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.

BEHIND THE SCENES: A HELPING HAND...

It certainly was difficult for the extras and stunt men inhabiting the bulky and impressive Cylon Centurion costumes during filming of the original series. Thankfully, the long and sweaty days can improve when someone like the lovely Laurette Spang comes to assist, as seen in this behind the scenes shot from the filming/publicity for Saga of a Star World at Universal Studios, during the Summer of 1978.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TO FELL A CYLON...

Our Colonial Warrior heroes, now aware of the Ovion's secret liaisons, are more proficient than ever at killing Cylons, as seen in this great image linked to unused footage, or specially staged action for the press, linked to the finale mine escape sequence.

CLASSIC IMAGE: STARBUCK SHOOTS TO KILL!

 

Deep within the dangerous and vile Ovion mines of Carillon, Lt. Starbuck takes down more Cylon opposition in another famous series posed promotional image of Dirk Benedict from Saga of a Star World used on many merchandise items, most notably for US and International jigsaw puzzles of varying sizes.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A KILLER OF HUMANS!

 

As the Cylons reveal themselves and attack the Colonial Warriors, one of their kind locks on and blaster fires in this great posed publicity shot. With the Galactica merchandising of 1978/79, this image was particularly well used as part of a set of 4 UK-released puzzles from Waddingtons. Taken specially during rehearsals on Saga from a Star World, the image would have the unique Cylon blaster pulse and its distinctive red eye added/rotoscoped on, likely by an Apogee technician during the pilot/film's post production stage.

CLASSIC IMAGE: INTO THE REALM OF THE OVIONS!

Deep in the bowels of the mystery world of Carillon, an insectoid Ovion mine worker leads his Colonial visitors in a trek across the bridge entrance to the alien race's underground realm of power and nightmares in this unseen angle/moment from Saga of a Star World that ultimately made it to TOPPS card form in 1978.

CLASSIC IMAGE: CYLON FURY!

Their secret garrison located under the Ovion casino now called out, the Cylons continue their attack against the soon ascendant escape party led by Apollo and Starbuck, in this memorable moment from Saga of a Star World.

'GALACTICA' AT 40: ASCENDING TO THE CASINO

Having witnessed the Colonial group's escape from the mine, the Cylons follow them in the service elevator up to the Carillon Casino, in a deleted scene moment from Saga of a Star World.

Rehearsal shot image: note the left corner Cylon adjusting his mask.

'GALACTICA' AT 40: BATTLE AT THE BRIDGE!

Filmed at the famous Phantom of the Opera stage at Universal, our heroes in the Carillon mines of the Ovions seek escape from the Cylons traversing a bridge, in one of the most memorable scenes of the film and opening TV pilot. For reasons of safety, being high up on the soundstage (which had a superb and highly detailed background painting), and with lots of SPFX pyrotechnics being discharged, actor and stuntman Felix Silla (later Twiki in Buck Rogers) doubled for little Noah Hathaway in the run across.

'GALACTICA' AT 40: STARBUCK AND BOXEY TO THE RESCUE!

Having rescued a now all-forgiving Cassiopeia from a grisly fate (though her demise was originally conceived in the first scripts), Starbuck (with Boxey in tow) takes on a Cylon (or more than one) in an action sequence set in the Ovion mines that never made it to the final cut, or was re-shot on a new set alongside Richard Hatch as Apollo, as part of material later directed by Alan J. Levi before he commenced directorial duties on Gun on Ice Planet Zero.

A shot taken in rehearsal- note the Cylon's red eye isn't on.

Numerous publicity photos were also taken of that day's scene filming (on a set barely seen in the finished film or pilot version), which would promo the alien Ovions, a Cylon Warrior, and Noah Hathaway as Boxey with Dirk Benedict as Starbuck. These images would become well known worldwide.

'GALACTICA' AT 40: IN THE REALM OF THE OVIONS!

Another of the great conceptual paintings for the pilot episode from the late, great icon Ralph McQuarrie- this time showing us the major scale of the insectoid Ovions underground colony and its mining system.

'GALACTICA' AT 40: THE CYLON MENACE...

The reptilian and cyborg race known and feared in the galaxy: the Cylon Star Empire. The most xenophobic lifeforms to ever be encountered by the benevolent human-kind, and a species whom they'll soon be locked in bitter and destructive conflict with for a thousand yahrens.

CLASSIC IMAGE: CYLON IMPERATIVE

Another of the classic early Cylon Centurion threatening promotional images for the film and Saga of a Star World, taken on on the Ovion honeycomb-esque catacombs set, built at the Universal Backlot during 1978.

CLASSIC IMAGE: A CYLON IN THE CATACOMBS!

Another great rehearsal shot of an early Cylon Centurion ultimately used for advance publicity purposes, in a sequence on Carillon's Ovion Mine that didn't make it to the original cut, and was ultimately reshot on another cave set, for Saga of a Star World.

CLASSIC IMAGE: READY FOR TROUBLE!

One of the great battle ready images of Starbuck in the depths of the Ovion mine from Saga of a Star World that I'll always remember on one of the classic TOPPS CARDS of the day.

CLASSIC IMAGE: PREPARING FOR SLAUGHTER!

Down in the lower, lower depths of the Ovion Casino resort, Queen Lotay consorts with the Cylon Commander in charge of the garrison there, counting the microns until all of the Galactica's human warriors are secured and ready to be killed... or eaten, in this unseen angle, likely a rehearsal image, from Saga of a Star World.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TO A MEETING WITH ROYALTY...

In the depths of Carillon, Serina, Jolly and Apollo are escorted to meet Queen Lotay in her private chamber, in a deleted scene moment from Saga of a Star World.

CLASSIC IMAGE: "OH FRACK!"

Someday's you miss one, and Starbuck's experiencing that frustration whilst rushing to join his friends in the escape elevator to the Carillon Casino, after failing to hit a Cylon warrior, in this great still from Saga of a Star World.

DELETED SCENE: NEW SURROUNDINGS!

Captured by the mysterious Ovions, young Boxey is brought to their underground lair, in this deleted scene, one of several linked to the alien creatures, from Saga of a Star World.

CLASSIC IMAGE: UNDERGROUND HORROR!

Shielding Boxey from the horrors ahead, Apollo and Starbuck witness the fate of the missing Colonials in this tense and scary scene within the Ovion mine, from Saga of a Star World.