Marilyn Cole

Fan
Name:	Marilyn Cole
Alias(es):
Type:	artist
Fandoms:	Star Trek & The Professionals
Communities:
Other:
URL:
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Marilyn Cole is a fan artist who has been illustrating fanzines since the 1980s.

She has also written fan fiction which has been published in print fanzines.

Red Doyle (Professionals AU)

Spock from T hy'la #10

In 1974 I discovered Star Trek fandom. Back in those long ago days, the only way to track down a convention was to go to a local bookstore and hope a fan left some flyers. Since I traveled throughout the US in my career, fandom became my lifeline of friendship. No matter what city I was in, I could say the code word “Star Trek” to someone and if they knew what I was talking about we were instant friends. I had always loved to draw so it was natural to start drawing Kirk and Spock. As I discovered more fandoms, I discovered more friends; and life on the road became even more pleasant and joyous.

Inspiration

Marilyn Cole has inspired a number of other fanartists. One of them, Shelley Butler wrote in 2007:

I was so blown away by [K/S art]. I loved it all, although I had my favorites. One of the very first covers I ever saw was a Marilyn C. showing a winged Spock lying at the bottom of a cliff with a waterfall.

[...]

I thought that was the most amazing thing I had ever seen and I’d stare at it endlessly.” Oh, how that takes me back to my own early fannish days and how I was so fascinated by drawings of Kirk and Spock, how I’d stare at them, think about them, dream about them — sigh!

From the 2007 article/interview Scribbling Women: Artists Talk Back

What inspired you to draw K/S?: Marilyn C. tells one of those lovely stories of co-incidence so common in fandom.

“As an ecdysiast I traveled a lot. Star Trek fandom provided a home no matter where I went. I’d search the phone books and the bookstores in each town for anything related to sci-fi or Star Trek. Wherever I went, I could find a Star Trek fan. In Berkeley, in 1971, on Telegraph Ave, I found a little store devoted to Star Trek. But it was in the bookstore across the street that I saw a flyer for a Star Trek con in San Francisco. A convention!! My first one ever! Five thousand of my closest friends were going to be there! So I went to Bay Con and there I saw my first K/S zine. ‘What is this?’ I cried. ‘They do what together? Wow!’” I think we get the picture!

Had you seen other K/S art when you drew your first K/S picture?:

“All artists in fandom influenced me. There was always some little insight that would inspire me. Artists outside fandom influenced me too, indeed some of my favorites were Whelan, Donato, Edward Gordon, Rowena, and all the Pre-Raphaelites.” Marilyn, I love the Pre-Raphaelites too, I actually did a project at university tracing the history of Sci-Fi illustration from the Pre- Raphaelites to K/S! I don’t think I convinced anyone except myself!

What kind of things do you try to express in your art? Beauty? Sexiness? A good likeness?:

“… for fandom, a good likeness seems to be the most important thing. Then I try to portray the emotions of the story. When I am asked to do commissions I talk with the writer/editor and try to understand what they saw in their hearts and bring their vision to reality.”

Do you draw from your mind’s eye or do you use some kind of source material?:

“...my husband at the time was a body builder and he posed for most of my illos.” Now I’ll bet you didn’t know that! So now we know where Marilyn’s Kirk and Spock got their muscles from. Thank you, Mr. Husband, wherever you are!

Were you conscious of the difficulties of reproduction which choosing a medium?

Marilyn shudders at the mention of reproduction! “What a horror that was back in the dark ages,” she exclaims, “remember, no PCs, no internet, no email, no cell phones. Color was expensive to reproduce, so most illos were done in black and white. I drew on coquille board which had an imbedded pattern in the paper. This enabled me to render the shadows in a way that would print nicely. I used black wax based pencils, since graphite in an ordinary pencil would reflect back in the Xerox machine. I remember when the scanner was first introduced. ‘Wow. What will they think of next?’”

