A buddy of mine loves the B'Wana Beast. I drew this as a card image for him and then completely forgot to give it to him on his birthday. I even postponed putting it up on my blog before his birthday so that if he happened to be checking out my blog last week it wouldn't ruin the surprise.The actual B'Wana Beast comic book is fairly lame. I only have one issue but the art is not so hot and the stories are borderline stupid. But B'Wana himself is a guy in a loin cloth which merits checking out even in the worst of situations.
best,
j.
10 comments:
Actually, B'wana Beast looks like he got his wardrobe from the cult the capture Tarzan in "Tarzan and The Leopard Woman". Unfortunately this was one of Weissmuller's last appearances as the apeman and he was really too old and overweight. A younger, buffer actor should have been cast as the simian stud. Your graphic is terrific though. Would be great to see this character in an action pose. I hope this doesn't mean you've finished with your Olympic drawings. I was anxious to see what inspired you in the Platform Diving Finals. Thanks, always great to see something new from you.
Thanks so much for giving B'wana Beast eyes. I always thought that the mask with the blacked out eyes was kind of creepy. The helmet is still a bit goofy, but at least he has a nice goofy smile to go with it.
Musclsvg - I'll definitely be doing some more Olympic drawings. Andrew Wheeler just turned me on to some more Olympic beefcake...Clemente Russo, Ryk Neethling are two immediate favourites. I could easily do a week of loin cloths as well. I was just looking at some Mike Henry Tarzan pics that stagger the senses :)
Javier - The whole character is silly with his odd red (are they metal) boots and candy-striped loin-sash. I agree with you that the darkened eyes just seemed creepy. The helmet is the child of Magneto and Catwoman or Edith Prickley.
Has DC done anything with B'Wana Beast in the DC Universe proper? He appeared in an issue of Justice League Unlimited based on the cartoon series but not the "real" universe as far as I know. I can't imagine Geoff Johns not tackling B'Wana in some fashion.
best,
j.
B'wana Beast appeared in Morrison's Animal Man and Swamp Thing Annual 3 (the Apes issue), but that was twenty years ago. I don't follow the DC universe anymore...
Very cute drawing, by the way.
B'wana Beast is dead. His mantle and un-fabulous helmet have been taken over by Freedom Beast, who is currently a member of the Global Guardians. Freedom Beast was last seen in the day of Judgement series that coincided with Infinite Crisis.
The main difference between the two seems to be that Freedom Beast is black and his helmet is less clunky.
"Freedom Beast"?
I suppose he'll revert to "French Beast" someday :)
Glad to hear there will be more Olympic drawings headed our way. It might help the withdrawl as these games were really exceptional. Australian Matthew Mitcham's surprise gold medal in Platform Diving was a real capper. I have to agree with you that Mike Henry was one of, if not the, hottest screen Tarzans. I wish some producer would find his present day equivilent. The apeman could be revitalized if they'd just amp up the eroticism. As for a week of loincloth drawings, it would be cruel not to deliver now that you've suggested it.
P.S.: I've seen Mike Henry around L.A. a couple of times. A silver fox and still hot.
I only know B'wana Beast from Morrison's Animal Man which was a pretty awesome series. But, yeah, the costume is something else!
Francois - Thanks. I sort of follow what's going on in DC for work purposes...and am only aware of B'Wana Beast in the pages of the just canceled Justice League Unlimited.
Javier - Sad news for B'Wana fans. I've never even heard of the Global Guardians. "Freedom Beast" just sounds a bit too much like someone's idea of a joke. Not that Freedom is anything to laugh at. I just picture him eating Freedom Fries, ordering salad with Freedom Dressing, and Freedom Kissing all the ladies in the jungle.
Francois - Precisely.
Musclsvg - A week of loincloths. Now that I've suggested it I suppose I really ought to do it.
Aman - I just saw a Justice League Unlimited toy of B'wana in the latest Toyfare. He looks even more naked in toy form.
Has anyone ever dressed as B'Wana Beast for a comic convention? That would be something to see!
best,
j.
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