Friday, May 15, 2009

Blast from the Past #180: Angry Dwarf

I can't recall exactly what fanzine this was drawn for in the 1980's, but I'm pretty sure that I actually got paid for it (not much, but still...!). I think this was one of several drawings done to illustrate one story, something very Tolkeinesque (hence this somewhat Gimli-like dwarf). -- PL

15 comments:

Tristan Jones said...

I'm not sure if you were ever into it, but your art style here reminds me a lot of the older editions of the "Dungeons and Dragons" monster manuals and rulebooks. Any possible influence, or did I just reveal that I am possibly way nerdier than anyone realized?

~ tOkKa said...

-->> .. hell yeh, T .

Is it also possible to assess or at least guess how many of these independent fanzine / " D & D " style illustrations you completed in those early years ?!

Eric Talbot said...

I'm always struck by how much your old stuff reminds me of the old underground cartoonists like Crumb and Irons (to name a few). I guess I don't see it as much with your Turtles artwork. Maybe it's the subject matter or the collaborative process involved with the older TMNT books.

Cool stuff!

Bookgal said...

Kind of looks like a guy that comes into my library!

PL said...

"Tristan Jones said...
I'm not sure if you were ever into it, but your art style here reminds me a lot of the older editions of the "Dungeons and Dragons" monster manuals and rulebooks. Any possible influence, or did I just reveal that I am possibly way nerdier than anyone realized?"

Trist, you're SO nerdy! :) No, I was never into D&D -- I've never played it, although the visuals associated with the game appealed to me. I did some work for a company which put out a competing game system called "Tunnels and Trolls", which never quite reached the heights that D&D did. -- PL

PL said...

"~ tOkKa said...
-->> .. hell yeh, T .

Is it also possible to assess or at least guess how many of these independent fanzine / " D & D " style illustrations you completed in those early years ?!"

Dave, I can give you a somewhat educated guess -- I'd say it was probably about three dozen altogether. I would have liked to do more, but it was hard finding jobs like that which actually paid. -- PL

~ tOkKa said...

Trist, you're SO nerdy! :) No, I was never into D&D -- I've never played it, although the visuals associated with the game appealed to me. I did some work for a company which put out a competing game system called "Tunnels and Trolls", which never quite reached the heights that D&D did. -- PL-->> ..this does not count the massive work Pete, Kevin , Jim , Bissette , Long and others pumped into Palladium's TMNT and related RPG systems. That has a cult following all it's own.

Dave, I can give you a somewhat educated guess -- I'd say it was probably about three dozen altogether.-->> .. o wow ..god.

//I would have liked to do more, but it was hard finding jobs like that which actually paid. -- PL-->> The later part of that rings true today despite the diversity in the industry at this point and the RPG, Card and gaming device companies, Wizards of the Coast ..ect. i've tried numerous times to applying to,

Story of my life.

..although that is slowly changing.

>v<

~ tOkKa said...

-->> ..just looked at the #.
:Blast - #180 " !!

HOLY COW !!
.

Nick said...

Thats an awesome sketch!! Just wondering , do you ever sell any of these old sketches of the tmnt or other characters? Ive always wanted one. Thanks so much, Mr. Laird.

Bookgal said...

LOL I married a DM Trist, I am with ya!

We own all the Paladium TMNT stuff, Tokka, and have in the past run epic games that were a great amount of fun! There was some great art in those books. Even if folks aren’t gamers, they're worth grabbing from Ebay (out of print now) for the art.

~ tOkKa said...

-->> And the stories and game scenarios Erick & Co. helped manifest for those books too, Lady !! !!

Absolutely insane and fun !!

My favourites remain the Terrorbears !!

Bookgal said...

The Terrorbears! I forgot about those!

Didn't the pleasure bunnies come from those, or was that from After the Bomb?

~ tOkKa said...

-->> Ha !! I think so !!

THE Bears lead to one scenario post - nuclear !!

Think your right !! !!

Newton Gimmick said...

Is the "Tunnels & Trolls" thing a joke? Or did someone really try to rip off D&D that bad?

PL said...

"Newton Gimmick said...
Is the "Tunnels & Trolls" thing a joke? Or did someone really try to rip off D&D that bad?"

As far as I know, it was not a joke, but a serious attempt at a game system sort of like D&D. (Not having ever played either of them, I don't know HOW similar -- or different -- they are.) I did a quick Google search and came up with this link:

http://www.flyingbuffalo.com/tandt.htm
I didn't read the whole page carefully, but I got the impression that the "Tunnels and Trolls" game system is still being produced. -- PL