The Expanded Universe begins expanding

February 14, 2009 2:16 PM

30 years ago, the sixteenth and final issue of Pizzazz magazine was published by Marvel Comics at a retail price of 75 cents. In addition to cover stories like "Linda Ronstadt: Rock's Superwoman" and "Is Meat Loaf the Cutest Cultural Development Since the Pickle?", Pizzazz published what is arguably the very first addition to the Star Wars Expanded Universe - a serialized comic titled "The Keeper's World". Appearing in October 1977, only 5 months after the theatrical release of what was not yet known as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, it comfortably pre-dates Alan Dean Foster's Splinter of the Mind's Eye (March 1978) and even Marvel's own Star Wars #7 comic (January 1978). (previously)
posted by Joe Beese (15 comments total)

Hmmm.. this post is kinda poor without a link to the actual comic :(
posted by empath at 2:21 PM on February 14, 2009

I remember reading Splinter of the Mind's Eye as soon as it became available through the school book club order thingy...

I am pretty sure I enjoyed it, though I haven't the foggiest about the plot...
posted by Mister_A at 2:23 PM on February 14, 2009

Here you go.
posted by empath at 2:24 PM on February 14, 2009 [3 favorites]

empath: "Here you go."

Thanks! I keep expecting Leia to unwrap a delicious Hostess Fruit Pie.
posted by Joe Beese at 2:38 PM on February 14, 2009 [3 favorites]

I'm disappointed.
posted by Mblue at 3:20 PM on February 14, 2009

artoo detoo?

What I want to know is when are my New Mutants numbers 1-20 going to appreciate in value? I'm getting sick of waiting.
posted by Devils Rancher at 3:55 PM on February 14, 2009 [3 favorites]

Story by Roy Thomas and art by Howard Chaykin? Given that those two have become absolute authorities in the comics field, living legends arguably, you could certainly do a lot worse for mid-70s spec work.
posted by grabbingsand at 5:01 PM on February 14, 2009 [1 favorite]

I knew nothing of this. Thanks for the post, and double thanks to empath for the link.

Empath's link goes to a page of Star Wars arcana, including scans of numerous publications I haven't laid eyes on in thirty years. One is the Star wars Album, a large-format richly-illustrated behind-the-scenes book I loved as a kid, However, as an adult I look again at the final page of text -- which I had nearly memorized at age ten -- and see it very differently:

Will there be a sequel to Star wars? Absolutely! Already there is a full-length feature film scheduled, due in fall of 1978.

Lucas has indicated that he will only serve as executive producer. Still, a whole slew of questions are left up in the air: Will his hero marry the strong willed but willing Princess Leia? Or, will he have to challenge Han Solo to a duel for Leia's hand?

Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford will continue in their original roles; but what will become of Darth Vader? As for Artoo Detoo and See Threepio, Star Wars fans everywhere can be certain these lovable droids will be back in the thick of things.

So until the fall of 1978, when fans return to that special time "long ago in a galaxy far, far away," may The Force be with you.

Somehow, all the Skywalker incest jokes made over the decades are made just that much more cringeworthy by the word "willing."
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:49 PM on February 14, 2009 [2 favorites]

I remember reading a story, or an intro chapter to a story that came out in some magazine right after Star Wars came out. It was written by Frank Herbert, as I recall, and was kind of dark. Han Solo had gotten metal eyes after he was exposed to an acid atmosphere.
posted by atchafalaya at 7:50 PM on February 14, 2009

I was stopped cold by: "Is Meat Loaf the Cutest Cultural Development Since the Pickle?"

And it took several minutes before I could even read the Star Wars parts.
.....


Nope. Still stuck. Pickle??????? Meat Loaf????

Whoa.
posted by SaharaRose at 8:49 PM on February 14, 2009

The Star Wars comics that Marvel put out have always been a guilty pleasure of mine. By the end of the series the Alliance and their former enemies have to deal with two warring races from outside the galaxy. One is a race of albino ninja elves, the other is a race of giant, green space buccaneers, complete with space-galleys.

It's freakin' awesome.
posted by lekvar at 11:22 AM on February 15, 2009

I was there too Artoo.
posted by humannaire at 1:22 PM on February 15, 2009

Ooh, Meat Loaf the "Bat Out of Hell" singer, not the food. Gotcha.
posted by Pronoiac at 1:46 PM on February 15, 2009

Also, the unjustly obscure '60s singer Pickle.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:33 PM on February 15, 2009

Pizzazz looks like Marvel's version of Dynamite.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:33 AM on February 16, 2009 [1 favorite]