75 replies to this topic

[deuce]

The fact that Michael W. Kaluta has joined the Robert E. Howard Forum finally motivated me to get up off the parliamentary side o' me arse and start this thread, one I've intended for a long time.

I first discovered Mr. Kaluta's art in the first grade. I was in the hospital and my mom bought me an issue of The Brave and the Bold (Black Canary was Batman's partner in that one). In it was an ad for DC's The Shadow. The art was rockin'. Little did I know at the time, but MWK was the artist. Soon after, just as I was discovering the magic of Edgar Rice Burroughs' prose, I picked up a copy of DC's Korak comic. Within was an adaptation of ERB's Pirates of Venus done by Kaluta. Awesome stuff.

As it turned out, Mike started moving away from illustrating comics stories soon after, creating "The Studio" project with Bernie Wrightson, Jeff Jones and Barry Windsor-Smith. I next ran into his art when I snagged a copy of Zebra's The Lost Valley of Iskander. The "Old School" influences in MWK's style made him a perfect match for stories about El Borak, IMO. His Conan covers for Epic Illustrated and Conan the King were high-water marks during the Cimmerian's stint at Marvel™ (IMO).

From there, I followed MWK's work on other comics, book covers, the incredible artwork he did for the Nativity in Black Sabbath-tribute CDs, the Celtic League calendars and his work for White Wolf and Wizards of the Coast. I look forward to more great works of art from Michael William Kaluta in the future.

Here's a bio from Jim Vadeboncouer (w/ great art):
http://www.bpib.com/...tra2/kaluta.htm

Here's MWK's webpage:
http://www.kaluta.com/

Here's a link to some of MWK's art for sale:
http://www.bookpalac...ta_Art_180.html

[timeless]

A tilt of the mead horn to Mr. Kaluta, an artist of unique talent. One of the giants in his biz.

[Ant]

MWK created what is, for me, the definitive illustration of ?owyn from The Lord of the Rings:


Peerless.

Cheers,
Ant

[Strom]

Welcome to the forum Michael!

[deuce]

MWK created what is, for me, the definitive illustration of ?owyn from The Lord of the Rings:


Peerless.

Cheers,
Ant

Right on, Ant. When people like Leo Grin and Steve Tompkins bemoan the lack of "ballsy" JRRT-related art (other than the Frazetta calendar), I point them to the MWK calendar and also to Angus McBride's stunning work for Iron Crown.

[Officer Aggro]

Ah, I remember his work now. I had the 1994 Tolkien calender which he illustrated (still have it packed away somewhere, I think). Good stuff!

[Crom]

Welcome to the forums. I'm a big fan of your work.

[deuce]

Ah, I remember his work now. I had the 1994 Tolkien calender which he illustrated (still have it packed away somewhere, I think). Good stuff!

Hey Aggro! Don't you remember his art for DHC's Conan comic? Nobody, not BWS nor Big John, has ever told the story of Yogah of Yag better, IMO. He also wrote the intro for the "Tower of the Elephant" DHC hardcover.

[Elegast]

I remember his " She' Leaving Home " from way back.

[crossplain pilgrim]

Welcome to the forum, Mr. Kaluta. It's an honor.

[timeless]

And thanks for offering a dark haired, non 'teenage pin-up pretty boy' Legolas, one of my favorites from you.

You'll find no shortage of fans here, sir.

[Sermon Bath]

my first exposure was the fabulous work on THE SHADOW....that was Kaluta wasn't it...its been awhile but I'm
positive he did those great comics

[thundarr]

Welcome Mr. Kaluta! Those Shadow comics from the 70's are fantastic. My favorite piece of yours would have to be the cover of Epic Illustrated #4 featuring a very familiar barbarian about to cut down a serpent creature. Thank you so much for all of your incredible work!

[Roquefort Raider]

Welcome, Mr. Kaluta.

I frequently re-read The Studio and never fail to discover something new in your amazing work.

Nobody ever did justice to the REH desert tales the way you that did. Many thanks for the wonders you brought us!

[Elegast]

Welcome Mr. Kaluta! Those Shadow comics from the 70's are fantastic. My favorite piece of yours would have to be the cover of Epic Illustrated #4 featuring a very familiar barbarian about to cut down a serpent creature. Thank you so much for all of your incredible work!

Hi Everyone'

I recall that I first saw that picture in 1980/81. It's a lovely piece. It certainly sets me back!

[Officer Aggro]

Ah, I remember his work now. I had the 1994 Tolkien calender which he illustrated (still have it packed away somewhere, I think). Good stuff!

Hey Aggro! Don't you remember his art for DHC's Conan comic? Nobody, not BWS nor Big John, has ever told the story of Yogah of Yag better, IMO. He also wrote the intro for the "Tower of the Elephant" DHC hardcover.

Oh yeah! I remember it, but I didn't know that that was him when I read it. I'll have to go back and look at it again.

[deuce]

Ah, I remember his work now. I had the 1994 Tolkien calender which he illustrated (still have it packed away somewhere, I think). Good stuff!

Hey Aggro! Don't you remember his art for DHC's Conan comic? Nobody, not BWS nor Big John, has ever told the story of Yogah of Yag better, IMO. He also wrote the intro for the "Tower of the Elephant" DHC hardcover.

Oh yeah! I remember it, but I didn't know that that was him when I read it. I'll have to go back and look at it again.

Cool! Also, the "Helm's Deep" painting (from the JRRT calendar) was first used as the cover for that Hyborian Age/Conan Universe one-shot that Marvel™ put out in '86. For all the talk one hears about the Hyborian Age and the Third Age being mutually exclusive, that painting worked pretty damn well for both, IMO.

[deuce]

Here's a sketch of Gimli by MWK:

http://www.rabidferr...r...icArt&id=68




Hey! Somebody needs to start posting their scans of the Conan the King covers.

[timeless]

Love it.

(I tell ya, with Burke and Finn and Louinet and Herman and Jusko and others, and now Kaluta, this joint is going upclass!)

[thundarr]

Kaluta's "Conan the King" covers were great. I believe he did the covers for issues #19-31. Here's a link to all the King Conan (renamed Conan the King after issue #20) covers from coverbrowser.com

King Conan Covers