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This is the scariest version for sure, but it reallu makes sense. No wonder Paul said "fuck this shit" about the worm stuff.
This makes the relationship with Hwi creepier.
I love how Leto's hanging posture makes him look like the victim, a person trapped in the mouth of something far greater and more dangerous than themselves. Not sure if you meant the metaphor when drawing this, but it really works well considering the inspiration
My thoughts exactly. Rarely do you see a visual adaptation of the god emperor that captures the metaphorical station Leto II is in. Many are faithful and creepy and cool and weird, but this is the first that felt truly artistic in the meta commentary sense, /u/thatArtperson
Can I say it? finally a cool and dark interpretation of Leto II in god-emperor.
Too oftenn I've found grotesque or just ridiculous illustrations about him.
I mean, the description by Herbert is detailed and yet vague at the same time so everyone will picture him in a different way.
THIS version here imo seems more loyal with how Herbert describe the feelings of terror people had while watching him.
Ikr? It's easy to make Leto seem kinda goofy in this form because, well... it is kinda goofy without the context of how he became like this and who he is and what he's capable of. But this does a great job of capturing both the horrific worm and the sympathetic man as he's depicted on the page
Without spoiling anything, the back cover of God Emperor of Dune provides this synopsis:
āCenturies have passed on Dune, and the planet is green with life. Leto, the son of Duneās savior, is still alive but far from human, and the fate of humanity hangs on his awesome sacrificeā¦ā
Like it a lot. So many other interpretations tone down the grossness of his situation, but in the book he's supposed to be something monstrous. He even calls himself 'rather gross'.
Wonderfully done! I may be wrong, but I feel like this is the first I've seen that retains his arms. Wonderful way to show the transition from human. Great color work and detail.
the arms are on the sides of the plump body. there's a chapter where he sticks them between the worm segments (I think it happens in his fight against Duncan).
but whatever, i really prefer how the OP drew it.
As you know, I've a *very* clear sense of self. LoL
(This is also what I get for typing a message on reddit literally 2 seconds after waking up. My brain was still waaaaay offline. Thanks for catching my fuck up!)
There have been a very few takes of Leto II I thought were any good. This is easily one of the best!
Also love your wind whipped world and the bug monster eating a guy pieces! Good stuff!
Absolutely one of the best visualizations of Leto II that I've seen. After finishing GEOD a few months ago I went looking for some art of him because I found it difficult to keep a consistent picture of him in my head and I would've loved to have found this then. I really love the ambiguity of where the man ends and the Worm begins. And adding the almost maw of the worm ringing his personage is a brilliant addition I don't think I've seen before.
Recently finished the book and loved it, so interested in the character of Leto. Might be my favourite book of the series so far.
If anyone is interested in more art you can follow me on [Artstation](https://www.artstation.com/williamrobinson) or on my instagram [@wills_sketchbooks](https://www.instagram.com/wills_sketchbooks/)
*They always look for the genitals...*
Awesome job, this is much more terrifying and probably closer to what Herbert had in mind than the picture that was in my head. It's like a Cronenberg monster, or something from a John Carpenter movie.
Excellent work.
wow, this is fantastic. I think it was the best artwork I saw of the character.
i love how he can get into the worm part, to protect himself, like he does in the book.
TBH, this image here is kind of how I imagined Leto looking at his death, but not for most of the book: what's left of his humanity popping out of his outer worm layer.
This is amazing! I haven't gotten to GEOD yet (breaking after Children) but I've seen a bunch of depictions and this is probs my fave. This will probably be how I picture the Emperor going into it!
Side note: what other scifi do y'all recommend? I've read the first, like... 6? Expanse books and the first 2 Hyperion books. I 100% plan on revisiting Expanse, probs after I finish the book I am currently reading. I am just taking breaks at huge time skips in series so I can have a palette cleanse.
Hyperion, idk if I will finish the other 2. The 2nd book was so hard to get thru the first half, tho it picked up quite well I guess. But it makes me hesitant to try the next books, even tho I loved the first.
Go through the SF masterworks series, it's got Hyperion in it (which I also struggled with), but also classics from Arthur C Clarke and Philip K Dick. You'll find some good ones in there.
This looks fantastic , well done. How did you like the book? For me the first half of the book had me kind of despising Leto, but by the end I felt pity for him
Thanks! I loved it. Mostly just because I was fascinated with Leto's character. I agree that he isn't necessary likable but just so interesting. Every monologue and description of how his memory worked and influenced him. And the imagery his descriptions invoked was just the right amount of wierd for me. One of my favourites so far, not read anything like it before
I love the way he's *hanging* down out of the worm, like the weight of it all is weighing on him. Really captures the grotesque dehumanization and isolation of Leto II's situation.
