Out-of-this-world icons

Where did Chewbacca come from? 10 iconic extra-terrestrial characters

Image: Javier Miranda

Although we can't all jump on a spaceship to explore other planets yet, science fiction has given us a glimpse into what creatures from distant worlds might look like. From cute and funny to sinister and menacing, many of these extraterrestrial characters have touched our hearts and become unforgettable. ALF, E.T., and Chewbacca are just a few of the iconic names from other planets we'll explore in this article. Let's get started!

Image: Matthew Ball

We are off to a great start! One of the most famous figures in science fiction cinema, the iconic Darth Vader first appeared in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977).

Anakin Skywalker -his real name- comes from a planet called Tatooine, but he's much more than just an alien. His character evolves as the story progresses, demonstrating great emotional and psychological depth. His legendary black mask and his deep voice are some of the characteristics that best define The Dark Lord of the Sith.

Did you know that Washington National Cathedral features a gargoyle on its facade with the face of this character?

Image: Олег Мороз

Ridley Scott's 1979 film Alien is one of those that made many of us fear encounters of the third kind.

Although many people refer to it simply as "the alien," the extraterrestrial species in the film is called the Xenomorph, and it is quite terrifying. Its most fearsome features include its elongated head, slick skin, and, of course, its jaws lined with sharp teeth.

The predatory nature of the Xenomorph enables it to adapt to various environments and hunt any prey, including humans. If, after all this, you still feel like encountering alien species, remember: "In space, no one can hear you scream."

Image: Emre Turkan

But now, let's set aside the terrifying aliens and focus on the ones we like better.

The Looney Tunes is an undisputed classic, and among its members, we all remember Marvin the Martian. As his name suggests, Marvin is not from Earth, and he stands out with his iconic look: old Roman-style war helmet, green uniform, and sneakers. In addition, his large, expressive eyes cover a large part of his face.

Although we really like Marvin, we have to remember that his evil plan in the show was aimed at us: his main goal was to destroy Earth. Luckily for us, he never succeeds!

Image: Rick L

Some characters instantly give off good vibes, and that's exactly the case with E.T., the star of one of the most beloved movies for both adults and children.

While the 1982 movie doesn't reveal the name of his home planet, we do know that his name, E.T., stands for "Extra-Terrestrial." His glowing finger, huge eyes, and gentle nature are some of the defining characteristics of this friendly alien.

But E.T. is not just a pretty face; he has powers we humans could only dream of. He possesses telekinetic abilities, the power to heal wounds, and can even communicate telepathically!

Image: Aksel Fristrup

When it comes to wise extraterrestrials, we can't overlook the incredible Yoda.

One of the most famous and remembered characters of the Star Wars universe, Yoda stands out for his greenish skin, bald head, big eyes, and long and pointed ears. Despite being only 2 to 3 feet tall, Yoda is incredibly powerful. He's a master of lightsaber combat and possesses a wisdom that few other characters can rival.

Calm and patient, Yoda is also known for his unique way of speaking, often putting together his sentences in object-subject-verb order, something rare in our language.

Image: Marcel L.

If you think an alien can't make you laugh out loud, it means you haven't watched the ALF TV show.

In 1986, a friendly extraterrestrial appeared on our television screens to make our days a bit more fun. Even though ALF came from a distant, completely different planet, he spoke perfect English and had a great sense of humor that fit right in with ours.

ALF, short for "Alien Life Form," came from the planet Melmac. After his spaceship crash-landed on Earth, he was taken in by the Tanners, who made him a part of their family (well, you know, except for the family cat).

Image: Jon Tyson

Maybe because he's not green or blue and doesn't have giant eyes or pointed ears, we sometimes forget Superman is also an alien.

But just because he looks like an ordinary human from Earth doesn't mean he lacks extraordinary powers. Along with his heat vision, super speed, and super strength, he has one ability we all dream of: he can fly "faster than a speeding bullet!"

Superman was born Kal-El, and he came from the planet Krypton. To save him from Krypton's destruction, his parents sent him to Earth, where he landed in Smallville. There, he was adopted by the Kent family, and the rest is history!

Image: Wonderlane

Leonard Nimoy was the first actor to bring to life a character that has crossed generations: the unforgettable Spock from the Star Trek franchise.

His bowl-cut hair and pointed ears are among the most iconic and often imitated features when people dress up as this beloved character. But, in addition to his peculiar appearance, he also has amazing powers, such as superintelligence and telepathic abilities.

Although Spock was born on the planet Vulcan, he is actually half-human, as his father is Vulcan, but his mother is from Earth. His Vulcan side makes him a very logical being, but his human side also gives him emotions and feelings that other Vulcans lack.

Image: Justin Wilkens

With an appearance somewhat reminiscent of ALF but a completely different personality, Chewbacca is one of the most beloved characters of the Star Wars franchise. Known for his courage and loyalty, Chewbacca has been a part of the saga since the very first film, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977).

Chewbacca is a member of the Wookiee species and comes from the planet Kashyyyk. His appearance is imposing: standing about 7 feet tall, Chewbacca is covered in thick, long brown fur, with deep-set eyes and prominent teeth. In addition, his characteristic voice also makes him a very special character.

Image: Stefan Grage

Okay, we know we promised 10 characters on this list, but we had to make an exception for Simpsons fans. We wouldn't dare separate Kang and Kodos!

