2000 AD/Rebellion Collected Editions (Judge Dredd, sláine, ABC Warriors ..)

[vark]

With today's 2000 AD 2015 GN schedule announcement reproduced below I created this new thread dedicated to this British editor (hope it is indeed a new thread). Notice the first Rebellion Artists Edition with Zenith (and we can hope for more as the 2000 AD vault is legendary).
In bold are the GN I intend to purchase.

The publishers of 2000 AD are following a blistering 2014 with a series of ‘firsts’ amidst their major tent pole graphic novel releases for the UK over 2015!

This year’s schedule includes the first ever ‘artist’s edition’-style book 2000 AD has ever produced – featuring one of its greatest ever stories – as well as a special hardback first edition of the bestselling Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files, the collected return of the wildly popular Dark Judges, and the first ever reprint of the 2000 AD stories of legendary character Dan Dare.

Zenith Phase One: The Apex Edition will reproduce at full size the original artwork from Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell’s seminal superhero story from the late 1980s. Carefully hidden away by Yeowell for almost 30 years and curated by 2000 AD’s design team, July’s Apex Edition will be the closest readers can get to holding the original artwork in your hands – right down to seeing faded speech balloons pasted to the surface, editorial and design marks, and Yeowell’s brush and pen strokes.

Also in hardcover this July is the eagerly-anticipated Judge Dredd: Dark Justice. Two years in the making and one of the most hotly anticipated 2000 AD series ever, Dark Justice not only features the return of Dredd’s greatest foes – The Dark Judges – but also incredible fully-painted art by Greg Staples that is, without question, some of the greatest work of his career. This magnum opus from Dredd co-creator John Wagner sees Judge Dredd and Judge Anderson again have to face the quartet of undead alien superfiends from a twisted dimension where life itself was declared a crime – Judge Death, Judge Fear, Judge Fire, and Judge Mortis!

For the past decade, the Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files series has been a best-seller in the UK – collecting together the Judge Dredd stories, in order, from almost four decades of 2000 AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine. To celebrate this ten-year milestone, this August 2000 AD will be publishing a hardcover edition of the first volume of the Case Files. It will include the addition of the famous colour centre spreads, restored to their former glory for the first time in a prestigious must-have for any comics collector.

As he celebrates his 65th birthday this year, in November 2000 AD will publish the first of a two-volume series presenting the never-before-collected stories of Dan Dare from its pages. Presented in a beautiful hardcover edition, this will include extensive rare and hard-to-find art by UK Comics Laureate and Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons as well as art by cult Italian artist and 2000 AD legend Massimo Bellardinelli. This is the last, great un-reprinted story from 2000 AD’s first issue and will present the entire story re-scanned from the original film, in full colour (where the strip wasn’t black and white), digitally restored by 2000 AD’s reprographics specialists.

Keith Richardson, graphic novels editor, said: “2015 will be a seminal year for the 2000 AD trade line. The word ‘epic’ seems so overused these days, but when you have such quality collections as the Dark Justice and the truly gorgeous Apex Edition of Zenith Phase One to name but two of our titles this year, no other expression will do.”

Jason Kingsley, CEO of Rebellion, said: “We’ve been getting better and better as a publishing company over many years now, and I’m proud to see that the team has hit the afterburners with these editions. I get books given to me in the office, and I’m particularly looking forward to the day they land with a thump on my desk.”

Ben Smith, Head of Book and Comics Publishing, said: “That there are so many firsts in our output this year is a measure of the ongoing riches to be found within the 2000 AD catalogue. It’s a privilege to be collecting such watershed moments in British comics history, and doing them justice in the sumptuous hardback editions that are bringing so many new fans to our graphic novel list.”

UK & Ireland graphic novels schedule for 2015

March
Tales of Telguth
Insurrection: Liberty

April
Zenith: Phase Three
Judge Dredd: Luna-1 (digest format)

May
ABC Warriors: Return to Mars

June
Devlin Waugh: Red Tide
The VCs: Hell in the Heavens (digest format)

July
Judge Dredd: Dark Justice
Zenith Phase 4
Zenith: Apex Edition

August
Judge Dredd: Case Files 01: 10th Anniversary Edition
Judge Dredd Complete Case Files 25

September
Judge Dredd: Day of Chaos: Fourth Faction
Jaegir

October
The Complete Ro-Busters: Nuts and Bolts Vol. I

November
Dan Dare: Vol. 1
Judge Dredd: Trifecta (paperback)

December
The Grievous Journey of Ichabod Azrael (And The Dead Left In His Wake)
ABC Warriors: Mek Files 03

[Endsville]

About two of the bigger releases, the re-release of the first Case Files volume in hardback and the Apex Edition of Zenith - Michael Molcher has already said on the forums that, for the time being, there aren't further plans for more of either volume, saying this I think after one website or other said they were the first in new lines. The former volume might be a bit trickier to justify a continuation admittedly (he basically said to me that if it were one of their best selling books then they'd obviously release more) but I can't imagine the artist edition of Zenith not being a big hit and plans for more not at least being discussed.

