Warning: Greg Hildebrandt’s American Beauties calendar is meant for MATURE audiences.
This Fall Heavy Metal is releasing two new and gorgeous calendars for the upcoming year from famed fantasy artists The Brothers Hildebrandt (Tim and Greg Hildebrandt), and from Greg Hildebrandt as a solo artist. This includes the seminal collaboration between Greg Hildebrandt and his late brother Tim, featuring their famously lavish Lord of the Rings art from the 1970s responsible for sparking so many imaginations. Screen Rant has the exclusive preview to this dynamic partnership of Hildebrandt’s SpiderWebArt Gallery and Heavy Metal Publishing in the release of 2023 calendars The Tolkien Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt and Greg Hildebrandt’s American Beauties, the very apex of retro sci-fi/fantasy cool for any fan of vintage kitsch.
Since they crashed onto the scene in the 1970s with their iconic LOTR art, The Brothers Hildebrandt have been behind some of the most incredible cultural images of the 20th Century, including the famous “Star Wars B” poster which advertised the sensational film’s original 1976 release in the UK. Once upon a time, a company known as Ballantine Books, known for publishing high-quality prints of elite fantasy artists like Frank Frazetta, sent out an open invitation for art submissions for a Lord of the Rings calendar and were met with the mind-melting magic of brothers Greg and Tim Hildebrandt. Credited with revolutionizing fantasy art for a new generation, the images which adorned the three The Brothers Hildebrandts’ Lord of the Rings calendars of the 1970s are well-known by fans of Tolkien as some of the definitive imaginings of Middle Earth’s legendarium. Hildebrandt told Screen Rant of his experience:
In 1975 when Tim and I sat down and began the creative process for the 1976 Tolkien, Lord of the Rings calendar, we wanted to create something special. We both felt like we had something to prove in the world, and we pulled out all the stops. However, I don’t think either of us could have guessed that some 46 years later, there would still be a desire from people to view them and hang them on their walls. That truly means a lot and is a humbling experience.
Just in time for 2023, Heavy Metal and Spiderweb Art are bringing back the enchantment in two new calendars, The Tolkien Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt and American Beauties. The former calendar collection comes from both brothers while the latter is just from Greg. The calendars are also set to include a brand new centerfold by Greg Hildebrandt featuring Heavy Metal superheroine Taarna riding into battle once again. The artist told Screen Rant that to say he was excited about the partnership was “an understatement,” calling it “an honor.” “I have been a fan of Heavy Metal Magazine since its earliest days,” he said, “and I am proud to have had my work adorn several of their covers. Heavy Metal represents a pinnacle of illustrated fantasy.”
The second offering, which Heavy Metal CEO Matthew Medney described as “vintage Heavy Metal style with a pulpy mix of Greg’s pinup and sci-fi art” is entitled Greg Hildebrandt’s American Beauties, a risqué, burlesque homage to the racy side of 20th Century nostalgia with original prints by Greg.
Ready to ring in the new year with the best of vintage sci-fi/fantasy? The Tolkien Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt and Greg Hildebrandt’s American Beauties go on sale from Simon & Schuster September 13, but are available for pre-order now.
