Ron Cobb

Ron Cobb (1937-2020) was an American cartoonist, artist, writer, film designer, and film director. He is best known for his editorial cartoons published in the Los Angeles Free Press and other underground newspapers during the Vietnam War era, as well as his influential conceptual designs for science fiction films such as Dark Star (1974), Alien (1979), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Conan the Barbarian (1982), Back to the Future (1985), Aliens (1986), The Abyss (1989), Total Recall (1990), and True Lies (1994).

Cobb's distinctive art style, characterized by its detailed rendering, socio-political commentary, and often darkly humorous tone, established him as a significant figure in both underground comics and Hollywood production design. He was particularly adept at creating believable and functional future technologies and environments, contributing significantly to the aesthetic of many classic science fiction films.

Beyond his design work, Cobb also directed the film Garbo (1981) and co-wrote the screenplay for Conan the Barbarian. He also contributed story ideas to films such as Leviathan (1989). Cobb's work often reflected his environmental and political concerns. He designed the "Ecology" symbol, a combination of the letters "E" and "O" representing "environment" and "organism", which became widely used during the environmental movement of the 1970s. His artistic output encompassed a broad range of mediums and genres, leaving a lasting impact on popular culture.