MARCH 5, 2012 10:59PM
Men are from Mars
It hardly comes as a surprise that almost all of the articles since written on Promethea in the pulps have focused on Grace Brannagh's contribution, leaving the actual stories and their content virtually ignored... The cover illustrations, in their luminous depictions...portray a world that's hauntingly surreal and alien, with shifting, metamorphic rock formations beneath a swirling emerald sky that could never have possibly existed on our world
The picture above is by one of the
masters of sword and sorcery art, Boris Vallejo. The excerpt is from an
introductory text piece in the first volume of Alan Moore’s
masterpiece, Promethea, referring to a fictional pulp series
and its fictional cover artist. To me the excerpt well illustrates a
belief I've long held. Of the many countless science fiction, fantasy
and science-fantasy novels out there, sometimes the story and writing
will hardly spark your imagination or wonder. The cover illustrations of these paperbacks will instead do the job. The
rich alien landscapes, surreal formations, candy-hued skies, fantastic
menacing creatures – in some cases this may be where the true artistry
lies, the thing that captures and completes this imaginary world for the
reader.
That brings me to Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars series which has a major theatrical release opening this month - filmed in Utah no less!
Teenagers from Mars
John Carter of Mars has for
years had a strong memory association for me, and to be honest I never
even read any of the stories until this month. But I've always been
aware of it since the beginning of my days spending countless hours at
the bookstore rifling through the fantasy/sci fi section. I hazily
remember one winter afternoon in the very early 1980's, at a bookstore
in northwestern Connecticut, where my pubescent, adolescent eyes were
greeted with the Ballantine Books covers.
Let's put it another way: in this New York Times article, Michael Chabon is quoted on the Burroughs Mars novels: "I
was 11 or 12 ... and I thought: ‘What are these? This is something I
ought to know about.’ It was a magical moment in my childhood.”
You're damn right it was a "magical moment" in your childhood, Michael Chabon.
You may even call it, "sexual awakening."
And let's face it - this cover for A Princess of Mars is starkly erotic. Like its titular hero John Carter, anyone awash in hormones is astrally projected into a whole other world, a world that's nothing less than a clothing-optional Nirvana of idealized bodies (more on the clothing-optional later). Oh yeah, adventures and heroism and aliens, too. But the Princesses, oh the Princesses.
Venus on Mars
Frank Frazetta is another highly renowned scifi/fantasy illustrator, one with darker and gimmer vision than Whelan. Like Whelan, he also did covers for Mars, and his renditions of Dejah Thoris (the Princess) remain striking and sexy. They're lush classical odalisques reimagined as sensual scifi alien queens. Another gateway to a society of body-free hot people!
Frazetta's Dejah Thoris is powerful, beautiful, siren-like, expressive. Still sexualized? of course. Exploitive? You can make that argument if you're on that side of the art/culture wars. I appreciate good art that can be erotically charged.
Let me know if I'm wrong - is there no difference between the two styles?
In any event you may be bothered by the cheesecake of these pulps. If that's so, then let me level the playing field a bit.
Moons of Mars
Drumroll please. This is Whelan's cover for Thuvia, Maid of Mars, a character who I believe may become the daughter-in-law of John Carter and Dejah Thoris. Keep in mind that John Carter is a Confederate soldier. I'm certain young Southern Belles could only get away with this type of dress if they were raised on Mars. If she ever made the trip to earth and visited her relatives in the Civil War era, Father-In-Law might make Thuvia change her attire to something closer to this:
Regardless, by now you probably think this series and its covers exist for the delight of horny straight men. I might beg to differ. Mars has more than one kind of moon:
Burroughs takes great care to describe Carter's physical appearance in the beginning of A Princess of Mars. Most likely just painting an idealized picture of a warrior and hero for the young boys who love adventure pulps. But you can't deny that the covers by Whelan and Frazetta have plenty to offer those interested in the male physique, or give a lot of boys a body complex.
