Frank Frazetta’s fantastically frazzled world (retrospective).
Ed and Jim examine the life and times of Frank Frazetta, known to many as the “Godfather of Fantasy Art,” who was like that uncle who could sketch a dragon on a napkin and make it look like it belonged in the Louvre. His paintings were the stuff of legend, making Conan the Barbarian look like someone you’d want to invite to your next poker night (as long as he left the sword at home).
But let’s hop into our imaginary DeLorean and travel back in time, where a young Frazetta, not yet the Gandalf of the art world, was just getting his feet wet – in ink!
In 1944, a spry 16-year-old Frazetta stormed into the comic book industry like a barbarian into a mead hall. Young Frank was very eager to be doing comic books, which was probably the 1940s equivalent of wanting to start a YouTube channel. The comic book realm was his first love and he began his career doing pencil clean-ups at Bernard Baily’s studio. His first gig? Inking a heart-warming tale called “Snowman.” We can only assume it was about a ferocious snowman with biceps like boulders, because hey, it’s Frazetta we’re talking about.
For some reason, Frank thought a single page in Prize Comics’ Treasure Comics titled “Ahoy! Enemy Ship!” was ample canvas to launch his original character Captain Kidd Jr. – A pirate, we assume, not a daycare manager. In the subsequent years, Frazetta’s brush danced across comic panels like a waltz. His romance stories could make you believe love was just a dragon away, while his war stories were so intense they could make Rambo look like a cat in pajamas.
Frazetta, ever the artistic chameleon, somehow found himself being approached by United Artists studios after they saw his painting of Beatle Ringo Starr for a Mad magazine ad. They wanted him to do a film poster for “What’s New Pussycat?”. The most astonishing part is that he earned the equivalent of his yearly salary in a single afternoon. It’s like he unlocked the secret “get-rich-quick” level in an artist’s video game.
When Frank Frazetta began painting covers for Conan the Barbarian, he took the literary world by storm. However, Frazetta’s Conan covers were about as faithful to the stories as a cat is to a bath. He confessed he didn’t read any of it and drew Conan his way, which was, as he put it, “really rugged.” Frazetta’s version of reading the book was like asking a friend about the book, and then winging it from there. Turns out, people didn’t care, they loved it!
In 1978, the art of Frazetta temporarily came to life when an advertisement for Jovan Musk (the ‘Game of Thrones’ of fragrances at that time) was animated in grease pencil and paint. There was also a short-lived romantic fling with animation in the form of “Fire and Ice” but like a summer romance, it didn’t last, and he went back to painting. Frank Frazetta’s passing in 2010 was like a splash of gray paint across the canvas of the fantasy art world. His illustrations and paintings were more than art; they were gateways into the worlds of high adventure, mysticism, and heroics. His legacy in both comics and fantasy art remains unrivaled, as he captured the imagination of generations.
But, let’s not forget how it all started. From his early days in the comic book industry, Frank Frazetta’s boundless creativity and sheer skill propelled him to heights that few artists ever reach. His journey from ink-laden pages to mesmerizing paintings serves as a reminder that through passion, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of one’s craft, wonders can be achieved.
Even though he is no longer with us, his art continues to stand as a testament to his impact on fantasy and popular culture. Frank Frazetta’s paintings and illustrations adorn book covers, posters, and countless merchandise, and his influence on other artists is immeasurable. Through his work, he inspired and continues to inspire countless illustrators and storytellers.
