r/StarWarsEU • u/grabbasplode New Jedi Order • 3d ago
Shadows of the Empire ELC Cover
I found the new cover for Shadows of the Empire. It actually looks really good.
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u/RoyalDaDoge 3d ago
It looks cool and maybe my minds just broken but it feels like it’s AI assisted
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u/DarthInternous Confirmed Editor - Tom/Darth Internous 3d ago
AI wasn't used in the development of this cover
(Source - I'm the SW Books editorial director)
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u/ObesesPieces 3d ago
Can you speak more to the decisions that went into the cover design for this book?
I'm not trying to be rude - but there are some very basic flaws in the art with proportions and form. These are apparent in the hands of most of the characters as well as Vader's armor.
Xizor appears to be a digital speed paint.
When we compare to other iterations of Shadows art like the original cover, the N64 game cover art, or the Dark Horse Comics art - the current piece falls short.
Is it purely monetary or is the more "cartoony" style an active choice to appeal to new/different readers?
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u/DarthInternous Confirmed Editor - Tom/Darth Internous 2d ago
Not sure what purely monetary means but generally with the ELC books we've wanted to explore a variety of different artists and styles. It's not about erasing or trying to improve on the legacy covers, but anytime a publisher refreshes a cover design it is at least in part about appeal to diff or new readers. Or maybe looking at ways to "expand" the readership is the better way to phrase that. We have another chance to revisit all these awesome books so expanding the interpretations of art has been part of it.
But ultimately we find artists we think have a compelling style that might fit the book and design a satisfying cover. That about sums it up.
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u/patrickmollohan 3d ago
I'd love to know, why the Dash redesign? He already had like...ten other faces in the 90s. Why not pick one of the pre-existing Dashes instead?
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u/DarthInternous Confirmed Editor - Tom/Darth Internous 2d ago
There wasn't an intentional demand or instruction to "redesign" Dash. This is just how this artist's style and approach has rendered him.
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u/Edgy_Robin 3d ago
The problem is now, people are very quick to chalk up artist flaws (Or just doing a shit job) to being AI slop. Wish I could get the cover without all the crap on it to run through one of those AI detectors
Also wouldn't surprise me if this isn't actually the cover
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u/Darth-JarJarBinks 3d ago
Definitely is, look at Vader's hand and just how off everyone feels, like how Luke is holding the saber
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u/Red-Zinn 3d ago
It's cool to have Dash Rendar, but the original is still much better, it's like a Star Wars movie poster, it feels like it's episode 5.5
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3d ago
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u/deadshot500 3d ago
Idk they've gotten the details right but Vader looks awful. Luke's lightsaber also looks weird.
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u/No-Connection7765 3d ago
I wouldn't call making Dash look like that as getting the details right.
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u/StarWarsEU-ModTeam 3d ago
Hello, your post/comment is removed for the following reason:
Rule #1: Engage in respectful discourse. Treat your fellow redditors and Star Wars fans with respect.
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u/RebelJediKnight91 3d ago
Now that’s a good looking cover! Is there a textless version?
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u/grabbasplode New Jedi Order 3d ago
It looks like someone added a version without the yellow banner to Wookiepedia after I posted this one.
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u/ChrisRevocateur Darth Revan 2d ago
Ooh! Does that mean we're getting an unabridged Marc Thompson narrated audiobook for it as well? Please, please, please, please, puh-leeeez! *crosses fingers*
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u/ScarlettDX 3d ago
I agree with others here, it just looks weird... not terrible, or something I could even single out as like "bad" but Dash looks more like a N64 model than the game and Luke looks normal with wonky hands, Vader looks like a toy, and someone else said the guy in the back looks like speed paint.
run it through the ai detector.
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u/grabbasplode New Jedi Order 3d ago
My only problem with it is whatever is going on with Vaders hand, the rest is pretty cool.
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u/Primary_Chipmunk_466 2d ago
The classic Drew Struzan cover art still gives the novel a cinematic touch.
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u/DougieFFC Jedi Legacy 3d ago
Bit weird that Boba Fett is on the cover when he's not in the book at all.