Synopses & Reviews
In 1997, as George Lucas worked to complete early drafts for
Star Wars: Episode I
The Phantom Menace, he enlisted the talents of some of the greatest storyboard artists of the modern era to illustrate conceptual storyboards that would inform the development of the final shooting script, as well as the finished film. Working from Lucasand#8217;s ideas for scenes and sequences, these artists produced beautiful drawings that helped lay the foundations for the worlds, characters, and shots of the
Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. Together, these conceptual storyboards show early takes on favorite scenes; alternate, unused approaches to character designs and environments; and entirely different approaches to key moments. Like wordless comic books, they have an energy and rhythm all their own that is fascinating to explore.
Now, for the first time, Lucasfilm has opened its archives to present the best of the conceptual storyboards for Episodes I, II, and III. Star Wars Storyboards: The Prequel Trilogy collects the best storyboards from all three films together in one striking volume. Throughout this book, readers will find insight into how these conceptual storyboards helped to contribute both to the creation of the Prequel Trilogy and the expansion of the Star Wars universe.
Praise for Stars Wars Storyboards:
and#147;We had no idea the Star Wars prequels could have been this good! Overall, the book gave us a new appreciation for what could have been . . . Plus itand#8217;s exceptionally gorgeous, and you should check it out.and#8221; and#151;i09
Review
andldquo;A new book called Star Wars Art: Posters collects some of the most iconicandmdash;and stylistically diverseandmdash;broadsides.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Abrams Books is coming out with a new book collecting the best posters from around the world . . . Some are a little weird, but all are incredible and tap into that old sense of wonder. Donandrsquo;t worry, though; Darth Vader wonandrsquo;t silence you for liking these.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Yes . . . the Force is strong with this book.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;From 1970s concept sketches to more recent limited-edition prints, the art is a testament to the enduring force of the franchise.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Full of sumptuous, jaw-dropping visuals . . . a feast for the senses.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Absolutely awesome.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Star Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy shows just how much pre-planning went into the original iconic trilogy.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Star Wars fans, take note . . . the book offers a glimpse into the detailed planning and rounds of story revisions that went into the original films.andrdquo;
Review
andquot;Star Wars fans, rejoice andmdash; today is the big dayandnbsp;that Lucasfilm opens up the archives and bestows upon you Star Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy.andquot;
Review
andquot;The book contains fantastic insight into how the filmsand#39; stories and characters were conceivedandhellip;andquot;
Review
andquot;Nerd out over how Star Wars might have been.andquot;
Review
andquot;Every Star Wars fan should get this Star Wars Storyboards book.andquot;
Review
andldquo;The promotional images for the Star Wars movies unquestionably hold a hallowed place in film and cultural history, and theyandrsquo;re all beautifully reproduced in Star Wars Art: Posters, the fifth and final volume in the George Lucasandndash;curated series.andrdquo;
Synopsis
John Knoll was 14 years old when the first
Star Wars film (
Episode IV) came out in 1977, and it changed his life. By the time the first prequel,
The Phantom Menace, was released in 1999, he was its visual effects supervisorand#8212;in charge of all special effectsand#8212;a position he held through
Episodes II (Attack of the Clones) and
III (Revenge of the Sith). With Knoll as tour guide, this deluxe addition to Abramsand#8217;
365 Days series provides the single most comprehensive collection of
Star Wars images, including breathtaking 360-degree panoramic shots of sets and models, as well as concept art, props, film stills, and memorabilia.
The only book that covers all six films, Star Wars: 365 Days is Knolland#8217;s spectacular survey of the visual world created by those films. It shows us George Lucas and his crew creating their universe on location and in the studioand#8212;in pages dense with imagery and information, documenting a remarkable sustained creative effort by hundreds of devoted filmmakers and craftsmen.
Synopsis
The only book that covers all six "Star Wars" films, Knoll's spectacular survey explores the visual world created by those films. A CD-ROM, with nearly 100 QuickTime panoramas of the sets, adds to the beauty of this edition.
Synopsis
Few pieces of artwork distill the passion for Star Wars as do posters. From Tom Jungand#39;s iconic one-sheet for Episode IV to Roger Kastelandrsquo;s Gone with the Windandndash;inspired painting for Episode V and beyond, Star Wars has enjoyed nearly four decades of poster art from some of the most renowned artists working in movies. The fifth book in the George Lucasandndash;curated Star Wars Art series, Posters collects the best artwork from all six Star Wars films, the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated television series, and limited-edition prints. This collection unites all of the action, artistry, and drama of a galaxy far, far away into one lavishly produced tome.