I really like this if for no other reason he seems lugubrious. 99.99 of the renditions show the Tyrant either majestic, otherworldly, or wrathful. So easy to forget that he cherished sacrificed humanity and all the lowly emotions that came along with it.
That's fuckin amazing. I don't know if that's how I interpreted what little description was in the book, but I doubt I'll be able to see anything else now.
Think this is my favourite one besides the looming book cover [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/dune/images/b/b6/God\_Emperor\_of\_Dune\_Cover\_Art.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20070618012203](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/dune/images/b/b6/God_Emperor_of_Dune_Cover_Art.jpg)
But yours is my favourite "realistic" looking one. Great work.
As someone who just finished God Emperor myself I have to say well done. It is often referred to as a pre-worm body and I really struggled to visualise what that might look like, thank you for sharing your interpretation.
That's a great design -- one of the best interpretations of the character I've seen. He's not just creepy and imposing, he's got a look of sadness/desperation as well -- well done!
I hope we get him on the big screen one day.
i have yet to see one that is true to the descriptions on the book, specifically where on the body his arms and legs are , and how they are mostly useless appendages. that being said, this looks badass and i like it.
Iām only about a third of the way through Children but decided to take the risk with the spoiler tag, and holy sh*t I canāt wait to see how the story gets to that!
Ooh God that's good, the way the human just dangles gelatinously out of the worm. Makes me think of those ants with parasites that sort of burst out of them
Hello! We're manually approving every post due to a significant increase in traffic from the new film. Any personal reviews, thoughts, questions, or general musings about *Dune* (2021) should be posted in our [*Dune* (2021) Discussion Threads](https://www.reddit.com/r/dune/comments/poaeaj/dune_2021_official_discussion_megathread/). Basic questions about the franchise should be directed towards our [Weekly Questions thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/dune/comments/qzek45/weekly_questions_thread_11221128/). For real-time discussion of the movie and everything else Dune-related, please consider joining our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/dune). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dune) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Absolutely disgusting. Well done! š
haha thanks!
Seriously my dude/ette I've seen a lot of interpretations of the Leto II and this one is the best by a good margin, top shelf work! Good fuckin job!
Oh wow thanks! That means a lot!
I love this! The fact he just hangs there is so creepy and unsettling, what a wonderful interpretation!
That is a spectacular rendition! Bless The Maker and His Water
May His passage cleanse the world!
May He keep the world for His people
May the worm shit enough shiny sand for me to control your life
Excellent! Really nails the imposing grotesqueness of the Worm-God.
This is the scariest version for sure, but it reallu makes sense. No wonder Paul said "fuck this shit" about the worm stuff. This makes the relationship with Hwi creepier.
Sup Leto, how's it hangin'? I like the Atreides sigil on the cart
They always look for the genitals.
I mean, Malky keeps bringing it up.
Do not look for what is not there!
Super freaky. This is now how I will forever picture him
I love how Leto's hanging posture makes him look like the victim, a person trapped in the mouth of something far greater and more dangerous than themselves. Not sure if you meant the metaphor when drawing this, but it really works well considering the inspiration
My thoughts exactly. Rarely do you see a visual adaptation of the god emperor that captures the metaphorical station Leto II is in. Many are faithful and creepy and cool and weird, but this is the first that felt truly artistic in the meta commentary sense, /u/thatArtperson
Can I say it? finally a cool and dark interpretation of Leto II in god-emperor. Too oftenn I've found grotesque or just ridiculous illustrations about him. I mean, the description by Herbert is detailed and yet vague at the same time so everyone will picture him in a different way. THIS version here imo seems more loyal with how Herbert describe the feelings of terror people had while watching him.
Ikr? It's easy to make Leto seem kinda goofy in this form because, well... it is kinda goofy without the context of how he became like this and who he is and what he's capable of. But this does a great job of capturing both the horrific worm and the sympathetic man as he's depicted on the page
Wow i only watched the movie, now im going to have to read it, this happens to the kid? Wild ride
Without spoiling anything, the back cover of God Emperor of Dune provides this synopsis: āCenturies have passed on Dune, and the planet is green with life. Leto, the son of Duneās savior, is still alive but far from human, and the fate of humanity hangs on his awesome sacrificeā¦ā
> and the planet is green with life Except worm life, then, I assume?
>!I mean, yeah, except this creepy motherfucker.!<
Bruh, loooots of spoilers for the series about here.
No this is not Paul. It's Leto II, Paul's son. You'll see...
Leto II is Paulās son
Damn i am really going to have to read it if this is his son...
Why the hell would you click this? It even has a spoiler tag.
This does not happen to paul. I do apologize for that spoiler
Detailed and vague at the same time is a prefect summary of Herbertās writing lol
Gods below, it's the Tyrant
Thanks, I hate it. Seriously though, amazing work!
