THE LOST BATTLESTAR PROJECT: Battlestar Galactica (1st Miniseries 1995) Issue 04 pg 26 RECREATION

ISSUE 4 PG 26

Last year, I was fortunate enough to welcome into my collection a massive influx of vintage Battlestar Galactica artwork, courtesy of original artist Hector Gomez. Amidst the excitement of the new acquisitions, there lurked a slight twinge of disappointment. Of the seven issues purchased, two issues were incomplete, missing interior pages. (Three of the issues were also missing their covers, but Hector didn't provide the published art for them)

Yes, there are 4 pages of art missing, comprising three pieces: one page from issue two, with a page and double-spread from issue four. After 20 years, no-one remembers what may have happened to them - destroyed, lost, sold, or pulled as gifts or souvenirs by the production crew of the time.

While flipping through the newly-arrived piles of art, an old friend of mine noted the missing pages, and wryly commented "What a relief you have a personality that won't be at all bothered by such omissions."

Har-de-har har. But, he was right.

I resolved to plug the gaps in the books, for storytelling continuity and (not least) for my own satisfaction. But, how to go about it? I knew I wasn't particularly interested in having straight re-creations done; why pay an artist to do a lightbox job I could just as easily do myself? (And risk confusion should the originals ever, against all odds, actually turn up) Why not do something different?!

I contacted three Battlestar-lovin' artist friends of mine, and gave them the same instruction: select one of the missing pages, retain the same storytelling beats, but otherwise reinterpret the page as they saw fit. Chris Batista went first, preferring the challenging double-spread, with Warren Martineck and Steve Kurth each picking a Cylon page. Barb Schulz was chosen in advance as inker for the project, to provide some visual continuity between the three artists. I was responsible for restored word balloons and any required digital cleanup. Lastly, original series writer Robert Napton provided cheerleading support from afar.