Back in 2024, I had plans to track what was going on at the Cimmerian blog fifteen years prior, month by month, commenting on the posts from that bygone time. Despite the supposed billions spent on rural 4G by the Feds, that did not come to pass. Instead of discretionary retrospectives, I was extremely lucky just to post blog entries about what I thought was most essential on any given day, due to connectivity. My plan sort of went by the wayside.

However, a recent anniversary has me dusting off that idea. Frank Frazetta passed away—fifteen years ago—on May 10, 2010. While not a total surprise, the news devastated Frazetta fandom, which included the blogging staff at the Cimmerian website.

As managing editor, I put out the call for encomiums and eulogies. The bullpen responded with some great content. At that particular moment, the Cimmerian was at a sort of high point. We had plenty of bloggers and we were on-pace to break 100K views for May. That was a record for the blog--which we reached--and far beyond what any other sword-and-sorcery/fantasy web log was doing at the time. Below you will find hyperlinked some of the best of those Cimmerian tributes to Frank Frazetta.

Frank Frazetta: What He Meant To Me

My memorial tribute to Mr. Frazetta. I think it still holds up fairly well. One major correction I'll make is that I didn't first see Frank's art on a van. Instead, I saw his incredible work two or three years earlier on the cover--and inside--of the Canaveral edition of Tarzan and the Castaways. However, as impressed as I was by those pen and ink illos, it took “Silver Warror” to blow my mind and cement my Frazetta fanhood.

A savage strength: A tribute to the muscular art of Frank Frazetta

A good one from Brian Murphy--no surprise. His main argument is that Frazetta was able to convey strength/power to the painted canvas like no other artist before--or after.

Frank Frazetta: Meditations on the Master

Al Harron (predictably) expounds on Frazetta's cave-girls and dinosaurs. A very good essay, overall. Since most of the pics didn't make it to Archive.org, I provide a couple below.

Painting a Vivid Picture of Existence: The Art of Frank Frazetta & Robert E. Howard, Introduction

Yet another fine essay from Al Harron, comparing and contrasting Robert E. Howard and Frazetta. Once again, his pics didn't make the transition, so I provide a sampling below.

Charles R. Saunders Gives Props to Frazetta

A post from myself responding to a Frazetta tribute written by the inimitable Charles R. Saunders. As near as I can tell, CRS' post is no longer online, but I respond to his main points, so the basic outline is there. Below, check out Frazetta's "Lion Hunt"--a classic admired by Charles and myself.

Frazetta: Artist Most Remarkable

This was author Keith Taylor's encomium in honor of Frazetta. It was one of the last posts to appear on the Cimmerian website. We went out on a win.

I should note that I was very disappointed at the time when Miguel Martins didn't write up a tribute. He didn't feel that he could express himself adequately in English. I would disagree.

Another point that I would like to address is that--as the title says--Frank Frazetta is, and always will be, my favorite artist. Other artists, such as Michelangelo or da Vinci, may justifiably lay claim to being 'greater', but Frazetta is my favorite. It's a very subjective thing.

Meanwhile, I have said that I consider N.C. Wyeth to be the greatest American artist. Wyeth illustrated the history of America from pre-Columbian times through the post-World War One period and did it magnificently. Frank--himself influenced by Wyeth--concentrated on topics that were much more fantasy/SF/horror-based. In an interview he did for Steranko's Prevue magazine, Frazetta talked about painting a portfolio centered on American wildlife and maybe one on Native Americans. He began suffering from a thyroid condition not long after that and those portfolios never materialized.

Finally, that brings me to the last year of Mr. Frazetta's life. Iconic paintings—previously off limits—started being sold. There was an abrupt move to Florida. I covered all of that at The Cimmerian. For legal reasons, not everything is explicitly spelled out. I stand by what I wrote at the time. Read between the lines.

Break-In at the Frazetta Museum

Notary “Bombshell” at Frazetta Hearing No Surprise Here at TC

Frazetta Family Dispute (Seemingly) Resolved

As for Frank…he may be fifteen years gone, but he’s still the Boss.

Riposare in pace.