RIP Roger Kastel 1931-2023

Best-known for his iconic posters for the movies Jaws and The Empire Strikes Back...

...artist Roger Kastel considered his third most-famous work to be a poster that pre-dated both of them, Doc Savage: the Man of Bronze!

In fact, the landing page of his own website (Click HERE) states...

Roger Kastel's Work Includes:

JAWS: Legendary painting featured on the cover of the paperback edition of the Peter Benchley novel as well as the poster for the blockbuster Steven Spielberg film.

Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back: Movie poster for the second episode in George Lucas' original Star Wars Trilogy.

Doc Savage: Movie poster and cover art for Issue #1 of the acclaimed 1975 Doc Savage comic book series.

Original painting

The art (usually cropped and silhouetted) was used both domestically and internationally on theatrical posters and various licensed products.
Trivia: In 1987, I participated in an auction of legendary sci-fi editor/historian Forrest J Ackerman's estate where I acquired, not the poster art, but the next best thing to it...

...the expanded art for the "Ron Ely" on-screen credit at the end of the film, which consists of a hi-res photo of the original painting along with acrylic art hand-painted on both sides and below to accommodate the wide-screen image!
The credit lettering was optically matted during post-production.

It sits proudly over the TV in the Atomic Kommie Comics Video Library...

...and everybody who has seen it is able to identify both the actor and film!

(No "what film is that from?" or "who is that?" from the people we hang out with!)

Noted Fantasy Artist Bob Larkin Needs Our Help!

The perils of being a freelance artist are numerous...including not having medical insurance!
Bob Larkin, who’s done hundreds of paintings for Marvel, DC, Fleer and numerous others, is in desperate need of help.
Bob’s wife, Fran, has been battling various forms of cancer for the past 12 years and the endless medical bills have put an incredible financial strain on the family.
Fran is currently recovering from her latest surgery and Bob has become her caregiver 24/7 leaving him unable to take on new work.
To help pay the bills Fantom Press is offering numerous items for sale...including a new sketchbook (see cover above) of Larkin's art featuring never-seen roughs, prelims, and sketches!
The books are square bound, 8 ½ x 11″ 48 black and white pages and each one is individually signed and numbered by Bob. The paperback edition is $20.00 and there are two deluxe hard cover editions available that are in short supply. 100% of the sales from this book, as well as anything else that might interest you on site are going directly to the Larkins.
So, if you can, pick up a kool collectible and help one of our own in the process!
Talk about a win-win proposition!

22 Panels that Always Work!

Wally Wood came up with a "crib sheet" for himself...

...actually, it was 24 panels, but when Wood's former assistant Larry Hama, who had become the editor / writer/occasional penciler of Marvel's GI Joe series, produced a revised version for fellow artists, he didn't have clean copies of two of the panels!

This year at the San Diego ComicCon, the Wood Estate released a new, authorized version...

Wallace Wood's Panels That Always Work (subtitled, "Or some interesting ways to get some variety into those boring panels where some dumb writer has a bunch of lame characters sitting around and talking for page after page!"), has grown to be one of the Hall of Fame artists' best-remembered works.

While Wood's historic original art for Panels That Always Work survived in the Wood archives for decades, sadly, it was consumed in the tragic fire at the home of the Estate's Director Emeritus, Bill Pearson, in 2004.

The 2012 Comic-Con in San Diego will feature many premiers but none more notable than The Wallace Wood Estate's new print of the classic, Wally Wood Panels That Always Work.

Wood Estate Director J. David Spurlock will be on hand to premiere the new print and other Wood material at booth 1709.

FaceBook readers attending Comic-Con will receive a 50% discount off the manufacturer's suggested $20 retail price on the Wood Panels print.

The print is a revised version of the famous piece, using cleaner art than previously-seen, and in some cases, the final versions of panels that previously were only rough sketches!

Regrettably, none of the press material has included info on how non-SDCC attendees can acquire copies of this kool poster!

When they finally get around to telling us how to get the piece on-line or at your local comic shop, we'll post the links!

On the other hand, the earlier version (the one actually used by comics pros for decades) is now available on a host of kool kollectibles HERE!

So, if you're a comic pro, future comic pro, or comic fan, let your fan-flag fly

Let the cry ring out..."Have no fear! The Fans of Bronze are HERE!"

He helped those who needed help.
And now one of his illustrators needs help...
Terry Allan has been helping out Doc Savage/Marvel Comics/sci-fi & fantasy cover artist Bob Larkin the past couple of years doing exclusive projects trying to help Bob raise much needed cash.
Bob’s wife Fran is suffering from brain cancer and the resulting surgeries has left her less than 100%. As a result, Bob is now her full time caregiver and has had to cut back his workload to care for her.
Terry's been pulling together professionals from all over to sign books with all profits going to help the Larkin’s cover the long term costs of medications and co-pays that insurance doesn’t cover.
Among the items available...

LOST SAVAGE: Larkin's Bantam Doubles/Ominibus covers presented the way they should have been!

14 11x17" prints composited from the original art with the classic Bantam paperback cover design / trade dress! Comes in an embossed portfolio. 

Available as either 1) signed set or 2) signed with original sketch collection!

The Adventures of Doc Savage on Radio: Fear Cay & Thousand-Headed Man

The first commercial release of the series, remixed, remasted and restored to full stereo.

(Far superior to the internet downloads!)

PLUS: A new documentary with behind-the-scenes interviews!

AND: A limited-edition 12 x 13 litho of the cover art only thru Fantom Press!

There's lots more, including original art, lithos (like the one at top), and signed Doc Savage books and comics by Larkin and other big-name pros.
All profits go to help Bob Larkin.
Here's your chance to both help one of the greats of the sci-fi/fantasy genre AND acquire some kool kollectibles for yourself, or as Christmas presents for the SavageFan in your life!

Please repost these links where ever you can. The more who know, the better.

Let the cry ring out..."Have no fear! The Fans of Bronze are HERE!"
And they're here to help!