As I said on the forums, I'm not expecting this book to be held to the same through-the-roof high standards of IDW or Dark Horse's lines but as it long it ticks off the essentials for such a volume - huge in size, little or preferably no bleed through and able to lie flat at almost any page - then I can't foresee it not being a success. Will be looking forward to hearing more details about it in the future - how much of the series it exactly covers in particular - regardless and really hope that it selling well will mean more like it. Can't say I'm fantasising too much about what series' could have their original artwork collected, mainly because I don't know what fans do and don't own and would rather not get my hopes up, but a collection or two of the original artwork for covers would be incredible. That we're getting any sort of artist's edition was a big surprise to me and a piece of lovely news after finding out on the same day that Brett Ewins had died.

[JBatmanFan05]

I really thank 2000 AD for my Zenith The Complete Collection. I tend to prefer omnibuses and one volume collections, and I'm glad they did it for Zenith, even if it was only a limited release. Gives readers that option if they want to pay for that extra benefit of one volume.

That complete collection is one of the best collected editions of recent times.

[vark]

About two of the bigger releases, the re-release of the first Case Files volume in hardback and the Apex Edition of Zenith - Michael Molcher has already said on the forums that, for the time being, there aren't further plans for more of either volume, saying this I think after one website or other said they were the first in new lines. The former volume might be a bit trickier to justify a continuation admittedly (he basically said to me that if it were one of their best selling books then they'd obviously release more) but I can't imagine the artist edition of Zenith not being a big hit and plans for more not at least being discussed.

As I said on the forums, I'm not expecting this book to be held to the same through-the-roof high standards of IDW or Dark Horse's lines but as it long it ticks off the essentials for such a volume - huge in size, little or preferably no bleed through and able to lie flat at almost any page - then I can't foresee it not being a success. Will be looking forward to hearing more details about it in the future - how much of the series it exactly covers in particular - regardless and really hope that it selling well will mean more like it. Can't say I'm fantasising too much about what series' could have their original artwork collected, mainly because I don't know what fans do and don't own and would rather not get my hopes up, but a collection or two of the original artwork for covers would be incredible. That we're getting any sort of artist's edition was a big surprise to me and a piece of lovely news after finding out on the same day that Brett Ewins had died.

Just went to the 2000 AD forum and I have added Judge Dredd Complete Case Files 25 for August

[Dark-Flux]

Already a Rebellion thread

Wonder if theyre re-release other Dredd Case Files in HC?

[Drz]

I really thank 2000 AD for my Zenith The Complete Collection. I tend to prefer omnibuses and one volume collections, and I'm glad they did it for Zenith, even if it was only a limited release. Gives readers that option if they want to pay for that extra benefit of one volume.

That complete collection is one of the best collected editions of recent times.

That wasn't really an option since it sold out so fast, what if someone had a work shift and wasn't able to order it? Just throwing that out there, i'd still want my own Zenith Omnibus, it doesn't have to be as fancy as the 1st edition.

[Endsville]

Wonder if theyre re-release other Dredd Case Files in HC?

Like I said, I was told there were no current plans to, but if turned out to be a best seller then probably. Really hoping it does sell well though because, although it would mean starting buying the Case Files again from scratch, I imagine this will be like their other hardcovers of late - bigger than the trades, better reproduction all round, presumably a more complete cover gallery, etc. - and I would certainly not mind double dipping for that.

[vark]

Already a Rebellion thread

Haven't find it with the search tool using Rebellion as the key word. I know there is a 2000 AD/Rebellion thread in the general section but are you sure there is one in the Collected edition section (this was my aim creating this new thread)? If yes let's merge them.

[NZ_InFerno]

You're good, theres not one here apart from a couple of Dredd collected questions. I won't merge them here as this has more useful info in the OP.

[Judge Dredd]

I really thank 2000 AD for my Zenith The Complete Collection. I tend to prefer omnibuses and one volume collections, and I'm glad they did it for Zenith, even if it was only a limited release. Gives readers that option if they want to pay for that extra benefit of one volume.

