Star Wars: from comics to action figures
Star Wars
In recent days, news has arrived for Star Wars fans that has sent the community into raptures: a new series of Hasbro action figures - The Black Series. Taking the opportunity of the celebrations for the 50 years of LucasFilms, it was decided to give life to a new line dedicated to a chapter of the long life of S tar Wars that has remained in the hearts of long-time fans: the Expanded Universe, or Legends as it is called today.When Star Wars had apparently ended its cinematic life in the late 1980s, the incredible success of the saga created by George Lucas could not stop with Return of the Jedi, regarded as the already large group of fans clamored for new adventures set in the galaxy far, far away. Starting in 1986, under the control of Lucas Licensing led by Howard Roffman, a new way of telling Star Wars was started, in which novels, comics and video games kept the saga alive. A thirty-year long production, but which with the release of The Awakening of the Force has been relegated to the role of a gigantic what if ...? renamed Legends, to make room for the new Canon.
Yet, these stories have profoundly marked the myth of Star Wars, bringing to life characters whose incredible caliber has allowed them to also land in the canon, as happened at the Grand 'Admiral Thrawn. When Hasbro decided to pay homage to LucasFilm's important milestone by giving life to a new series of their beloved Star Wars - The Black Series, there was no doubt which of the many incarnations of the saga would be inspired: the Legends.
A decision that was greeted with great enthusiasm by Jennifer Heddle, who from devourer of Star Wars comics and novels has become executive producer of LucasFilm Publishing:
"I have been a fan of Star Wars comics since the 1980s, and the idea of having action figures based on the comics of the saga is simply explosive. Seeing these figurines reminds me of sitting on the floor of my room browsing through Star Wars comics, incredulous that I was reading adventures of my favorite characters. Fans will be delighted to see these comic book characters in a new guise, especially given the amazing skill and detail the Black Series is known for. ”
Jennifer Heddle's enthusiasm is understandable, as the images of the first wave of the new Star Wars - The Black Series collection are inspired by some of the most loved stories of the Legends. The first four action figures of this new series, in fact, pay homage to the dawn of the late Expanded Universe, involving not only iconic characters of the saga but also figures who have remained in the hearts of the fans. But what are the main stories of the first wave of the new collection:
Star Wars: The heir of the Empire Star Wars Adventures Star Wars: Darth Maul The Crimson Empire
Star Wars: Heir to the Empire
Where the Expanded Universe originated. Mike Baron, with the drawings of Olivier Vatine, transformed the first novel of the Thrawn Trilogy, The Heir of the Empire, considered the first step of the Expanded Universe, into a comic strip. In this series of books, the New Republic was faced with the threat of Grand Admiral Thrawn, an Imperial Navy officer who set out to rebuild the empire, using his incredible tactical acumen.The Thrawn Trilogy ( The Heir of the Empire, Challenge to the New Republic, The Last Mission) characters are introduced, such as Mara Jade and Talon Karrde, who in the following years would become an integral part of the narrative evolution of Star Wars. Baron, relying on Zahn's intuitions, starts an inner journey of Luke that will lead him in the years to come to undergo the seduction of the Dark Side. Also interesting is the introduction of a particular creature like the ysalamiri lizard, being endowed with the particular power to cancel the powers of the Force with its simple presence.
Linked to Star Wars: The heir of the empire is the Star Wars: The Black Series - Luke Skwalker. This action figure will have the distinction of portraying the famous Jedi in a historical period of the saga from which Luke's statuettes had never been drawn. In addition to the lightsaber, the package will also feature a reproduction of the ysalamiri lizard, a central element of the narrative cycle, as Hasbro production designer Eric Franer explained:
“Considering how the ysalamiri have played an essential role in trilogy, it was important to us that they were present in this line. We have even modeled the ysalamiri so that they can be applied to the neck of our recent Star Wars: The Black Series dedicated to Thrawn, to allow collectors to recreate the iconic moments of those novels and comics "
» Click here to buy the novel Star Wars: Heir of the Empire
Star Wars Adventures When the success of Star Wars was still in its early 70s, Marvel began to create a comic series that would expand the adventures of Luke and his companions, also introducing new figures. Leading the creative team of this series was veteran Roy Thomas (Guardians of the Galaxy), who gave birth to the free comic version of Star Wars.
