Another lurker pokes his oar in for a moment ... I recently bought Poser 4 for the most mundane of modeling needs, but all work and no play, so they say. Coincidentally I've also recently begun re-reading my tattered old copies of ERB's Barsoom novels; how could someone in that position not immediately think of rendering great scenes from those old tales, eh? Therein lies the rub: I simply cannot believe this is a new idea. Impossible. Yet a search of Web resources has thus far turned up not a thing. I'd as soon not reinvent any wheels, tread on any artistic toes, nor overlook the chance to spare myself some effort in my playtime. :-) Does anyone have word on where ERB's great characters are hiding? Can you share? Many thanks!

Tarzan is the only ERB character I have seen to date. It seems most of the SciFi characters are of current vintage, might contact some of the folks doing StarWars characters and see if they have done any. Need a Banth(sp) to liven up a sceen!

I want to see these pictures when you render them, corblet!!!

I saw a green martian somewhere not long ago. I didn't download it for some reason. But there is one out there. Also I saw a texture for posette that has red skin. I think that it was for a demon but it could become Dejah Thoris easily enough. Can't wait to see them when you finish

I hear ya, brother!!! Too few Barsoomian pics out there! I was weaned on these books! A Princess of Mars was the first paperback novel I ever read, and John Carter, Warlord of Mars was the first comic series I ever read! There's a pretty cool pic of Dejah Thoris floating around out here somewhere on Renderosity (I forget who the artist was). Here's a pic I did of a Barsoomian flier when I first got Bryce (before I had Poser). One of these days, I'll get around to putting some people in it! It's made up of about fifty million boolean objects (LOL!!!)!!! Hope you enjoy it!

Wow! There really are people out there who know who John Carter, Dejah Thoris and Tars Tarkas are! I've seen a 4-armed figure out there somewhere. With a little morphing, and a green texture map, it might make a Tars Tarkas. - JimX

Check the comic collective.....

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=33300&Start=73&Artist=februus&ByArtist=Yes

Here's a link to a Deja Thoris image I did awhile back, I've also done several John Carter pics that are in my gallery.

As a John Carter fan and reader for more years than I wish to admit, I would love to be able to see what fellow fans could create. However, there is one major problem -- ERB, Inc. ERB, Inc. is merciless in its protection of any and all things Burroughs related. Even though the copyright on many of Burroughs' works has long since expired, ERB, Inc. has resorted to TRADEMARKING names, places, etc. within the books as a further form of protection. And, yes, they have went after fans whose only "crime" was posting fan-fiction and/or graphics related to ERB works. They do not tolerate anything that, in their opinion, would diminish the financial worth of ERB related works. This might be a worthy matter for discussion in the new Copyright Laws forum. It appears that ERB, Inc. relaizes that the copyright protection is gone on much of ERB's work, yet continue their prosecutions. It appears, IMO, that they do it with the goal of simply wearing the "perpetrator" down with appeals and legal bills. Well, I really had not meant to babble on so long, but it may help explain why there is such a dearth of John Carter and Mars related materials.

februus, EXCELLENT work there! I would love to see what fellow fans would create in regard to the Mars adventures. Geesh, this brings back so many memories! I loved that stuff.

Hmm . Here's where I earn some naite points. I've been accessing all the classic ERB novels online, where they're posted in their entirety for anyone to read. I can even get them on my handheld if I want! For some silly reason I figured if they were being draconian about copyright those texts wouldn't be so freelay available on a mainstream literature source. Is it mayhap less a copyright issue and more an attempt to keep some sort of "purity" thing going with the original works, I wonders?

I have to echo: great scene, februus, thanks for sharing! Man, I just have to go for this, ERB inc or not. If my own biz takes off this month like I'm hoping maybe I can wear THEM down instead! evil smile Oh, for losing the need to sleep! sigh So much work, so little playtime.

