Jim Steranko - Talon

Artist: Jim Steranko (Penciller)

2,776 Views - 8 Comments - 3 Likes

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Artwork Details

Title:	Jim Steranko - Talon
Artist:	Jim Steranko (Penciller)
Media Type:	Pencil
Art Type:	Illustration
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	2,776
Likes on CAF:	3 4
Comments:	8
Added to Site:	2/14/2016
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Steranko unleashed!

Towards the end of the 60's, it does look like Steranko was firing in all directions, throwing concepts that would or would not ultimately be published.

Among them, Talon the barbarian was apparently pitched to Stan Lee who passed on it but kept bouncing with the idea for a while until he and Roy Thomas decided to have a shot at Conan (And, as they say, the rest is history...).

Consequently, we're now left with a handful of mouth-watering illustrations, giving us only a gorgeous glimpse of what might have been...

Among the lesser known of these is a couple of concept designs Jim Steranko did that were published in Fantastic Fanzine 11 among which, this very one. While obviously less polished than his finished work, this is pure dynamite!

The dynamic stop-motion pose complete with a grin, the flaming sword, the sketched background: all the familiar Steranko design elements are in place, but the added value comes with the rough pencils that links this illo to the great heroic-fantasy paperback cover providers of the day.

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About the Owner

	Al Simpleton ( 1 )
Joined:	August 2013
Last Login:	January 2026
Country:	FRANCE
On CAF:	Al's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Dadako Dadako
Member Since 2010

Posted on 2/15/2016

Wow.. This is a great illustration by Steranko that I never have seen before, absolutely great! Is always a pleasure to discover your new adds, Al! H U G E C O N G R A T S!!

Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013

Posted on 2/15/2016

Dadako Dadako wrote:

Wow.. This is a great illustration by Steranko that I never have seen before, absolutely great! Is always a pleasure to discover your new adds, Al! H U G E C O N G R A T S!!

Thanks Alessio! I agree this was quite unseen, but I got some background info here and there, mainly through Tony Robertson, certainly the main authority on all-things Steranko! And, frankly, I couldn't let it pass me by!...

Timothy Finney
Member Since 2006

Posted on 2/15/2016

Talon kept popping up in various places, times and forms and it is fun to see these pieces when they pop up on CAF and think what might have been.

Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013

Posted on 2/15/2016

Timothy Finney wrote:

Talon kept popping up in various places, times and forms and it is fun to see these pieces when they pop up on CAF and think what might have been.

Thanks Timothy! With 40+ years hindsight, it's easy to wonder what was the fuss about a potentially upcoming barbarian story by Steranko! But, then, this was news! Happily, we still have some gems left...

George H
Member Since 2009

Posted on 3/29/2016

This is incredibly cool to see. Congrats and thanks for sharing.

Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013

Posted on 4/2/2016

George H wrote:

This is incredibly cool to see. Congrats and thanks for sharing.

Thanks George! Steranko ain't no cheap thrills, isn't it?...

gene o
Member Since 2018

Posted on 7/3/2019

Is there anything STERANKO can't do? Look at that flamin' sword!!!!

Al Simpleton
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 9/1/2019

gene o wrote:

Is there anything STERANKO can't do?� Look at that flamin' sword!!!!

Even when he does not try, he gets it spot-on! I mean, it doesn't look like this illo was meant for publishing, right? Thanks Gene!

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