The Heart of Darkness

By Ron Salvatore
Photography by Bill Karp and Ed Albano

The heroes must at last enter the "heart of darkness," the fortress of Evil itself, to destroy its stronghold.

When Han and Leia finally destroy the energy shield generator, Lando and Wedge fly into the Death Star to fire on the reactor core at the center of the space station. While conflict rages around the Death Star, Luke struggles with the dark forces within the Death Star, where he is undergoing a spiritual conflict in his battle of wills with the Emperor.
--from the Smithsonian introduction

The B-Wing Fighter, along with the A-wing, was one of two new Rebel star fighters in Return of the Jedi. Its unique design, with its rotating cockpit, makes it one of the Trilogy's more interesting vehicles.

First seen in the asteroid sequences of The Empire Strikes Back, the TIE Bomber actually utilized parts of the commercial model kit for Darth Vader's TIE Fighter. In at least one instance then, the ancillary merchandise of the Trilogy influenced the development of the film, rather than than the reverse.

Supposedly, the TIE Interceptor, with its dynamic, pointed wings, is a more advanced version of the curved-wing model Darth Vader piloted at the close of A New Hope. This model actually appeared to be slightly damaged, a couple of the extreme tips of the wings being absent.

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