Judge Dredd The Complete Brian Bolland IDW Limited Edition Red Label

Art by Brian Bolland, scripts by Pat Mills, John Wagner, Jack Adrian, Alan Grant and Joe Collins. All illustrations used here are ©Rebellion A/S.

This book has been published and exclusively distributed by IDW in February 2013, as a "Red Label" edition in their "IDW Limited" line. In this line, there are three labels in my understanding, Red (a few hundred of signed copies), Black and Blue (limited to a few copies each and displaying other exclusive incentives). There are no Black or Blue Label associated with this book.

This limited edition comes with a custom designed slipcase comprising an exclusive hardcover portfolio along with the main oversized hardcover book (ISBN 978-1-61377-488-5, 125$, 316 pages and 12.3 x 9.5 inches or 31.5 x 24 cm for the main book). This collection is designed by Robbie Robbins and edited by Justin Eisinger.

Let's begin with the main book. I'm not sure what is the meaning of the #1 on the spine for this book seems to reprint all of the Judge Dredd strips drawn by Brian Bolland. Below, the book is compared in size with a current 2000 AD copy (note that most of the strips dated when the magazine was published in a slightly larger size):

The book displays a red satin ribbon bookmark and a tracing paper overlay for the title page. This is a signed (both Brian Bolland and John Wagner) hand numbered and limited edition (350 copies, mine being #196). Second and third of cover are identical.

above and below two pictures showing the tracing paper overlay

The books starts with a 2 pages introduction by Brian Bolland. From time to time strips are separated with gray shades endpages. Note that due to the obvious editor intention, new reader will discover only parts of a whole stories, or even only two pages of a 6 pages strip. Along with the Judge Dredd strips, this book also collects thirteen "Walter the Wobot Fwiend of Dwedd" one page strips drawn by Brian Bolland and scripted by Joe Collins. You will find the complete list of reprinted strips at the end of this article.

the quality of original material sources varies between the strip

a full colour strip from 2000ad annual 1982 is included

There is a comprehensive 47 pages gallery section at the end of the book, followed by a two pages strip credits.

two virgin covers

Now here is the hardcover portfolio:

It contains twelve A4 lithographs with illustration already displayed in the main book, and share the same back credit page:

There is video description of the book here.

Detailed content of the main book:

• Judge Dredd: prog #41, 47, 50, 51, 52, 57, 58 (2 first pages only), 75, 79, 80, 81, 82, 86, 87, 94, 95, 98, 101, 102, 110, 120, 122, 123, 127, 149, 150, 151, 156, 162, 172, 173, 182, 224, 225, the Four Dark Judges Postergraph, 226, 227, 228, 244, annual 1982
• Walter The Wobot: prog #52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 67, 68
• Color prog covers: #82, 98, 105, 134 (B&W), 146, 156 (B&W), 161 (B&W), 172 (B&W), 173 (B&W), 182 (B&W), 197, 199 (B&W), 210, 216 (B&W virgin), 224, 225, 236 (splash), 240, 403, 848 (virgin), prog 2000 (B&W virgin), 1505 (virgin), 
• 1983 Eagle Comics series B&W covers: #1 (+ back cover), 2, 3 (virgin), 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21 (part virgin), 23, 26, 29, 32 (virgin)
• 1985 Eagle Comics 2000 AD Monthly B&W covers: #1, 5 (virgin)
• Judge Dredd's Crime File B&W covers: #1 (virgin), 3 (virgin)
• Dark Horse Predator vs Judge Dredd Series B&W covers: #1( virgin)
• Miscelaneous: color illustration dated 5/11/2012 "Crusade and the Frankenstein Division"
• B&W pin-up: Judge Dredd, Fergee (from prog #107), Tweak (from prog #83) and 4 others I can't reference.

Porfolio lithographs:

• 1983 Eagle Comics series B&W covers: #1, 3 (virgin), 9, 32 (virgin)
• Judge Dredd's Crime File B&W covers: 3 (virgin)
• B&W pin-up: Fergee (from prog #107)
• Four excerpts from the strips from prog #70 (opening splash page), prog #225 (right half of the open splash page), prog #227 (frames from pages 5 and 6)
• B&W prog covers for prog 2000
• One Judge Dredd B&W illustration I can't reference (see the right side of the last picture above).

