The Fantasy Legacy of Frank Frazetta Lives On

Frank Frazetta : The GodFather of Fantasy Art

(February 9, 1928 – May 10, 2010)

If you are a lover of fantasy art or culture in any form, Frank Frazetta is a name you should know. Dubbed the “Godfather of Fantasy Art”, Frazetta’s iconic artworks have laid the foundation for contemporary fantasy culture as we know it, with reaches far beyond the visual art world.

At the forefront of fantasy art, Frazetta was arguably one of the first artists to ever visually harness the unique world of fantasy, transporting viewers to outer space or prehistoric times with his skillful depictions of warriors, barbarians and the magic of the female form. Frazetta is widely considered the most influential fantasy artist of all time, inspiring generations of actors, musicians, illustrators, artists, and more with his timeless creations.

Frank Frazetta was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1995, the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 1998, the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1999, the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2014, the Album Cover Hall of Fame in 2016, and received the Life Achievement Award from the World Fantasy Convention in 2001. He also received the Chesley Award (1988, 1995, 1997), Hugo Award (1966), and Spectrum Grand Master of Fantastic Art Award (1995).

A natural born artist, Frank Frazetta made his first ever artwork sale to his grandmother (for one penny) at just three years old. His artistic talent shone through brightly at an extremely young age, prompting his parents to begin his formal fine arts training at the Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts at just eight years old. By the age of 16, Frazetta was already building a name for himself in the professional fine art world – A feat most spend their entire lives trying to achieve.

Frazetta began his creative career in working primarily in the comic industry, where we became known for his Western and Sci-Fi inspired art. However, following the mass hysteria surrounding comic books and their supposed correlation with juvenile delinquency (resulting in the Comics Code Authority in 1954), Frazetta ventured off to explore other, less censored creative forms. During this time, Frazetta focalized his attention on movie posters and covers: In 1964, Frazetta captured the the attention of United Artists (makers of James Bond) with his Ringo Starr back cover on Mad Magazine and was asked to do the movie poster for Woody Allen’s 1965 film What’s New Pussycat. He would go on to later define an entire genre of art, bringing Fantasy to the forefront of contemporary culture.

By the 1980s, Frazetta’s fame had reached new heights with notables like Clint Eastwood, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Sylvester Stallone all commissioning works for their various movie projects.

The metal bikini dawned by Princess Leia Organa in “Return of the Jedi” was inspired by Frazetta’s artwork according to costume designer Aggie Guerard Rodgers. George Lucas is also said to have told Frazetta that his Famous Funnies #213 comic cover inspired the character Chewbacca. Frazetta’s work also played a huge role in the creation of the Lord of The Rings films.

In 1981, Frazetta collaborated with animator Ralph Bakshi (Fritz the Cat, 1972; Wizards, 1977; and The Lord of the Rings, 1978) on their film Fire and Ice, a breakthrough moment for the way movement and anatomy were depicted in animation.

One of Frazetta’s best known works The Barbarian, depicting a fierce warrior standing on top of a pile of slain foes, has made an indelible mark on popular culture by serving as the primary inspiration behind the Conan the Barbarian story and many others like it. The artwork first appeared on Robert E. Howard’s Conan The Adventurer.

Frazetta continued to push his creativity past the defined genres of the time, creating works and worlds that most audiences had never before experienced. In 1973, Frazetta introduced the world to Death Dealer, an ominous warrior with a dark past that took the world by storm. Death Dealer sparked inspiration across mediums: appearing on the cover of Molly Hatchet’s debut album in 1978, spawning an entire four-part novel series by James Silkes, a comic series, a role playing game and a slew of other Death Dealer spin offs. In 1985, Death Dealer has been used as the mascot of the Ill Corps, a corps of the United States Army, headquartered in Fort Hood, Texas. The United States Department of Defense at Fort Hood commissioned a 14-foot bronze statue of the iconic character which stands proudly at the entrance of the army base. Some say Death Dealer is what inspired George Lucas to create Darth Vader for Star Wars.

Decades later, the cultural significance of Death Dealer continues to reign supreme.

In 2018, the original artwork sold at auction for over 1.7 million dollars. Egyptian Queen, another iconic creation by Frazetta, sold for 5.4 million dollars, setting the world record for the most expensive piece of original comic book art ever sold at public auction. His beloved A Princess of Mars original oil painting sold for 1.2 million dollars in 2020.

Frazetta’s bewitching style is rooted in classical fine art principles, most notably his mastery of the golden triangle composition which provides each piece with a sense of dynamism and natural flow of movement. His artworks are rich with color, contrast and extreme depth. Fantastical realism at its absolute finest, Frazetta sets himself apart with the powerful stories he tells through his artwork and the uncanny artistic skill and wild imagination he’s displayed while telling them.

