Telltale Games

ATMachine · 03/15/2012, 03:43 pm

Back in the low-res days of KQ1 and KQ2, the art in game manuals and on the box covers provided a better look at video game characters than anything the actual games could include. So naturally, Sierra's earliest KQ manuals were illustrated...

A vision of Graham appears in the Magic Mirror, KQ1 manual

Graham sees Valanice in the Mirror, KQ2 manual

...and according to their pictures, King Graham had a mustache. Wow.

However, believe it or not, Graham's upper lip hair actually seems to be drawn from fairy-tale illustrations--and one particular source.

Namely, that venerable Victorian fairy tale collection, Andrew Lang's Green Fairy Book. (Out of which Roberta fished, among other things, the names Lolotte, Genesta, Rosella, and Valanice, the three-headed dragon that feeds on tasty princesses, and the magical white snake which when eaten allows speech with animals.)

The original editions of Lang's Fairy Books (he wrote 12 in all, each with a different color in the title) were illustrated by Henry Justice Ford. Ford's illustrations in the early volumes (including the Green Fairy Book) are quite notable for the magnificent mustaches sported by the heroes in these stories.

Examples of this mustached-hero tradition from the Green Fairy Book:

King Kojata

Prince Vivien and Princess Placida

The Little Soldier

Prince Narcissus and Princess Potentilla

Other examples of heroic mustaches from HJ Ford's illustrations for Andrew Lang fairy tale books:

Bushy Bride, Red Fairy Book

Graciosa and Percinet, Red Fairy Book

The Master-Maid, Blue Fairy Book

The Gold-Spinners, Blue Fairy Book

The Iron Stove, Yellow Fairy Book

The Princess in the Chest, Pink Fairy Book

So what should we make of this? Quite possibly Roberta liked the vintage Victorian HJ Ford illustrations in Lang's books and asked artists at Sierra to copy their style for the KQ manual drawings. And it seems this extended to Graham having facial hair.

Of course, the KQ1 re-release box cover turned Graham into Prince Valiant with a mullet. But that's another story.

*Irishmile* · 03/15/2012, 03:48 pm

Game box and booklet art in the 80's was often times pretty horrible..

Thanks for putting this thread together.

Mustaches were pretty fashionable in the 80s as well with many popular actors of the day sporting them.. Heck I would have too if I wasn't under the age of ten at the time.

Blackthorne519 · 03/15/2012, 05:51 pm

King Graham was a hipster before it was cool.

Bt

MusicallyInspired · 03/15/2012, 09:20 pm

I like him better without the stache myself. But I don't really like stache's at all anyway.

Anakin Skywalker · 03/16/2012, 07:03 am

If it's the choice between a mullet headed cleanshaven Graham, or a normal long haired Graham with a mustache, I think the mustachioed Graham is a better choice.

BagginsKQ · 03/16/2012, 05:04 pm

Mario and Luigi have epic staches...

Then there is this guy (who could be a real-life adventure game character...);

BagginsKQ · 03/17/2012, 10:57 am

I don't get it... Isn't that a bit redundant. I already pointed out it was a screentest... Have you cracked musically?!

Hmm, btw the earliest artwork for king 'Grahame' in the first release manual for KQ1 had him mustache-less and looking like a character from Rocky and Bullwinkle

Emily · 03/18/2012, 03:57 pm

Back on topic?

I can't find a picture of it, but Alexander has a mysterious mustache in the intro of KQ4. It always creeped me out.

*Irishmile* · 03/18/2012, 04:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emily

Back on topic?

I can't find a picture of it, but Alexander has a mysterious mustache in the intro of KQ4. It always creeped me out.

Moved the Tom Selleck as Indy discussion here

I think its supposed to be a frown (I took this screen from the 15th anniversary CD-ROM)

MusicallyInspired · 03/18/2012, 09:09 pm

Yeah, I always took it as a frown too. lol But you're right, looking at it from that perspective makes him look like a prudish frenchman or something lol. Quite creepy!

