Monday, November 28, 2022

The Lich

Here's an interesting piece of artwork from the 1985 book, The Art of the Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Game. Does anyone know the artist? It doesn't look like one of the usual TSR heavy hitters from that era.

Addendum: I am apparently blind, since the artist's name – John Totleben – is on the piece itself. Perhaps I should get new eyeglasses!

12 comments:

  1. It is Jon Tottelben, who also drew Swamp Thing for DC comics, I believe when Alan Moore was writing.

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  2. Is it not https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Totleben ? Says that on the tin ...

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  3. It looks like it mentions John Totleben, of Swamp Thing fame, near the eyeball wand

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  4. Looks rather Todd Lockwood-esque, like the “dungeonpunk” aesthetics of 3.x

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  5. Hey James. The artist is attributed on the image, to the right of the eyeball staff.

    It's John Totleben, who went on to do some incredible work on Alan Moore's Swamp Thing and Miracleman.

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  6. The image says John Totleben, one of the greats of comic art, he was the artist on Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, if I recall correctly.

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  7. Thanks to everyone who pointed out the obvious to me :) Apparently, I need to pay closer attention!

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    Replies
    1. I saw this right after you posted it last night, and I was wondering if you just did not see the name. I was going to post a comment in jest about how I miss things right in front of my face.... but then thought maybe you meant that you were not familiar with the artist and wanted to know more, so I let it be. :)

      Great image , thanks for posting it. I've never seen it.

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  8. That Lich is bitchin'. Love the horned skull. The bat vest is metal- ditto the bird loincloth and bird leg greaves. This dude could style on Skeletor.

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  9. The left leg ending in a cloven hoof is an interesting touch, and this is a rare example of elaborate fantasy headgear that I can believe its owner could actually wear comfortably. It's not like he's going to suffer from strained neck muscles or headaches from the weight, after all.

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  10. This sounds appropriate, since "Totleben" literally means "dead life" in German ! Great art, in any case :)

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