The Hidden Wars
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Hidden Wars |
| Publisher: | Star Wars fan club |
| Editor(s): | Fiorenzo Delle Rupi |
| Date(s): | 1998-2000 |
| Series?: | yes |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Star Wars |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Hidden Wars is a Star Wars fan club zine published in Italy. The content is in English
The 2000 issue won a Star Award.
The contents of this zine is a continuing comic strip with art by Filippo Rossi. Some latter issues include a short column about the series, as well as letters of comment.
This zine is related to Kalandar and Lord of Emptiness.
About
From the First Issue
Comments by Fiorenzo Delle Rupi in the first issue:
During the years, as a longstanding Star Wars fan and as creator of the Cloud City fan club I have seen a lot of weird things. One of the few things that still has the power to surprise me is the energy that moves and flows from Star Wars fans. Possibly it's something that might sound true for all Sci Fi fans, but I like to think that it is true for Star Wars fans in particular: they excel in creativity and in actively expressing their passion by creating something.
I have seen costumes and models built with such a detail that would make the envy Industrial Light and Magic chief modelers; artwork and illustrations deserving the covers of the best international magazines; stories and novels written with unequaled drama, humor and passion. All in all, everybody has transferred his passion for Star Wars in his favorite activity field and has produced something special.
I have seen so many projects and ideas of high quality that I have often regretted the fact they could only be appreciated by the relatively rich but always limited entourage of the Cloud city club. The main purpose of our association has always been that of encouraging and helping contacts between fans: so the next step was almost mandatory: to provide these excellent artists with a wider public and to offer all fans and fellow enthusiasts a quality product that would not disappoint them.
Let's put one thing straight: the diffusion network through which the Hidden Wars project is moving is and remains exclusively an amateur one: websites, unofficial clubs and fanzines. It has been conceived in this way and we wouldn't want it to be otherwise. A publication meant for wide diffusion or for sale not only would break strict and severe laws on existing copy rights, but it would feed "delusions of grandeur" and put the project itself on a secondary plan.
On the contrary, we want only The Hidden Wars under the spotlight. We do not care about making a name, about the diffusion channels, about possible important acquaintances. The Hidden Wars is being made for the sake of the project itself: the intriguing story, the wonderful artwork, the interconnecting ideas... this is what we hope to be appreciated for. The rest is irrelevant.
So, enough with idle chatting and let's take a look at the project itself.
The Hidden Wars is born with the purpose of collecting and introducing under a single title the best efforts Italian fans could produce in the field of Star Wars. If you wish, think of it as the Death Star of Italian Star Wars fans: a single, gigantic idea - maybe even ambitious - to show the dedication and the passion of Italian artists for the Saga. A project which might give our country a little recognition in the history of Star Wars, be it only in the fandom.
With this purpose in mind, one day I started conceptualizing the most important points of the project along with Filippo Rossi, one of Cloud City's best artists and fellow madman in the creation of this project. With "Star Wars at its best" as our motto, we pinpointed a few elements which we believe to mark the best moments of the wide and longstanding production of comics and novels set in the Star Wars world.
- - Continuity: fans enjoy a lot reading references and connections between various Star Wars projects, and the resulting creation of a unified, coherent universe. This is the case of "the Hidden Wars", which is not only compatible with every product in the official Star Wars world, but also adds and explains many of its hidden details (have fun in finding them!).
- - Originality: as an intended homage to all recent stories - from Shadow Stalker to Tales of the Jedi - we have chosen to work on a series that would focus on original characters and situations instead of dealing with the usual Luke, Han and Leia, whose stories in comics and novels turned out to be repetitive and restrained in comparison with the excellent original products mentioned above. We are sure you will immediately grow fond of the new characters and that you'll recognize the familiar and exciting Star Wars pace of their adventures. Moreover, as we said, the universe is the same of the official one, so you can expect cameos now and then!
With these ideas we got straight into the actual realization of the project. The first and most important piece of our production is the comic book series which you are reading now. And I don't think I could ever find the words to give what's due to Filippo Rossi and the artwork he has put together for The Hidden Wars. Not only Filippo has enthusiastically accepted the work of illustrator, drawing the splendid pages of this issue and of those that will follow, but he has been, at all effects, the co-creator of the whole project.
The Hidden Wars might as well have remained drifting in my dark mind forever if it weren't for Filippo's offer to turn it into reality. Even more important, when I saw his first sketches I knew I had found the perfect artist for The Hidden Wars.
