The read-along record books of the original Star Wars trilogy were pretty much a staple in every Gen X kid’s home.
However, these aren’t the only Star Wars read-alongs produced. I have a few records that would now be considered part of the Star Wars Legends lineup that was created in 2014 after the Disney buyout of Lucasfilm. The Legends are essentially any stories that were told outside of the theatrical films – so books, comic books, video games, cartoons, and these records – that Disney didn’t want to be beholden to moving forward with the franchise. But just because they’re not canon, doesn’t mean they’re not fun.
Star Wars: The Further Adventures
Buena Vista Records, an imprint of the Disney Records Group label, produced a couple of these Star Wars adventures under the banner of Star Wars: The Further Adventures in 1983. The one I have for you today is called Droid World, which is an adaptation of issue number 47 of the Marvel Comics Star Wars comic book that ran from 1977 until 1986. Issue #47 of Star Wars was published in 1981 and was written by Archie Goodwin, with pencils by Carmine Infantino, and features cover art by Frank Miller.
Archie Goodwin
Archie Goodwin started his comic book career in the 1960s working for Warren Publishing, primarily writing and editing for horror anthologies like Creepy, Eerie, and the war magazine, Blazing Combat. Eventually Goodwin moved on to King Features Syndicate, where he worked on comic strips like Secret Agent X. He would simultaneously work for DC and Marvel in the 60s, 70s and 80s, mostly writing war comics like G.I. Combat and Our Fighting Forces, but also had an influential stint on the early issues of Iron Man. He is perhaps best-known for co-creating Luke Cage, Marvel’s first black superhero with his own comic, along with artist John Romita.
When Marvel licensed Star Wars for a comic book in 1977, they initially released a six-issue adaptation of the film, which sold incredibly well. Goodwin took over writing duties for the ongoing series in 1978 and was the primary author until 1985. During this time, he wrote the comic adaptations of both Star Wars sequels, as well as for films like Blade Runner, Alien, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Unfortunately, Goodwin died at the age of 60 in 1998 after a long battle with cancer.
Carmine Infantino
Goodwin’s artist for many issues of the Star Wars comic was Carmine Infantino. Infantino got his start in comic books during the 1940s, working on titles like The Human Torch and Black Canary, a character he created in 1947.
Infantino would go on to illustrate the Silver Age adventures of The Flash, Green Lantern, and The Justice Society of America. He would later create Barbara Gordon AKA Batgirl and co-created the supernatural superhero Deadman, both in 1967.
He was eventually promoted to art director at DC and is responsible for getting the legendary Jack Kirby to work for DC in 1970. By the mid-70s, Infantino was freelancing for Marvel and worked on quite a few issues of the Star Wars comic between 1978 and 1982. Infantino continued to work into the 1990s before retiring.
Infantino passed away in 2013 at the age of 87.
Frank Miller
Frank Miller got his start working in comics in the late-1970s. He freelanced with DC and Marvel for a number of years before finally settling in at Marvel as a cover artist and sometimes penciller. His most influential work was on the dying Daredevil comic book, which he took over art for in 1979. By 1981, Miller had taken on both art and writing for the series and reworked the character to become the brooding hero of Hell’s Kitchen that we know and love today.
From there, Miller’s resume is littered with influential comics like Sin City, 300, Batman Year One, and one of the defining texts of modern comic books, The Dark Knight Returns. He’s still making comic books today, but he’s also tried his hand at directing with films like Sin City: A Dame to Kill For and The Spirit.
While the read-along record book for Droid World might have been based on the work of these comic book legends, the artwork for the book is not lifted directly from the comic. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not impressive.
According to Wookieepedia, the artwork for the book was handled by Dick Foes, who does a great job with all the minute details of R2-D2, C-3PO, and a bevy of other droids featured in the story. His interpretation of Mark Hamill as Luke is pretty solid, too.
If you’d like to listen to Droid World and check out the read-along record book, I’ve recorded it as part of my podcast, When You Hear This Sound!
