Frank Frazetta, Illustrator, Dies at 82; Helped Define Comic Book Heroes

Source: NY Times

Frank Frazetta, an illustrator of comic books, movie posters and paperback book covers whose visions of musclebound men fighting with swords and axes to defend scantily dressed women helped define fantasy heroes like Conan, Tarzan and John Carter of Mars, died on Monday in Fort Myers, Fla. He was 82.

The cause was complications from a stroke, said Rob Pistella and Stephen Ferzoco, Mr. Frazetta’s business managers.

Mr. Frazetta was a versatile and prolific comic book artist who, in the 1940s and ’50s, drew for comic strips like Al Capp’s “Lil’ Abner” and comic books like “Famous Funnies,” for which he contributed a series of covers depicting the futuristic adventurer Buck Rogers.

A satirical advertisement Mr. Frazetta drew for Mad earned him his first Hollywood job, the movie poster for “What’s New Pussycat?” (1965), a sex farce written by Woody Allen that starred Peter Sellers. In 1983 he collaborated with the director Ralph Bakshi to produce the animated film “Fire and Ice.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/11/arts/artsspecial/11frazetta.html

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much more at link. He was an inspiration for me as an artist.

his legacy will be long lived RIP

and album covers...

His art was iconic for at least two generations.

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I remember trying to redraw his amazing work so often as a kid. I did design a tattoo for a friend which was inspired by one of his works.

He was a rare treasure the like that will never bee seen again.

He was such an inspiration to me as well.

I am so saddened to hear about this. :(

Safe Journey, Dear Frank.

It's a shame he did only one solo story for EC.

I still regret selling ten years ago a super high grade copy of Famous Funnies #209.

oh, wait ... he won't be illustrating THEM ...