Today in pulp... I look back at the wonderful pulp art of Johnny Bruck! #TuesdayThoughts 
Johnny Bruck was one of the most prolific illustrators in science fiction. He painted over 6,000 covers during his career, as well as many interior illustrations. The vast majority were for one title: Perry Rhodan.
Johnny Bruck was born in hamburg in 1921 and spent his younger years in England learning his craft, before travelling around the world.
He reluctantly joined the Kriegsmarine during World War 2, but was prosecuted for desertion after he returned late from leave. He was sentenced to death in 1945; fortunately the war ended before the sentence could be carried out.
Bruck's style was unmistakable: a blend of the futuristic and the organic. It's a homely style that makes you think that outer space isn't so different from your own back yard - just weirder.
Given the size of the Perry Rhodan universe its amazing to think one single artist did so much to bring it to life. But Bruck's distinctive style helped readers feel it was both a unique and unified cosmos they were reading about.
Johnny Bruck cut a distinctive figure: long white hair and beard under a deerstalker cap. He usually travelled by Vespa around his home town of Andechs.
Sadly Bruck was involved in a road traffic accident, and passed away aged 74 in 1995.
Johnny Bruck's legacy is enormous, as was his output. His covers still make me smile to this day - they're a wonderful mix of optimism, adventure and gemütlichkeit.
So here's to Johnny Bruck: wherever Perry Rhodan is to be found, you'll be there too on your Vespa. Twitter salutes you!
More pulp artists another time...
More pulp artists another time...
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