These two creatures with funny names are the extraterrestrial beings that often appear in The Simpsons Halloween specials. As beloved as other classic characters, Kang and Kodos come from the planet Rigel VII and are known for their intelligence and ambition to conquer Earth. This duo has become very popular, showing up in many episodes with a lot of unforgettable moments and lines.

Dust to dust…

Discover 12 of the strangest Last Will requests ever

Image: Melinda Gimpel

Thinking about one’s own demise is not a pleasant task for most of us. Still, it’s wise to make preparations in case the worst happens, to ensure your material possessions are handled according to your wishes. The same goes for any plans you might have for your funeral. Last wills are fairly common, but as it happens, in some cases, people go beyond the usual, leading to the 12 extraordinary examples that follow.

Image: Vitaliy Shevchenko

The first name on the list belongs to one of the greatest magicians of all time—Harry Houdini, who died in 1926 from a ruptured appendix.

Houdini’s library of books on magic and the occult was offered to the American Society for Psychical Research on the condition that J. Malcolm Bird, the society’s research officer and editor of its journal, resign. Bird refused, and the collection instead went to the Library of Congress.

Houdini also left his wife a secret code—ten random words they had agreed upon—that he would use to contact her from the afterlife.

Image: Kenny Eliason

When news billionaire William Randolph Hearst died in 1951, he included a clause in his will addressing rumors that he had children out of wedlock. Anyone claiming to be his illegitimate child, the will stated, would receive "the sum of one dollar." He added, "I hereby declare that any such asserted claim... would be utterly false."

No one ever came forward.

Image: Paweł Bulwan

When hatmaker S. Sanborn died in 1871, he stipulated in his will that two drums be made from his skin and given to a friend, on the condition that every June 17 at dawn, the friend would play "Yankee Doodle" at Bunker Hill to commemorate the anniversary of the famous Revolutionary War battle.

The rest of his body was to be composted into fertilizer to nourish an American elm tree, to be planted along a rural roadside.

Image: Libby Penner

John Bowman, a wealthy tanner from Vermont, believed he would be reincarnated along with his deceased wife and two daughters. To prepare for their return, his will established a $50,000 trust fund to maintain his mansion and mausoleum.

The will required that dinner be served every night, just in case the Bowmans were hungry upon returning from the dead. This ritual continued from his death in 1891 until 1950, when the trust fund was finally depleted.

Image: Chewy

Eleanor E. Ritchey, heiress to the Quaker State Refining Corporation, left her $4.5 million fortune to her 150 dogs when she died in Florida in 1968. The will was contested, and by 1973, the dogs were awarded $9 million.

By the time the estate was finally settled, its value had grown to $14 million—but only 73 of the original 150 dogs were still alive. When the last dog died in 1984, the remaining estate passed to the Auburn University Research Foundation to fund research into animal diseases.

Image: Sérgio Alves Santos

Janis Joplin, the legendary singer known for her soulful voice and hard-living lifestyle, died of a drug overdose in 1970. Her will included a $2,500 provision to fund an all-night, posthumous party for 200 guests at her favorite pub in San Anselmo, California—"so my friends can get blasted after I'm gone."

Image: Quino Al

Portuguese aristocrat Luis Carlos de Noronha Cabral da Camara made headlines when he randomly selected 70 names from the Lisbon phone directory and named them as beneficiaries in his will.

Understandably, many of the recipients initially thought it was a scam—most had never even heard of him before learning they had inherited part of his estate.

Image: Sophie Shankey

Billionaire hotelier Leona Helmsley left the majority of her estimated $8 billion estate in charitable trusts for "purposes related to the care of dogs." She specifically set aside a $12 million trust fund for her Maltese dog, Trouble, and disinherited two of her grandchildren "for reasons known to them."

The disinherited grandchildren contested the will, claiming that Helmsley lacked mental capacity when she made it. The dispute was settled with half of Trouble’s trust—$6 million—being awarded to the grandchildren.

Image: Jay Kettle-Williams

Billionaire Wellington Burt ensured that his fortune would remain inaccessible to his heirs for nearly a century. He died in 1919 and included a "spite clause" in his will, which stipulated that his wealth would be distributed only 21 years after the death of his last surviving grandchild. That grandchild died in 1989, meaning the 21-year countdown ended in 2010.

Image: Carlos Quintero

Comedian Jack Benny’s widow, Mary Livingstone, wrote in a magazine shortly after his death in 1974: "Every day since Jack died, the florist has delivered one long-stemmed red rose to my home. I learned Jack had actually included a provision in his will for the flowers—one red rose to be delivered to me every day for the rest of my life."

Image: Nick Stephenson

People leave all kinds of things in their wills, and dates are no exception. In 1891, about three years before his death, novelist Robert Louis Stevenson learned that the 12-year-old daughter of the U.S. Commissioner to Samoa, where he was living at the time, was unhappy because her birthday fell on Christmas Day.

Stevenson left his birthday, November 13th, to little Annie to adopt as her own, provided she took care of it with "moderation and humanity… the said birthday not being so young as it once was."

Image: Totte Annerbrink

Mark Gruenwald, a comic book writer best known for his work on Captain America, requested that when he died in 1996, his ashes be mixed into the ink used to print the first trade paperback anthology of Squadron Supreme, another of his landmark creations.