What is your favourite medium?:

Marilyn C. experimented with several media, exploring other possibilities because of physical limitations. She explains, “I was injured in a car accident in 1987 and spent many years recuperating. I had limited movement during this time so I used pencils because there was no mess and no clean up. They were easy to hold while I supported my arms on pillows. I loved creating tiny details, it became meditative, easing the pain in my body a little. After a few years, when I could sit up for longer periods of time, I tried acrylics. But since I still moved slowly, they dried too fast. I switched to oils but they took so long to dry, I’d have to let a picture sit for a few days before I could work on it again. I’d start another picture then forget what I had been doing on the first. Then I found alkoids and loved them, they had the perfect drying time. But then American stores stopped carrying them and it was too time consuming and expensive to order them from Europe. (Remember: no internet, no cell phones, etc.) So I went back to pencils and I still paint in a combination of watercolor and pencil.”

A Writer as Well

While Marilyn is perhaps best know for her artwork, her fan fiction contributions have also been favorably received. In a 1986 review of her story "Seed of the Triad," one fan said:

The best story for me in this zine was done by Marilyn Cole. Not only does she do wonderful artwork (you can see this all through the zine (Greater California K/S) but she writes as well. "Seed of the Triad" was touching, moving, well-written, well-edited, original and intense. An alien is put into the position of being the 'third.' We are offered some interesting Vulcan philosophical ideas as well as some highly erotic encounters. This is a must read done by quite a talent.

Sample Fiction

• Seed of the Triad ("When Kirk and Spock beam down to an arctic planet, Spockʼs telepathic abilities accidentally kill the male of the last of his species but with Kirkʼs help is able to take his place is creating a "child" with the last female.") (1985)
• Validity of Friendship ("Arica, a young Klingon-Human hybrid captures Spock. She wants Spock to mind-meld with her to help integrate her two halves. It is a dangerous procedure and Spock would never attempt it willingly, but Arica has McCoy as her prisoner.") (1984)

Star Trek Zine Contributions

• Alien Brothers
• As I Do Thee
• California K/S
• Charisma
• Crossroads
• Daring Attempt
• Fever
• The Fifth Hour of Night
• First Time
• Matter/Antimatter
• More Missions, More Myths
• Naked Times
• Off Duty
• Otherwhere/Otherwhen
• Styx and Stones
• T'hy'la
• Vault of Tomorrow

Other Fandom Zine Contributions

• Abode of the Beast
• Dyad
• No Holds Barred
• Prisoners of the Night
• Resistance
• Tales from the Tapestry

Sample Art: A Real Fan Pleaser

• 

  "Vincent in Chains of Gold," on the cover of Abode of the Beast #1 (1989, the beginning of the ferocious Beauty and the Beast Wars) -- Cole used Spock in exactly the same pose for Otherwhere/Otherwhen #1 in 1990)

• 

  this image of naked Vincent Wells in chains and inscribed "Victim of CBS Beast Abuse" also on a Beauty and the Beast T-Shirt, see Victim of CBS Beast Abuse

• 

  cover of Otherwhere/Otherwhen #1 -- "Wow, what a beautiful Spock! Let me unchain him...." See many more fan comments about this art.

Sample Art: Star Trek

1984

• 

  from T'hy'la #4 -- "I also really like a new artist: Marilyn Cole; she's imaginative & really good."

• 

  from the gen zine, Vault of Tomorrow #6

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  from the gen zine, Vault of Tomorrow #6

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  from the gen zine, Vault of Tomorrow #6

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  from the gen zine, Vault of Tomorrow #6

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  from the gen zine, Vault of Tomorrow #6

• 

  from California K/S #1 for the story Beyond the Barrier

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  from California K/S #1 for the story Beyond the Barrier

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  from California K/S #1 for the story Beyond the Barrier

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  from California K/S #1 for the story Beyond the Barrier, portrays a Caitian

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  from T'hy'la #4

1985

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  from T'hy'la #5 for the story, The Matchmaker by Janet Alyx (a pseud for Joanna Russ)

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  from T'hy'la #5 for the story, The Matchmaker

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  from T'hy'la #6

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  from Naked Times #8

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  from California K/S #2 for the story Seed of the Triad

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  from California K/S #2, titled "Prince of Darkness"

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  from Daring Attempt #5 - used as the inspiration for the writing contest in "Daring Attempt" #6 -- "This is the illo that started it all. Because of this, which was the cover to DA5, DA6 looks like, well, this. Thanks, Marilyn, for such wonderful inspiration. The eight stories for the contest were all inspired by this long-haired Spock and friend."

