take a little longer. I think the Republic
will understand. I’ll grab a break when head above the water line. The timer office as Velko had thought. Still, it was
you get back.” she’d set still hadn’t expired, but there strange. There was nothing about the
Ghal nodded and walked off without would be no more sleeping. Not after message that was any different than the
another word. The last few weeks had the nightmare. This was twice in a very usual traffic they got, warnings of Nihil
been incredibly busy. The Jedi had short span. There was a warning here, activity or new Hutt smuggling routes
rounded up hundreds of Nihil and and Ghal knew that she wouldn’t be to patrol. So why had the message been
all Starlight Beacon officials had been able to sleep any more with the vision of flagged for Ghal?
working double shifts to accommodate Shenrick’s cold expression lingering in The holo queue blinked at her, the
the influx of prisoners. The Jedi were her mind. Velko would just get a longer unplayed message still waiting, and with
very careful not to kill the Nihil if rest shift. a sigh Ghal played the holo. It flickered
they could help it, which meant that Ghal rose from the tank, dressed, and as it played, as though the sending
Velko, Ghal, and every other Republic headed back to the command hub, only signal hadn’t been very strong, and the
administrator on Starlight Beacon had stopping long enough to see if her boss, person in the message wore a mask like
seen their workload increase. Processing Rodor Keen, was in his office. Rodor the Nihil. A vocalizer disguised the voice
criminals required a number of forms, oversaw all of the operations on Starlight of the speaker, whose species could not
and since none of the Nihil ever gave Beacon, and something about the way easily be distinguished, but they looked
their true name they were also spending the cameras had powered down in to Ghal to be human.
a ridiculous amount of time capturing corridor sixteen niggled at her. Perhaps it “During the nocturnal rest cycle you
an image of each pirate to run through was the aftermath of the nightmare, the will disable the cameras to the following
the databank of known felons. It was memory of the worst day of her life, but corridors: sixteen, twenty-three, eighty-
tiresome work, and they still had the there was something amiss. If anyone four. We know who you once were, and
day-to-day running of Starlight to would know what could cause such an we trust that you would like to keep your
attend to. error, Rodor would. secrets. For the Storm!”
It made rest a prize to be treasured, so Unfortunately, his droid informed her Ghal played the message a few more
Ghal was not going to argue when Velko that he was also resting and would be times, trying to memorize as much about
offered to let her take the first sleep shift. back momentarily, so Ghal left a message it as she could. But there was nothing in
GHAL KNEW THAT SHE WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO

SLEEP ANY MORE WITH THE VISION OF SHENRICK’S
COLD EXPRESSION LINGERING IN HER MIND.
Instead, she hurried out of the and made her way back to her post. the holo, or on the sending information,
command hub before Velko changed Velko looked up as Ghal walked in, to tell Ghal just who was responsible
her mind. her expression relieved. “Oh good. I for the message. It did not escape Ghal’s
didn’t want to wake you, but a message attention that corridor sixteen was the
*** came in from the Republic security same one where the droids had already
liaison with an urgent code. I put it in deactivated the cameras once.
After a visit to the refresher and a your queue.” She did not believe in coincidences.
restorative dip in the springs set aside for “Why didn’t you just read it and Ghal ran a security check on
such things, Ghal returned to her room respond?” Ghal asked, her normally the messaging encryption, but the
and prepared for her rest cycle. She had short temper even shorter. She already information came back as legitimate.
barely submerged herself in her sleeping had a dozen reports to file, and Smart. Whoever had sent it wanted her
tank, her head bobbing above the water, interviews to conduct. She didn’t need to know that the Nihil had friends in
before she was in the nightmare once more work. very high places, the kind of places that
more. This time Shenrick peered down Velko gave Ghal a wan smile. “It was could utterly destroy Ghal if she didn’t
at her, his face no longer distorted. keyed to your access code.” go along with what they wanted.
Now, she could see his bulbous eyes and Ghal Tarpfen looked at the holo She suddenly felt ill.
mottled skin, his markings the same ones before her and frowned. Velko said All of the weeks spent dreaming
she had fallen in love with when he was something but Ghal didn’t hear her, all about Shenrick. Was this what her mind
just a useless third son with no future. of her attention focused on the missive wanted to warn her about? When Ghal
“Thank you for your service,” he said, before her. She didn’t even notice the was a child she used to like to sit in the
his voice strange, and her heart broke Soikan leave. currents outside of her house and see the
anew, both in the dream and in real life. The holomessage in Ghal’s queue things the ocean brought to her door,
Ghal startled awake, shaking off the was encrypted and bore a messaging which was mostly just bits of flotsam
remnants of the dream as she rolled over signature that was reserved for members from the well-to-do families who lived
in the tank, her neck pillow keeping her of the Senate, not the Republic security up current. One day there had been a
STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC
dead jara fish that had drifted by in bits