Now I can't unsee it!

BagginsKQ · 03/18/2012, 11:20 pm

Look closely, it looks like he has purple mascara just above his eyes, LOL.

Just an optical illusion of the black pixels next to the blue pixels though... and probably all the other purple in the screen...

Debbie82 · 03/19/2012, 08:23 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishmile

Moved the Tom Selleck as Indy discussion here

I think its supposed to be a frown (I took this screen from the 15th anniversary CD-ROM)

Um, is that Graham getting sick in bed, or is he... *gulp* dead?

Emily · 03/19/2012, 09:33 am

If that's a frown, he has a HUGE chin!

There's a little red dot under the "mustache" that I think is his mouth. Also everyone else has a red mouth, including Graham.

(Although I'll admit it is a bit far from his nose to be a mustache...)

thesporkman · 03/19/2012, 01:44 pm

The red dot is the shadow cast by his lower lip.

*Irishmile* · 03/19/2012, 01:47 pm

the ladies lips have black as well... if you look close.

MusicallyInspired · 03/19/2012, 02:31 pm

@Debbie. Graham is sick. This is a shot from the introduction sequence of KQ4 and is the whole premise of the story.

That is indeed his mouth and not a moustache. Take a look at the ending sequence when he's smiling. His upper lip is in the same spot as the "moustache".

Debbie82 · 03/19/2012, 07:15 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MusicallyInspired

@Debbie. Graham is sick. This is a shot from the introduction sequence of KQ4 and is the whole premise of the story.

That is indeed his mouth and not a moustache. Take a look at the ending sequence when he's smiling. His upper lip is in the same spot as the "moustache".

Ah! As far as I can see, King Swayze (as Paw Dugan would call Graham) just keeps getting better and better!

BagginsKQ · 03/20/2012, 07:31 am

Graham had a heart attack at the beginning of KQ4 to be more precise...

Blackthorne519 · 03/20/2012, 11:44 am

So it must have been a super cholesterol reducing, valve repairing, blockage removing fruit then..... interesting.

Bt

BagginsKQ · 03/20/2012, 01:15 pm

Lol

03/15/2012, 03:43 pm	#1
ATMachine Forbidden Power! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 408	King Graham's mustache Back in the low-res days of KQ1 and KQ2, the art in game manuals and on the box covers provided a better look at video game characters than anything the actual games could include. So naturally, Sierra's earliest KQ manuals were illustrated... A vision of Graham appears in the Magic Mirror, KQ1 manual Graham sees Valanice in the Mirror, KQ2 manual ...and according to their pictures, King Graham had a mustache. Wow. However, believe it or not, Graham's upper lip hair actually seems to be drawn from fairy-tale illustrations--and one particular source. Namely, that venerable Victorian fairy tale collection, Andrew Lang's Green Fairy Book. (Out of which Roberta fished, among other things, the names Lolotte, Genesta, Rosella, and Valanice, the three-headed dragon that feeds on tasty princesses, and the magical white snake which when eaten allows speech with animals.) The original editions of Lang's Fairy Books (he wrote 12 in all, each with a different color in the title) were illustrated by Henry Justice Ford. Ford's illustrations in the early volumes (including the Green Fairy Book) are quite notable for the magnificent mustaches sported by the heroes in these stories. Examples of this mustached-hero tradition from the Green Fairy Book: King Kojata Prince Vivien and Princess Placida The Little Soldier Prince Narcissus and Princess Potentilla Other examples of heroic mustaches from HJ Ford's illustrations for Andrew Lang fairy tale books: Bushy Bride, Red Fairy Book Graciosa and Percinet, Red Fairy Book The Master-Maid, Blue Fairy Book The Gold-Spinners, Blue Fairy Book The Iron Stove, Yellow Fairy Book The Princess in the Chest, Pink Fairy Book So what should we make of this? Quite possibly Roberta liked the vintage Victorian HJ Ford illustrations in Lang's books and asked artists at Sierra to copy their style for the KQ manual drawings. And it seems this extended to Graham having facial hair. Of course, the KQ1 re-release box cover turned Graham into Prince Valiant with a mullet. But that's another story. Last edited by ATMachine; 03/15/2012 at 03:50 pm. Reason: added example from The Pink Fairy Book

