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The Shape Of Things To Come | A Starlog Archive Cartoon

Little known made-up fact-less truth: Roland Emmerich — the guy who directed almost-extinction-level event movies like Independence Day (1996), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), and city-levelling films like Godzilla (1998) — originally wanted to be a cartoonist.

Circa 1990-ish, Roland fedExxed a bunch of sci-fi cartoon ideas to Starlog Magazine. In New York.
6-to-8 weeks later, Roland’s cartoonist dreams were crushed after learning the Starlog editor (in New York!) rejected ALL his cartoon submissions.

Since then, let us assume Roland has a maddenning obsession to see New York burnt to the ground as we continually witness superimposed movie extras in Times Square paying the price for his vengeance.

Easter Eggs: the film/TV posters in the background will inspire now-failed cartoonist Roland Emmerich in his soon-to-be films — “War Of The Worlds” (1953) inspires “Independence Day (1996); “Godzilla: King Of The Monsters” (1954) inspires “Godzilla” (1998); “The Earth Day Special” (TV - 1990) inspires “The Day After Tomorrow” (2004).

Although this toon was not published and technically not a member of Starlog Magazine's Cartoon Archive, this never-before-seen toon was recently inked up based on a patently stupid gag idea (see rough at right) that's hid in a drawer since 2004 after respectfully turned down by Starlog’s almighty editor (possible reasons: it wasn’t funny; too close to 9/11; it wasn’t funny… take your pick).

Thankfully, I’m not the vengeful type… I just mope and eat compulsively.

Nobody Respects The Value Of A Flying Household Cleaning Utility In The Empire More Than Trooper Potter | A Starlog Archive Cartoon

To avoid further ridicule, Trooper Potter fails to disclose he also traded his blaster for a "magical" stick.

From the Starlog Toon Archives (Issue 306, Jan. 2003).