Despite some of the worst cyber-luck I've had in quite a spell, there was no way I would let such an impediment thwart my celebration of the centennial of A. Merritt's The Metal Monster. I've got a couple of other TMM projects in the works, but I wanted to get something up today.

In some ways, The Metal Monster has long been the red-headed stepchild of Merritt's oeuvre. It had to wait far longer than any of Merritt's other novels to get a hardcover edition, for one thing. This relative neglect has led to a certain scarcity when it comes to truly great illustrations of ol' Abe's groundbreaking tale. That said, several artists stepped up to the plate, crafting startling visions of the metallic hive-mind and its human stepchild/interface, Norhala. Those works of art are what I'll look at today.

As it turns out, TMM uber-fan, Al Harron, got there firstest with his blog post from yesterday, "The Phantasmagoria Metallique" over at his own Blog That Time Forgot. Undaunted, I aim to get here with the mostest. I have some pretty righteous scans, Gentle Readers. Plus, about half my picks differ from Al's.

Out of the gate, we have the original Argosy cover from 1920:

This cover doesn't rely on finesse. Mountains, the presumed "monster" of the title and a beautiful blonde--Norhala. The "monster" could almost be a prototype for Primus or Megatron. I have to say that I find the ears problematic.

Now, ISFDB--a fairly dependable source, within limits--lists the cover artist as one "Glen White". Guess what? According to ISFDB, "Glen White" only did this one cover in his entire SFF career. Nothing else in his ISFDB entry. However, I distinctly remember reading somewhere, years ago, that the cover was by the early pulp stalwart, P.J. Monahan. To me, that Argosy cover looks like a Monahan.

Next up is this great illo from the August, 1941 issue of Famous Fantastic Mysteries:

That classic piece was crafted by the immortal Virgil Finlay. It depicts the beauteous, barely-human Norhala being lifted up to commune with the Metal Emperor and the cruciform Keeper. Mind-blowing stuff.

I've always had a fondness for this cover painting from 1951. Nobody seems to know who the cover artist is. It's colorful and, to me, Merritt covers require that. Abe was a very visual writer. Another strong-point is a good depiction of Norhala commanding the tendrils of the Monster . For me, though, it is Norhala herself that makes this painting. She has the transcendant—almost orgasmic—look that comes from channeling just a fraction of the Monster's nearly limitless power.

Jim Cawthorn's 1962 rendition of Norhala riding/driving a metal behemoth to wreak havoc upon her enemies does a great job of depicting the sheer alienness of--one facet of--the Metal Monster.

Besides Finlay, the other Merritt artist that must always be reckoned with Is Stephen Fabian. His 1976 cover painting illustrates—in glowing Fabian color—the terror and horror of Norhala's annihilation of the Persians of Ruszark.

Jean-Michel Nicollet’s cover for the 1983 French edition of TMM was published slightly before the advent of Transformers on American TV screens and newsstands:

Everything I've said above nothwithstanding, the finest work of art inspired by The Metal Monster is Stephen Hickman's painting of Norhala. Behold!

That is how it is done.

For more great TMM art, check out Chris L. Adams' excellent "Collecting Merritt: The Metal Monster".

Also, for an insightful essay on just how groundbreaking and influential The Metal Monster was and is, check out this post by Al Harron.