Fabian Fröhlich | Fantastische Illustrationen | Fantastic Illustrations

Posts tagged “Uwe Voehl

Cover Illustrations for the Pulp Series Vampira, 1992–98

Vampira, Gefangen in der Zeit

Gefangen in der Zeit (Trapped in Time)

Vampira is a horror pulp fiction series which was published by Bastei between 1994 and 1999. It reached 110 volumes, 50 in the typical German “Heftroman” format and 60 in in the more paperback-like “Taschenheft” format and with new numbering. Vampira was created by the author Manfred Weinland and the Bastei editor Manfred Schönenbröcher. A new edition started on May 3, 2011.

During the 90s I contributed 18 cover illustrations, all of them oil paintings on cardboard, approx. 40 x 50 cm. Almost all of them (except the covers for vol. 9 and 27 which dated prior to the series) were created after brief descriptions by the editor. As the series subtitle “Dangerous – Mysterious – Erotic” suggests, the motto “sex sells” was part of the basic idea, and the covers reflect that idea (not always, though, sometimes they were allowed to be more mysterious than erotic). The most important accessory of the heroine is a shape-shifting dress, whose literal “life of its own” justifies even the most absurd outfit …

Vampira, Kind des Grals

Kind des Grals (Child of the Grail

The series’ title, “Vampira”, is not the heroine’s name but just a catchy word that summs up what this is all about (and maybe it’s a little hommage to Maila Nurmi). The title doesn’t even appear in the novels. The protagonist’s name is Lilith Eden, a not-too-subtle hint at the series’ mythological, actually biblical, background story that uses Old Testament motives as the fall of men and Noah’s ark as well as bits and pieces from other mythologies quite inventively.

The others authors of the pictured novels (besides Manfred Weinland) are Uwe Voehl (vol. 38), Carter Jackson (Taschenheft vol. 9) and Timothy Stahl (Taschenheft Vol 17, 18, 37, 54).

Overview of the whole Vampira series at gruselromane.de

Cover: © Bastei Lübbe

 

Fabian Fröhlich, Vampira, Landrus Sohn

Landrus Sohn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Illustrations for Fanzine Short Stories and Articles, Part 2, 1994–96

During the 90s a lot of my drawings were published in fanzines and literary magazines. More here. My favourite among these is probably Michael Siefener’s “Fliegen” (Flies), a short story which reminds me of Maupassants “Le Horla”, Kafkas “Metamorphosis” or Lovecrafts “Cool Air”.
 


Illustrations for the Horror Pulp Series Dämonenland , Part 2, 1994–96


From 1991 till 1996 I drew about 160 illustrations for the horror pulp series Dämonenland, published by Bastei (more here). In the beginning I shared the job with Thorsten Krächan, after he had left I did it exclusively. In addition, four oil paintings were used as cover illustrations.
 
Overview of all Dämonenland booklets at gruselromane.de.

 


Illustrations for Fanzine Short Stories and Articles, Part 1, 1992/93

 

A rare attempt to draw with a dip pen instead of a technical ink pen

During the 90s a lot of my drawings were published in fanzines and literary magazines. Most of them were re-prints of commissional work for Bastei or drawings with no particular source; about 50 were created as illustrations for short stories or articels. Part 2 here.