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Michael Heilemann
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Valérian and Laureline

Following the adventures of spatio-temporal agents Valérian and Laureline as they hurdle through time and space, righting wrongs and getting out of tight jams, Mézières and Christin's trend-setting comic series was lightyears ahead of its time.

Michael Heilemann
Artists
Valérian and Laureline
Michael Heilemann
Artists

B for Berkey

We know that one of John Berkey's paintings became the foundation for The Deathstar, but his influence might have gone beyond that, into the aptly named B-Wing.

Michael Heilemann
Artists
B for Berkey
Michael Heilemann
Artists

Kaluta's Landspeeder

Luke's speeder is another distinct design in a world filled with them. As it turns out, Flash Gordon flew, and 'died' in one very similar to it half a decade before Luke. Perhaps they both shop at Wioslea?

Michael Heilemann
Artists
Kaluta's Landspeeder
Michael Heilemann
Artists

Giant Walking Machines

Syd Mead didn't work on The Empire Strikes Back, but he made a significant contribution nonetheless, when his designs for US Steel ended up informing the imperial walkers deployed on Hoth.

Michael Heilemann
Artists
Giant Walking Machines
Michael Heilemann
Artists

Howard Chaykin & The Swashbuckling Space Pirates

Drawn by Howard Chaykin who would work on the very first Star Wars poster as well as the Marvel comic book series, Cody Starbuck, cutlass in one hand and a six-shooter in the other, is often thought of as an x-rated precursor to Han Solo. 

Michael Heilemann
Artists
Howard Chaykin & The Swashbuckling Space Pirates
Michael Heilemann
Artists

Chris Foss & The Triangular Totalitarianism

Uniquely identifiable from his use of color and patterns, Chris Foss has been a tremendous influence in science fiction for decades. In the 70s he created a book cover which had on it a strangely familiar, yet quite alien design. A triangular star ship.

Michael Heilemann
Artists
Chris Foss & The Triangular Totalitarianism
Michael Heilemann
Artists

Ron Cobb & The Giant Lizards

Riders astride giant lizards might not have been an entirely novel concept by the mid 70s, but Ron Cobb's take on it had an air of the fantastic, while being grounded in reality. Cobb would go on to work on creatures for Star Wars , and this early design probably inspired the Dewback.

Michael Heilemann
Artists
Ron Cobb & The Giant Lizards
Michael Heilemann
Artists

John Berkey & The Mechanical Planet

He provided the empire with the ultimate weapon, though he couldn't have known it at the time. His style is uniquely elegant, yet mechanical, and though he would do some work for Star Wars , he never actually saw the films themselves.

Michael Heilemann
Artists
John Berkey & The Mechanical Planet