What did the Martians from War of the Worlds look like?

Answer 1

The first edition of the popular novel in publication for over 100 years was not illustrated, however here they are from the novel-

From the HG Well's novel- (the vessels or craft) -

"Seen nearer, the Thing was incredibly strange, for it was no mere insensate machine driving on its way. Machine it was, with a ringing metallic pace, and long, flexible, glittering tentacles (one of which gripped a young pine-tree) swinging and rattling about its strange body. It picked its road as it went striding along, and the brazen hood that surmounted it moved to and fro with the inevitable suggestion of a head looking about. Behind the main body was a huge mass of white metal like a gigantic fisherman's basket, and puffs of green smoke squirted out from the joints of the limbs as the monster swept by me. And in an instant it was gone."

One of the earliest renderings to appear ( tripod craft) and be included in later book editions can be seen here- link 1.

The H.G. Well's Martian (Dominant):

Octopus-like creature, head 4' across having (2) eyes, w/2 arm whips having 8 tentacles each surrounding the beak mouth. The ear, a simple membrane in the back of the head is useless in our atmosphere.

Fan conception of primary Martian's appearance based on Well's description-link 2

H. G. Well's Martian 2 (possible secondary species):

Evidence of a second race of Martians dead upon Earth arrival was found in one or more of the craft. these were more Earth-like humanoids in appearance and presumed used as a food supply by the dominant Martians.

It is possible the are not native to Mars and are similar to the Selenite's as described in Well's First Men in the Moon and some speculate inspired today's "grey's" martian stereotype depiction.

1938 Radio Broadcast-

Note similar description was used by Orson Welles in the infamous Martian radio broadcast which was simply an adaption of the novel but was not exactly the same. The radio broadcast was 1 hour and although the hoax is revealed at the end it created quite a hysteria when first heard. There were reports of people shooting at water towers thinking they were Martian Tripods.

Much of this is is New Jersey where the trouble starts on a remote farm, however points in VA and NY are also mentioned.

Radio Broadcast (craft/vessel(s))

*Described as tripods-towering above the trees

*A canopy mentioned is mentioned at some points in story that appeared to be unscrewed when opened

*Metallic

*Equipped with heat ray

*Not invincible as some machines were damaged by US forces

Radio Broadcast Martian description -(follows)

(upon emergence as stated by a "reporter") note the beak Well's described is now a pair of lips.

"Good heavens, something's wriggling out of the shadow like a grey snake. Now it's another one...and another. they look like tentacles to me. There, i can see the thing's body. It's large as a bear and glistens like wet leather..but that face-it's it's it's indescribable. I can hardly force myself to keep looking at it. The eyes are black and gleam like a serpent. the mouth is v-shaped with saliva dripping from rimless lips that seem to quiver and pulsate".

The Martians seemed to initially try walking in our gravity but were not adept at it in this version, hence traveling in their tripod-casings.

At the end of the broadcast the Martian's skin is described as brown, when fallen Martians are being preyed upon by scavenger birds.

Martians still fall due to Earth's bacteria.

War of the Worlds composed by Jeff Wayne (Musical)-1978

This was a stylized musical version of the Mars invasion like the radio broadcast by Orson Wells from composer Jeff Wayne that has been popular in the UK for 23 years as of this date that is continually discovered by new fans worldwide. First released in 1978 on LP, it was re released in 2005 and 2010, and is now it is available on DVD for fans that wish to see it performed live.

With content from Elton John's song writer, voice over narration by notable actor Richard Burton with music to convey moods throughout the story by a full orchestra, it spawned several hits like The Who's Tommy, The Wall, the Wiz, and similar anthology albums.

Much of this invasion takes place in the United Kingdom, with several cities noted throughout the story. Tripods even venture into the water to destroy a ship.

*The Martian tripods have a battle cry created by a chorus in this version-"Ulah".

Pal movie (craft/vessels) see 4th link

The most well known movie had a different depiction of the Martian craft- George Pal's War of the Worlds in 1953 however to be true to the novel the craft generally had 3 legs or was a tripod. Pal simply used green lights to make the craft hover eliminating the legs and gave the craft a manta ray shape vs a cylinder or spherical.

*also had heat ray to disintegrate humans with Electric Guitar sound effects.

Pal Movie martians-link 5 for image

the Martian's depicted in the infamous pal movie were simple creatures with no discernible legs but had a short "trunk-like body about waist high. They had two disproportionately long arms having only 3 fingers on each slender hand with suction cups. Shoulders were highly muscular with large biceps abutting the "head sphere". They had an unusual tri-colored lens eye like the apparatus on their machine bodies or craft. Skin appeared reddish like Mars itself.

War of the Worlds remake (2005)

Starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning

Vessels/Craft-link 6

True to the original concept but streamlined into a tortoise shell shaped body with additional appendages.

Martians-link 6

Martians themselves were more insectoid in appearance and have a resemblance more to those from Independence Day movie starring Will Smith

Answer 2

In H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds," Martians are described as large, grotesque creatures with gray, leathery skin, bulbous eyes, and tentacle-like appendages. They are depicted as towering tripods in search of dominating Earth's resources.

