CLASSIC ART: DEATH TO THE OVIONS!

The classic Marvel Comics Galactica series had some very memorable action-orientated covers to win over readers, but here's one that sadly never made it, the original planned version for issue three, which was adapting Saga of a Star World, and sees our heroic Starbuck stealing the limelight as he fights the cannibal Ovions deep within their creepy lair on Carillon. 

Inking art by Jeff Aclin, who originally posted this piece on his Instagram page a while back.

CLASSIC ART: COLLISION COURSE!

No longer captured by the weird environs of the Memory Machine, Commander Adama has new problems on his hands, with what looks like a kamikaze Cylon Basestar on the attack, in this great opening artwork to the classic series Marvel Comic issue 12, with stellar work once more from regular talents Walt Simonson and Klaus Janson, featuring colouring by George Roussos

Original B/W version.

CLASSIC ART: TROUBLE ON THE FLIGHT DECK!

A rampaging animal is on the loose within the environs of the Galactica, but all is not what it seems after a prior Colonial expedition to an alien world. Memorable cover art, in the best action-packed Marvel tradition, by Bill Sienkiewicz and Klaus Janson, for the series' all-too brief US comic run - issue 17, from 1980.

CLASSIC ART: TRAPPED IN THE MEMORY MACHINE!

Having adapted the original pilot episode and the subsequent Lost Planet of the Gods two-parter, Marvel Comics goes into its own divergent but no less interesting storytelling direction from the aftermath of the battle at Kobol, as Adama urgently enters the dangerous Memory Machine, sabotaged by the returned Sire Uri, to try and recall the now destroyed Kobol ancient writings pinpointing the location of the lost Thirteenth Tribe. Action-packed cover art for issue 7 by Rich Buckler and Klaus Janson.

Original B/W version.

CLASSIC ART: UNDER ATTACK!

It may have had the briefest of runs, but it was always a great thrill when a new Marvel Comics issue of Galactica was released via my London-based comic shops during 1979. The excellent covers promising all the thrills, action and adventure we wanted. This was one of my particular favourite covers - I can't resist a good series space battle - and another splendid piece of work from Walt Simonson during that era.

CLASSIC ART: GRUESOME ALLIANCE!

Another terrific piece of poster art from the colour MARVEL Super Special of 1978, for the original pilot/movie of Saga of a Star World, capturing the creepy menace of the Ovion miners of Carillon, counterbalanced with the technological might and firepower of a Cylon raider vehicle. Superb art from Bruce Patterson.

CLASSIC IMAGE: STAN AND 'GALACTICA'!

In charge of his incredible empire of comic book heroes and villains beloved worldwide, the one and only Stan Lee was not afraid to incorporate diverse titles from the world of TV/film science fiction into his bold line-up, with the original Battlestar Galactica a fast option for a comic series following a popular introduction, and a successor to Marvel's prior hit with its monthly Star Wars title and subsequent special iterations.

CLASSIC ART: APOLLO, THE WARRIOR!

The youthful heroism of the Galactica's finest Colonial Warrior, Captain Apollo. is well rendered by iconic MARVEL Comics artist Walt Simonson, who was such a terrific creative force for the US series monthly all-colour comic during the second half of its run existence.

CLASSIC ART: RENDERING OF A STAR PILOT!

Amongst the lovely pieces of art happily filling out the page count of one of the 1978 MARVEL Super Specials of Galactica, is this distinctive art primarily of Starbuck, captured by Joe Rubinstein.

CLASSIC ART: MONSTER MAYHEM!

With the expense of the weekly series, there was little money available to create diverse alien creatures on a regular basis. Thankfully, no such problems would arise in the limitless imagination and creativity realms of comic book storytelling, where our Colonial Warrior heroes were taking on all manner of frightening beings, as seen here on the issue 21 cover of one of the classic Marvel comics for Galactica, from 1979. Cover art from Walt Simonson and Klaus Janson.

'GALACTICA' AT 40: 'DEATHTRAP!'

The secret Cylon garrison hiding in the lower levels of the Carillon mines have now been discovered, and young Boxey and Muffit have walked straight into them, in this memorable cover art by Dave Cockrum to issue three of the Marvel Comic adaptation of Saga of a Star World, in their monthly Battlestar Galactica comic.

'GALACTICA' AT 40: 'EXODUS'!

Ralph McQuarrie's concept versions of the Cylon Raiders loom large on the Galactica's view screen, of which our heroes prepare for the worst, in this fun cover art by Dave Cockrum for the MARVEL 1978 Comic series of Battlestar Galactica, whose second issue continued their excellent adaptation of Saga of a Star World, and the remaining humans escape into space searching for the Thirteenth Tribe.

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

CLASSIC ART: GAME OVER?!

Looks like Starbuck's love for gambling has put him on the wrong side of a blaster- many blasters, in fact! - in this great Walt Simonson cover art for the fun, if short-lived, MARVEL COMIC series from 1979.

CLASSIC ART: THE ODYSSEY RETURNED...

Another fine piece of cover art of our heroes from 2004, for a UK TITAN BOOKS collector's comic series of the first five issues of the original MARVEL COMICS US colour series, plus a later two-parter, showcasing the brilliant Walt Simonson.

If anyone knows the identity of the cover artist, please get in touch.

CLASSIC ART: IN SPACE, NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU SCREAM!

Going into cool science fiction monster mode, "This Planet Hungers..." is the byline for this intriguing adventure for our Colonial heroes from the MARVEL BATTLESTAR GALACTICA comic issue 10, of December, 1979. Striking cover art by Pat Broderick and Terry Austin.

CLASSIC ART: STARBUCK's BACK!

He'd been away for a few issues, but the return of the cigar-chomping Viper pilot hero Starbuck was certainly cause for celebration, making an intriguing cover image for issue 19 of the original MARVEL comic series. Art by the gifted Walt Simonson.

CLASSIC ART: WALT SIMONSON REMEMBERS 'GALACTICA'

Taking the short-lived but enjoyable GALACTICA MARVEL comic book into bigger and broader areas of storytelling than anything then seen in the weekly series, Walt Simonson's writing/artist work on the title's final quarter run proved a memorable stepping stone to bigger and more critically acclaimed work, notably with the likes of THOR.

Check out his brief GALACTICA reminisces here: Dynamite expands Art Editions line with Vampiralla, Battlestar Galactica and John Carter — The Beat

CLASSIC ART: THE FIRST WARRIORS!

Cover by Richard F. Buckler and Klaus Janson.

Right from the series launcher, Adama and Tigh had been established as friends and warrior fighter pilots who had fought the Cylon tyranny for a very long time. Sadly, this wasn't developed much further in the series, but at least we had this classic MARVEL COMICS story to fill in some of the history blanks, for a duo tale involving prejudice and robots on the Twelve Colonies world of Scorpia.

CLASSIC ART: AMBUSH!

Female shuttle pilots turned Colonial viper pilot warriors come under surprise attack from Cylons, outside the ancient Kobol temple site, in the terrific cover by Walt Simonson for the MARVEL COMICS adaptation of Lost Planet of the Gods.