and pieces, a gruesome discovery that
“I brought you this,” the Soikan said,
setting down a cup of the kelp tea Ghal
GHAL DREW
she’d been powerless to look away from.
First a fin, then the tail, and finally a
liked. “I’m going to take my rest period.
But will you check in with Senator
HER BLASTER,
whole head, the eyes wide staring and Starros in the next hour or so? She’s
confused, like the fish wondered how its been requesting assistance non-stop, BUT BEFORE
demise had come to pass. Ghal felt that and sending in dozens of complaints.”
way now, like she’d been dismembered Ghal sighed. “Senators. I’ll stop SHE COULD
and set adrift in the current. It was not by her quarters and she what it is
a good feeling. she wants.” DO ANYTHING
She was half tempted to delete the Velko stood to go, and paused, her
holo, but had a feeling that somehow gaze searching Ghal. “Is everything A HEAVY HAND
they would know. And now the random okay?”
holos she’d received over the past few
months began to make sense. They
“Fine,” Ghal said. She picked up the
cup Velko had set down and took a sip.
HIT HER FROM
had seemed like mistakes: snippets of
Mon Calamari gossip sites detailing the
“I think I just need to visit the restorative
springs. Thank you for the kelp tea.”
BEHIND, AND
king’s latest social events, documentary Velko nodded and departed, leaving
excerpts of features on the Mon Calamari Ghal with nothing but her runaway IT WAS ONLY
guard, and—most alarming of all—a thoughts. There was a senator on
holodrama from years ago featuring a Starlight and she’d just been asked to AS SHE WAS
Mon Calamari guard and a princess who disable the cameras in the area.
fell in love and ran off together. There was nothing okay about that. FALLING THAT
Ghal knew that vid by heart. Hadn’t Ghal tasked one of the security droids
she and Shen watched the holo and
talked about how it was their story?
with scanning the feeds and hurried to
Senator Starros’ guest suite. Would the
SHE REALIZED
But that was before Shenrick had
ascended to the throne, the spare
Nihil try to kill a senator? Perhaps. But
not on her watch.
SHE KNEW
become the heir after a terrible tragedy. The ride in the lift seemed to take
And that was before Ghal had pledged forever, and by the time Ghal reached THE WOMAN
her troth to the Republic, a position in a corridor sixteen she could tell there was
far away outpost better than staying and something wrong. It was the middle of AFTER ALL.
watching Shenrick marry another after the sleep cycle, but one of the doors was
being cast aside. curiously open, as though someone had
Somehow, the Nihil had learned her jammed the mechanism.
secret, had pieced it together. Ghal had Ghal drew her blaster and crept
nothing to fear from the discovery, her toward the open door. It wasn’t one
time with the Royal Guard was nothing that opened out into the suite of rooms
more than a delightful footnote to the occupied by the senator, but by someone
Republic. But the purists on Mon Cala else entirely. Ghal peered around the
would be aghast if they knew their king corner. Lying on the ground was a
hadn’t been pure before ascending to Theelin man Ghal did not recognize.
the throne. Shenrick would be ruined, of “Oh, Ghal,” someone burbled in
course, and while part of Ghal yearned poorly spoken Mon Calamari, a language
for his casual cruelty toward her to be Ghal had not heard since she’d left
turned back on him tenfold, it would home. Ghal whirled around to see a
destroy her family. After all, the Mon stately human woman with dark skin
Calamari could not wholly blame their smiling at her. She was vaguely familiar,
king for such a misstep. Her family was but Ghal could not quite place her. “You
low enough in standing that they would should’ve just done as you were told.”
bear the brunt of raising an honorless Ghal drew her blaster, but before she
daughter, and Ghal would not disgrace could do anything a heavy hand hit her
her line. from behind, and it was only as she was
“Ghal!” Velko said, her voice falling that she realized she knew the
exasperated as though she had been woman after all.
trying to get Ghal’s attention for more Senator Ghirra Starros was apparently
than a moment. quite a bit more than she seemed.
“Apologies,” Ghal burbled. “Too
much kelp gathering, I’m afraid.” TO BE CONCLUDED…
NEXT ISSUE:
The epic finale of
“Shadows Remain,”
exclusively in
Star Wars Insider !