For some silly reason I figured if they were being draconian about copyright those texts wouldn't be so freelay available on a mainstream literature source. Is it mayhap less a copyright issue and more an attempt to keep some sort of "purity" thing going with the original works, I wonders?<<< Could be. However, if in fact the copyright is expired their reasoning behind some of the measures they have taken is moot. If the copyright is expired it is expired and they have no legal rights over it. Now, it is my understanding that all of ERB's works previous to 1923 are now in the public domain. If that is so, then ERB, Inc. is simply trying to prevent anyone from dimishing the financial worth of the properties so they, ERB, Inc., can reap greater profit from Mr. Burroughs' work. I also think part of the reason you will find most of ERB's pre-1923 work so readily available is that it is places like Gutenberg and other sources that would call ERB, Inc.'s bluff. There are occassional discussions in the ERB newsgroup that are interesting when someone tries to issue a version of one of ERB's works that has not been "authorized" by ERB, Inc. Then there is the tale of ERB, Inc. suing a fan of the Mars stories because he had named his restaurant-bar "Barsoom." If you check U.S. Trademark records online, your will see that "barsoom" is trademarked by ERB, Inc. as are a number of other John Carter and Tarzan related terms and names. They cannot protect them under copyright law since the copyrights on much of the material has expired and since, it is my understanding, you cannot protect names or terms under copyright law so they have resorted to trademark infringement cases. I've never raised the issue with my attorney since I've never had the need, but I am curious now so I may when I next meet with him. It would be interesting to see the reaction from ERB, Inc. if someone decided to do an illustrated "Princess of Mars" novel or comic online. If I understand copyright law correctly, there is not a great deal they LEGALLY could do. But if it was a small outfit launching it, ERB, Inc. could either intimidate them to cease or bury them in legal bills through appeal after appeal. I wonder what they thought of Bo Derek's "Tarzan" movie?

Yes, all great points. I just wonder. My intention was (still is, actually) to amuse myself rendering "cool" scenes from the novels as I re-read them; not a full-on graphic novel by any means but certainly could be considered illustrating the text. Hmm. I'm just Quixotic (and cocky) enough to dare them on this one ... perhaps not immediately (I'm way too busy right now for the luxury of letting playtime affect business) but soon. Hmm again. dons pots and pans to test the fit

Burroughs fans or people who never heard of him, check out this guys (Francois Miville Deschenes) art NOW!: http://gaspe.cgaspesie.qc.ca/~crioux/fmd/ The only person I recall attempting ERB martian stuff is februus, as mentioned above. I think most younger Poser fans have never been exposed to such things. You almost have to me from the 60's or early 80's when the books where released in new paperback editions, most recently with Michael Whelan or Joe Jusko art. A banth might be possible (put more legs on the Poser lion), I've seen a multi-armed female character somewhere, so a multi armed, male like Tars Tarkas may be possible. Modeling the head would be like a highly modified alien gray with tusks. As for the (4 armed) white apes, there isn't even a real honest-to-God Poser gorilla yet. The impossible dream. Dejah Thoris would be easiest, a dark-haired red skinned babe with fantastic jewelry and one of those "Frazetta Head-dresses" That would be one cool prop that I've awaited in vain. I saw a "fantasy warrior" in one of the stores that was damn close to John Carter.

Thanks, folks. My work is now extending to the fulfillment of a great fantasy pastiche of Burroughs wherein Tarzan has an adventure on Mars (Barsoom) I'm still in the formative phase, but have created several characters that should be familiar to ERB fans for the sheer joy of it. I found the perfect mesh deformer for poser models in z brush, so when the storyline is complete I'll be doing chapters in a quasi illustrative and episodic style for on-line viewing. Ta! februus

Just playing around with the posette, Deanna Troi. I changed the skin color to red and the highlight color to red. Then added the jewelry. I did add the loin cloth for the more sensitive. Enjoy and let me know. It only took a few minutes....

That's pretty darn nice for just a few minutes,Butch. I might not have even thought of using Deanna Troi. Very clever!

Excellent choice for Dejah Thoris! Where can I get the Deanna Troi figure from? And hey, what did everyone think of my flier posted above? ;)

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=52222&Start=1&Sectionid=0&WhatsNew=Yes

A little sample of ERB

WykkadOne, I think the flier looks great, but for me the wings don't fit. My own vision of the Barsoomian flier (formed mostly from the ACE paperback versions) had the flier as more boat-like, with vertical spars sportig various pennants and flags. But hey, that's only my humble opinion. I guess whatever design finds it's way into the most and most like artwrok, will become the standard. Your work is most certainly good enough to become the norm. Mike

I orginally got the Troi figure here. But now I think it has moved to another site that has mostly SF and Fantasy figures on it. I will look around and try to find it for you. butch