Fanzines – Literary Art and Illustration

Algol #12, March 18, 1967 … “The Ellish” – Special Harlan Ellison Issue [Jack B.F. Gaughan]

The March 18, 1967 issue of Algol (Algol #12, that is) includes four articles about, and two by, Harlan Ellison….

“How Harlan Ellison Came To Be So Honored“, by William Rotsler
“Harlan Ellison“, by Lee Hoffman
“Harlan Ellison“, by Ted White
“The Jet-Propelled Birdbath“, by Robert Silverberg
“Books” and “Words“, by Harlan Ellison
“A Time For Daring“, by Harlan Ellison

And, the cover features this great impression of Ellison (“from a photograph”) by Jack Gaughan…

Visions of Danger

Harlan Jay Ellison, at…

… Wikipedia

… Wikiquote

… Harlan Ellison . com

… FindAGrave

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

… Memory-Alpha

… Internet Movie Database

… Project Gutenberg (“Glow Worm”)

… Fantastic Fiction

… Good Reads

… National Public Radio (Obituary)

… The Hollywood Reporter

… Vox . Com

… Screen Rant (“James Cameron’s Terminator Script Lawsuit & Controversy Explained”)

… The New Yorker (“The Return of “The Oscar,” an Unseeable, Unwatchable Flop”)

… Gizmodo (“Harlan Ellison Wrote One of the Best Daredevil Stories Ever”)

… CBR . Com (“Star Trek: Why Harlan Ellison Wanted His Name Taken Off a Classic Episode”)

Xenon – March, 1944 [Ted Payer]

Based on the contents of the Luminist Archives, this first issue of Xenon appears to have been its only, and thus last, issue. Its actual content comprises only ten of its sixteen pages, with one major illustration – on the cover – shown below. The devil is depicted in daring detail by Ted Payer, about whom information seems to be unavailable. The Fancyclopedia has no information about publisher Gordon K. Rouze, while his FindAGrave biographical profile makes no mention of any interest in fantasy or science fiction, though it does note that he was a “hobby printer”.

As for the drawing? The basilisk (?) is of great effect!

Some Other Things To Ponder

Gordon Keith Rouze, at…

… FindAGrave

… Legacy . Com

… Fancyclopedia (Not much!)

… Jake’s Journals

Fantasy Crossroads – September, 1978 [Stephen E. Fabian (Based on a sketch by Hannes Bok)]

Though there seems (?!) to be no information about it – online – except for an issue grid, and, issue-by-issue table of contents, at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database, Fantasy Crossroads, published from 1974 through 1979, with a total of 14 issues, appears to have been a very “high-end” fanzine in terms of content, artwork, and physical production. Only two issues are presently freely available: that of January, 1979 (final issue), that of September, 1978 (13th issue), both via the Luminist Archive.

The cover looks (looks) as it were created by Hannes Bok, but that’s an intentional coincidence.

First of all, Bok passed away in 1964.

Second and all, a close view of the composition reveals the initials BOK / SF in the lower right corner. That’s because the cover was actually done by illustrator Stephen E. Fabian, “based on a sketch by Hannes Bok.” In this, Fabian did a wonderful job of creating art very much in the Bok fashion, specifically in the seeming solidity of the woman’s patterned hair, her almost-but-not-completely-elflike and startled appearance, and, the touch of a huge and exaggerated butterfly.

Even more interesting diversions…

Fantasy Crossroads, at…

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

Stephen E. Fabian, at…

… StephenFabian.com (his website)

… Castalia House

… Fancyclopedia 3

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

… Wikipedia

… The Black Gate (“Vintage Treasures: Stephen E. Fabian’s Ladies & Legends”)

Hannes Bok, at…

… Wikipedia

… Zinewiki

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

… American Art Archives

… American Fantasy Press (Includes a portrait from the last years of his life)

Comic Art Fans (Superb examples of his work! – at least, as of August, 2022)

… Grapefruit Moon Gallery

… The Fanac Fan History Project (“The Hannes Bok Illustration Index”)

… Heritage Auctions (Again, wonderful examples of his work, including paper mache! – as of August, 2022)

… Hollywood Metal

… The Korshak Collection

… Pulp Artists

… ShrineODreams

… Zenith City Press

The 14 Leaflet – Spring, 1937 [William H. Dellenback]

As described at Fancyclopedia, “The 14 Leaflet was the clubzine for the first iteration of the Chicago Science Fiction League, Chapter 14 of the SFL. Published from November 1935 until Spring of 1937, it ran for at least nine issues and included the writings of Jack Darrow.”

