Bounty Hunter: SD Boba Fett

Here we have the Medicom Toys Super Deformed (SD) Empire Strikes Back Boba Fett. Besides liking Boba Fett, I picked this up because it reminds me of a drawing I did years before for Star Wars Kids Magazine of Fett for a feature called Boba Fett's Bounty Hunt.



It was actually a drawing in my portfolio of the Fett-Man that got me the gig at Star Wars Kids back in 1999, that all the following Boba Fett Drawings I did were based on. Everyone that has seen the magazine and then visits the studio says the same thing. "Did you design that toy?" Nope, but I have to believe somewhere, someone had seen the drawings I did and it gave them the inspiration. Or it could be a coincidence, who knows? Still it's a fun little toy to have around. Medicom actually did the Return of the Jedi version as well, but that's the one that screams like a baby as he falls into the Sarlaac Pit and I'll have no part of that.

Well while I dig up the original files, here's a couple of shots of some framed issues I have hanging in my office to compare (camera phone, guerilla style!).

Jar Jar in bad taste?

Here's a quick post featuring a fun little book on one of my favorite subjects, collecting Star Wars. I guess this would be classified as a coffee table book. It contains some of the coolest pieces from the beginnings of the Star Wars merchandising monster. It was assembled by one of the greatest Star Wars collectors that ever existed, and probably ever will, Stephen Sansweet. This book has been out for quite some time and can be found on Amazon. What made me think to post this book was the earlier post on Star Wars Celebration I.

When I was contributing art to the kids magazine, Mr. Sansweet was one of my editors, actually the one at Lucasfilm. I've always enjoyed reading the various columns he has written and numerous books that he has had published, so naturally I was looking forward to meeting him at the convention. The only chance I had was at a book signing he was doing, so I thought it would be nice to drop by and introduce myself and talk briefly. Well I stood in line for about thirty minutes, which is good for a convention, and when I got my chance to meet him he looked a little puzzled that I was not carrying a book for him to sign. I told him I wasn't looking for an autograph that I was one of the artists that he had the pleasure to comment on before anything saw print. When I introduced my self and shook his hand, he said "Oh, you're the guy who drew the farting Jar Jar!" and something to the effect of " I hope the rest of your drawings are a little more tasteful in the future". I didn't know what to say to that, I was kind of wishing I had this book and just had him sign it, but in my defense it's all about breaking those glass ceilings. I mean Jar Jar has to fart too, right?

Drawing Star Wars

Wow, talk about falling behind! It's been a busy week so while I have a chance I'm doubling my efforts and dropping a few posts to catch up. Talking about catching up, I feel so left out of the current Star Wars artist frenzy, mainly because once Star Wars Kids Magazine went by the wayside I stopped working in the galaxy far, far away and concentrated on other areas of my chosen profession. I always wondered what it would be like to go back and revisit some of the Star Wars subject matter now that I have a little more experience in illustration under my belt.

While I'm on the subject of illustration experience here's a fun link to a Star Wars artist that I've met once while attending the Star Wars Celebration I back in 99'. All the Star Wars Kids artists at the time were asked to donate some time at the Star Wars Kids booth drawing caricatures for donations to a children's home. Matt Busch's scheduled time overlapped some with mine and I had the chance to talk with him some. This chance meeting gave us a little time to swap some quick war stories and even some caricatures of each other while we were waiting around. I think I got the better end of the exchange since I made away with a pretty sweet caricature of yours truly dressed as Darth Vader. I still have it around the office somewhere, I'm wonder if he kept the one I did? I doubt it, for some reason no one likes being dressed as Jar Jar.

Well it looks like Matt has stayed busy drawing Star Wars and is even releasing a book on the subject. It looks like it's going to filled with some great stuff. I'll definitely be checking it out.