Dave Dorman is a legendary artist who is best known for his Star Wars artwork. He provided the artwork for many of Dark Horse's classic Star Wars titles including: Dark Empire, Tales of the Jedi, and Crimson Empire. George Lucas is a big fan of Dave's work.
Dave's artwork adorns the M&M Comics exclusive cover for Star Wars: Vader Down #1. The cover shows a tattered Darth Vader brandishing his lightsaber in front of his crashed TIE Fighter. Vader Down #1 has a plethora of covers and this one easily ranks among the best.
Star Wars: Vader Down #1am - Marvel Comics, U.S. (November 2015) M&M Comics exclusive
A black and white version of the cover was published as well. Both pieces are beautiful to behold but Darth Vader really pops on the colorless version with the details in his cape and armor being more apparent.
Star Wars: Vader Down #1an - Marvel Comics, U.S. (November 2015) M&M Comics black and white exclusive
A. Samouchos published Mad Magazine for Greek readers from 1979 to 1984. Mad Magazine #6 contains the Star Wars parody cover and story from Mad Magazine #196.
Editorial Columba adapted A New Hope in Fantasia Anuario #15 and The Empire Strikes Back in Fantasia Anuario #18 for Argentinian Star Wars fans. Both adaptations are original. For Return of the Jedi, they published the Marvel adaptation. Return of the Jedi #1 and 3 were printed in Fantasia Todo Colo #17 and 18 but Return of the Jedi #2 and 4 were printed in Fantasia Supercolor #86 and 87. Of the 4 comics, only Fantasia Supercolor #86 contains a Star Wars cover.
Fantasia Supercolor #86a - Editorial Columba, Argentina (December 1983) contains Return of the Jedi #2
The cover artwork for the magazine is taken from a Return of the Jedi poster from 1983. I really like the use of rainbow colors in the background, easing the transition between the different scenes shown. The transition behind Jabba on the poster is sharp, but on the comic cover it is much more subtle. Not that the comic cover does not have problems. It looks like Wicket is wearing a fez while Lando Calrissian is wearing a party hat!
1983 Return of the Jedi Poster
Dave Dorman uses the same poster artwork for his image of Luke Skywalker on the first issue of Star Wars: Dark Empire. While Dave Dorman's cover is a classic, Luke Skywalker's face and hair is a bit off and I like the character's depiction on the Fantasia Supercolor #86 cover better.
Star Wars: Dark Empire #1a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (December 1991)
Chris Samnee provides the artwork on a few Star Wars comic variant covers. Currently, he is working with writer Robert Kirkman on their co-created title Firepower from Image Comics and his creator owned-series Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters from Oni Press.
Samnee's artwork for Star Wars: Screaming Citadel #1 is my favorite cover from the Screaming Citadel story arc. Luke Skywalker and Doctor Aphra are scaling a citadel while monsterous arms reach out from a window in the tower to grab Aphra. While not an actual scene from the interior of the book, the art does capture the gothic horror mood the story conveys.
Star Wars: Screaming Citadel #1d - Marvel Comics, U.S. (May 2017) Chris Samnee variant
The Screaming Citadel stands out as one of the better events that Marvel has done since reacquiring the Star Wars license. The interior artwork on this opening chapter in the 5-part crossover between the main Star Wars and Doctor Aphra titles is superb and solidifies this as a must own book.
Zarro and Chewbacca are scouting out the entrances to Jaum's dedlanite mine. Afterwards, Zarro allows herself to be captured while Chewbacca reluctantly descends into the mines through an air vent. In the mine, Zarro is reunited with her father Arrax, but Jaum tells Arrax he sold the mine including the indentured workers. One of the workers is upset and raises a shovel and Jaum kills him, causing a panic among the remaining workers. Zarro and Arrax run, but are cornered by Jaum's men. Chewbacca appears and rips the men apart with his bare hands. When he fires his bowcaster, Zarro warns him the dedlanite is explosive.
Chewbacca rigs a power droid as a weapon and when a guard droid shows up, Chewbacca stops it with his rigged contraption. Meanwhile, Jaum is informed of Chewie's presence and Jaum kills the messenger. Chewie finishes off another guard droid and hits one of Jaum's men with the power droid. He takes his bowcaster and leads Zarro and her father through the mines. He emerges from a tunnel on a loading dock with carts full of dedlanite. One of Jaum's sharpshooters hits a cart, causing a powerful explosion.
Zarro and Chewbacca are both shown on the cover for Star Wars: Chewbacca #2 by Phil Noto. Surprisingly, this issue only has the single cover. This is a rare occurfence in the modern era.
Star Wars: Chewbacca #2a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (October 2015)
So far, this story is very forgettable. The standout moment of this issue is when Chewbacca enters the air vent and has flashbacks to being captured along with other Wookiees by Trandoshan slavers. He quickly clambers out of the air vent to summon his courage before climb back down into the hole.