The only online issue seems to be that of Spring, 1937, which has cover art by Walter Dellenback. The illustration having neither name nor description, seems to be a symbolic depiction of a city-scape, futuristic by virtue of the vertically elongated towers and spacecraft descending from upper left. Overall, the cover art seems to have very much of a 1939 New York World’s Fair “City of the Future” vibe. It’s also reminiscent of H.W. Wesso’s interior artwork for the opening page of Manly Wade Wellman’s story “Nuisance Value”, which would appear in the January, 1939 issue of Astounding Science Fiction.

For your further distraction…

The 14 Leaflet, at…

… Fancyclopedia

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

Chicago Science Fiction League, at…

… Fancyclopedia

William H. Dellenback, at…

… Fancyclopedia

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

… First Fandom Experience

Futuria Fantasia – January, 1940 (Spring) [Hannes Bok (Wayne F. Woodward)]

When it comes to identifying the creator of a pulp magazine’s interior and cover art, an artist’s hand and eye can be immediately recognizable, whether through style, subject matter, or symbolism. In this, illustrators who immediately come to mind for magazines published from 1940s through the 1960s are Hubert Rogers, Virgil Finlay, Edd Cartier, Edmund Emshwiller, Herbert R. Van Dongen, Jack Gaughan, and, Richard M. Powers.

And also, Hannes Bok, the nom artistique of Wayne F. Woodward.

The latter’s work is extraordinarily distinctive, to the point that it’s impossible to mistake a Bok illustration for that of any other artist. Bok’s illustrations have an almost “three-dimensional” appearance, a sometimes simplified (but still aesthetic) exaggeration – sometimes extreme; often elaborate – and smoothing of the human form, and on occasion, the presence of creatures seemingly drawn from or inspired by mythology.

Here’s an example of Bok’s early work: It’s the cover illustration of the fourth and final issue of Futuria Fantasia, a fanzine created by Ray Bradbury and published between 1939 and 1940. This the most elaborate and professional of Bok’s illustrations for the fanzine, Bok actually having created created cover and interior illustrations for the all issues. The painting is unrelated to the fanzine’s content, and like the cover illustrations of Richard Powers, simply and powerfully inspires a mood or mindset.

For even more distraction (gadzooks!) …

Futuria Fantasia, at…

… Wikipedia

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

… The FANAC Fan History Project (Issues 1, 2, 3, and 4)

Hannes Bok, at…

… Wikipedia

… Zinewiki

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

… American Art Archives

… American Fantasy Press (Includes a portrait from the last years of his life)

Comic Art Fans (Superb examples of his work! – at least, as of August, 2022)

… Grapefruit Moon Gallery

… The Fanac Fan History Project (“The Hannes Bok Illustration Index”)

… Heritage Auctions (Again, wonderful examples of his work, including paper mache! – as of August, 2022)

… Hollywood Metal

… The Korshak Collection

… Pulp Artists

… ShrineODreams

… Zenith City Press

The Acolyte – Fall, 1944 (Issue #8) [Alva C. Rogers]

This is really a stunning piece of art.

A cloaked figure rises from the earth and stands complacently upon a featureless landscape. In the far distance, a chain of desolate hills moodily rests against a subtly glowing horizon. A moon (“the” moon? “our” moon?) brightly illuminates all, its backlit glow casting the skeletal figure’s face into invisibility. Or perhaps – and what does this portend? – the anonymous figure has no face whatsoever. At least, not a face to be seen by man.

And the figure, motionless, stands.

And the figure, timeless, watches.

For where is it bound?

For whom is it destined?

____________________

This illustration is from The Acolyte, a science-fiction fanzine published during and shortly after the Second World War, which was was focused on the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Though several examples of the publication’s art are eye-catching and compelling, Alva C. Rogers’ cover for the Fall, 1944, issue is easily among the best carried by the publication, having a level of detail and imagination worthy of some of the best art in established pulp magazines.

I am He who howls in the night
I am He who moans in the snow
I am He who has never seen light
I am He who mounts from below
– H.P. Lovecraft

For your distraction and amusement…

The Acoltye, at…

… Wikipedia

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

… The FANAC Fan History Project (Issues 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14)

… The Online Books Page at University of Pennsylvania (Issues 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14)

… The Online Books Page at University of Pennsylvania (Copyright Information)

… Pulp Magazine Archive (Issues 3, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12)

… The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

Alva C. Rogers, at…

… Internet Speculative Fiction Database

… Fancyclopedia