Complete run of the first Star Wars Sunday newspaper comic strips, as originally published in GRIT magazine, 1978–1979.
Russ Manning art (Magnus, Robot Fighter)
These are smaller black and white versions of the color Sunday pages more commonly available. Not often seen on the market.
This lot includes all 59 strips from the opening sequence of the series, featuring classic storytelling and great science fiction art by Russ Manning (Magnus, Robot Fighter; Tarzan).
These strips adapt and expand the early Star Wars universe, starring Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, C-3PO, R2-D2, and several original characters created specifically for the strip.
Details:
• Complete first sequence: 59 strips
• Publication: GRIT magazine (1978–79)
• Format: clipped original newspaper strips
• Size: approx. 5.5 x 8 inches each
• Condition: see photos (typical age toning consistent with newsprint)
A scarce and historically significant run—ideal for collectors of Star Wars ephemera, newspaper comics, or Russ Manning’s work.
In 1978, writer Archie Goodwin and artist Al Williamson proposed an adaptation of the original Star Wars film as a daily newspaper comic strip, producing 12 black-and-white samples, but the team ended up not being available to produce the full strip. By the next year, writer and artist Russ Manning was hired to produce both a daily and Sunday strip spun off from the film. These originally told separate stories, which according to Manning were largely made up as he went along. After six months, he was replaced as writer, reportedly because newspapers wanted a story that was "more like a comic book". Subsequently, the daily and Sunday strips no longer told separate stories. Manning left the strip in mid-1980 due to his declining health; he died due to cancer the next year.
Complete run of the first Star Wars Sunday newspaper comic strips, as originally published in GRIT magazine, 1978–1979.
Russ Manning art (Magnus, Robot Fighter)
These are smaller black and white versions of the color Sunday pages more commonly available. Not often seen on the market.
This lot includes all 59 strips from the opening sequence of the series, featuring classic storytelling and great science fiction art by Russ Manning (Magnus, Robot Fighter; Tarzan).
These strips adapt and expand the early Star Wars universe, starring Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, C-3PO, R2-D2, and several original characters created specifically for the strip.
Details:
• Complete first sequence: 59 strips
• Publication: GRIT magazine (1978–79)
• Format: clipped original newspaper strips
• Size: approx. 5.5 x 8 inches each
• Condition: see photos (typical age toning consistent with newsprint)
A scarce and historically significant run—ideal for collectors of Star Wars ephemera, newspaper comics, or Russ Manning’s work.
In 1978, writer Archie Goodwin and artist Al Williamson proposed an adaptation of the original Star Wars film as a daily newspaper comic strip, producing 12 black-and-white samples, but the team ended up not being available to produce the full strip. By the next year, writer and artist Russ Manning was hired to produce both a daily and Sunday strip spun off from the film. These originally told separate stories, which according to Manning were largely made up as he went along. After six months, he was replaced as writer, reportedly because newspapers wanted a story that was "more like a comic book". Subsequently, the daily and Sunday strips no longer told separate stories. Manning left the strip in mid-1980 due to his declining health; he died due to cancer the next year.