Lion-Alien Hybrid Holds Sign on Fantastic Universe Sci-Fi Cover, Dec 1958
A whimsical lion-headed alien creature with insectoid antennae clutches a placard in its clawed hands, crouching against a vivid blue background in one of pulp sci-fi's more disarmingly charming cover concepts. The beast sports a shaggy golden mane, wide green eyes, and ruby-tipped antennae, its faintly comic expression straddling menace and absurdity. Advertising a Robert F. Young short novel and a newly discovered Robert E. Howard story, this December issue of Fantastic Universe Science Fiction captures the era's delightful refusal to take itself too seriously.
A maned lion-beast with bug antennae holding a sign like a cosmic sandwich-board man — peak Golden Age absurdist charm. It shouldn't work, but it absolutely does.
“FANTASTIC UNIVERSE SCIENCE FICTION DEC 35¢ GODS of the NORTH A Newly Discovered Story By ROBERT E. HOWARD WISH UPON A STAR A Short Novel by ROBERT F. YOUNG Short Stories by EVELYN E. SMITH WALT SHELDON KENNETH BULMER WILLIAM C. GAULT”
