Starlog 1987: A trip Down Memory Lane
1987. A time of great uncertainty. The Cold War had not yet ended, the hole in the ozone layer was being fed by the world’s addiction to overuse of hairspray, and the original trilogy was at an end. To the general public, Star Wars was over. Although toys were still everywhere, the steady stream on content was slowly drying up as we barreled forward towards the 1990’s. To the average Star Wars fan this may have been seen as the end. But the diehards knew that this wasn’t the end, but just a brief hiatus.
The diehards knew this because we consumed all the Star Wars information we could. Through snippets in newspapers, interviews, and especially through magazines like Starlog. Starlog was the monthly magazine dedicated to all things sci-fi. And in 1987 they ran a piece on Star Wars that included plans for the future. A couple days ago the guys over at Blast Points Podcast gave us a blast from the past and posted this screen shot form the near thirty year old piece.
From Starlog, issue 120, July 1987. #StarWars @starwars @pablohidalgo pic.twitter.com/eDZ6TL13qe
— Blast Points Podcast (@blast_points) July 27, 2016
Now, this is not news. The entire issue is available online here. But not every star wars fan has seen it, and in light of having now seen the first chapter of the sequel trilogy, it is interesting just how close some aspects are sticking to these original ideas from long, long ago.
The next generation of solos, the handing down of the Millenium Falcon, Luke the Jedi Master. These are all things we have seen or been alluded to in the film. It serves as a fascinating look into just how far back some of these story ideas go. Yes, there are tweaks along the way. Yes, some aspects have been thrown out through countless drafts and rewrites. But the seeds of the story were sowed three decades ago, and Starlog proves that.
So, thanks to Blast Points Podcast for tweeting that out. It’s always fun to put on the nostalgia goggles, head back in time, and remember just how big the scope of the Star Wars Saga is. Sometimes we can get lost in the details of new owners, new directors, new writers, but in the end this is, at its heart, still George’s world and has been for a very long time. So, if you find yourself in need of a diversion today and would like to go back to a simpler time when the original trilogy was the entire focus of the Star Wars universe, and prequels and sequels were just a far off dream, take a long look at this issue of Starlog from 1987 and bask in how far the Star Wars galaxy has grown since it was published.
You can read the whole issue free HERE.
Another major thing that happened in 1987 for Star Wars lore, was the release of the West End Games role playing game (funny enough, it used the same artwork for the rule book cover that this Starlog issue used).
The WEG pretty much started the SW canon and all the details like the name Ponda Baba, etc.
Man, was it really that long ago? I’ve still got this issue, the first generation WEG stuff, AND that awesome “Star Wars The First 10 Years” wide-format poster on heavy stock (gorgeous painting! Have to get that put up some time…).
The late 80’s DEFINED what RPGs are. We still had imaginations back then!
Starlog, Omni, Playboy & Heavy Metal: Staples of my childhood. Man, I can’t express how much I still love cracking open an old Starlog and marveling at all the mail-away stuff! Everything from Battlestar Galactica flight jackets to Star Trek vinyl albums! Now I gotta go dust off my 70s Slurpee cup, run down the street to 7-11 & fill ‘er up!
I want a Battlestar Galactica flight jacket!
Wow – +$300 US! http://www.starfortressproductions.com/galactica.html
Me, myself & I would LOVE a Derek Wildstar / Starblazers flight jacket though! http://fameleathers.com/Products/starblazers-derrick-wildstar-white-leather-jacket/
Haha, those US localizations are funny, I know him as Mamoru Kodai from Space Battleship Yamato. That jacket is cool, saw some guy with it on rail terminal and it looked pretty good.
Yep, guilty as charged! Been watching SBY for +30 years now (in 1 form or another…), but was indoctrinated as a wee nipper here in the States. I know anime purists argue for Japanese dialogue + subs, but this is 1 rare example where the English dialogue does the source material justice. And hey – who can’t get a good chuckle out of the Yamato / Argo’s helmsman having a goofy New York accent? “Mawwwwwk Vent-cha!”
