Process Video: 1977

Paid subscribers get access to this video showing the process of Stan! creating his cartoon homage to the cover of the Holmes Basic set.

In Episode 5, Stan! talked with Bill Slavicsek about the changes that came to D&D in 1977—nationwide press coverage, the publication of the first hardcover book, and perhaps most importantly, the mass-market release of the first Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set. Given the artistic heights that the company would soon become known for, Dave Sutherland’s dragon may be easily dismissed by modern fans … but it truly is one of the most important and enduring images in the history of the game. And it’s one of Stan!’s favorites.

You can go back to watch the episode on replay and see the cartoon homage come slowly together as Stan! and Bill have their chat. But below is a sped up process video capturing the whole thing from start to finish in less than a minute—exclusively for paid subscribers.