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Post by Finarvyn on Apr 24, 2011 8:20:40 GMT -6
I was thinking about iconic art for certain fantasy characters. I suppose that we are all influenced by the first version of a book that we owned, and perhaps that artwork “becomes” that character in our minds. Folks reading different editions of a book with different covers might have totally different visions of the character, and I thought it would be neat to start a thread where we can discuss some of the great characters from fantasy literature and who you consider to be their “iconic” artist. For example, when I think of Conan, I think of the Frank Frazetta version. To me, Frazetta’s Conan is Conan, although I know that lots of other artists have done him, too. Likewise, my vision of John Carter was done by Michael Whelan. This is interesting, since I know that I also own copies of the Mars series with the Frazetta B&W interior art, and I love it. Somehow, however, Whelan’s way of presenting John Carter, Dejah Thoris, Tars Tarkas, et all, seems to be the way I think of them.
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Post by Finarvyn on Apr 24, 2011 8:23:03 GMT -6
Whelan’s Elric was iconic for me in the 1970’s… Although John Picacio’s Elric really grabs me at the moment!
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Post by Finarvyn on Apr 24, 2011 8:23:27 GMT -6
I’m most familiar with the Tim White covers for the Amber paperbacks but they don't tend to have up-close images. Hard to get "iconic" for the characters, but quite iconic for the setting. …but there’s something special about a Ron Walotsky cover:
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Post by Finarvyn on Apr 24, 2011 8:25:22 GMT -6
I’m kind of surprised and bummed that there isn’t really a good iconic image of Fafhrd and Gray Mouser. Jeff Jones did the covers from the 70’s paperbacks I read first, but really they didn’t have any good pictures of the main characters. Nice artwork, but no real close-ups of the main characters. Hard to get “iconic” from that. Lots of google searches and the best I can come up with is Whelan’s “Swords and Ice Magic” image:
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jasons
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 111
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Post by jasons on Apr 24, 2011 8:56:13 GMT -6
I really enjoyed the Fafhrd and Gray Mouser comics adaptations illustrated by Mike Mignola. I couldn't find much with a quick googling, but here's a specimen...
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Post by Finarvyn on Apr 24, 2011 9:29:34 GMT -6
I like that one, too, and actually it's my computer's background at the moment. It doesn't really grab me quite the way that the Frazetta Conan or Whelan Barsoom ones do.
I just can't find anything where I say, "Now that is Fafhrd and Mouser!"
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Post by thorswulf on Apr 24, 2011 18:17:57 GMT -6
Well you have named a number of my faves for certain! There a a few pieces of artwork from game boxes and in general that I feel just as strongly about. Frazetta's Death Dealer screams evil superhero like NOTHING else! Vallejo's Gor covers certainly convey the exotic and savage nature of their subject matter. And the art of the firtst edition of the Stormbringer rules box has always conveyed the otherworldliness and sinister aspect of Elric! Oh by the way, Mike Mignola and Howard Chaykin's Swords of Sorcery comics about Faf and the Mouser are also up there!
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Post by thorswulf on Apr 24, 2011 18:19:09 GMT -6
Oops I almost forgot John Bolton's Marada the She Wolf series!
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Post by Finarvyn on Apr 25, 2011 17:00:07 GMT -6
Oops I almost forgot John Bolton's Marada the She Wolf series! Not at all familar with this one. 1. Tell me about the books. 2. What art is "iconic" for it?
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