Frank Frazetta’s unforgettable legacy lives on through the Frazetta Art Museum, located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania on the original 67-acre Frank Frazetta estate. The museum is the largest collection of Frank Frazetta original works and houses 37 original oil pieces and countless pencil, pen and ink, and watercolor works and was reopened to the public by Frank Frazetta Jr. in 2013.

Notable Sales

Original Artworks Sold in Auction

Egyptian Queen – $5.4M (5/18/2019)

Death Dealer 6 – $1.79M (6/10/2018)

A Princess of Mars – $1.2M (9/10/2020)

At Earth’s Core – $1.075M (8/6/2016)

Escape on Venus – $660K (8/4/2018)

The Tree of Death – $430K (2/24/2018)

Limited Edition Prints Sold in Auction

Buck Rogers (edition of 50) – $4.4K (5/11/2012)

Death Dealer I (edition of 345) – $1.8K (9/8/2018)

Egyptian Queen (edition of 500) – $2.8K (2/23/2013)

The Frank Frazetta Legacy Collection Vol I

Death Dealer I (1/1) – $13,959.56 (4/30/2021)

Barbarian – Reflection – (edition of 25) – $1999

Death Dealer III – The Revision – (edition of 25) – $1999

Death Dealer III – (edition of 41) $599.00

Barbarian- (edition of 46) – $599.00

Learn More

Upcoming Drop: The Heroines of Frazetta

This collection highlights the unique ways Frank Frazetta painted women. His work transcended the pinup girl archetypes of Alberto Vargas and Gil Elvgren. Frazetta opted to depict women as strong, powerful, and beautiful heroes in their own mysterious ways that went beyond the superficial prettiness. As Frank Frazetta once said:

“I don’t want to paint just another woman. A painting, it’s something important; you want to look at it, maybe forever. Who wants to look at just an ordinary hero forever? You want the ultimate, you pull out the stops and do everything in extremes. The extreme in beauty, if it fits; the extreme in ugliness if it fits; the extreme in terror if this is what’s required. You know, I think this is one reason that so many people enjoy my stuff, because all of these extremes are jammed into it.”

Cat Girl, which is the most iconic of the series, features a woman that stands confident and nude in a jungle surrounded by wild leopards. The posture of the voluptuous figure, highlighted in the intimate lighting, creates a sense of poise, confidence and elegance. Meanwhile, Beauty and the Beast depicts a muscular woman confronting and attacking a monster head-on. Again, emphasizing the strength of the women in his work, which perhaps serves as a reminder of how Frazetta viewed the women in his life. Finally, Dawn Attack, in contrast to the others in the collection, is based in a futuristic setting. It was used on the cover of L. Ron Hubbard’s paperback Writers of the Future Volume 7. The female protagonist, juxtaposed with the robotic warriors, is shown as the leader standing strong despite the enemy attack.

The artworks for this collection each exemplify the versatility of women that have become famous throughout Frazetta’s works.

CatGirl

Editions: 1
Pricing: Accepting Offers Only

*A 24 hour auction will ensue once reserve price is met

Beauty and the Beast

Editions: 10
Pricing: $3000

*Final edition will be auctioned

Black Star

Editions: 10
Pricing: $3000

*Final edition will be auctioned

Dawn Attack

Editions: Open Limited Editionn
Pricing: $500

*Artworks will be available for purchase for 24 hours only, from 11/17 at 3:30 PM PT to 11/18 at 3:30 PM PT, unless 50 editions are purchased, in which case a 15 minute closing timer will be triggered.

Past Drops: The Frank Frazetta Legacy Collection

The Frank Frazetta legacy lives on. The Frazetta Art Museum has collaborated with Knightsbridge to curate and conceptualize the first ever digital collection of Frank Frazetta artworks. Frazetta’s iconic paintings have been brought to life to preserve Frazetta’s legacy.

The Frank Frazetta Legacy Collection Vol II

Egyptian Queen

he Egyptian Queen, painted in 1969, is one of the most legendary paintings by Frank Frazetta and often referred to as his Mona Lisa. The painting also holds significant value to Frank because the figure in the painting is based on Frank’s wife, Ellie, when she was pregnant with her third child. The queen’s features are accentuated by the use of lighting and the vivid colors in the dress juxtaposed with the earthy tones in the foreground and background. The work first appeared in print on the cover for Eerie Magazine #23 in 1969, and was later featured on the cover of Creepy Magazine #92 in 1977. It is said that George Lucas used the painting of Egyptian Queen as his inspiration for the costume design for Princess Leia for Star Wars.

On May 16, 2019, Egyptian Queen was auctioned through Heritage Auctions in Chicago, Illinois, and sold for $5.4 million, holding the world record as the most expensive piece of original comic book art ever sold at public auction. The previous record was the $1.79 million paid for Frazetta’s Death Dealer 6, 1990, which was set by Heritage in May 2018.