• 

  from Daring Attempt #4

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  from Matter/Antimatter #5

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  from the gen zine, More Missions, More Myths #2

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  from the gen zine, More Missions, More Myths #3

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  from As I Do Thee #3 for the story What We Have Written -- "Marilyn Cole's art is gentle and polished as benefits a zine that wishes to produce no undue violence, rape or mayhem."

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  from As I Do Thee, for the story A Kirk by Any Other Name, Kirk becomes a woman

• 

  from First Time #4

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  from First Time #4 -- The lirpa Spock is holding and the coffin-shaped gong in the background are from the TOS episode "Amok Time."
  
  "Wonderful! Ms. Cole's art is striking and, once again, slavish and exciting."

1986

• 

  from Naked Times #12 -- Originally, the front cover of this zine was to be a different piece by Marilyn Cole, but a mix-up at the post office dictated otherwise. -- "... a cover by Marilyn Cole which is certain to get the attention of even the most thick-skinned person out there. The tenderness shown in this "winged-Spock" illustration grabbed my attention and prepared me for the good reading I was to find inside this zine."

• 

  from First Time #5

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  from Daring Attempt #4, page 64 -- "An extremely provocative portrait of Kirk in fully unzipped sickbay coveralls. A very well-endowed Kirk -- not quite fully revealed, but most suggestive and erotic! The more you look the more your blood pressure rises! Tempting might be a word for it. Sexy definitely is. This what you maybe call a line drawing, but both face and body are accurate and convey their message very well."

• 

  cover of Naked Times #11 -- "Eons ago, some of us had t-shirts with this drawing on them. They said "Beat me up, Scotty"! Quite the crowd pleasers!"

• 

  cover of Still More California K/S

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  front cover of As I Do Thee #5, "The Strength Behind Arthur" (a topic: Arthurian Legend)

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  artwork from First Time #5

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  cover of The Fifth Hour of Night -- "The price of the zine in nearly worth the cover alone."

• 

  from As I Do Thee #4 - "I can't get enough of this gorgeous, half-naked, wistful-eyed Kirk. He's there to illustrate a poem of Natasha Solten's, "Silent Pose." He is posed to dress/yet frozen/caught in some memory/lost to years, and the silence/of his thoughts/..." And Marilyn Cole has caught that look exactly: Kirk is seated, a sheet casual thrown over his naked lower body, shoulders slightly lumped, his whole posture and features expressing loneliness and longing, Yet, at the same time, the lovingly detailed muscular chest and arms give him a look of strong-willed strength and, need I say it, sexiness. Especially since the sheet doesn't so much conceal as draw attention to a certain part of his lover body... (After all, concealment is what sexiness is all about, no?)"

1987

• 

  from Alien Brothers -- "Marilyn Cole's Spock on page 240 is clearly the best work in the zine, for my taste."

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  cover of Charisma #1, reprinted as interior art in Charisma #11 - "We start with a really awful cover (Marilyn Cole). One of the ‘logic never happened!!’ Vulcans of Gor AU things, with a bare-chest nipple-pastie armor deal. If I were an archeologist, I’d conclude that in the past, people never experienced embarrassment. Spock’s expression indicates he’s been smacked in the face with something heavy moments before."

• 

  cover of Styx and Stones -- "This is the cover which was originally supposed to be on NAKED TIMES #12 — the cover which managed to get lost in the mail for over 2 weeks, and gave both Marilyn and I a minor coronary arrest. Marilyn was kind enough to do another cover for NAKED TIMES #12 (the beautiful Winged Spock/Fallen Kirk); thus, I became inspired to write STYX AND STONES. Again, Marilyn, thanks."
  
