Previous SW: 1999 posts here and here.

This’ll be my last Star Wars: 1999 post for a long while, I hope you enjoy it. Here are some characters that may be a little more familiar (well, some):

1. Anakin Skywalker is a freighter pilot in the Outer Rim when he encounters Obi-Wan Kenobi on the run. Kenobi quickly appreciates the young man’s talents, but suspects Skywalker may be running away from something in his past.  Here I’ve got two versions of Anakin: on the left is his appearance for most of the story, with a simple pilot’s jumpsuit. On the right is his uniform once he is proclaimed Dark Lord of the Sith.
2. Prestor Organa is an esteemed nobleman from the planet Alderaan who is attempting to divorce the Republic’s ties with the Jedi Knights, whom he sees as unpredictable and dangerous.
3. Mandalore is the primary antagonist of the series and leader of the Mandalorian raiders waging war the galaxy.  As per tradition, upon receiving the leadership of the Mandalorian people (by defeat of his predecessor, naturally), his name was taken away and only given the title “Mandalore,” or “one that is all.”  With the Mandalorians being the main enemies, it would be easy to have a guys who all look like Boba Fett, so I’ve tried to keep recognizable shapes with Mandalore here while trying some new things too.
4.  Jan Solusar is a Mandalorian defector from the last war and an old flame of Obi Wan Kenobi’s.  Although she had a comfortable life as a prizefighter during peacetime, Jan is once again pulled into one of Kenobi’s wild crusades.  Visually, I wanted Jan to look practical and powerful, her Mandalorian armor covering her more like that of a gladiator than a soldier or bounty hunter.

Some assorted Jedi and sketches from my Star Wars: 1999 project.  Couple notes about Jedi in my version of the prequels: there is no Jedi Order or really even a recognizable council, nor do they wear robe uniforms and all carry lightsabers as they do in Lucas’s prequels. They’re a bit more diverse, a little more like a cross between wandering samurai and the Knights Templar, with enclaves and bases spread throughout the galaxy.

These Jedi, from left to right:

1. Ordok is a master swordsman with 5 eyes all the way around his head. He can’t breath regular “human” atmospheres, forcing him to wear a helmet reminiscent of a Japanese monk basket-hat thing.
2. Califa is a former Devaronian slave who specializes in unorthodox weaponry. Similar to how real-life Samurai used mostly other weapons in battle with swords mostly being ceremonial, Califa and some other Jedi use more modern weapons in battle.
3. Kiran is a pacifist Jedi with cybernetic eyes. He’s long since refused to carry a weapon, though he will not say what caused this change of heart. His greatest skill is the ability to dismantle a blaster with the Force, making him a valuable asset in a fight.
4. Zin is a cunning old woman who has been in more battles than she can remember. While a legendary force for justice in the Republic, Master Zin has gotten somewhat senile and deranged as she becomes ever more obsessed with rooting out “secret enemies.”
5. Duke Drago is a rare aristocrat trained as a Jedi. He has taken it upon himself to repair the historically rocky relationship between the Republic and the Jedi, though the rogue antics of some Jedi (like Obi-Wan Kenobi) have stifled this project.
6. Obi-Wan Kenobi, the hero of our tale, is a talented Jedi Knight trained by the legendary and elusive Yoda, famous destroyer of the ancient Sith. Kenobi has become disillusioned with the incompetence of the Republic and has decided to wage a one-man war against the aggressors of the Clone Wars, a conflict that most Jedi have not openly participated in.  Kenobi’s attire is a combination of Clint Eastwood-esque cowboy clothing covering ancient Jedi armor, a gift from his estranged master.
7. Vima is Kenobi’s young apprentice and voice of reason.  While she has recently constructed a lightsaber of her own (a monumental undertaking), her master is hesitant to let her into battle. Instead, Vima spends most of her time investigating the Outer Rim for outside threats.

Here are some common questions I get about Star Wars: 1999

What is Star Wars: 1999? 

It’s a personal project of mine that remakes the Star Wars prequels using only canonical information prior to Lucas’s prequels, as well as the 1997 “special editions.” Technically it should be called “Star Wars: 1997,” but 1999 has a ring to it and anyway, it’s a tentative title.

Everyone knows the prequels were horrible, but why a total remake?

George Lucas’s prequels are, in my opinion, completely unsalvageable if your intent is to make a coherent continuation of the Star Wars series. What I mean is that beyond poor scripting and filmmaking, the prequels actually undermine the existing mythology or directly contradict existing facts in the original films. My theory is that they’re mostly a symptom of lazy research and screenwriting on Lucas’s part. Examples include:

• Portrayal of Jedi as all wearing Tatooine robes because Kenobi did in A New Hope, despite the fact that everyone on Tatooine dresses like this, including Uncle Owen.
• Claiming the Republic was 1,000 years old when in A New Hope it is established to be 25,000+ years old.
• Making “Darth” a title instead of simply Vader’s name.
• Giving the likes of Yoda and Palpatine lightsabers
• Making Stormtroopers all clones
• Giving the Force a scientific explanation (Midichlorians)

Some of these aren’t contradictions outright, but are still serious deviations from themes previously set up.  While I know that there have been some talented writers who have done a decent job of retconning these contradictions (especially the 1,000 vs 25,000 years one), I feel that in order to make the prequels work, it’s best to scrap it all.

If you’re throwing out everything Lucas did since 1997, what’s your source material?

I’m mostly just using the original films. There’s actually a lot to go on, and if I need extra material I’m primarily going through the Dark Horse Star Wars comics of the early 90s like Dark Empire and Tales of the Jedi.  Visually I am holding to the original aesthetic established by Ralph McQuarrie, and heavily reference many of his unused concept painting for the original films.

Otherwise, I’m just making it up and trying to create a solid Star Wars trilogy that captures the sense of adventure and depth of the originals!

What’s the overall plot? Who is the main character?

I don’t want to give too much away just yet, but just as the original films focused on rebels defeating the Empire, the prequel story is about the heroes of the Republic defeating their enemies during the Clone Wars (a conflict that has no connection to Lucas’s other than the name).  While the Empire will be established during this time, I’ll be keeping the political elements in the background, much like the original films.

The hero in all three stories is Obi Wan Kenobi, who is going through many ordeals as he both fights for the Republic and also deals with a growing Galaxy that seems to have no place for the mystical Jedi.  Anakin Skywalker is also in there, but he is mostly in a supporting role with screen time on par with Han Solo.

What form is this going to take when it’s finished?

Good question! For now, I’m mostly just scripting it and doing the visual designs.  I have no intention of making a film or anything profitable (for obvious copyright reasons), but it may eventually take the form of a comic series that I’ll put online.  This is not something I get to work on very often due to my professional duties on my own comic, Dresden Codak, so it’ll get done when it’s done.  It’s mostly a therapy project to deal with how awful those films were.

I hope that answers some of the bigger questions!