"MISSION' AT 45: APOLLO'S JOURNEY!

The best and most respected pilot/warrior of the Galactica, and a noble protector of humanity, Captain Apollo, strike leader of the Blue Squadron Colonial Vipers, faces difficult decisions and death-defying ground/space combat missions with the incredulous return of the legendary Commander Cain and the formidable Battlestar Pegasus...

Three great posed images of Richard Hatch in his most beloved role as Apollo, taken in Adama's quarters, used for key publicity during the 1979 cinematic release of Mission: Galactica - The Cylon Attack.

Hatch makes the cover of the German entertainment magazine Bravo.

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: SHOWCASING LIGHT AND DARKNESS!

It may not have gone past its fourth and final issue back in 1978, but the distinctive Battlestar Galactica poster magazine series, published by Paradise Press with Universal, remains treasured by fans. I still have to get hold of this one after all these years, what with its memorable Adama/Lucifer cover. 

In the UK, I only remember the first issue coming out, specifically targeted with the theatrical release of Saga of a Star World. Am I wrong about this?

HAPPY 46TH BIRTHDAY, 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'!

Adama, Apollo, Starbuck. The three classic heroes forming what viewers will discover, and thrill to, as part of the unique Battlestar Galactica, assemble in this great cover art by David Edward Byrd that was specially commissioned for the US TV Guide magazine back in September 1978. I'm sure it garnered a lot of American viewer attention heralding the series then eagerly-awaited debut.

The quest for Earth continues to delight fans old and new, of which our classic characters, heroes and villains, endure brightly for another special celebration day! 

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: SCHOLASTIC 'GALACTICA'!

The marketing of Battlestar Galactica as event TV was none more keenly felt by teenagers after the success of Star Wars, and the American Scholastic schools magazine Sprint made the most of that excitement ahead within one of their 1978 issues.

Volume 4, issue 1 inside feature spread.

CLASSIC MEDIA: GETTING WEIRD WITH 'WEIRD WORLDS'!

The arrival of the trailblazing Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica States-side saw the debut of many all-new cash-in magazines celebrating their impact in cinema and on TV, alongside articles on other classics of the genre like the original Star Trek, The Outer Limits, and many Gerry Anderson productions. Weird Worlds made Galactica their launch launch cover (with a rare image) back in 1978, but did it ever make it to a second issue?

GETTING THE 'STARLOG' SPECIAL TREATMENT!

The mysterious 'Ship of Lights', so important to Galactica's later episodes, graces the cover of Starlog magazine's then hugely detailed 1979 coverage of the classic series, featuring some fine articles and photography covering the show's effects and its overall making, plus an episode guide which was a genuine god send, especially to UK TV viewers who were then starting to see the series and eagerly awaited the ongoing adventures beyond the pilot.

CLASSIC ART: WHEN 'MEDIASCENE' PREVIEWED 'GALACTICA'!

Soon an influential title in the realms of mainstream and cult movies and TV, comic book artist and graphic design talent Jim Steranko's Mediascene Prevue magazine was a must-have title, and one that not only had great journalistic content but always looked particularly exciting in the way it showcased science fiction, soon given a new lease by the commercial success of the original Star Wars. Battlestar Galactica was soon equally well represented by 1978 (issue 29 Jan/Feb), as seen with this fine advance publicity salvo with its exclusive use of the Ralph McQuarrie classic conceptual art of a Viper pursued by Cylon Raiders - presumably the first time that this image had been used in the production's highly successful marketing campaign? 

CLASSIC IMAGE: BACK ON THE BRIDGE!

One of the most expensive sets ever created for television at that time, and one of the costliest to maintain what with its all its electronic requirements, the fully-functional onscreen Galactica bridge remains one of the iconic sets of not just this series but of US TV science fiction series in general.

An ambitious press launch for the series on the bridge set.

With such a pedigree added to the series, its no surprise that Universal and the series producers were keen to make the most of the set in terms of promotion, and they were successful in their results in the lead-up to the Star Wars on TV event, as the press would originally describe it! 

Enjoy below's special promo featuring unused or alternate footage linked to the pilot, including the Imperious Leader voiced by an unknown actor, who wasn't Ted Cassidy or Patrick Macnee!

Magazine scans of Tekweek linked to the creation of the Bridge set and publicity for the new series... 

From The Portland Rose Festival Friday June 2nd 1978 - Tekweek article.

A look at the original 1978 filming supervised by Saga director Richard A. Colla on the Galactica bridge set.

