Out of the pit they come...

Any ideas what this might be?

That's right, Iain McCaig has sent through his rough sketches of the images he's producing of the Bloodbeast and Zanbar Bone the Night Prince for YOU ARE THE HERO.

Iain has stayed quite close to the original designs but, as he points out, they are very retro and not at all how he would go about designing either of the characters today. He has expressed an interest in giving them a complete overhaul, and I'd be interested in hearing your views on the subject.

Remember, this is the man who, since illustrating City of Thieves and Deathtrap Dungeon, has gone on to design Darth Maul, one of the most memorable characters in modern movies, and is currently working on Start Wars Episode 7. And he's offered to give a couple of Fighting Fantasy icons a fresh lick of paint for the new millennium!

(I know, I can't quite believe it either.)

Please let me know what you think by commenting on this post, or via the YOU ARE THE HERO Facebook page, but do bear in mind the final decision will be mine and mine alone. I know which way I'm leaning at the moment, but I'd be interested to hear what you'd like to see too.

Breaking News! Iain McCaig to produce brand new original artwork for YOU ARE THE HERO!

Iain McCaig, legendary Fighting Fantasy artist and the designer of Darth Maul (almost other things), is to produce a pair of brand new black and white illustrations for YOU ARE THE HERO - the definitive history of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks.


Iain (one of Ian Livingstone's favourite artists) was responsible for four gamebook covers - The Forest of Doom*, City of Thieves, Deathtrap Dungeon, Island of the Lizard King - four novel covers - Firestorm, Darkthrone, Skullcrag, Demonlord - and all of the art in Ian Livingstone's Casket of Souls. (Of course he also produced the iconic internal illustrations for both City of Thieves and Deathtrap Dungeon.)

Iain is going to work on the new drawings over the next two weeks, but if you were me, what would you ask him to illustrate?


* Recently re-released in app form by Tin Man Games.

YOU ARE THE HERO Art Prints

If you pledged your support to the YOU ARE THE HERO Kickstarter at the GHOUL reward level or above, then you will be receiving one print - or maybe more, depending on how much you pledged - of a piece of artwork by one of these fabulous Fighting Fantasy artists.

Russ Nicholson

 

Iain McCaig

 

Martin McKenna

 

Tony Hough

Iain's print is of the Dwarf Trialmaster from Ian Livingstone's Deathtrap Dungeon.

Tony's print is of the still undead pirate captain Cinnabar from Bloobones.

However, Martin's and Russ's prints are going to of brand new artwork that is being commissioned for YOU ARE THE HERO, the definitive history of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks. Martin's artwork will form the cover of the book, while Russ's illustration will be in his classic Fighting Fantasy style and will appear inside.

I realise that it's hard ordering a print you've never seen - even if you are a massive fan of Martin's or Russ's artwork - so the survey will give you the option of not deciding yet and once the artwork's done, you can make your choice then, at a later date.

So, backers, keep an eye on your email inboxes...

Have your portrait painted by Iain McCaig!

Yes, you read that right. THE Iain McCaig - Star Wars concept artist, creator of Darth Maul, Ian Livingstone's favourite FF artist, and illustrator of such classic Fighting Fantasy adventures as City of Thieves and Deathtrap Dungeon, and cover artist for The Forest of Doom and Island of the Lizard King.

Iain has been very supportive of this project since the start and I was absolutely blown away when he offered his services for the following three - yes THREE - rewards!

SAPPHIRE - Iain will produce one black and white illustration of YOU as a character in a typical Fighting Fantasy interior illustration (of Iain's choice).

EMERALD - Iain will produce one digital colour illustration of YOU as a character in a typical Fighting Fantasy interior illustration, giving you the choice of a range of characters or situations.

DIAMOND - Iain will produce one traditional painting, the subject matter to be chosen by YOU in discussion with Iain, and as long as it fits within the FF world, anything goes!

So what are you waiting for? Check out these new rewards on the YOU ARE THE HERO Kickstarter page today!
 

Iain McCaig offers his support to the YOU ARE THE HERO Kickstarter

Iain McCaig is the legendary Fighting Fantasy artist behind the illustrations in such books as City of Thieves and Deathtrap Dungeon, as well as the cover artist for Island of the Lizard King, Forest of Doom and The Zagor Chronicles.

Well how would you like to own an original Iain McCaig illustration? One featuring YOU in a classic FF-style black and white illustration. That would be totally awesome, wouldn't it, but impossible... Wouldn't it?

Well, no, as it happens, at least if the YOU ARE THE HERO Kickstarter project reaches a high enough level of funding.

To find out more, check out the YOU ARE THE HERO Kickstarter page and Update #4. Oh, and tell all your friends.