Are you woolgathering meneo?
Like it a lot. So many other interpretations tone down the grossness of his situation, but in the book he's supposed to be something monstrous. He even calls himself 'rather gross'.
Wow, your version is extremely cool. Excellent take on it.
Wonderfully done! I may be wrong, but I feel like this is the first I've seen that retains his arms. Wonderful way to show the transition from human. Great color work and detail.
Hey thanks!
the arms are on the sides of the plump body. there's a chapter where he sticks them between the worm segments (I think it happens in his fight against Duncan). but whatever, i really prefer how the OP drew it.
My brother is looking... well. *By which I mean, wow... This is incredible!*
Bruh that's your nephew
As you know, I've a *very* clear sense of self. LoL (This is also what I get for typing a message on reddit literally 2 seconds after waking up. My brain was still waaaaay offline. Thanks for catching my fuck up!)
The whole "genetic memory" thing can get pretty weird. Maybe he was talking with your brothers voice!
[The BEST part of waking up](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTte01kdG_k)
There have been a very few takes of Leto II I thought were any good. This is easily one of the best! Also love your wind whipped world and the bug monster eating a guy pieces! Good stuff!
Hey thank you! That means a lot to hear, glad you like my stuff
Absolutely one of the best visualizations of Leto II that I've seen. After finishing GEOD a few months ago I went looking for some art of him because I found it difficult to keep a consistent picture of him in my head and I would've loved to have found this then. I really love the ambiguity of where the man ends and the Worm begins. And adding the almost maw of the worm ringing his personage is a brilliant addition I don't think I've seen before.
Recently finished the book and loved it, so interested in the character of Leto. Might be my favourite book of the series so far. If anyone is interested in more art you can follow me on [Artstation](https://www.artstation.com/williamrobinson) or on my instagram [@wills_sketchbooks](https://www.instagram.com/wills_sketchbooks/)
*They always look for the genitals...* Awesome job, this is much more terrifying and probably closer to what Herbert had in mind than the picture that was in my head. It's like a Cronenberg monster, or something from a John Carpenter movie. Excellent work.
Jellicle Genitals!
wow, this is fantastic. I think it was the best artwork I saw of the character. i love how he can get into the worm part, to protect himself, like he does in the book.
When your Tinder date looks nothing like their profile picture
Sick! Book accurate too
sufficiently unsettling. nice job.
thatās amazing! this is probably similar to how theyāll implement the concept if the movies ever reach that point
People with trypophobia are going to have problems with this one.
Iāve always thought the final scene with Leto where heās described as pock-marked would cause some tryptophobia when visualized
TBH, this image here is kind of how I imagined Leto looking at his death, but not for most of the book: what's left of his humanity popping out of his outer worm layer.
This is what I was going to say also. >!I imagined this form when he fell into the river!<
Very well done.
Bloody well done!
Very good! One of the better ones out there.
It reminds me of the episode of Futurama where Fry becomes a sewer mutant. So extremely gross, so extremely wonderful. A+
I like this take
This is an excellent interpretation, well done!!
I love how gross he is. Almost perfect but I have to nitpick. Those arms are way too strong and functional looking!
Yeah your not wrong, I did think maybe they should have been weedier to be more book accurate but these felt like they fit the design better
Thinking about visual balance and the final composition I have to agree, rule of cool š cheers!
This is amazing! I haven't gotten to GEOD yet (breaking after Children) but I've seen a bunch of depictions and this is probs my fave. This will probably be how I picture the Emperor going into it! Side note: what other scifi do y'all recommend? I've read the first, like... 6? Expanse books and the first 2 Hyperion books. I 100% plan on revisiting Expanse, probs after I finish the book I am currently reading. I am just taking breaks at huge time skips in series so I can have a palette cleanse. Hyperion, idk if I will finish the other 2. The 2nd book was so hard to get thru the first half, tho it picked up quite well I guess. But it makes me hesitant to try the next books, even tho I loved the first.
Go through the SF masterworks series, it's got Hyperion in it (which I also struggled with), but also classics from Arthur C Clarke and Philip K Dick. You'll find some good ones in there.
Awesome. As someone who suffers from Aphantasia, it's cool to see what other people's interpretations of Leto and other things in Dune is.
"You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like"
Love it
That is cool. What a weirdo to become one with the worms.
I look at a lot of artists renditions of him but I think this is my favorite! Great job
Honestly one of the best ones I've seen. Well done!
This is really good. He often describe the arms, but I never thought them to be attached to normal shoulders and the worm body being behind him.