03/15/2012, 03:48 pm	#2
Irishmile The Skipping Dead Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WI, its a paradise 3 months of the year Posts: 6,542	Game box and booklet art in the 80's was often times pretty horrible.. Thanks for putting this thread together. Mustaches were pretty fashionable in the 80s as well with many popular actors of the day sporting them.. Heck I would have too if I wasn't under the age of ten at the time. __________________ unholy THIS! I am a community moderator, here to assist, keep the peace, and keep these boards clean and friendly for all. I am a volunteer, and not a Telltale employee, and my opinions are my own. Last edited by Irishmile; 03/15/2012 at 03:52 pm.

03/17/2012, 10:57 am	#7
BagginsKQ Yes, Fact, it is KQ8... Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,099	I don't get it... Isn't that a bit redundant. I already pointed out it was a screentest... Have you cracked musically?! Hmm, btw the earliest artwork for king 'Grahame' in the first release manual for KQ1 had him mustache-less and looking like a character from Rocky and Bullwinkle Last edited by BagginsKQ; 03/17/2012 at 12:07 pm.

03/18/2012, 11:20 pm	#11
BagginsKQ Yes, Fact, it is KQ8... Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,099	Look closely, it looks like he has purple mascara just above his eyes, LOL. Just an optical illusion of the black pixels next to the blue pixels though... and probably all the other purple in the screen... Last edited by BagginsKQ; 03/18/2012 at 11:23 pm.

03/19/2012, 01:47 pm	#15
Irishmile The Skipping Dead Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WI, its a paradise 3 months of the year Posts: 6,542	the ladies lips have black as well... if you look close. __________________ unholy THIS! I am a community moderator, here to assist, keep the peace, and keep these boards clean and friendly for all. I am a volunteer, and not a Telltale employee, and my opinions are my own.

03/15/2012, 05:51 pm	#3
Blackthorne519 Banned Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New York Posts: 339	King Graham was a hipster before it was cool. Bt

03/16/2012, 07:03 am	#5
Anakin Skywalker Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 609	If it's the choice between a mullet headed cleanshaven Graham, or a normal long haired Graham with a mustache, I think the mustachioed Graham is a better choice.

03/16/2012, 05:04 pm	#6
BagginsKQ Yes, Fact, it is KQ8... Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,099	Mario and Luigi have epic staches... Then there is this guy (who could be a real-life adventure game character...);

03/18/2012, 03:57 pm	#8
Emily Formerly of the Telltale Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,549	Back on topic? I can't find a picture of it, but Alexander has a mysterious mustache in the intro of KQ4. It always creeped me out.

03/19/2012, 09:33 am	#13
Emily Formerly of the Telltale Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,549	If that's a frown, he has a HUGE chin! There's a little red dot under the "mustache" that I think is his mouth. Also everyone else has a red mouth, including Graham. (Although I'll admit it is a bit far from his nose to be a mustache...)

03/19/2012, 01:44 pm	#14
thesporkman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 961	The red dot is the shadow cast by his lower lip.

03/20/2012, 07:31 am	#18
BagginsKQ Yes, Fact, it is KQ8... Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,099	Graham had a heart attack at the beginning of KQ4 to be more precise...

03/20/2012, 11:44 am	#19
Blackthorne519 Banned Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New York Posts: 339	So it must have been a super cholesterol reducing, valve repairing, blockage removing fruit then..... interesting. Bt

03/20/2012, 01:15 pm	#20
BagginsKQ Yes, Fact, it is KQ8... Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,099	Lol

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