The next issue of Star Wars Insider -- the Official Star Wars magazine -- unveils several brand new departments. Get caught up in the latest Star Wars news from around the world in Launch Pad. In A Long Time Ago... relive Star Wars moments from yesteryear as the magazine looks back at what life was like in 1980, the year The Empire Strikes Back debuted. The Science of Star Wars looks at just how close reality is coming to duplicating some of the more memorable gadgets of the Star Wars saga. In Versus, two of your favourite Star Wars icons go head-to-head. First up, Chewbacca faces a rancor. And a brand new review section examines some of the cool new items revealed at Toy Fair.

Feature articles in this issue include an interview with producer Robert Watts, including a showcase of behind-the-scenes original trilogy photos from his personal collection. Also Insider counts down the top 10 lightsaber duels from the saga. The Essential Expanded Universe is a handy guide that arms you with the basics from beyond the films. And in Effects Maestros -- the first in a new series -- meet Star Wars visual effects wizard Richard Edlund.

Your favourite columns return as well, such as Books, Comics, Scouting the Galaxy, Toys, International Collecting, Bantha Tracks and more.

For more information about the magazine, visit www.titanmagazines.com/starwars. Star Wars Insider #101 soon ships to subscribers and hits newsstands on May 6. Check back that week for an excerpt from the magazine.