21st Century Sword-and-Sorcery: An Introduction
The 1990s were a pretty horrible time for Sword-and-Sorcery. However, by the early 2000s, there were signs of a new dawn for S&S.
Read MoreFrazetta Black Light Posters!
Upon discovering that a black light poster had been made from Frazetta’s painting for The Secret People, I did a bit of searching and discovered that there are several Frazetta black light posters for sale out there.
Read MoreReview: Swordsmen in the Sky
Swordsmen in the Sky was published by Ace Books in 1964. Donald Wollheim put together five stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs-influenced Sword and Planet.
Read MoreRoy G. Krenkel -- Forty Years Gone
Admired and revered by the likes of Frank Frazetta, Al Williamson, Michael Wm. Kaluta and Bernie Wrightson, Roy G. Krenkel was an “artists’ artist”. Despite his aversion to the spotlight, RGK’s legacy and influence continue to this day, four decades after his death.
Read MoreFrank Frazetta and Hal Foster: Dragon Lords
Frank Frazetta freely acknowledged Hal Foster as his biggest artistic influence. In this post, I look at the (possible) Foster influence on a little-known Frazetta painting from 1983.
Read MoreHal Foster: A Titanic Legacy
Today marks the one hundred and thirtieth anniversary of Hal Foster’s birth. Who was Hal Foster? Just the main artistic influence on Frank Frazetta, Joe Kubert and John Buscema. Also, Foster was a big influence on Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Bernie Wrightson, Michael Wm. Kaluta, Alfredo Alcala, Rudy Nebres and Gary Gianni. His overall impact on adventure comic art—especially in the realm of heroic fantasy—is literally incalculable.
Read MoreHal Foster -- Forty Years Gone
Hal Foster’s Prince Valiant newspaper strip is a towering achievement in the history of the art form. As an artist, Foster influenced everyone from Jack Kirby to Frank Frazetta to Joe Kubert to John Buscema to Bernie Wrightson to Gary Gianni.
Read More“This goes to 11:” A Review of Death Dealer Book 2: Lords of Destruction
The Death Dealer books embrace the schlock entertainment aspect of S&S so hard that they really can’t be described as caricature, unless unintentionally so. I suppose it’s possible Silke is taking the piss out of ‘80s barbarians on a level I can’t quite comprehend, but I don’t think so. It all feels too earnest.
Read MoreThe Visage of Bran Mak Morn
Bran Mak Morn, the doomed third-century King of the Picts, is one of Robert E. Howard’s most iconic creations. Bran has been depicted by numerous talented artists on the covers of books and in comics. Unfortunately, few of those renditions are faithful to how REH actually described Bran Mak Morn and the Picts.
Read MoreBikers From Hell: Frank Frazetta
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally began today. Bikers have been compared to ‘barbarians’ again and again. Frank Frazetta’s lone ‘biker novel’ cover is a good one.
Read More