Junior officer’s taking bet’s on how long the new skipper will last.
David Gerrold had prevailed on Mike for some visuals to help sell a pet project called Voyage of the Starwolf. If I’m not mistaken, this was before David had turned it into a well received novel. It was about a big honkin’ spacegoin’ battlewagon. Mike was going to help visualize the ship. I volunteered to do concept\character sketches. The thing that really stands out in my mind was the bible David had written for it. I kid you not, it was like the phonebook, which is a little scary. But what appealed to me was that kind of aircraft carrier crossed with a submarine. Real military. Real hardcore.
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(Above) I approached the command center stations as if they could be packed up and moved . See how it’s all hinged, modular, and even has carry handles. I dig the stickers, graphics, and little teddy.
(Below) Starwolf bunks. I don’t know what it is with me, but my pencil sketches tend to have a whimsical quality. Probably grew up on too much Jack Davis, and Wally Wood (as if there is such a thing). It’s something I almost can’t control. This drawing is absurd.. but dammit Jim! I like it!
(Below) Starwolf enlisted men’s bathroom sink sketch. It ain’t about comfort, that’s for sure.
(Below) A few ideas for environmental helmets. I just could never believe that a technology capable of folding space would have big bulky space helmets, so most of my ideas kept the profile to a minimum.
(Below) I also threw in a few ideas for patches. I don’t remember getting too much of a reaction from David on any of the work I put in. But either way, I had a lot of fun doing them! The work is it’s own reward!
Very cool sketches Doug, How long do you spend sketching for a project like that?
Again thanks for the post!
Hi Joe, I probably spent about four days sketching for Starwolf. These drawings are just selected picks. – Doug
Awesome sketches. Whimsical, indeed.
Great stuff. That was a fun project, wasn’t it? I remember David liked your sketches so much that he used a few ideas from your drawings in his next Starwolf novel, including your concept for a “duffel” footlocker. David had some great ideas, and I’m still hoping that he can make it go someday.
Mike, He did? That’s dang cool! Wow… I’m drawing a blank! It could be “Mad droid disease.” What ever became of the giant model you built? Does David have that?- Doug
I recall that I made a model and Anthony later made a bigger one. Not sure what happened to those. That was a while ago. If they made the show now, they’d use CG renderings, I’m sure.
I can definitely see the submarine/aircraft carrier influence in the design and I love the profile sketch of the helmet!
I like the patch design on the left. It’s sort of menacing!
Hey Doug, thanks for putting this up. I have a copy of that ‘phone book’ sized Star Wolf series bible as well – it would have been interesting to see what might have been if the show had come to be.
Great blog – keep it coming!
These look like a good basis for something I’d like to have seen. The designs look a bunch more interesting than most of what I remember from “Space: Above and Beyond,” and I’m certain David Gerrold would have better stories to tell in that kind of setting. Is he still shopping it around?
Great stuff! Wish this series had happended (might still happen?). These drawings really hint at what I think would have been a visually wonderful show. Between those and the scripts I’ve had the opportunity to read, Star Wolf would be a classic of SF TV. And the novels are some of those books I read and re-read and always enjoy.
Is this the same project that was Starhunt that Andrew Probert did designs for back in the early 1980’s ??
Cool work on these concepts !!
Mike tells me that it was! Never knew that! Thanks so much for the sentiments! – Doug
Shame nothing became of it !!!
Still drooling over these Star Wolf pics. Got anymore you can sharw tih us? Please?
AH, pre-vis work for the so-called, “angriest man in sci-fi.” That being true or not, no denying his talent. And yours too Doug!
I used to love Gerrold’s rant on the sci-fi media show years ago. I love this one esp. (as I say the same things all the time, just not so angry):
The expression is: I COULDN’T care less. NOT I COULD care less. You’re attempting to express an epitome. Now think about it now.
And it’s not neanderTAL, it’s neanderTHAL. NeanderTAL is a small valley of the river in Germany, not early man.
And it’s not oranguTANG, it’s oranguTAN!
Actually, the last one, both are right.
He use to crack me up.
Wait a minute, that’s Harlan Ellison! not David Gerrold. FYI, John Cusack play Gerrold in the film, The Martain Child (based on the autobiography by Gerrold). Good film, IMO. Gerrold seems very nice, so, never-mind my scatter-brain, eh.
Thanks for sharin’!
LLP,
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I’ve been following the saga of this show since Gerrold first came out with a book based on a failed script for Star Trek (the original)! I remember the Ron Cobb sketches from an earlier attempt (either Starlog or Cinefantastique published them), then the new editions, then the trade paperback editions, then news of another attempt…then nothing. Thanks for putting these sketches up! I love them, they really match my mental image and once again I curse the clueless television execs who won’t bring it to the screen.