bloggiversary party spesh: frank frazetta's eerie sea monster and the toys from other planets

I've been looking at monster art this bloggiversary.

I'm now seeing monsters everywhere!

Take for instance this cover on Warren's classic Eerie magazine number 3. 

That's a fine Frazetta monster on the front.

But is there not just a passing resemblance to this, the second creature down, right down to the sticky-out ears and mohican?

Its Zephton from the Galaxy Serie by Atlantic, a fabulous range of brightly coloured vintage plastic figures and spaceships.

Is Zephton Frazetta's sea monster come to life? Do you agree?

This wouldn't be the first time though!

The great Frank Frazetta's Eerie cover monster was the inspiration for Colossus Rex no less! Colossus Rex was one of the brilliant Outer Space Men released by Colourforms. 

You don't believe me? See for yourself straight from the horse's mouth Mr. Mel Birnkrant, the toys' creator, in this interview. Look for the heading: 

WHAT WERE THE ORIGINS OF THE OTHER FIGURES?

http://melbirnkrant.com/osminterviews/page1.html

Whilst you're at it check out all the inspirations for Mel's Outer Space Men toys. I had them all as a kid and they were my absolute faves. Mel talks about them all over the two pages of the fab interview on his own website.

To finish and I may have said it before but I reckon Frank Frazetta's monster was also behind the classic Raymond Brigg's character Fungus the Bogeyman! ha ha. What do you think?

Can you think of anymore monster crossovers?

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Birthday Update from New Jersey

by Brian F.

This illustration comes from a book I bought during a seaside vacation with my family in the 70's. It's called How to draw Monsters by Larry Evans.

I would say Frazetta is given a nod here. Although Ray Harryhausen was surely influenced by mythology and many different artists, is it possible that his Kraken has a cousin in the Colorforms family? ; )

This is a Marx Great Garloo from John Marshall's Monster Toys book.

Next are 2 creatures from Manley Toy Quest's Stretch Screamers toy line.

Lastly is Krusher, a Mattel toy I think, crushing my dining room table.