Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons is the next fan favourite artist to receive the deluxe Apex Edition treatment from Rebellion. Set to release November 11, The 2000 AD Art of Dave Gibbons: Apex Edition will showcase full reproductions of the artist’s pages stretching back to the early years of his career – and the very beginnings of the British weekly.
The hardcover will measure 481mm × 371 mm (18.94 x 14.61 inches) and feature the same high quality reproductions of Gibbons original pages – in their original size – as has been established by the Apex Edition series thus far. The book will retail for £100 ($131.99) and be available from all good comic and book shops. A special slipcase edition will also release as a 2000 AD webshop exclusive, retailing for £130 ($170.99) and limited to 400 copies.
According to the Rebellion press release,
“With his work appearing from the very first issue of 2000 AD, Gibbons quickly established himself as a pre-eminent talent — his clean lines, bold characters, eye for detail, and inventive imagination winning over a generation of readers and marking him out for greatness…The 2000 AD Art of Dave Gibbons: Apex Edition will give readers a unique insight into this pivotal moment in Gibbons’ career”
Adding,
“Lovingly put together by Rebellion’s experienced reprographics and editorial teams, this new 128-page collection will presents Gibbons’ work at its true size — all pages will be newly-scanned at high resolution from the original artwork, giving readers an unprecedented up-close look at the work of a comics master.”
A limited slipcase edition will also be available, exclusive to the 2000 AD webshop
Dave Gibbons has long been associated with the weekly science fiction anthology 2000 AD. Having begun work as a professional comics artist in the mid-1970s, Gibbons was picked by writer and founder Pat Mills to help design and relaunch a new take on classic fifties space hero Dan Dare for the very first issue of 2000 AD (1977’s Prog 1). Gibbons also co-created classic 2000 AD strips including future sport Harlem Heroes with Pat Mills, and the genetic infantryman Rogue Trooper with Gerry Finley-Day. It was in the pages of 2000 AD that Gibbons first professionally collaborated with Alan Moore and it was through 2000 AD that he was headhunted by DC Comics.
Based on the PR, it appears the Dave Gibbons Apex Edition will dip into his Dan Dare, Rogue Trooper, and Harlem Heroes work, as well as the artist’s stints on other 2000 AD (and sister title Starlord) classics such as Ro-busters/A.B.C. Warriors and Judge Dredd. For fans of Watchmen, the book will also feature samples of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ early collaborations, notably Time Twister one-shot Chrono-Cops.
