Long-Haired Spock
| Tropes and genres | |
|---|---|
| Related tropes/genres | Long-Haired Kirk, Spock's Beard |
| See also | Hair Fandom |
| Related articles on Fanlore. | |
A long-haired Spock is a very common trope in Star Trek: TOS fanworks.
Spock's long tressess are most often seen in alternate universes and symbolize a warrior or an earthy, powerful status. Sometimes his long hair is a sign of a return to a Pre-Reform Vulcan.
Almost all long-haired Spocks appear in slash fanworks.
Canon-based Fanart Examples
In canon, Spock is shown almost exclusively with a bowl cut (the standard Vulcan fashion, intentionally un-cool) except in one scene in Star Trek: The Motion Picture where his hair has grown out during his Kolinahr ritual.
interior art from As I Do Thee #2 by Caren Parnes, 1984. Fanart based on a scene from the film.
The same scene interpreted by the same artist for Daring Attempt #4
Non-canon-based Fanart Examples
from Beside Myself #4 titled "Beside Each Other." Artist is Shelley Butler. See The K/S Press #1 for this zine's history at Worldcon.
from Where's Captain Kirk?, artist is Roo
from As I Do Thee #11, artist is Merle Decker
from Vault of Tomorrow #8, artist is Michael Verina -- a rare example of gen
from Warlords, artist is Pat Horowitz
from Way of the Warrior #4, artist is Chris Soto
from IDIC #6, artist is Alice Jones -- "The first major influence and the style I most wanted to emulate was Alice J.’s. She was the ultimate “realist” artist and that was my natural inclination anyway. I recently ran into a copy of IDIC 6 (1978) that has a slew of her artwork in it and saw a piece I had forgotten; one that had a huge impact on fandom at the time, a piece called “The Pride of the Clan”—a young, bare- chested Spock with long hair and a Star of David on his chest. I remember several conversations about that piece of art when I got into fandom (and that was seven years after it was published!”) [1]
wraparound covers of "T'hy'la" #12, artist is Marilyn Cole (also shows a Long-Haired Kirk -- ""Magnificent wrap-around cover showing Kirk enmeshed in a net spun from Spock's fingers. Beautifully done body proportions, and the faces are perfectly portrayed. Very few artists can exactly capture both Kirk's and Spock's faces. (I especially liked the intensity on Spock's.) Ms. Cole consistently proves she can do this with ease. Her figures are so alive, they practically leap off the page! And is it my imagination, or is part of the web spinning back to enclose Spock as well? That one even looks long enough to visualize details like this is a tribute to Ms. Cole's expertise." [2]
from T'hy'la #20, artist is Shelley Butler --"Oh gorgeous. Spock bare-chested in open (synthe)leather jacket. This is the stuff of fantasies, and truly one of my favorites. As to the art and technique of Ms. Butler, it's superlative. Her style is always so fine, but this one has a particular clarity in the pencil work that goes really well with this light-hearted and innocent Spock. Innocent yet so sexy. The sexiest Spock face ever, because it's so natural. I don't think he's looking at Kirk, but I think Kirk's sure looking at him. Oh yes, and the thumbs hooked in the wide leather belt with macho buckle...well maybe he's not so innocent after all." [3]
front cover of KaleidoScope #7, front cover by Rudas, a two-fer, a long-haired Spock AND a long-haired Kirk -- "Two long-haired unclothed warriors locked in a passionate kiss. I love the kaleidoscope in Spock’s hair. It takes my breath away each time I look at it. It is nicely framed on the page, but I find myself wishing it covered the entire page" and "What a lovely, hot, dynamic drawing. The entire drawing was in print before, but this is a close-up of just the kiss, which makes it even more powerful. A passionate, master/slave kiss...Spock master/Kirk slave...and drawn quite nicely—lines on the spare side that are nonetheless fully expressive." [4]
from T'hy'la #21, artist is Sweet Dreams Studio --"Captain Spock" p. 84a: "Sweet Dreams Studio has done a "Supermanish" type Spock in this B&W pencil for a future painting number 2. The blurt in the upper left hand of the picture somewhat spoils the artwork for me. I am wondering if it was done intentionally so that no one could take the picture out of the zine and use it as an actual artwork? I see no reason why the explanation couldn't have been put at the bottom of the picture. The blurt) informs us that the picture was inspired by the story "Spindrift" by Judy. I have no clue who Judy is nor have I read the story. Obviously by looking at the "uniform" Spock is wearing (what little he is wearing) the ship that he is Captain of must be a very interesting ship. I sure he has no shortage of men and women signing up to serve under him. This is one handsome sexy looking Spock, who is rather similar to the picture on p. 84 a, but I think is more powerful and dynamic looking in this pose." [5]
