RIP Frank Frazetta

May 10, 2010 11:24 AM

Frank Frazetta (wiki), fantasy and science fiction artist, has passed away at the age of 82.
posted by griphus (53 comments total)

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posted by Joakim Ziegler at 11:25 AM on May 10, 2010

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posted by Pecinpah at 11:27 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm surprised at how upsetting this is to me. Rest in peace Frank.

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posted by Scoo at 11:27 AM on May 10, 2010

Oh boy. Which of the three FPPs gets my dot?

Frank, you put the sizzle in SF. You will be missed.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:29 AM on May 10, 2010

Fantastic artist, in all the best senses. I hope his family's recent infighting (via) over control of the work winds up being resolved peacefully if not amicably. FF's legacy deserves better.

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posted by $0up at 11:32 AM on May 10, 2010

Guess he had family trouble.
posted by josher71 at 11:33 AM on May 10, 2010

*cranks Electric Wizard*

*watches Conan*

*thumbs through Fiend Folio*

*goes outside, airbrushes side of car with painting of a woman in a metal bikini riding a serpent fighting a minotaur wielding a trident*

Yeah, pretty much everything my secret heart thinks is awesome was influenced by Frank Frazetta. RIP
posted by Bookhouse at 11:35 AM on May 10, 2010 [10 favorites]

I hope his family's recent infighting (via) over control of the work winds up being resolved peacefully if not amicably.

It would be more appropriate if they all had to wrestle a bear for the money.
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:36 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

Here is CBR's obit as well.
posted by griphus at 11:36 AM on May 10, 2010

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(That's a tiny brass plate painted on afterwards to cover up a . for the prudish American market )
posted by Artw at 11:38 AM on May 10, 2010 [3 favorites]

I shall ride a dragon bare-chested while brandishing a flaming sword in mourning.
posted by The Whelk at 11:39 AM on May 10, 2010 [7 favorites]

I still hope his hearse has a killer mural full of lusty armored maidens painted down the side.
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posted by kuujjuarapik at 11:40 AM on May 10, 2010 [2 favorites]

Since he died the same day as Lena Horne, they were, of course, the same person. The only exception to this rule is Jim Henson and Sammy Davis, Jr.--Sammy was a muppet.
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:41 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

21 throwing axe salute.

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posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:41 AM on May 10, 2010 [3 favorites]

Co-worker: "You are crying!"
Me: "Frank Franzetta just died, he drew lots of Conan."
Co-worker: "So, why are you crying?"
Me: "Conan is Cimmerian, he cannot cry. I cry for him."
posted by Vindaloo at 11:44 AM on May 10, 2010 [41 favorites]

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posted by Benjamin Nushmutt at 11:45 AM on May 10, 2010

Goodnight, sweet Prince-riding-a-sled-pulled-by-polar-bears-whilst-hoisting-an-enormous-axe. Even more than forty years later, I look at stuff like the DVD cover for the '07 film "Pathfinder" and see his influence all over it.

(The unofficial gallery is apparently being demolished by traffic, or I'd highlight some of my favorites.)
posted by Monster_Zero at 11:46 AM on May 10, 2010

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posted by Scott H at 11:47 AM on May 10, 2010

From on top of this mountain of skulls, I take a moment's rest from smiting with my great hammer the lizard men clamoring to devour this bare-breasted and bronze-g-string–clad maiden to say:

RIP Frank.
posted by Mister_A at 11:48 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

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posted by kimota at 11:50 AM on May 10, 2010

Damn good run he had of it. I raise a glass in his honor.
posted by Greg Nog at 11:51 AM on May 10, 2010

My fondest hope is to wind up in an afterlife that looks like Frazetta painted it.

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posted by EatTheWeak at 11:53 AM on May 10, 2010 [2 favorites]

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posted by brundlefly at 11:58 AM on May 10, 2010

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Crom damn it, if this guy doesn't get one HELL of a statue...
posted by The Man from Lardfork at 11:59 AM on May 10, 2010

Thanks for the Moon Maid, Frank, and for many others.

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posted by Crabby Appleton at 12:00 PM on May 10, 2010

Remember the Riddle of Steel, Frank.

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posted by TheWhiteSkull at 12:02 PM on May 10, 2010

Crom damn it, if this guy doesn't get one HELL of a statue...

I suggest a memorial tableau vivant. Preferably of this.
posted by griphus at 12:03 PM on May 10, 2010

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posted by steef at 12:04 PM on May 10, 2010

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posted by pahool at 12:14 PM on May 10, 2010

So much for my dream of getting him to paint the sides of my conversion van.