Editions: One
Pricing: Accepting Offers Only

*A 24 hour auction will ensue once reserve price has been met

Silver Warrior

Silver Warrior is one of Frank Frazetta’s most famous works and a fan favorite. Frazetta was known for his darker palette and imagery, thus making Silver Warrior stand out from his other works with the use of a brighter backdrop, snow and light blue sky. Painted in 1972, Silver Warrior was featured as the cover image for Michael Moorcock’s book “The Silver Warriors.” The painting depicts a decorated warrior with elaborate armor riding a sleigh while being pulled through the snow by polar bears. Frazetta intentionally painted the polar bears without chains to avoid detracting the viewer’s eye from the flow of the composition, further capturing the imagination of the viewer.

Editions: 10
Pricing: $1999

*Final edition will be auctioned

Mothman

Painted circa 1980, ‘Mothman’ is an iconic work by Frank Frazetta that was inspired by John Keel’s 1975 book “The Mothman Prophecies.” Keel, who was an American journalist and UFOlogist, popularized what several witnesses described as a man-sized, winged creature with glowing red eyes sighted in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, during 1966 and 1967. The book also combines these accounts with his theories on UFOs and supernatural phenomena, making connections to the collapse of the Silver Bridge across the Ohio River during that time.

Frazetta’s painting depicts his interpretation of Mothman featuring bright fluorescent and colorful patterns in the wings. The creature is flanked by UFOs and Frazetta’s signature style of figures. The painting graced the cover of High Times Magazine #57 in May 1980, and the same image would later be used on the paperback cover of “The Mothman Prophecies” published in 1991. A 12-foot tall Mothman statue was unveiled in Point Pleasant, West Virginia in 2002, and appears to be based on Frazetta’s interpretation of the Mothman.

Editions: Open Limited Edition
Pricing: $499

*Available for purchase for 24 hours, from 3:30 PM PST on 8/12 until 3:30 PM PST on 8/13 UNLESS 50 editions are purchased, in which case a 15 minute timer will ensue.

The Frank Frazetta Legacy Collection Vol I

Death Dealer I

Originally painted by Frank Frazetta in 1973, this is the first painting in a series of works that features this character, The Death Dealer. The painting was used as the album cover on Molly Hatchet’s debut album in 1978, and has also inspired various novels and comics. Since 1985, Death Dealer has been used as the mascot of the III Corps, a corps of the United States Army, headquartered in Fort Hood, Texas. The United States Department of Defense at Fort Hood commissioned a 14-foot bronze statue of the iconic character, which stands proudly at the entrance of the army base. Some say Death Dealer is what inspired George Lucas to create Darth Vader for Star Wars.

Editions: One
Pricing: Accepting Offers Only

*A 24 hour auction will ensue once reserve price has been met

Death Dealer III – The Revision

Originally painted by Frank Frazetta in 1987, and repainted later that same year, this painting of Death Dealer is the third in the series featuring this character. The original version of Death Dealer III was painted at the time Frazetta was ill with undiagnosed Graves’ disease. This version was featured in the paperback cover of James Silke’s“Death Dealer: Lords of Destruction.” Once the proper diagnosis was made and Frazetta was appropriately treated, he felt the original version depicted the Death Dealer as defeated, weak, and dull. Frank decided to revise the existing painting to show the character as more menacing, vibrant, and confident, as he often repainted over works when he was unsatisfied with them. This work includes the original image as it transforms into the revised version of the painting.

Editions: 25
Pricing: $1999

*Final edition will be auctioned

Barbarian – Reflection

Originally painted by Frank Frazetta in 1965, this image first appeared on Robert E. Howard’s paperback, “Conan The Adventurer.” The Barbarian is one of many paintings that Frazetta used for the covers of the Conan series.

This work features a rare self portrait in pencil that transforms into the Barbarian. Frank Frazetta was known for depicting himself in many of the characters he painted, but particularly the Barbarian.

Editions: 25
Pricing: $1999

*Final edition will be auctioned

Barbarian

Originally painted by Frank Frazetta in 1965, the image first appeared on Robert E. Howard’s paperback, Conan The Adventurer. The Barbarian is one of many paintings that Frazetta used for the covers of the Conan series.

Editions: Open Limited Edition
Pricing: $599

*Available for purchase for 24 hours, UNLESS 50 editions are purchased, in which case a 15 minute timer will ensue.

Death Dealer III

Originally painted by Frank Frazetta in 1987, and repainted later that same year, this painting of Death Dealer is the third in the series featuring this character. This work shows the revised version of the painting, which can be seen in the Frazetta Art Museum in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

Editions: Open Limited Edition
Pricing: $599

*Available for purchase for 24 hours, UNLESS 50 editions are purchased, in which case a 15 minute timer will ensue.

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