Personally, I am immensely satisfied with the final result, but the ultimate judgement, of course, is for you to decide. But no matter what The Hidden Wars' overall success will be, it is already an accomplishment because of so many days spent having fun with the story, the ideas and the developments. As they use to say, "if you'll have half the fun we've had at the creation..."
But, of course, there's more: once the comic series approached completion, others followed our trail, as it was meant to be. So, just like its more important counterpart in the official universe, the multimedia cross-over Shadows of the Empire, other fans joined the adventure with other media and expressions: stories and role-playing games, possibly caught in the wake of excitement and energy we displayed when working on the project, I am looking forward to feature some very special artwork drawn by Stefano Vimercati, Giuseppe Paggi and Gianfianco Mari for some role-playing modules, but know that there are several expressions in the work, all uniting individual passion and enthusiasm with the coordination and the quality of a global project.
So I can only end with a double invitation: first, of course, read and appreciate our first issue and send us your opinion, your judgement and your critics.
Second... join the party! If you want to be part of a big adventure for Star Wars fans all over the world, we have many stories waiting to be drawn, written or told. If you can write, draw or do anything else and want to add a piece to the overall picture, contact us; we'll be more that happy to have you along for the ride!
From the Last Issue
Quoting Vangrovius' words "Time will tell if the project was worthy." Over two years ago, when we started working on the Hidden Wars project, we most certainly weren't able to foresee if and when we would develop a second issue, let alone the entire Saga or the fate of the characters. True, energy and spirits were high, but the project was so wide and demanding that a few wrong choices or an inadequate development would soon obtain indifference from the public and early death for the story.
Fortunately, this wasn't the case: fans and readers, even the more sceptical ones, started enjoying the product and growing fond of the characters, and soon password spread throughout fans all over Italy and beyond: reviews, encouragements and words of praise started coming in from Australia, Mexico, USA, Canada and England. An ever growing group of readers that saw its fulfilment in these very days, in which we deliver the whole Hidden Wars saga to posterity thanks to a collaboration with the most important Star Wars web site in the USA, www.theforce.net, who will reserve The Hidden Wars its own section, putting the whole saga online and including even all its secondary productions: game modules, tales, support material and so on.
The moment in which the Saga has reached completion is also the time to decide about its future. For readers the end of the story is an occasion to read it back from the beginning to the end not as an episode series but as one whole big movie, and possibly to introduce it and pass it on to those who didn't have the opportunity or the patience to follow the single issues.
As for us... Well, there wasn't a choice really: new stories and developments abound, and even in the existing saga we had planted enough clues and events that would allow the story to continue. The success and the excellent results the Saga has reached will allow us to continue the story: what is the Awakening Vangrovius mentioned? Where does the chip DeVries used on Thaylon come from? What's the destiny of the "creature" born on Xanthorr during the ritual? Find the answer to these and many other questions in the Hidden Wars II... which will bring all characters from the first series back in action... and add a few important new faces!
Before starting a new adventure, however, we have many people to thank, all those who have followed, supported and sustained The Hidden Wars Saga as readers and as collaborators: Stefano Vimercati, Giuseppe Paggi, Gianfranco Mari, Davide Cattaneo and Emiliano Scattolini for all their graphic support material; Ilario Vemelli, Nicola Previati, Luca Morelli for their computer as sistance; Roberto Magistro, Laura Zucca and with them all the readers of the Cloud City club, and those of theLokendil club in Fabriano and Lendicomics in Rovigo; al Star Wars role-players in Cloud City, who lived in advance many of the his toric moments in the saga and saw the characters' personalities evolving; and, last but not least, our foreign supporters team among which we mention Sean Koury for his support in the English translation and Jeff Boivin, our theforce.net host. Together, we lived an excellent and exciting adventure and we have put together something like we never have in the whole Star Wars world and possibly in the whole comic world.
Such an experience is too good to have it ended now. So, after a little rest and some planning, we will start a second arc -in hope of being able to follow in the footsteps of the best sequel of all times. The Empire Strikes Back. Just like his most famous ancestor, our second chapter is meant to be more complex, darker and more upsetting than the first chapter!
General Fan Comments
I found The Hidden Wars more fun than many of the officially licensed Star Wars comics I've read! [1]
I absolutely love it and can't wait to read more!!!!! [2]
I was very, very impressed by the work. The authors should be extremely proud of their hard work! [3]
Many thanks for the copy of The Hidden Wars. It is absolutely terrific. Comic books are extremely difficult to do, a lot of people think they're easy... they're not! Fiorenzo and Filippo have done a great job. I love the opening, "out of the frying pan into the fire", it has the spirit of Star Wars, beginning with a complex action scene. The characters bring to mind the quote from the Star Wars novel: "they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, naturally they became heroes". I think it's a good idea that the authors have opted for original characters that way they are not limited, but they have got the feeling of the original movie, which is so important, and something most pro authors are incapable of, it just isn't in their blood. I got the sense that the authors are tapping right back to those original inspirational memories of when we first saw Star Wars.
