Homage: 1996
Subscriber Exclusive: Early access to Stan!'s cartoon homage to the cover of Hellbound: The Blood War, created during Episode 24.
One thing I’m trying to do over the course of this show is find a way to get all of the D&D worlds represented in the cartoon homages I’m creating. While I was chatting with Tim Beach in Episode 24, I was for the first time using product from the Planescape setting—the Hellbound: The Blood War boxed set.
Planescape as a product line was renowned for looking great, with very stylish art from the likes of Tony DiTerlizzi, Brom, R.K. Post, and the artist behind tonight’s image … Robh Ruppel. Unfortunately for me, Robh left TSR relatively shortly after I arrived (I’m pretty sure the two events were unrelated), so I didn’t get to work with him directly. But I did get to know him slightly, and I VERY MUCH admired his work (he went on to work at Disney and other animation studios, so I’m surely not the only one).
For all its artistic excellence, there aren’t a lot of Planescape products that have covers that FEEL like they belong in this project—one’s that focus on the characters and quests of D&D. Don’t get me wrong, the PS covers are GORGEOUS … but they’re more setting the otherworldly atmosphere than they are about capturing the adventures of the PCs. This one somehow manages to do BOTH. (I TOLD you Robh was something special!)
As a subscriber to this newsletter, you’re seeing this art before it is released for general consumption. You also have the option to buy an art print of this or any of the cartoon homages (and if you’re a paid subscriber, you get a discount on those purchases).
Please share this newsletter with friends who are also fans of Dungeons & Dragons. The best promotion we can get is word of mouth … and your opinion matters! Drop us a line if you have any comments or suggestions for the newsletter or the livestream shows.