Gaston 7 1968 L'Intégrale Version Originale

Scénario et dessins Franquin. Toutes les images sont ©Marsu Productions/Dupuis.

Publié par Marsu Productions en avril 2010 (mais noté avril 2009, ISBN : 978-2-35426-038-5, 42.5 x 30 cm ou 16.7 x 11.8 inches, 99 €, 92 pages) en tirage de luxe dos toilé vert, et papier mat de qualité supérieure. Édition limitée à 2000 exemplaires numérotés (mon exemplaire est le #790). Une des photos ci-dessous permet de se donner une idée du format géant de cette édition par rapport au fac-similé d'un album classique).

Cet ouvrage de la collection éditée par Marsu Productions consacrée à la publication des travaux de Franquin à un format proche des planches originales est le septième du matériel estampillé "Gaston" (voir aussi photo en fin d'article). Si à partir du huitième volume l'éditeur proposera des scans couleurs pour la partie principale (avec traces d'esquisses, de gommages, de commentaires de l'auteur à destination de l'imprimerie etc..), ici l'intégrale des planches se retrouvent en scans N&B nettoyés. Néanmoins, ce volume propose également dans la partie bonus quelques planches en scans couleurs (voir plus loin). Comme le précise l'éditeur dans le cliché  ci-dessus, certaines pages proviennent de bromures, quelques uns présentant parfois des grisés (pour les grisés, cela concerne 5 planches dans ce tome, les gags #512, 516, 522, 526 et 542). Les second et troisième de couverture présentent la même illustration (voir ci-dessous).

exemple de 'grisés' provenant d'un bromure

Après la table des références bibliographiques (quelle planche a été publiée dans quel numéro de Spirou) , l'ouvrage se poursuit par 36 pages proposant pèle-mêle le matériel dessiné par Franquin pour le rédactionnel du magazine Spirou (bandeau titre, publicité, couverture du journal, couverture de recueils, rédactionnel  jeux etc.) à l'époque de la prépublication des strips (1968). Notons en particulier ici la reproduction du premier recueil Gaston au format classique.

premier poster de Gaston, récement réimprimé dans le Spirou special Gaston #3762 du 19 mai 2010

Comme évoqué plus haut, ce volume propose des reproductions en scans couleurs du travail de Franquin (dits fac-similés à partir du volume 8), dont quatres planches complètes (gags #518, 521, 532 et 540).

La collection 'Gaston' dans son aspect définitif :

B.P.R.D. Plague of Frogs HC Edition Vol 1

Script and art: see credit page below. All illustrations are ©Mike Mignola

This article deals with Dark Horse B.P.R.D. material published in regular size canvas hardcovers (10.5 x 7 inches or 26.5 x 18 cm) with dust jacket and thick glossy paper (see also the end of this article).

In chronological appearance, we have Plague of Frogs volume 1, published in February 2011 (ISBN: 978-1-59582-609-1, cover price 34.99$, 406 pages).


Below is a picture taken for size comparison with the regular Hollow Earth paperback. For all the collection second and third of cover are black.

The inner hardcover book comes with glossy silver printing (no illustration on back cover). This edition is designed by Amy Arendts.

Writers and artists involved in each volume are listed before the title page. There is a one page introduction written by Scott Allie dated 2010, and a one page afterword written by Mike Mignola.
This first volume collects the following stories, with their respective virgin cover:

• 'Hollow Earth'
• 'Hollow Earth Dark Horse Extra' (in newspaper strip format)
• 'The Killer in my Skull' (featuring Lobster Johnson, from 'Hellboy: Box Full of Evil')
• 'Abe Sapien vs  Science' (from 'Hellboy: Box Full of Evil')
• 'Drums of the Dead'
• 'The Soul of Venice'
• 'Dark Waters'
• 'Night Train'
• 'There's Something Under my Bed'
• 'Another Day at the Office'
• 'Plague of Frogs'

Note that each volume are edited in books using covers of the previous paperbacks. 

This volume ends with a comprehensive art section (37 pages) with commented sketches, divided by story, including works by Mike Mignola (I don't own the respective paperbacks but these sketches probably originates from them, therefore I don't think this edition presents exclusive material).

first part commented by Scott Allie

second part commented by the artists involved

Third part commented by Guy Davis

The B.P.R.D. library edition as of June 2015:

Go to vol 2, vol 3, vol 4 and vol 5