A curious thing about Princess (and possibly the later novels - I don't know for sure) is John Carter's propensity to run around and adventure on the red planet in the buff:
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Comments
An interesting essay in
the art of sci-fi covers. My take on it is that like anything else: sex
sells. I have always admired Vallejo and Frazetta's work. Thanks for
introducing me to Whelan's art.
Btw, did you know that
Vallejo's wife modeled for most of his art work? I guess she wanted to
make sure he stayed within the lines...of matrimony. R
Thank you Trudge. Of
the three I think Frazetta's the best. I did know about Vallejo - they
were both very much into bodybuilding. "Lines of matrimony" - good pun!
Great artwork here, chillerpop. I especially like the first one of Thuvia, maid of Mars. Rated.
I hope the new John Carter movie captures the fun and excitement of those illustrations.
The artwork is beautiful. Although, I am not sure how I missed the fact that Mars is apparently a clothing optional planet.
Thanks Erica K. - Ms. Thuvia is certainly not tough to look at ;)
Thanks Nick - I'm excited to see it even if I don't love the leads in the film.
Thanks Midwest Muse - and yep, Edgar Rice Burroughs was pretty into that "naturism" for a guy hailing from the turn of the century
Thanks Nick - I'm excited to see it even if I don't love the leads in the film.
Thanks Midwest Muse - and yep, Edgar Rice Burroughs was pretty into that "naturism" for a guy hailing from the turn of the century
I think I learn
something from every post you publish. Didn't really know much about
the cover art on these books so these comparisons in styles and
approaches is interesting. I must say that Thuvia, Maid of Mars,
certainly got a makeover -- and breast augmentation -- as the years went
on.
As for me, I'm from Saturn -- just like Sun Ra.
As for me, I'm from Saturn -- just like Sun Ra.
VA, Space is the Place!
Have you seen that wacky Sun Ra movie? Also, I hope you enjoyed the
John Carter cheesecake - I try to be an equal opportunity titillator on
this blog...
Wow factor! I feel like
I am back in my uncle's den, surrounded by all the Sci-Fi/Fantasy
greats again! Thank you for a great trip down memory lane!
So this is why I get a boner every time look up at Mars.
sigh, yeah, I also grew up looking at covers like this. I was so disappointed with my breasts when they grew in.
One of the great
regrets of my life is that I once possessed, and then lost, a collection
of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan novels with their original Frazetta
covers. Oh, that in my teens I had such good taste, and oh, that as an
adult, I was too careless to preserve these treasures. Sigh. thanks for
the trip down mammary lane, anyway.
Spumey - you could call it a Martian Divining Rod...
Hyblaen Julie - no less so than when I didn't end up with John Carter's mighty pecs and arms...
Havlin - I have disposed of many a treasured collectible! On the one hand you kick yourself, on the other, it's good not to0 be ruled by stuff....too much. Thanks so much for visiting!
Hyblaen Julie - no less so than when I didn't end up with John Carter's mighty pecs and arms...
Havlin - I have disposed of many a treasured collectible! On the one hand you kick yourself, on the other, it's good not to0 be ruled by stuff....too much. Thanks so much for visiting!
Thanks for the adventures here.Now can I have a MARS BAR?
.........(¯`v´¯) (¯`v´¯)
☼•*¨`*•.¸.(ˆ◡ˆ).¸.•*
............... *•.¸.•* ♥⋆★•❥ Thanx & Smiles (ツ) & ♥ L☼√Ξ ☼ ♥
⋆───★•❥ ☼ .¸¸.•*`*•.♥
.........(¯`v´¯) (¯`v´¯)
☼•*¨`*•.¸.(ˆ◡ˆ).¸.•*
............... *•.¸.•* ♥⋆★•❥ Thanx & Smiles (ツ) & ♥ L☼√Ξ ☼ ♥
⋆───★•❥ ☼ .¸¸.•*`*•.♥
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