Dispatches from the silver key

Arcane Arts

I recently published my 1000^th (!) post on The Silver Key, a short essay entitled “The Super, Super-Secret History of Sword-and-Sorcery.” Not a whole lot of new ground covered there, except for one thing: I acknowledge that I have underestimated the impact of visuals on S&S, which have come to define the subgenre as much as its literary conventions. From that essay:

More than any other genre of which I’m aware, sword-and-sorcery is defined by a visual aesthetic as much as literary. Art, particularly the work of Frank Frazetta, helped to define what we think of it today. In fact, if you want the easiest way to define S&S to someone brand-new to the genre, your best bet might be showing them a picture of Death Dealer or Conan the Adventurer. Its fans love the comics for a reason. The art of sword-and-sorcery takes a backseat to no other genre, save perhaps horror.

This issue of Arcane Arts offers more proof. Pinball machines, beer can art, and 70s fanzines are further evidence of the ubiquity of the sacred genre. S&S is all around us, if your eyes are open.

I hope you enjoy the sights of this issue.

Sea-Witches everywhere…

Last month I got to see and play a couple sword-and-sorcery pinball machines over a guys’ weekend in Southington, CT. Gamecraft Arcade had the mighty Gorgar, which I’ve written about before on the blog. Alas, Seawitch was not in operation, its playfield lights dark. But it seemed in good shape and the artwork was cool. I examined it, admired its S&S aesthetic, and moved on.

A few days ago in an instance of internet serendipity I happened across the cover of Conan the Barbarian #98.

Crom! Another Seawitch?

Could a comic book and pinball machine of the same name be mere coincidence? Witchcraft was afoot, a mystery fathoms deep.

That started a merry search. I took a look at the online description of issue #98:

Belit guest stars in Sea-Woman! Script by Roy Thomas, pencils by John Buscema, inks by Ernie Chan; setting: Tigress; A blue-skinned sea-woman is brought on board the Tigress-she lures 2 men to their death; Conan is saved from her by Belit's love.

Published May 1979. Cover by John Buscema, inks by Bob McLeod.

The Seawitch pinball machine debuted May 1980 from Stern manufacturing. Game design by Mike Kubin with artwork by Bob Timm.

Huh.

Was Timm influenced by big John? He wouldn’t be the first artist to fall under Buscema’s spell. The facial structure of Kubin’s Seawitch has those same pronounced cheekbones and overall structure.

I say … yes.

But I actually don’t know. Just that it appears that way and the dates work out.

This is the type of big-time scholarship you’ll find in Arcane Arts, and nowhere else.

​Here's some more words on S&S pinball.​

S&S: Also pairs well with beer

Widowmaker Brewing in Boston puts out some damned good beer. Their flagship Blue Comet, a 7.1% hazy IPA, won a hotly-contested blinded taste test I was a part of (and vaguely remember). I’ve also had and greatly enjoy their Green Wizard, 6.66% ABV West Coast IPA, Devil’s Staircase, Hopsmoker, and Ecstasy of Gold.

They go heavy on the IPAs. But they also lean heavily into sword-and-sorcery and heavy metal on their can art.

After I shared a recent example in the Sword-and-Sorcery Discord group someone tracked down the name of the artist for at least some of their cans. His name is Arik Roper, and he rocks. Looks like he's done work for many heavy metal bands and authors I recognize.

See more of his amazing work on his Instagram account here.

RIP Ross the Boss

Manowar was an important band for me back in the day—and still is. I got into them during Fighting the World (1987) and bought Kings of Metal (1988) as it came out in the record store, on tape.

Little did I know that the latter album would be guitarist Ross the Boss’ last with the band. Infighting and creative control led to his departure. Manowar was never the same, though Triumph of Steel is pretty good.

But those first six albums? Immortal. As is the soul of Ross, who entered the mountainside on March 26 following a short battle with ALS.

​Here's my top 5 Manowar songs.​

Dark Fantasy 3, in my clutches

My recent review of To Leave a Warrior Behind got me interested in the semi-obscure 1970s Canadian S&S fanzine Dark Fantasy, which holds the distinction of printing the first appearance of Charles Saunders Ilyssai outcast hero Imaro. So when I saw Dark Fantasy #3 pop up in an online bookseller I knew I had to have it.

It’s a great little publication that had a surprisingly decent run, 23 issues published between 1973-80. Magazine editor Gene Day supplied the heart of the zine and much of its art. Day was a talented artist who also did the cover of the first edition of the famous horror RPG Call of Cthulhu (1981) and other Chaosium products, and the interiors of several Savage Sword of Conan magazines, as nicely covered in this article by Deuce Richardson for DMR Books. He has that gloomy and weird 70s style I admire.

Day was a huge talent and died far too young, just 31 years old. And with him went Dark Fantasy. You can find a back issue here.

I will go through Dark Fantasy #3 and its contents in more detail. I’m just happy to own this physical relic of the 1970s.

Do you like pinball and beer? Send Brian your favorites here.