Synopsis
Star Wars and sequential art share a long history:
Star Wars debuted on the comic-book page in 1977, when Marvel Comics began publishing a six-part adaptation of the first film, which morphed into a monthly comic book. Now, more than three decades later, new series by Dark Horse Comics continue to expand the
Star Wars galaxy.and#160;
and#160;
The second book in the Star Wars Art series, Star Wars Art: Comics brings together the very best artwork from the entire history of Star Wars comics publishing, showcasing original art from the top comics artists working in the industry. Hand-selected and curated by George Lucas, the art featured in this volume includes interior pages and fully painted covers from artists such as Al Williamson, Howard Chaykin, Adam Hughes, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dave Dorman, and many moreand#8212;as well as new work created exclusively for this book by over 20 renowned artists, including John Cassaday, Sam Kieth, Mike Mignola, Paul Pope, Frank Quitely, Jim Steranko, and other comics superstars. Star Wars Art: Comics is a tribute to sequential storytelling, a worthy and justly celebrated art form.
Praise for Star Wars Art:and#160;Comics:
and#8220;George Lucas has left no medium unused, as this visually arresting compendium proves.and#8221;and#160;
and#8212;Entertainment Weekly
Synopsis
For the first time, Lucasfilm has opened its Archives to present the complete storyboards for the original
Star Wars trilogyand#151;the world-changing
A New Hope and its operatic sequels,
The Empire Strikes Back and
Return of the Jediand#151;as well as never-before-published art from early conceptual and deleted scenes.
From the opening chase above Tatooine in A New Hope to the Battle of Endor in Jedi, this book presents the visual inspiration behind now-iconic moments. Readers can finally see a full set of storyboards by legendary artist Joe Johnston, as well as early boards for Episode IV by Alex Tavoularis and for Episode V by Ivor Beddoes, rarely seen Episode VI boards by Roy Carnon, and Ralph McQuarrieand#8217;s never-before-seen storyboards for Episode V.
Synopsis
From Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston to Doug Chiang, Ryan Church, Iain McCaig, Erik Tiemens, and the next generation of animation and video-game artists,
Star Wars Art: Concept collects, for the first time ever, the very best
Star Wars conceptual artwork. As curated by George Lucas, the artwork that helped bring the
Star Wars Saga to life is revealed in all its glory, featuring pre-production drawings and paintings from the Original Trilogy, the Prequel Trilogy, the TV shows, and the video games, including an exclusive preview of artwork from the highly anticipated
1313. Spanning the years from 1975 to the present,
Star Wars Art: Concept is a fascinating look at the process of conceptual design. From pen and paint and paper to the digital realm, the result is the creation of breathtaking iconic worlds, vehicles, and characters that successive generations have embraced and made their own.
Praise for Star Wars Art: Concept:
and#147;Legendary production artwork gets the showcase it deserves.and#8221; and#151;Star Wars Insider magazine
and#147;Star Wars Art: Concept is a glorious coffee-table book thatand#8217;s chock full of great artwork by many of the masters whoand#8217;ve worked on the film, from Ralph McQuarrie on down.and#8221; and#151;io9.com
Synopsis
The instant and massive success of
Star Wars took Lucasfilm by surprise, but in 1978, an industry unto itself was born, consisting of books, trading cards, magazines, video games, and merchandise. The art created for these projects continues to expand the limits and celebrate the iconography of the
Star Wars galaxy.
Now the third book in the Star Wars Art series, Illustration, collects the best of these artworks, as curated by George Lucas. Featuring previously unpublished, rarely seen, and fan-favorite art from Mark Chiarello, Dave Dorman, Hugh Fleming, Tim and Greg Hildebrandt, Ralph McQuarrie, Jon J. Muth, Tsuneo Sanda, Drew Struzan, Jerry Vanderstelt, Christian Waggoner, and many others, Star Wars Art: Illustration explores the wide range of styles that illustrators have brought to bear on a galaxy far, far away . . .
Synopsis
Star Warsandmdash;the original trading card series from Topps first published in 1977 and 1978andmdash;is reprinted here in its entirety for the first time, featuring all five sets of collectible cards and stickers. This deluxe compilation includes the fronts and backs of all 330 cards and 55 stickers (originally sold one per pack), including movie facts, story summaries, actor profiles, and puzzle cards featuring all your favorite characters and scenes from the very first Star Wars movie. Also features four bonus trading cards, as well as an introduction and commentary by Gary Gerani, the original editor of the Star Wars Topps series. A special afterword by Robert V. Conte spotlights the rare Star Wars Wonder Bread trading cards, also reprinted for the first time.
About the Author
One of comicsand#8217; most acclaimed writers, Dennis Oand#8217;Neil worked briefly in journalism, then moved to New York and began working in comics. Oand#8217;Neil brought social consciousness to the medium with the groundbreaking Green Lantern/Green Arrow series. His work on Batmanand#8212;as writer and editorand#8212;returned that character to its dark, gothic roots. He lives in New York City.and#160;Douglas Wolk is the author of the Eisner Award and Harvey Award-winning Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean. He writes about comic books and popular culture for the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Time, and elsewhere. He lives in Portland, Oregon.and#160;Virginia Mecklenburg is a senior curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and a writer and lecturer who specializes in American art of the twentieth century. Her books include Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Modern Masters: American Abstraction at Midcentury, and Edward Hopper: The Watercolors. Mecklenburg received B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. Before joining the Smithsonian American Art Museum, she taught art history at the University of Maryland. She lives in Washington, D.C.