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: 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: 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: 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.

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: 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: 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.

CLASSIC ART: DOGFIGHT!

One of the trainee female Viper pilots is in trouble on the cover of issue four of the classic MARVEL BATTLESTAR GALACTICA series of the late seventies, in a terrific comics adaptation of LOST PLANET OF THE GODS from writer Roger McKenzie, alongside fantastic art from comics legend Walt Simonson. This was the last story from the actual classic series adapted for the comics medium.

Wikipedia has a fine section on the history of the GALACTICA comics that's well worth checking out: Battlestar Galactica (comics) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

CLASSIC ART: APOLLO VERSUS 'THE BERSERKER'!

Galactica's finest viper pilot, Captain Apollo, goes up against his toughest Cylon adversary yet, a deadly and seemingly unshakeable Mark III pilot and his prototype ship, in the classic Walt Simonson drawn BATTLESTAR GALACTICA MARVEL COMICS strip Berserker from 1980.

Check out the full story here: Diversions of the Groovy Kind: Groove's Faves: "Berserker" by McKenzie and Simonson