Life on Jupiter Evolved to Survive the Planet's Enormous Gravitational Pull

Frank R. Paul's mid-century alien designs challenge our expectations of extraterrestrial life. Designed before shape language and entertainment design, Paul's illustrations come from an era in which aliens didn't need to serve as characters in cinema/TV and games (whether cute, friendly, frightening or otherwise). Instead, Paul starts from scientific facts and common assumptions of the time. Above, the inhabitants of Jupiter are muscular and slug-like, evolved for life on a planet with enormous gravitational pull. Sharp teeth support an omnivorous diet in a "primitive world in which growth is rampant and lush." The person to the left explores Jupiter in a vehicle rather than spacesuit because he weighs "in the neighborhood of six hundred pounds." Links to Fantastic Adventures, January 1940.