Well done! [4]
About your preview issues of THW: the first several pages are very exciting, the art and story rock! I love Fillipo's stormtroopers, they're probably some of the best stormtrooper art I've ever seen in any comic. I also like the humor in Nag Skarr, hero, running for his life in this scene Han Solo comes to mind) cool.
I think it's interesting note that in issue #1, Gothar seems like a much more evil villain type, and Delta, Nag and Mark are cast into his lot because they have no choice. Then, in issue #2, Gothar shows a genuine concern for Mark's survival. Was this a conscious choice on your part? Is Gothar a bad guy, or a good guy? m sorry if this seems ike a criticism or whatever because it's not, I'm just a little confused about his motives.
Issue #2: I like the cover for this one a lot better than for issue #1. Did you use a different kind of printer or a Xerox ma chine or something? Anyway it looks great, (not that issue #1 doesn't look great too, but... you catch my meaning, I hope!)
I always love when comic guy gets the crap beat out of him by a woman. Jarla seems like a very interesting character. Will we see more of her? Will she play a pivotal role in the story? Obviously you can't reveal too much, but she seems like she might be helping them out in their quest (or mission, whichever) or, I can also see the possibility of her turning against Gothar and his crew. I can't wait to find out what happens.
Well, I have to go now. I can't think of too much else to say, except that I think this whole HW thing is a really great idea. The story line and art rock, and it's a very exciting read. [5]
Thank you very much for the first half of the "Hidden Wars" story line. I like the fact that it kicks off with a quest for a legendary artifact. To me, Lucas missed the "boat in not having his characters seek out some artifact, whether it be crystal or a new lightsaber for
Luke (after ESB). Your story is intriguing enough from me to wonder how it all turns out. It's quite a project you've undertaken, my hat is off to you and your partner. Pass along my compliments to Filippo Rossie for his nice work on the artistic side of HW. [6]
Issue 1
The Hidden Wars 1 was published in 1998 and contains 22 pages.
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Issue 2
The Hidden Wars 2 was published in 1998 and contains 22 pages.
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Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2
Received your WONDERFUL SW comics in mail last week! I am so impressed by the quality of the artwork (is that mp admiral supposed to look like Hitler! Good in-joke if so) You guys should be doing this professionally!
Love the introduction, and then the scrollup screen page ~ makes me feel like I am about to see a new SW movie - I can almost hear the music!
And you do not disappoint (except I will admit I was hoping to see Han, Luke, Leia, Chewie, or even Vader). I can get so many great story ideas and especially pick up a feel for describing settings and expressions — and well, ALL the visuals ~ because you give it here in your fantastic artwork...this is wonderful resource material for any SW fan who likes RPG or writing or art or the characters really come to life through the dialogue and it must be tough writing dialogue that must be kept so concise due to space. Well done.
I love the tongue in cheek lines from Skarr ~ 'Could you get me out of here ~ possibly before I get fried!" Chuckle - and Delya and Mark are perfect foils for him. "Couldn't you dock two meters lower?" Laugh! Action with humor in the suspense is just my cup of tea. Gothar Palpatine is a most intriguing character - never sure what he is up to!
Great job guys ~ and I bet you will have readers begging for the third issue [7]
Issue 3
The Hidden Wars 3 was published in 1998 and contains 22 pages.
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Issue 4
The Hidden Wars 4 was published in October 1998 and contains 22 pages.
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Issue 5
The Hidden Wars 5 was published in 1999 and contains 24 pages.
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Issue 6
The Hidden Wars 6 was published in 2000 and contains 25 pages.
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References
- ^ Chris Kivlehan, quoted in "The Hidden Wars" #3
- ^ Pat Grant, quoted in "The Hidden Wars" #3
- ^ Cheree Cargill, quoted in "The Hidden Wars" #3
- ^ Gerald Crotty, quoted in "The Hidden Wars" #3
- ^ Josh Koury, quoted in "The Hidden Wars" #3
- ^ Peter Iorillo, quoted in "The Hidden Wars" #4
- ^ Carolyn Golledge, quoted in "The Hidden Wars" #3