Wednesday 28 November 2012

Art of Time's Abyss: The Barbearians

Know, O prince, that between the years when the oceans snuggled Tedlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Cubs of Aryas, there was an Age undreamed of, when shining beardoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars - Bearmedia, Ofur, Bearthunia, Hyperbearea, Zambeara with its dark-furred teddies and towers of spider-haunted mystery, Zingbeara with its chivalry, Pawth that bordered on the pastoral lands of Ted, Gryzzlia with its shadow-guarded tombs, Bearkania whose riders wore steel and silk and gold. But the proudest kingdom of the world was Aclawlonia, reigning supreme in the dreaming west. Hither came Conan the Cimmbearian, black-furred,button-eyed, wooden sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jewelled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled paws.

A little piece of fun I'd been doing in REHupa was illustrations of Robert E. Howard characters, with a little twist - they're rendered as cuddly little cubbies all stuffed with fluff. And since it's been a while since I updated, I thought it would be nice to share some of them with you all. You can probably guess who this cuddly little guy is, but others might be a bit more difficult to figure out.

10 comments:

  1. Hero of the Federation28 November 2012 at 23:09

    Everybody needs a friend like me.

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  2. Wait, where's his volcanic blue buttons for eyes?
    Nice work Al, the bear glare is a nice touch.

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  3. They are blue, you just can't tell in black & white! Thanks beary much!

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  4. That's really cute! :-)

    On another note - you may wish to get down your newsagent one of these days, as the latest issue of Fortean Times (296, Jan 2013) has an 8 page article on REH. It was written in good faith!

    Remco

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    1. Remco, are you the same Remco who co-authored the article? I ask because I might discuss the article on the blog.

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    2. Yeah... There's not too many of us around. ;-)

      We've done our best on the article, within the limitations of the word count, the brief, etc. and hope it'll get some more people to reappraise REH's work. The editors saw fit to not just place a few illustrations, but to really go to town - the chosen pics really illuminating. Also kudos to the editor for foregoing the usual 'fedora' photo for the one chosen as opening pic.

      Don't write a commentary longer than the article itself, if you don't mind ;-)

      Remco

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  5. Very charming illustration and parody of Howard's famous and scene-setting lines, Al. That Conan the Cimmbearian could be collected without shame by adult males. Maybe there is a marketing possibility here for Conan Enterprises, or whatever the business entity is called. I might even wear a tee shirt with that image on it at Howard Days and climb the mighty West Caddo Peak and plant a banner of conquest at the top!

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    1. Great to hear from you again, Matthew! I'm glad you like the Barbearians!

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