You followed
the adventures
of Clone Force 99 as
they navigated a changing
galaxy during the rise of the
Empire, but how much can
you recall about their trials
and tribulations?
Compiled by
Jay Stobie
“GOOD SOLDIERS FOLLOW ORDERS”

Make like the members of the Bad Batch and employ your unique skills to solve these Clone Force 99-related questions.
THE BAD BATCH THE “ALLIES” THE EMPIRE

1: Hunter’s decision to spare 11: Crosshair led an elite squad
Padawan Caleb Dume’s life lead of recruits as part of which
to tension with which member of Imperial project?
the Bad Batch? A/ Stardust
A/ Crosshair B/ War-Mantle
B/ Echo C/ Devastator
C/ Wrecker D/ Separatist
D/ Tech
2: What was the name of the

planet on which Omega had a
run-in with a dangerous nexu?
A/ Raxus
B/ Saleucami 12: On Onderon, Crosshair and
C/ Geonosis his new team wiped out a group
D/ Corellia 6: Which underworld figure of people loyal to which rebel
helped the Bad Batch find leader?
3: When did Omega and Wrecker profitable missions? A/ Mon Mothma
take the time to enjoy a Mantell A/ Jabba the Hutt B/ Enfys Nest
Mix snack? B/ Lady Proxima C/ Bail Organa
A/ After take-off C/ Cid D/ Saw Gerrera
B/ After a briefing D/ Dryden Vos
C/ After a doctor’s visit 13: Who oversaw the progress
D/ After a successful mission of Crosshair’s Imperial squad
8: How did Omega clear the on Kamino?
4: Which modified vessel acted debt the Bad Batch owed to A/ Director Krennic
as the Bad Batch’s mobile their employer? B/ Admiral Piett
command center? A/ Stealing Imperial currency C/ Vice Admiral Rampart
A/ The Finalizer B/ Riding a rancor D/ Captain Needa
B/ The Marauder C/ Playing dejarik
C/ The Executor D/ Betting on sabacc 14: Why did the Kaminoans value
D/ The Steadfast Omega so highly?
9: Who sent an emergency A/ She was an unaltered clone
distress call to the Bad Batch B/ She was in possession of
from Ryloth? vital intelligence
A/ Captain Howzer C/ She discovered the secret to
B/ Crosshair their cloning process
C/ Orn Free Taa D/ She was a keen translator
D/ Hera Syndulla
5: Where did the Bad Batch 7: On Corellia, the Bad Batch 15: Who did Crosshair shoot in
go to have their inhibitor competed with the Martez sisters 10: The Bad Batch operated out order to frame Cham Syndulla
chips removed? to acquire which item? of a parlor on which planet? on Ryloth?
A/ Coruscant A/ A tactical droid’s head A/ Tatooine A/ Gobi Glie
B/ Kamino B/ A lightsaber B/ Takodana B/ Eleni Syndulla
C/ Eadu C/ An Imperial prisoner C/ Jakku C/ Chopper
D/ Bracca D/ A starship D/ Ord Mantell D/ Orn Free Taa

“WE’RE MORE DEVIANT THAN WE ARE DEFECTIVE.”
Which character was responsible for the following quotes from The Bad Batch:
1.
“I’M WILLING TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.”
“I AM MERELY “I like to blow

2. 4.
things up, because

STATING A SCIENTIFIC I like to blow
HYPOTHESIS BASED things up!”
ON FACTUAL DATA.” 5.
“I’ve seen what
happens when the chip
“I WASN’T SNEAKING...
3.
activates, and I don’t
want to bury any more
I WAS UNLOCKING.” of our brothers.”
2
“THIS IS MY
BRIEFING.”
Identify these interesting
characters whom the Bad Batch 4
encountered on their travels.
HOW DID YOU DO?

4. Captain Bragg.
“THIS IS MY BRIEFING.” 1. Captain Howzer, 2. Senator Avi Singh, 3. Cad Bane,
5. Captain Rex. Were you able to execute your orders and find the correct answers?
“WE’RE MORE DEVIANT THAN WE ARE DEFECTIVE.” 1. Crosshair, 2. Tech, 3. Omega, 4.Wrecker, 0-9: You’ll never be able to take on the clankers with this score. Back to the training range.
14. A, 15. D. 10-19: Is there an ‘Echo’ in here? You may have the skills to be recruited by Clone Force 99.
20-24: Boom! The Bad Batch would be honored to have you join their ranks on a mission.
ANSWERS QUIZ: 1. A, 2. B, 3. D, 4. B, 5. D, 6. C, 7. A, 8. C, 9. D, 10. D, 11. B, 12. D, 13. C,

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A Christmas A Wish Fit for a Sith

T a time for family and

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An Amban Arsenal An Armor Upgrade

A Chia Pet for The Child D

The Force flows through all living

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The Art of The Hunt

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The Crimson Dawn criminal syndicate has Star Wars #21

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01 Diana Lee iana Lee