  "I ran into it at a convention and saw Marilyn Cole's beautiful cover (a pencil rendering of Spock with wings & wearing nothing but a loin-cloth!), I was compelled to buy it, if for nothing but the cover.... I could just see Spock preening those beautiful wings Ms. Cole depicted on the cover, and I found myself sniffing with happiness..."

1988

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  "Sorcerer Spock" - art used for the front cover of Naked Times #18

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  from Matter/Antimatter #6 (was also used as back cover for Matter/Antimatter #7 -- titled "Jungle Jim"

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  from Matter/Antimatter #6 -- titled "Pharoah"

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  from Matter/Antimatter #6 -- titled "Spock Robin" -- "Now, if I were Marilyn Cole, I would sue. Who would take a beautiful, long-haired Spock, pulling a bow and arrow, and have the audacity to give it the title of "Spock Robin"?"

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  from Crossroads, portrays Spock and an original character named Michael

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  from Crossroads, portrays Kirk and Spock

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  from First Time #19 -- "We must mention Marilyn Cole for her lovely covers. I've held off a while in using these since I didn't want you to get confused with some of the other zines she frequently works with. But since she's cut back on her artwork lately and you won't see as much.... I had this idea and well, you know. Here they are anyway. Aren't they... intreguing? [sic]. Okay, So TELL HER SO!!"

• 

  from Naked Times #22, for the story Spellbinder, was originally used as the front cover of Off Duty #1 a few months previously

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  from Off Duty #1 -- "Marilyn Cole's front cover is erotic and sensitive, quickly foretelling what awaits the reader between the covers."

1989

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  cover of Fever #1

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  original art used as the back cover of Fever #1

1990

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  from Otherwhere/Otherwhen #1 -- "Wow, what a beautiful Spock! Let me unchain him...."
  
  "Stunning long-haired slave Spock, beautifully rendered in pen and ink(maybe some pencil). Sexy and provocative with really excellent musculature and shading. Very imaginative chains adorned with jewels. I love the dark, come-hither look on Spock's face. Very good printing on heavy, glossy paper."
  
  "This gorgeous cover of a kneeling, bejeweled Spock is famous among all K/Sers who have gazed upon this sensuous long-haired Vulcan, resplendent in his jeweled accouterments that are deceivingly chains of a prisoner."
  
  "...The size of this resolution does NOT do justice to the power and the beauty of this illo...everytime I look at it, something comes over me, I swear. For one thing, Cole has seamlessly reproduced Nimoy's face...I'm not kidding, it's virtually a photographic simulacrum...and those chains draping Spock's muscular form...it's like a dream . A WONDERFUL dream....always love artwork for slavefic/AU stories, even if slavefic is not a particularly strong draw for me, personally...but the art sure as heck is!"

• 

  from First Time #27 -- The front and back covers illustrate the story, "A Wing and a Prayer." -- "Marilyn and I see eye to eye on the way a man's body should look, especially as long as you're dreaming and can have everything you want. Although, come to think of it, with the model she uses, she doesn't have to do much dreaming or compromising. She does a mighty fine horse."

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  from First Time #27 -- "... for those of you who haven't already seen FT 27's covers, they are wonderful. Spock on Pegasus i.e. Kirk reflects the power and energy of both rider and horse."

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  from Matter/Antimatter #9

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  from Matter/Antimatter #9

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  from Matter/Antimatter #9

1991

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  from Matter/Antimatter #9

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  from Matter/Antimatter #9

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  from Matter/Antimatter #9

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  cover of Naked Times #28

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  front cover for T'hy'la #10 -- "Splendidly barbaric. I have a fondness for her long haired Spocks. Indeed, I have a fondness for her particular style of art, period. A Spock standing with arms wide outstretched, long hair blowing backwards, behind to the right and left serpents writhe. And as always, the musculature of the subject is perfect. Everything is painstakingly detailed from the armbands to the scales on the serpents. Though it is a pencil drawing, the way line and shadow flow over rippling muscles so smoothly and naturally, gives the impression of its being a painting. This is a Spock of mythical proportions, a young sensual god filled with power and majesty. It brought to mind leashed lightning waiting to strike. A magical piece of work. May Marilyn draw long and prosper." --

• 

  cover of Charisma #13 - "I want more. Cole's #13 cover is super. Spock's hair is very ornate."
  