That complete collection is one of the best collected editions of recent times.

I 100% agree the Zenith Complete Collection is a great book they did an amazing job on it. Little bit expensive especially with shipping over seas but glad I was able to grab a copy before they sold out. I wonder if they will put the complete collection in a softcover format. After the price they charged for it I hope they do not collect it completely in any other form, should remain limited, very interested in the APEX addition. Will also be grabbing the case files vol 1 in hardcover, I hope they do a few more would love to get case files 3 and 5 in hardcover also. Really hope the Complete Ro-Busters actually comes out in 2015, it was schedule for fall of last year but got pushed way back it seems.

The Mek files have been great very happy to see we will be getting more. I would like to see the Search/Destroy Agency Files collected in hardcover, love Johnny Alpha such a great series. They also need to collect the side stories from the Strontium Dogs series. Glad to see Dan Dare getting a collected edition, hopefully it does well and we get more. They need to work out the rights for Big Dave so they can collect that into trades.

[vark]

A signed version of the Apex Zenith edition limited to 200 copies (out of a 1000 copies print run) is up for preorder on 2000 AD webshop
http://shop.2000adonline.com/product...e_apex_edition

[Endsville]

Yep, made my pre-order earlier, vark. Interestingly enough, though I presume the cover is a temporary mock-up (but maybe not - it usually says so), the title is clearly listed as "Zenith Phase One - Apex Edition", clearly implying that the rest of the series will follow suit, which could be very nice. This is completely dependent on how well it sells obviously, which I'll talk more about in a moment, and lines up with what Molcher said on the forums - that there are no immediate plans for more of them. From a few posts on the forum and the 2000AD art collector's Facebook page, I gather that Yeowell has pretty much every page in his possession bar a few (that I presume 2000AD will kindly ask to borrow) to make that possible though, so hopefully they do sell.

Anyway, good size (according to a quick Google search it's about 19 by 14 inches, which lines up with what a few people were saying Yeowell works at), of course the complete page length for the first phase, and most surprisingly of all, a very fair price. Now I am just going to pray that the binding is done really well and that the paper stock is different from anything else they've used, importantly not transparent anywhere.

One thing I wonder is how well it'll actually sell. They've made a smart move in limiting the first printing in order to test the waters, not only because this is their first time doing a book like this, but also, I feel, because it's illustrated by Steve Yeowell. Although I doubt anyone thinks his work on Zenith is poor in any way, he isn't a fan favourite of 2000AD either I think, his linework having become increasingly minimal across The Red Seas to present, something which I've gotten the impression to have split opinion. Furthermore, compared to other fantasies one might get in their head for a 2000AD Artist's Edition, the more visually striking Kevin O'Neill on Nemesis for example, I do wonder if some fans will simply be uninterested in seeing the original art of this and give the book a pass. Personally I love his work, a few uninspired Red Seas stories aside, but I did guiltily have those thoughts - that a significant number of 2000AD readers may not care. These Artist's Editions are a pretty niche market anyway of course, so best to wait and see. If this limited bookplate edition sells out, I'll take that as a good sign.

Oh, and by the way, vark, I noticed on your blog a slight confusion about 2000AD's use of the bookplate compared to, say, Forbidden Planet, who don't actually attach them to the books. My preference is also the latter but I haven't so much minded with the 2000AD books I've bought so far with them because they are, as you point out on your blog, more like stickers and thus don't get in the way; a different story if they had used thicker card. The other reason I haven't so much minded is because a couple of nice art prints have come with the books too. Unfortunately, no such print with this one, which makes me wonder if the bookplate this time might be a "proper" one, doubling as the art print as most other places sell them. That would be very good. It would seem a little tacky to have a sticker on an artist's edition book like this. For such a book, I'd much prefer an exclusive additional page for Yeowell to number and sign instead of that or the bookplate to come separately.

[tombo]

I've been meaning to buy the mazeworld TPB for years, always wanted that as a book.

[vark]

For such a book, I'd much prefer an exclusive additional page for Yeowell to number and sign instead of that or the bookplate to come separately.

I am with you on this 100%, although I will not buy this particular book as I have never had the opportunity to read Zenith.

[vark]

I have received the last HC book of the ABC Warriors reprinting the most recent Return to Mars stoty. God I love Clint Langley's art.



Here is a factual description of its content: http://www.thearchdeviant.org/2015/0...rebellion.html