Answer 3

The first edition of the popular novel in publication for over 100 years was not illustrated, however here they are from the novel-

From the HG Well's novel- (the vessels or craft) -

"Seen nearer, the Thing was incredibly strange, for it was no mere insensate machine driving on its way. Machine it was, with a ringing metallic pace, and long, flexible, glittering tentacles (one of which gripped a young pine-tree) swinging and rattling about its strange body. It picked its road as it went striding along, and the brazen hood that surmounted it moved to and fro with the inevitable suggestion of a head looking about. Behind the main body was a huge mass of white metal like a gigantic fisherman's basket, and puffs of green smoke squirted out from the joints of the limbs as the monster swept by me. And in an instant it was gone."

One of the earliest renderings to appear ( tripod craft) and be included in later book editions can be seen here- link 1.

The H.G. Well's Martian (Dominant):

Octopus-like creature, head 4' across having (2) eyes, w/2 arm whips having 8 tentacles each surrounding the beak mouth. The ear, a simple membrane in the back of the head is useless in our atmosphere.

Fan conception of primary Martian's appearance based on Well's description-link 2

H. G. Well's Martian 2 (possible secondary species):

Evidence of a second race of Martians dead upon Earth arrival was found in one or more of the craft. these were more Earth-like humanoids in appearance and presumed used as a food supply by the dominant Martians.

It is possible the are not native to Mars and are similar to the Selenite's as described in Well's First Men in the Moon and some speculate inspired today's "grey's" martian stereotype depiction.

1938 Radio Broadcast-

Note similar description was used by Orson Welles in the infamous Martian radio broadcast which was simply an adaption of the novel but was not exactly the same. The radio broadcast was 1 hour and although the hoax is revealed at the end it created quite a hysteria when first heard. There were reports of people shooting at water towers thinking they were Martian Tripods.

Much of this is is New Jersey where the trouble starts on a remote farm, however points in VA and NY are also mentioned.

Radio Broadcast (craft/vessel(s))

*Described as tripods-towering above the trees

*A canopy mentioned is mentioned at some points in story that appeared to be unscrewed when opened

*Metallic

*Equipped with heat ray

*Not invincible as some machines were damaged by US forces

Radio Broadcast Martian description -(follows)

(upon emergence as stated by a "reporter") note the beak Well's described is now a pair of lips.

"Good heavens, something's wriggling out of the shadow like a grey snake. Now it's another one...and another. they look like tentacles to me. There, i can see the thing's body. It's large as a bear and glistens like wet leather..but that face-it's it's it's indescribable. I can hardly force myself to keep looking at it. The eyes are black and gleam like a serpent. the mouth is v-shaped with saliva dripping from rimless lips that seem to quiver and pulsate".

The Martians seemed to initially try walking in our gravity but were not adept at it in this version, hence traveling in their tripod-casings.

At the end of the broadcast the Martian's skin is described as brown, when fallen Martians are being preyed upon by scavenger birds.

Martians still fall due to Earth's bacteria.

War of the Worlds composed by Jeff Wayne (Musical)-1978

This was a stylized musical version of the Mars invasion like the radio broadcast by Orson Wells from composer Jeff Wayne that has been popular in the UK for 23 years as of this date that is continually discovered by new fans worldwide. First released in 1978 on LP, it was re released in 2005 and 2010, and is now it is available on DVD for fans that wish to see it performed live.

With content from Elton John's song writer, voice over narration by notable actor Richard Burton with music to convey moods throughout the story by a full orchestra, it spawned several hits like The Who's Tommy, The Wall, the Wiz, and similar anthology albums.

Much of this invasion takes place in the United Kingdom, with several cities noted throughout the story. Tripods even venture into the water to destroy a ship.

*The Martian tripods have a battle cry created by a chorus in this version-"Ulah".

Pal movie (craft/vessels) see 4th link

The most well known movie had a different depiction of the Martian craft- George Pal's War of the Worlds in 1953 however to be true to the novel the craft generally had 3 legs or was a tripod. Pal simply used green lights to make the craft hover eliminating the legs and gave the craft a manta ray shape vs a cylinder or spherical.

*also had heat ray to disintegrate humans with Electric Guitar sound effects.

Pal Movie martians-link 5 for image

the Martian's depicted in the infamous pal movie were simple creatures with no discernible legs but had a short "trunk-like body about waist high. They had two disproportionately long arms having only 3 fingers on each slender hand with suction cups. Shoulders were highly muscular with large biceps abutting the "head sphere". They had an unusual tri-colored lens eye like the apparatus on their machine bodies or craft. Skin appeared reddish like Mars itself.

War of the Worlds remake (2005)

Starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning

Vessels/Craft-link 6

True to the original concept but streamlined into a tortoise shell shaped body with additional appendages.

Martians-link 6

Martians themselves were more insectoid in appearance and have a resemblance more to those from Independence Day movie starring Will Smith

Answer 4

If you are referring to Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds (1978), he looks like Welsh actor Richard Burton, who died in 1984.