Greg Hildebrandt, Iconic Fantasy and Sci-Fi Artist, Passes Away at 85
Greg Hildebrandt, a legendary artist in fantasy and sci-fi, has passed away at the age of 85. Known for his work on Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Marvel, and Magic: The Gathering, Hildebrandt left an indelible mark on pop culture and inspired countless fans and artists.
The Brothers Hildebrandt: A Legacy of Art
Greg and his twin brother, Tim, became famous as the “Brothers Hildebrandt.” Together, they created some of the most memorable artwork in the genre. Their collaboration continued until 1981, when they decided to pursue solo careers. Tim later passed away in 2006, but their combined work lives on.
The Iconic “Style B” Star Wars Poster
One of their most iconic pieces is the “Style B” poster for Star Wars, released in 1977 for the UK market. In this poster, Luke Skywalker heroically raises his lightsaber above his head while Princess Leia stands by his side, aiming her blaster. Meanwhile, C-3PO and R2-D2 look on as Darth Vader’s ominous mask looms above, framed by stars, the Death Star, and starfighters.
Why the Poster Looks Unique
Interestingly, Luke and Leia don’t look like Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. This is because the brothers, like the U.S. poster artist Tom Jung, didn’t have access to the actors’ photos. Instead, they used generic hero imagery, similar to 1970s fantasy book covers. Even so, the poster has remained a fan favorite over the decades.
The Hildebrandt poster stayed in UK theaters until January 1978, when Tom Chantrell’s “Style C” poster, featuring the actual cast, replaced it.
The brothers were also strongly associated with a series of The Lord of the Rings calendars. Decades before Peter Jackson brought the films to live action (and even before the 1978 animated version), their art — which drew on their influence from classic Disney films — was the most prominent visualization of Tolkien’s epic for many a 1970s fantasy reader.
Among Hildebrandt’s many other projects were comics for Marvel and DC, illustrations for Wizards of the Coast (Magic: The Gathering and Harry Potter), magazines Omni, Heavy Metal and Amazing Stories, album art for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Black Sabbath and a long list of book covers.
Hildebrandt also fought for freedom with his artistic gifts. After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, he contributed illustrations for Operation USA’s benefit anthology comic book series. Profits were donated to Ukrainian refugee relief efforts. Explaining his decision, he wrote, “Any project that I can lend my art to that will thwart Putin is a project I will join with all my heart, soul and mind.”
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