Jun 27
Click for full imageArt Direction: The real question is, what can’t we put on the cover? I want everything, a dragon, a muscle bound man in tights, a wizard and even a dwarf. Oh and the standard 80’s teenager thrown into a world they don’t understand but slowly come to love. All emerging from a fine mist.
Published 1985
(Average: 8.20 out of 10)
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(9.25 out of 10)
Lastest Tweet
June 27th, 2011 at 9:17 am
I can’t help but think of this as some amazing stage show.
Staring mostly ex-Eastender’s actors and the occasional bloke from The BIll.
June 27th, 2011 at 9:31 am
Wow. All it needs is a catperson and a lens flare and it’d be the textbook example of a completely uninspired cover.
June 27th, 2011 at 9:43 am
Yeah, where’s the catperson, lens flare, ting and font problem? The artist has overlooked some major options there. It’s good to see Chuck Norris with a new hairdo, though. And Andy Hamilton peeking in on the right.
June 27th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Man, the X-Men have really gone downhill.
June 27th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
I assume the Guardians are protecting the dragon (and his/her Flame). Seems to be a bit sickly for a dragon.
June 27th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
I see either a very bad Renfaire or the Village People.
June 27th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
I thought it was Chuck too at first, but why would he need a sword? Surely he could cut through anything a sword could just by using the side of his hand.
June 27th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
The title seems rather redundant. One would expect that the guardians of said flame would be warriors, no? Is there another book in the series entitled “Guardians of the Flame: The ACCOUNTANTS”?
June 27th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
@Tom Noir, please write that book! (It would be up there with “God Accountant of Dune.”)
June 27th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
I can’t actually see any flame at all. I wonder if they’ve lost it.
And is the kid on the left on work experience?
June 27th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
The stereotypical berobed old man w/white beard must be bringing up the rear.
June 27th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
What nails it for me is the apprehensive expression on the face of the dwarf. ‘Oooh kay, I think I’m going to loiter behind Buxom Satin-Dress Lady and hope no-one notices me …’
June 30th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Could be the worst episode of Glee ever, and thats saying something
July 3rd, 2011 at 12:47 am
Buxom Satin-Dress Lady ‘s either got huge hips or She’s trying to obscure the Elf with her butt. Her dress appears to be seethrough so I shall continue to do research….
July 8th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
Guardians of the Flame:
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Guardians of the Flame:
THE CLICHES
Guardians of the Flame:
THE BREAKFAST CEREAL
July 14th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
So are they all standing on the dragon’s belly? If so, I think the warrior in the back must be sinking in a very large bellybutton.
July 18th, 2011 at 1:59 am
…WITH A RANDOM NORMAL KID WITH A SWORD!
July 19th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
@Dalton I think that kid is John Travolta in his younger years. You can see by the way he is posing that Saturday Night Fever must be playing in the background. They decided to give him a sword to make him look more “fantastical”.
August 29th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Well I heard all of you. This was directed by the Art Director. I knew it was a silly cover and stopped working for them right after that. yet at the time it was a big hit. Go figure. I paint much better than that . And this art was changed as soon as I had it back. I know, the kid was so bad. It was my brother.
I wish I had the opportunity to sit down side by side with you guys and draw something. Boy that would be hysterical huh? Watching you all squirm and draw like idiots.
Best,
Steve
August 30th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
And that, boys and girls, is why you should never Google yourself.
August 30th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Steve, that would indeed be hysterical. The funny thing – wonderful thing – about this site is that we admire the artistry that goes into a lot of these covers, at the same time that we laugh at some of the crass marketing decisions that have motivated them. The highest-rated covers are beautifully executed, but totally crackers, thus deserving the cheer “Good Show, Sir!”.
August 31st, 2011 at 1:59 am
Phil. I get it. This is a funny platform. I am one of those artists that ran away from the heavy handed direction that leads to the absurd covers. I even can show you a few more that are so bad you’ll need a tissue to wipe away tears of laughter but believe me when I tell you no one laughs harder than me.
Cheers,
Steve
September 5th, 2011 at 5:13 pm
Hey: Here is a link where the art was changed and put to rest.
Actually liked in there.
Steve
http://www.epilogue.net/cgi/database/art/view.pl?id=83509
September 6th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
On THAT version, I see a TING!
January 18th, 2014 at 12:59 pm
‘Thor! Stop showing us your arm pits and get your genitals out from the flame! We’re supposed to be guardianing it, not rogering it!’
‘But…it feels so…comfortable…’
‘No. No, and that’s final.’
‘…tee hee…’
‘THOR!’
January 21st, 2014 at 1:08 pm
..and that brings up a tidy half century for the barbarian and a marvellous effort that…
March 31st, 2015 at 11:27 am
I have a strange urge to roll a 20 sided dice.
January 10th, 2017 at 4:55 am
“Hey, Steve, there’s some space left on this cover — throw in a levitating teenager, will ya?”
April 2nd, 2017 at 4:37 pm
Guardians of the Flame; Pantomime edition!
April 2nd, 2017 at 4:40 pm
@LB: BEHIND YOU! And, behind YOU! and behind YOU!
April 3rd, 2017 at 3:16 am
That’s a wizaaaaard. Dwarf is beard-wielding, as is Chuck Norris on steroids. Everyone is Behind You. Damsel is showing her devil’s dumplings cleavage.
At least there’s only 2 different fonts, and they’re only in one color. Someone other than the art director must have decided that part.
November 11th, 2017 at 3:19 am
“Artist in comments”, and quite amiable about it.
March 5th, 2019 at 5:26 pm
@tag Could use ‘artist in the comments’ tag.
March 6th, 2019 at 5:45 am
@Monty I said that over a year ago (along with some other hints) and no love.
I wonder whatever happened to Steve’s little brother?