RIP, Frank, you will be missed.
posted by brand-gnu at 12:16 PM on May 10, 2010

To think this was the same guy who assisted on Li'l Abner for so long. He had lots of fantasy babe drawing practice working on Daisy Mae's curves.
posted by JHarris at 12:16 PM on May 10, 2010

Of all the tits-and-lizards artists out there, Frazetta always seemed to have the most, I don't know, panache? Back when I was a teenager and really into trash fantasy it seemed like every book I read had a Frazetta or Vallejo cover, when I saw a brawny and nearly nude guy with a big weapon, a few lizards or goblins, and a woman wearing some hubcaps and dental floss I knew it'd be a bad, yet somehow entertaining and compelling, book.

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posted by sotonohito at 12:17 PM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

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posted by Iridic at 12:18 PM on May 10, 2010

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posted by Sailormom at 12:18 PM on May 10, 2010

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posted by mike3k at 12:18 PM on May 10, 2010

> Me: "Conan is Cimmerian, he cannot cry. I cry for him."
> posted by Vindaloo at 2:44 PM on May 10

Just favoriting that doesn't seem like enough. Totally, exactly right.
posted by jfuller at 12:20 PM on May 10, 2010

Seeing as this is the one obit standing, I won't add competition for FPPs, and I'll toss work-in-progress here.

Frank Frazetta was born Frank Frazzetta in Brooklyn, NY, in 1928 (he later dropped one of the Zs). His first publication came at age 16, when he worked with John Guinta to create a one-off: Snowman. Though some biographies note that he only an assistant in the studio, Frazetta got credit on the cover. His other comic work of the 1940s was on "funny animal" comics, and in the same time period he also made more mature art (SFW sketches), and painted hundreds of small illustrations for text stories.

Frank Frazetta gained fame in the comics world in the 1950s, when he worked on The Shining Knight, Durango Kid, and cover art for Buck Rogers. In the 1960s, Frazetta shifted to painting, often cover art (Ace Sci-Fi pulp novel list, search for Frazetta) But it was his spoof painting of Ringo Starr on the back of Mad Magazine in 1964 marked the end of his career with comics, though perhaps his last work was for the cover of Creepy in 1965.

The peak of production for his fantasy paintings was from 1965 to 1973, with portfolios and fewer pieces of new art coming out in the following years. (As this period is his best known, I'll skip the links here.) He also created artwork for a variety of movie posters.

You may gaze upon more of his works at The Unofficial Frank Frazetta gallery (NSFW galleries labeled, though the site is currently experiencing heavy traffic), and a bio with chronological list of paintings (some NSFW), or reminisce over his comic credits at Comic Book DB.

Bios, obits, and other write-ups: bio at BPIB, Everything2 (noting he turned down an offer from the the New York Giants pro baseball team), Frazetta was the inspiration behind Zelda artist Yusuke Nakano, "Famous Funnies" were an inspiration for Star Wars,
posted by filthy light thief at 12:21 PM on May 10, 2010 [18 favorites]

Well worth putting in your Netflix queue or downloading from iTunes or whatever is Painting With Fire, a documentary about the man and his art and career.
posted by hippybear at 12:21 PM on May 10, 2010

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posted by lord_wolf at 12:23 PM on May 10, 2010

Okay, holy crap filthy light thief, you have put me to shame. Is it too late to nuke this FPP and replace it with yours?
posted by griphus at 12:23 PM on May 10, 2010

> when I was a teenager and really into trash fantasy

Wow, you grew out of it? Scary! That means I might too, if I ever grow up.
posted by jfuller at 12:25 PM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

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posted by cerebus19 at 12:29 PM on May 10, 2010

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posted by dbiedny at 12:33 PM on May 10, 2010

good job FLT, that would have been worthy of a FPP obit.
posted by edgeways at 12:34 PM on May 10, 2010

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posted by cazoo at 12:34 PM on May 10, 2010

. and Vindaloo nailed it.
posted by joe lisboa at 12:36 PM on May 10, 2010

this sucks.
posted by ServSci at 12:38 PM on May 10, 2010

O

that's a really muscular "."
posted by jquinby at 12:41 PM on May 10, 2010

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It seems too quiet and restrained, somehow, that little dot all alone, so you'll just have to imagine the flames and the pile of skulls and the mighty thewed lizard man, shedding one noble, manly tear and the chain mail bikini clad maiden with biceps of steel and flowing tresses and, beside them, one enormous sword, driven downwards into the earth. Cue up the Carmina Burana; he rides into the night.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:44 PM on May 10, 2010

Sad news.

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posted by Thorzdad at 12:44 PM on May 10, 2010

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posted by allthegoodnamesweretaken at 12:44 PM on May 10, 2010

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Not a huge fan, but totally loved this contest (NSFW) & found a new appreciation for his work. Sounds like he was a tough bastard in addition to being an epic artist.
posted by Fui Non Sum at 12:49 PM on May 10, 2010

Wow. It's understatement to say I love his art. What a master. RIP.
posted by Liquidwolf at 12:55 PM on May 10, 2010