I want a flight jacket but for not for $300, they’re insane
Doctor Who latex masks!!!!!!! God, I forgot the mail away stuff!!!!
I used to be a compulsive ‘send away’ kid. Man, I learned some hard lessons – everything from Sea Monkeys to ‘realistic’ Army Soldiers & Vehicles (which all turned out to be 2D – make your own battles, my keister!)
The WEG Star Wars game is incredibly important in SW history and probably the most authentic of the SW RPGs in many ways. I ran a post-JEDI game for years, fond memories.
Agreed. I don’t mind the newer FFG RGP but splitting the books up for Rebel, Force users and Underground/Scum was a mistake I think.
I just picked up last week the original WEG rule book for $20. Been slowly trying to get back my old collection without paying extraordinary prices for them. I missed my old Failed Jedi character
“…probably the most authentic of the SW RPGs in many ways.”
I absolutely agree. I can’t quite put my finger on why, but the WEG stuff just reeks of Star Wars authenticity. Perhaps it’s because it was developed so soon after the OT concluded. It’s proximity to that era rubbed off somehow on the material they published.
I also ran a few post-ROTJ games. It was my sequel trilogy. I’d be really interested in hearing what your campaign was about.
indeed. Everything felt like it belonged in the GFFA. It’s also great that Rebels has been picking out ideas from WEG, like the Imperial Interdictor and someone from the SCE panel ask Fionni about the influence from the WEG books.
I love what WEG did for Star Wars. That game shared my role playing time along with 2nd ed. D&D and TSR’s Marvel Super Heroes. I still have a pretty respectable library of WEG resources. I’d absolutely love to play it again, but having a career and kids really makes those regularly-occurring game nights a real challenge to make happen.
As much as I enjoyed the game, I love all the behind-the-scenes material that WEG developed for the game. I’m not exactly sure if I ever used the Death Star Technical Manual in a game, but I read the damn thing cover-to-cover several times over.
In high school, we had an “simulation games club” after school where we played RPGs for a few hours. We played AD&D, Marvel, SW, Robotech, TMNT (before the kids cartoon) and Rifts.
My friends and I get together every Tues. to play games and drink beers. We mostly play FFGs Imperial Assualt campaigns but also play X-Wing Minis, and other games. Mind you we don’t have kids so it’s a little easier for us.
I noticed a lot of people these days play over skype, so that might be an option for you… if the wife allows it 🙂
Man, the all-night game sessions we used to have…
Yeah, my buddies and I also used to mess with some of the Palladium titles once in a while. I remember almost nothing about it, other than it was a compelling and organized rule and combat system. Good times, good times.
I just picked up Imperial Assault and I look forward to playing it. I grabbed X-Wing after it was released and really like the game. I just wish the expansions weren’t so pricey. I mean, FFG does a fantastic job on the ships, but they cost a bit.
I thought about going the Skype route. My wife is absolutely rad so she’d have no issue with it. I don’t allow my hobbies to eclipse family time or responsibilities so it’s all good. She loves that I have interests.
That might be what I have to end up doing in order to get any sort of regular campaign going. As much as I like to gather around the table, crack some beers, and game with buddies it’s all too infrequent when we all have young ones.
Check out Fantasy Grounds and/or Roll20!
And Boba Fett, Concord Dawn! Little morsels that stirred the imagination. Before the Dark Times…before….Kevin J. Anderson
lol,,,I actually remember this.
I had this issue for a long time, shoved into a box with other Omni, Starlog, and Fangoria issues. Finally grew up and chucked the lot of them. I originally bought the issue for the overview of “Predator”
What a throw back… heck even the comments continue the journey. Tubular.
Superman IV was so bad…lol
It was awful. But so was Superman III. Superman II on the other hand…forever my all-time favorite superhero movie.
How’d you like the Richard Donner cut?
It was okay. I liked the Brando scenes. The ending, not so much.