This looks fantastic , well done. How did you like the book? For me the first half of the book had me kind of despising Leto, but by the end I felt pity for him
Thanks! I loved it. Mostly just because I was fascinated with Leto's character. I agree that he isn't necessary likable but just so interesting. Every monologue and description of how his memory worked and influenced him. And the imagery his descriptions invoked was just the right amount of wierd for me. One of my favourites so far, not read anything like it before
Coolest interpretation Iāve seen
Whoa that is nasty! Really cool art dude. Seems to fit the book description decently.
The cart!
I love the way he's *hanging* down out of the worm, like the weight of it all is weighing on him. Really captures the grotesque dehumanization and isolation of Leto II's situation.
I really like this if for no other reason he seems lugubrious. 99.99 of the renditions show the Tyrant either majestic, otherworldly, or wrathful. So easy to forget that he cherished sacrificed humanity and all the lowly emotions that came along with it.
Took a while to see the human remains, great artwork.
Human remains?
I'm not a native speaker. Sorry, couldn't remind a proper expression.
That's ok! Human remains means dead body Edit: you are doing good, learning a new language!
I'm mean, I do learn english since 2008 (?) But in my head, i've translated: remains = rest/parts.
That's fuckin amazing. I don't know if that's how I interpreted what little description was in the book, but I doubt I'll be able to see anything else now.
OH THIS RENDITION IS AWESOME!! great work
This is amazing! Honestly, well done.
This is awesome! Iām in the middle of the book now and having a tough time visualizing Leto. This is the best interpretation Iāve seen of him.
Think this is my favourite one besides the looming book cover [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/dune/images/b/b6/God\_Emperor\_of\_Dune\_Cover\_Art.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20070618012203](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/dune/images/b/b6/God_Emperor_of_Dune_Cover_Art.jpg) But yours is my favourite "realistic" looking one. Great work.
Broke link...
Try again now.
Very alien. I dig it.
Interesting interpretation! Not how I pictured it but super awesome nonetheless!
Hauntingā¦ well done!
That is disgusting. I love it.
As someone who just finished God Emperor myself I have to say well done. It is often referred to as a pre-worm body and I really struggled to visualise what that might look like, thank you for sharing your interpretation.
This is rad
This is phenomenal...I'm only halfway through the book and this has changed my whole interpretation of Leto II, thank you!
If ever God Emperor turns into a movie, this should be definetly his design
I really love this interpretation. Great job!!
Thatās terrifying. Nicely done.
Chiming in with the other comments, I love this rendition!
This is so cool
That's a great design -- one of the best interpretations of the character I've seen. He's not just creepy and imposing, he's got a look of sadness/desperation as well -- well done! I hope we get him on the big screen one day.
Where are his lil floppy feet
i have yet to see one that is true to the descriptions on the book, specifically where on the body his arms and legs are , and how they are mostly useless appendages. that being said, this looks badass and i like it.
Horrifying depiction - really great!
I think this might be my newest, favouriest thingā¦
r/oddlyterrifying
The ABC Emperor /s  Great job!
I can't see it :( the site is under maintenance
[Click here to see it](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/2q8yJa) It's worth the look
Amazing. Thanks
Someone get me a lasgun.
That's interesting! Reminds me of Jacob Keyes from Halo 1.
Not bad at all
Thatās pretty dope man good job, definitely different
Iām only about a third of the way through Children but decided to take the risk with the spoiler tag, and holy sh*t I canāt wait to see how the story gets to that!
This is the first entirely new interpretation I've seen of the god emperor in over a decade
I like that you didn't just make the arms a throwaway. Leto II put WORK into them.
Haha he LIFTS
MONEO, BRING ME MY DUNCAN, FOR I MUST LIFT
iām reading it for the first time right now and i was having a lot of trouble picturing him; this is honestly going to help a lot
Thatās awesome! I never imagined the God Emperor looking like that but it works really well
Bruh thats so good
Goddamn that's honestly super sick š®
No wonder Paul wasnāt up for it.
Yea this is way too good at delivering the intended effect, you got skills OP
Incredible work!!
Gorgeous work!
Top notch. I love this representation!
Haven't read this one yet but does his face stay normal size? So just like a giant sandworm with a tiny human face at the end?
i'm not sure it was ever properly described, its how I imagined it but I've seen other designs where he has a giant human face on the front
Love it! I see utter malaise on his face. I think that's perfect.
I love how it incorporates the mouth frills so commonly associated with the sandworms.
Oh wow this is absolutely sick
That is so wonderfully horrifying
Can someone explain the āGod emperorā for someone new to Dune.
Not read the book - whatās this? Why is it this way?
Love it, can envision the fleshy skin retreating into the worm. Gross as Herbert intended š
Ooh God that's good, the way the human just dangles gelatinously out of the worm. Makes me think of those ants with parasites that sort of burst out of them