Here's a very cool art find (thanks to
Anthony Taylor): the original cover painting by an uncredited artist for the December 1978 issue of
Space Wars magazine, one of the many
Starlog imitators, published between 1977 and 1980 by the imaginatively-named "Stories Layout And Press Inc." I don't believe that I had this particular issue, but I'm pretty sure I had a few
Space Wars mags in my stash at one point or another. If I recall correctly,
Space Wars was all black & white, printed on the cheapest newsprint, with terrible photo reproduction and poor layout. Still, I read my copies over and over until they fell apart.
From the likenesses, it's obviously heavily photo-referenced, so it's odd that artist is so off-model on the Vipers. Still, I'm kinda tickled by the liberties taken with the design of the Colonial fighters - the changes are actually pretty damned cool!
ADDENDUM: As Tim pointed out in the comments, this art also appeared on a
Dynamite magazine cover - with considerably less obscuring copy. I
thought I'd seen it before!
One of the features appears to be 'The gorgeous girls of Galactica'. Any scans of the lovely Maren Jensen to brighten our day?
ReplyDeleteWow, never seen or heard of this one before. I used to buy every sci-fi mag I could get my hands on back in late 70's. From memory those were: Starburst, Starlog, Future, Fantastic Films, Cinemafantastique and Famous Monsters of Filmland. Off to USA eBay I go...
ReplyDeleteCool post.
I like how the Cylon Warrior is black giving him a Darth Vader look. Given the early emphasis at ABC for BSG to be a Star Wars cash-in I wonder if that resemblance is intentional.
ReplyDeleteWow! I can't believe it. I bought that magazine back in the seventies. I'd long forgotten about it. It's back at my parent's house stored away safe and sound along with all my sci fi/ horror magazines and books. Love this blog!
ReplyDeleteAlberto Ramirez
The "resdisgned" Vipers almost have a Y-Wing look to them... cool and interesting.
ReplyDeleteI don't recognize this magazine title, but there were lots like it. Space Odyssey was one; I had a Space: 1999 issue. The one mag I got because it had BG on the cover (not counting Starlog, of course) was Weird Worlds. I love this art, it's great!
ReplyDeleteGordon Long
Like the artwork. Didn't get to go to the movies until the 80's so Battlestar Gallactica had the kind of impact on me that Star Wars had on most other kids.
ReplyDeleteSpace Wars was just one of many cheap publications (most of them from Myron Fass) put out to cash-in on the late '70s sci-fi craze kicked off by Star Wars. Others included Space Trek, Star Encounters, Star Warp, Star Force, Star Battles, Star Blaster, Stars at War and Starblazer. What these crude, low-rent rags lacked in substance and sophistication they made up for with sheer enthusiasm (even if it was just crass exploitation, really).
ReplyDeletebtw, that same Battlestar Galactica illustration also appeared on the cover of Dynamite #54 in November 1978.
Oh, wow, I still have that issue of Space Wars somewhere in my collection. I've never seen the Dynamite that uses the same artwork. Great find, Chris!
ReplyDelete