  "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!"
  The publisher's note in the zine tells readers that this illustration of Spock with "oodles of hair" was available for purchase from the artist.

1992

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  color artwork used for cover of Otherwhere/Otherwhen #2

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  the actual cover of Otherwhere/Otherwhen #2 -- "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." -- This illo was also included in The K/S Art Project

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  back cover for T'hy'la #11: "Slave to the Sword"

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  artwork used for the cover of Naked Times #11

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  front cover for T'hy'la #12 (when laid flat the front and back covers merge to form a panoramic view of Spock spinning a web around Kirk) -- "Magnificent wrap-around cover showing Kirk enmeshed in a net spun from Spock's fingers. Beautifully done body

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  back cover for T'hy'la #12 -- "Spock on the back throwing a web to capture Kirk on the front. I loved that it was done this way as when one turns the zine over, either the reason for the web (Spock), or the result of the web (Kirk) is revealed. It creates a nice surprise. Absolutely wonderful rendition. Imaginative, unusual, beautifully done, as always, by a fabulous artist."

1994

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  from Matter/Antimatter #11

Portfolio

• 

  from an art portfolio

Sample Art: Beauty and the Beast

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  from Tales from the Tapestry #1 (1990)

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  from Tales from the Tapestry #2 (1990)

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  from Tales from the Tapestry #3 (1991)

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  from Abode of the Beast (1989), see more about this crowd pleaser

Sample Art: The Professionals

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  "Red Doyle"

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  cover of No Holds Barred #4, titled "Peek-A-Bodie"

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  cover of No Holds Barred #10 (1995) -- "There's a colour cover by Marilyn Cole of two men kissing; they don't look anything like Bodie or Doyle to me, but YMMV."

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  cover of Dyad #15 -- winner of a Huggy Award in 1996.
  
  From the zine: "Oi, Bodie! 'S me, Ray. You'd best be getting ready Sunshine. And if you went and got that bloody RoboCop costume after us rowing about it...well, you'd just better not have. By the way, Murph dropped by me flat on his way home with another stack of codes. Do us a favor and do my share for me, huh? I'll be over a bit early so's you have time before the party. Ta, mate."
  
  A fan in 2010 said: "A futuristic Bodie, again it begs you to find the story it goes to. And the eyes ... ahhhh."

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  pencil sketch, Bodie The Professionals, used in No Holds Barred #2 (1992)

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  Roll Me Over In The Clover, colored pencil, Doyle The Professionals

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  The Grass Is Always Greener, colored pencil, Bodie The Professionals

Sample Art: Man from UNCLE

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  cover of Dyad #1 (Man from UNCLE) (1989)

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  from Dyad #1 (Man from UNCLE) (1989)

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  from Dyad #1 (Man from UNCLE) (1989)

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  from Dyad #2 (Man from UNCLE) (1989) -- "The other 3 pictures by Marilyn Cole are all very stylized and not really to my taste, but I can tell who they are. (Never underestimate this!)"

Sample Art: Other Fandoms

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  from California K/S, commentary on the 1986 NASA shuttle explosion (1986)

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  cover of Resistance #3 (Blake's 7)

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  from Dyad #2 (Man from UNCLE), portrays Corrigan from T.J. Hooker (1989)

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  from Prisoners of the Night #6 (1992) (vampires)

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  cover of Prisoners of the Night #2 (vampires)

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  cover of Prisoners of the Night #4 (vampires)

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  cover of Prisoners of the Night #7: "Come to My Parlor" (vampires)

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  colored pencil sketch of Dorian, Eroica