none said:
You might appreciate this blog post on origins of Chewie.
http://binarybonsai.com/2010/09/18/george-lucas-stole-chewbacca-but-its-okay/
Damn, that really was a great read. That is like the magnum opus of Chewbacca.
But accusing GL of stealing Chewie might be a bit strong. Weren't giant furry man creatures a regular feature in comics and old pulps? I know I've seen a few of them around. Apelike, bigfoot style, bear type creatures, etc.