CLASSIC IMAGE: CREEPY COVER STAR!

The hybrid Cylons made amazing cover stars promoting Galactica in the realms of science fiction magazines of the day, now it was time for one of the creepy insectoid Ovions to get in on some of the glory, in this great cover to the seminal Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine.

CLASSIC ART: WHEN 'CRACKED' MET 'GALACTICA'!

One knows when a series has hit the big time with viewers and pop culture the moment it starts getting a humorous mocking, as seen here with the cover feature to Cracked magazine, whom that month back in the day had their laughter sights firmly locked on Battlestar Galactica. And it was a pretty good send-up too, if I recall!

'GALACTICA' AT 40: WHEN 'WORZEL' MET 'GALACTICA'!

You could always count on the UK children's TV listings/feature magazine Look-In to bring together cover stars of the most eclectic kind, as especially seen here - both Cylon and Galactica fused with the comedic British scarecrow comedy figure of Worzel Gummidge (as played by another sci-fi TV legend in former Doctor Who Jon Pertwee) for this fun 1979 artwork created by magazine cover regular artists Arnaldo Putzu.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A NEW FILM ODYSSEY!

The theatrical version of Saga of a Star World makes an impact in UK cinemas and launches Dirk Benedict and Richard Hatch as stars to watch out for, on the cover of the popular FILM REVIEW magazine of May 1979.

With thanks to Graeme Wood for the image. Twitter address for his incredible magazine cover archive collection: @woodg31

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: GALACTIC(A) PIZZAZZ!

I've always known of the MARVEL humour magazine PIZZAZZ from the late seventies, but here in the UK I've never seen a copy for sale and overseas charges via Ebay are way too high. I'm assuming it was an attempt to cash in on the always fun MAD. Nevertheless, its always nice to see the Classic GALACTICA series on any cover from back in the day.

More here: space1970: PIZZAZZ Magazine Cover Gallery

GALACTICA 1980: BACK, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT...

Despite the always excellent STARLOG magazine's May 1980 issue importantly heralding a new series of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, and despite the welcome presence of sexy Robyn Douglass as human liaison Jamie, GALACTICA 1980 ultimately proved not to be the series we actually, really wanted- a rushed to conception format, which changed by its second story, that lacked most of its original stars.

STARLOGGED - GEEK MEDIA AGAIN: 1980: GALACTICA 1980 - ROBYN DOUGLASS INTERVIEW (Starlog Magazine)

CLASSIC IMAGE: 'SPACE WARS' MEETS 'GALACTICA'!

Our key heroes grace another sci-fi magazine cover of the time- the colourfully fun SPACE WARS, whose coverage of the film and the series looked positively huge with that special issue. I'll have to pick up a copy of it someday and get a closer look at the features, and that cover's unusual looking Colonial Vipers...

CLASSIC IMAGE: CYLON SUPERSTAR!

Instantly iconic, the deadly Cylon Centurion makes the grade as a cover star to the December 1978 issue of the popular STARLOG magazine wannabe FANTASTIC FILMS, joining illustrious sci-fi greats like Leonard Nimoy's Mister Spock, and a classic THE OUTER LIMITS alien. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA had well and truly arrived!

CLASSIC ART: WORLDS OF SCI-FI!

This classic Ralph McQuarrie conceptual art for BATTLESTAR GALACTICA would soon capture fans imaginations worldwide, especially via magazine covers, as seen here in 1978's brief-run US magazine SCIENCE FANTASY FILM CLASSICS.

More on the issue's sumptuous coverage of the series here: STARLOGGED - GEEK MEDIA AGAIN: 1978: SCIENCE FANTASY FILM CLASSICS MAGAZINE: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE SAGA AHEAD...

Another one of those terrific early publicity magazine covers for Saga of a Star World- this one for the Philadelphia Inquirer's TV WEEK, back in 1978

CLASSIC IMAGE: WELCOME TO THE MONSTER CLUB!

You know when you've made it as a sci-fi/horror icon after you've graced the cover of the immortal and now legendary magazine FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND, and thats just what happened to BATTLESTAR GALACTICA with the November 1978 issue 149 cover and feature.

CLASSIC IMAGE: MORE 'GALACTICA' GOSSIP!

An old star and two new stars grace the cover of RONA BARRETT'S HOLLYWOOD gossip magazine of 1978, as GALACTICA's post-launch publicity dominates the media, along with news of other sci-fi projects then or coming soon...