from Otherwhere/Otherwhen, artist is Marilyn Cole -- "A gorgeous Spock fantasy warrior nude on the front. It's the type that lingers in your memory. Spock is sexy and muscular as usual. This picture is different because of all the flowing curves. The sword curves, his cape curves, his buns curve (of course), and his hair curves and flows. I think this is one of Cole's better works. I would like to own it... even though I couldn't display it." [6]
from "Scattered Stars" #7, artist is Deeb -- "Beautiful representations of Spock and Kirk as Pre-Reform warriors. I love the simple, bold lines. It must be very difficult for one artist to work in the style of another, yet this is what DEW has done to create a Kirk that matches Deeb's Spock. Excellent! And thanks to Robin for the hand-coloring. Exceptional covers." [7]
from The Price of Freedom, artist is Southern Cross -- in this piece, Spock's hair is long due to ill-treatment and neglect
the back cover of Naked Times #13, the artist is Chris Soto -- Yet on the back cover, he is far more glorious, with his long hair streaming. Stars and planets also stream from his open hand whose fingers are splayed in the Vulcan sign of greeting. He is obviously the deity Krebeshra, who reigned over the kingdom of the stars in the same legend I cited from "The First Level of Hell". [8]
from "Charisma" #4, also used as interior art in Daring Attempt #7, artist is Dragon -- "The front cover illo by Dragon of Spock was lovely. Spock was smiling but not unnaturally. I think it's hard to do a smiling Spock without making it look goofy." <ref> from The LOC Connection #42
front cover of Daring Attempt #6, artist is Chris Soto -- "As usual, this picture is gorgeous! I love her delicate touch, the fine detail, symmetry. I would know her work now anywhere, it is so distinctive. I keep wondering how fandom holds onto her! Her work surpasses many of the professional artists I've seen in pro books and magazines, and they are making lots of money! Thanks, Chris, your contribution to fandom is breathtaking." [9]
back cover of Crossroads, artist is Chris Soto -- "This isn't just another long-haired Spock on Vulcan. He is contemplating a fragment of an IDIC medallion with a jagged edge. The composition is excellent. The whiteness of the IDIC fragment stands out against the blackness of Spock's hair and robe. Yet it is the symbolism of the broken IDIC that most interests me. Spock couldn't practice IDIC in its completeness on Vulcan—any more than he himself could be a whole person there. This is very appropriate to the theme of the novel that Chris is illustrating. [10]
from Charisma #13, artist is Marilyn Cole -- "Striking and dynamic, this long-haired Spock resonates with power. Beautifully rendered braids sweep across the page framed by a mysterious structure made of bone. The hair is lustrous and drawn to perfection. Wow!" [11]
back cover of Book of Prophecy by Maggie Symon -- "I especially liked the drawing of Spock on the back cover. This picture has since been produced on T-shirts... and notecards." [12]
from T'hy'la #10, artist is Marilyn Cole
from IDIC #5, artist is Alice Jones (gen, Spock's hair isn't so much long as a bit shaggy)
from Scattered Stars #10, artist is Pat Horowitz
front cover of Scattered Stars #8, artist is Chris Soto
from The Price and The Prize, artist is Gayle F
from Daring Attempt #6, artist is Shellie Whild
from Naked Times #26, artist is Dragon
from Naked Times #19, artist is Dragon
from Naked Times #17, artist is Jackie Zoost
from K/S & K.S. (Kindred Spirits), artist is unknown
from Impact, the artist is MC
from Daring Attempt #6, artist is Jacqueline Zoost
from First Time Calendar, also the back cover of First Time #15, the artist is Chris Soto
from First Time Calendar, also the back cover of First Time #20, the artist is Chris Soto
from "Daring Attempt" #9, the artist is Shellie Whild
the front cover of First Time #19, the artist is Marilyn Cole
from Charisma #1, artist is Marilyn Cole
from A Collection of Dreams, artist is Chris Soto
Fanfiction Examples
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
References
- ^ from Dribbling Scribbling Women: The History of Our Art
- ^ from The LOC Connection #47
- ^ from a fan in The K/S Press #29
- ^ from The K/S Press #21
- ^ from The K/S Press #52
- ^ from The LOC Connection #39
- ^ from Come Together #25
- ^ from The LOC Connection #10
- ^ from The LOC Connection #9
- ^ from The LOC Connection #18
- ^ from The LOC Connection #57
- ^ from IDIC #42