I received an advance copy of J.W. Rinzler’s new making-of book, Star Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy, and I have to admit that as someone who learned how to draw by poring over Star Wars storyboards and concept art as a kid, this book is a goldmine.

There’s an foreward by Joe Johnston (who drew many of these boards and designed the Millennium Falcon) and an intro by Nil Rodis-Jamero (art director on Empire and costume designer on Return of the Jedi), and while the book is light on text, there’s quite a number of notes from Johnston and others that give some context to the genesis and evolution on some of these boards. Also nifty: despite the vast majority of these storyboards being drawn in black & white, the book has been printed in full color, so what you’re seeing is as close as you’re ever likely to get to seeing these things first-hand (and the occasional color boards really pop, as seen with the Hoth battle stuff above.)

The book hits shelves on Tuesday, May 13th - I highly suggest grabbing a copy if you’re into old-school production artwork like this.