Within this context, Thomas created a curious character, Jaxxon, a space council that was able to share adventures with some of the protagonists of the saga, such as Lando, proving to be an excellent fighter with an agile and enterprising mind. Jaxxon has for years been considered the symbol of Marvel's management of Star Wars comics, embodying the fun and adventurous tone Thomas gave to the series. Recently, Jaxxon was reintroduced to the Canon by appearing in the new Star Wars Adventures comic series.
Star Wars: Darth Maul
When Darth Maul made his appearance in The Phantom Menace, the acrobatic Sith played by Ray Park immediately became one of the most beloved villains of the saga, so much so that he was also called into action in Clone Wars, rewriting his presumed death in the final episode I. In 2000 a comic series dedicated to him was made, Star Wars: Darth Mau l, in which Ron Marz, using the drawings of Jan Durseema, told the past of the zabrak, revealing the background of his training in the Dark Side of the Force . In this saga, Maul is presented as a character still a victim of hatred and anger that only later would he have learned to master following the teachings of Darth Sidious.
The action figure taken from this series for the first time once portrays Darth Maul without clothes, exposing his chest and becoming a real challenge for the creatives of Hasbro, as Franer confesses:
“It is the first time that we have made a shirtless Darth Maul, showing all the tattoos of his body, a stunning addition to an already spectacular action figure. We used this opportunity to make a new head, focusing on the grin with which it shows its teeth on many occasions ”
» Click here to buy the Star Wars: Darth Maul comic
Star Wars: The Crimson Empire
In 1997, Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley create the character of Kir Kanos, the last survivor of the Imperial Guard of Palpatine, whose loyalty to the late emperor leads him to undertake a mission of revenge against all who led to the fall of the Empire, not least Luke Skywalker. Paul Gulacy's drawings transform the story of Richardson and Stradley into one of the best Star Wars comic series, presenting backstories of the imperial world hitherto never imagined.
Kir Kanos was taken as model by Hasbro artists previously, to create the look of the Star Wars: The Black Series - Imperial Royal Guard, considering that in Return of the Jedi these towering gazes were never framed without their harness. To celebrate the protagonist of this narrative arc, the character's typical purple cloak and his favorite weapon, the double vibrator, will be included in the package of the Kir Kanos action figure.
Where to Find Them?
All the Star Wars Legends figures currently reviewed are a comic book exclusive and are all available for pre-order on the site and in stores that are part of the Games Academy circuit.
Within this context, Thomas created a curious character, Jaxxon, a space council that was able to share adventures with some of the protagonists of the saga, such as Lando, proving to be an excellent fighter with an agile and enterprising mind. Jaxxon has for years been considered the symbol of Marvel's management of Star Wars comics, embodying the fun and adventurous tone Thomas gave to the series. Recently, Jaxxon was reintroduced to the Canon by appearing in the new Star Wars Adventures comic series.
Star Wars: Darth Maul
When Darth Maul made his appearance in The Phantom Menace, the acrobatic Sith played by Ray Park immediately became one of the most beloved villains of the saga, so much so that he was also called into action in Clone Wars, rewriting his presumed death in the final episode I. In 2000 a comic series dedicated to him was made, Star Wars: Darth Mau l, in which Ron Marz, using the drawings of Jan Durseema, told the past of the zabrak, revealing the background of his training in the Dark Side of the Force . In this saga, Maul is presented as a character still a victim of hatred and anger that only later would he have learned to master following the teachings of Darth Sidious.The action figure taken from this series for the first time once portrays Darth Maul without clothes, exposing his chest and becoming a real challenge for the creatives of Hasbro, as Franer confesses:
“It is the first time that we have made a shirtless Darth Maul, showing all the tattoos of his body, a stunning addition to an already spectacular action figure. We used this opportunity to make a new head, focusing on the grin with which it shows its teeth on many occasions ”
» Click here to buy the Star Wars: Darth Maul comic
Star Wars: The Crimson Empire
In 1997, Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley create the character of Kir Kanos, the last survivor of the Imperial Guard of Palpatine, whose loyalty to the late emperor leads him to undertake a mission of revenge against all who led to the fall of the Empire, not least Luke Skywalker. Paul Gulacy's drawings transform the story of Richardson and Stradley into one of the best Star Wars comic series, presenting backstories of the imperial world hitherto never imagined.Kir Kanos was taken as model by Hasbro artists previously, to create the look of the Star Wars: The Black Series - Imperial Royal Guard, considering that in Return of the Jedi these towering gazes were never framed without their harness. To celebrate the protagonist of this narrative arc, the character's typical purple cloak and his favorite weapon, the double vibrator, will be included in the package of the Kir Kanos action figure.
