Frank Frazetta’s The Lieutenant: A Self-Portrait from the War-Torn Future
When legendary artist and illustrator Frank Frazetta painted The Lieutenant for L. Ron Hubbard’s Final Blackout, he wasn’t just portraying a fictional hero—he was, in fact, painting himself. The brooding figure in military garb, eyes lit with intensity, jaw set with purpose—it was more than art. It was Frazetta in uniform.
About Final Blackout
First published as a three-part serial in Astounding Science Fiction magazine in 1940 and later as a full-length novel, Final Blackout tells the story of a young officer known only as “the Lieutenant.” In a Europe left in ruins by unending war, he leads a disciplined brigade through the wreckage, forging order where none exists. With its themes of honor, survival, and moral leadership under fire, the novel remains a defining work of speculative military fiction and alternate history.
The Evolution of the Covers
Final Blackout has seen several visual interpretations across the decades. Its first appearance in the February 1940 issue of Astounding featured a grim, symbolic wartime scene on the front cover. The 1948 hardcover offered a stark silhouette of the Lieutenant—austere and commanding.
Later editions added layers: a helmet-and-bullets motif in the 1980s hardcover; another with the Tower of London looming behind the Lieutenant’s face, blending history and fiction. Each tried to capture the Lieutenant’s presence.
Then Frazetta’s version—direct, grounded, and personal.
1940 pulp magazine
1948 hardcover edition
1989 hardcover edition
1996 paperback edition
2012 paperback edition
Painting The Lieutenant: Frazetta’s Self-Portrait
Of the eight covers Frank Frazetta created for L. Ron Hubbard novels and Writers of the Future anthologies, The Lieutenant stands apart. It carries none of his trademark fantasy heroic spectacle—no serpent-like creatures, scantily clad warriors, or apocalyptic beasts. Instead, it shows a solitary figure, resolved and real. Frazetta acknowledged that this painting was a self-portrait—his own face cast as the Lieutenant.
Look alike?
Unlike his legendary sword-wielding warriors or cosmic landscapes of his better-known works, this piece was restrained, personal. A man shaped not by myth, but by war, leadership, and moral gravity.
Moonrider and Encounter, two quintessential images painted by Frank Frazetta, grace L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future anthologies Volumes 4 and 5.
Traits Shared by the Lieutenant and Frazetta
Are there more similarities between the two than first appear? Let’s take a closer look.
Intensity
The Lieutenant: Fierce, silent leadership
Frank Frazetta: Unrelenting focus in his craft
Physical Strength
The Lieutenant: Trained warrior
Frank Frazetta: An athlete, known for his physique
Lone-Wolf Nature
The Lieutenant: Commands with quiet moral authority
Frank Frazetta: Worked independently, resisted conformity
Strategic Mind
The Lieutenant: Master tactician on the battlefield
Frank Frazetta: Composed visually strategic battle scenes
Mythic Aura
The Lieutenant: Iconic figure shaped by chaos
Frank Frazetta: Icon of 20th-century heroic illustration
Frazetta never served in the military, but his discipline, precision, and fiercely individualistic approach to life and work reflect the same ethos that defines the Lieutenant.
The Painting’s Legacy
The Lieutenant wasn’t just a book cover. It became a collectible: a limited-edition lithograph signed by Frazetta himself. Created with a continuous-tone printing process using fifty-four separate colors, the reproduction is so faithful that even Frazetta found it hard to distinguish it from the original without touching it.
Only 500 of these lithographs were produced and signed. Each comes with a certificate of authenticity, and today, the piece is prized by collectors of both science fiction and fine art.
• Size framed: 33″ × 38 ¾″
• Limited edition numbered and signed by the artist.
• Limited time offer. Once all of these prints are sold, there will be no other autographed prints available.
The Artist Behind the Armor
Frazetta is often remembered for his fantasy titans and pulp muscle—but in The Lieutenant, he revealed something quieter, more intimate. A portrait not just of a character, but of a mindset: one of duty, resolve, and intensity. It’s the Lieutenant we remember in this painting—but it’s Frazetta’s imagination and vision that sharpened the lines.
Other articles and resources you may be interested in:
How a World War Can Change the Outlook on Apocalyptic Books
Most People Don’t Realize How Dark and Gripping this Novel Is…
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