Jack Kirby and Star Wars

[Mike Ward]

I've always found the little parallels between Star Wars and the New Gods
to be interesting.

The similarity between the Darkseid/Orion relationship and the Vader/Luke
relationship.

The similarity between the name Mark Moonrider and Luke Skywalker.

The Force and the Source.

Also there's something about the Death Star orbiting Alderan which is very
evocative of Apokolipse and New Genesis.

Are there any other connections, and what do you think: Are they just
coincidental similarities or was Lucas perhaps a New Gods fan who worked in
some minor touches from that serious into his own.

Mike

[Paul Valois]

There's been speculation for decades, myself included. Here's my personal
take on it:

Kirby's Fourth World titles hit many of us comic/sci-fi fans like a brick
when they appeared on the racks. Jimmy Olsen went from a continuous, rote
script that lasted too many years into a wild and wonderful mix of New Gods,
clones, aliens and the return of the Newboy Legion and The Guardian. The
Forever People was probablty the most transitional title I can remember.
Mark and his team were the last remenants of the 60's hippie era of
superheroes and the first to utilize super high-tech weaponry that became so
prominant later in the 70's and 80's. (Yes, Kirby introduced high-tech
equiptment in the Fantastic Four, but we SAW it hanging around the Baxter
Building and rarely utilized in actual combat.) The mothership title, New
Gods and to a lesser degree Mister Miracle drastically changed the DC
Universe. New Genisis became DC's Asgard and Apokilips, something brand new.
The day of the Uberman dominating common costumed gangsters was gone.
Darkseid and a world full of fanatical super-villains were here and they
could transport armies to Earth in minutes. Superman himself was in the
thick of things, and for once wasn't having an easy go at it. ANYONE who
read DC comics was exposed to the Fourth World. Therefore, unless Lucas
didn't pick up any comics at all back then, or was strickly a Marvel man, I
can't imagine he didn't get at least some influence from The New Gods for
Star Wars. As you stated, the similarities are very prominant.

Eerily, at least one similarity was beyond Lucas' control. Orion's battle
worn face was mirrored by Luke Skywalker's after Mark Hamill was scarred in
an traffic accident.

Post by Mike Ward
I've always found the little parallels between Star Wars and the New Gods
to be interesting.
The similarity between the Darkseid/Orion relationship and the Vader/Luke
relationship.
The similarity between the name Mark Moonrider and Luke Skywalker.
The Force and the Source.
Also there's something about the Death Star orbiting Alderan which is very
evocative of Apokolipse and New Genesis.
Are there any other connections, and what do you think: Are they just
coincidental similarities or was Lucas perhaps a New Gods fan who worked in
some minor touches from that serious into his own.
Mike

[niteowlned]

Post by Mike Ward
I've always found the little parallels between Star Wars and the New Gods
to be interesting.
The similarity between the Darkseid/Orion relationship and the Vader/Luke
relationship.
The similarity between the name Mark Moonrider and Luke Skywalker.
The Force and the Source.
Also there's something about the Death Star orbiting Alderan which is very
evocative of Apokolipse and New Genesis.
Are there any other connections, and what do you think: Are they just
coincidental similarities or was Lucas perhaps a New Gods fan who worked in
some minor touches from that serious into his own.
Mike

I don't think it's a connection but the Forever people make a good
parallel to the Millennium Falcon Crew at least in my opinion.
Serafin = Han Solo
Mark Moonrider = Luke Skywalker
Big Bear = Chewbacca
Beautiful Dreamer = Princess Leia
Vykin = C3PO
Mother Box = R2D2
Infinity Man = Ben Kenobi the link to
the Source/Force

The serafin=Han, Mark=Luke matches are a little twisted but the rest
seem close to me.
I don't think there was really a direct link just an interesting aside.

[Mike Ward]

And then if you want to throw in the Star Wars And Green Lantern Corps
comparisons....
A galatic peace-keeping force lead by strangely colored midget with
great power who are brought down by their greatest member....

I've never read the Lensman stories by Doc Smith, but I've heard it said
that both Star Wars and the GL Corp owe a lot to it.

Does anyone have an opinion on whether or not this is true?

[Dsantia]

A galatic peace-keeping force lead by strangely colored midget with
great power who are brought down by their greatest member...

And, wasn't the "strangely colored midget" blue? Yoda is described as being
blue in the EMPIRE script and novelization.

[Brian Doyle]

Post by Mike Ward

And then if you want to throw in the Star Wars And Green Lantern Corps
comparisons....
A galatic peace-keeping force lead by strangely colored midget with
great power who are brought down by their greatest member....

I've never read the Lensman stories by Doc Smith, but I've heard it said
that both Star Wars and the GL Corp owe a lot to it.

The Silver Age GL Corps owes nearly it's entire nature to the Lensmen books,
as evinced by the many names from the books, the GL Corps uses as an homage;
Eddore and Arisia being the first two to spring to mind.