The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol 1 Limited Remarqued Kevin O'Neill Gallery Edition

Script by Alan Moore, art by Kevin O'Neill (lettering by Bill Oakley). All illustrations are ©Moore and O'Neill. For a complete list of  all books reviewed in this blog, please visit the index page.

This is simply the artist's edition I was waiting for because Kevin O'Neill is my favorite artist.

Although dated November 2015 in the credit page, this book was issued in February 2016 by Graphitti Designs under the DC/Vertigo label (ISBN: 978-1-4012-6190-0, 12.5 x 17.5 inches or 32 x 45 cm, for the slipcase, 600$). This very limited remarqued edition (15 copies, mine is #6) comes with a sturdy debossed slipcase with debossed taped-spine. This edition also features an exclusive sequentially numbered page signed by Kevin O'Neill and Alan Moore, and a removable 6 x 8 inches (or 15 x 20 cm) signed an numbered page of new original art by Kevin O'Neill produced exclusively for this edition. Notice that the illustration of the signature page is not featured in the regular editions (thanks to BrianWells from this board for the information), and Kevin O'Neill have produced 15 different peace of original art, one for each copy.

the page of original art was inserted in the second of cover

my choice would have been either Mina, either Hyde, I feel lucky

the signature page

It's probably the same illustration that is used for the signature page of the "signed" edition described further

Below are pictures of the regular (from issue #3 cover) and variant (from issue #1 limited DF variant, see the end of this article) covers editions produced by Graphitti Designs, issued without the slipcase:

regular edition

regular edition with DF variant cover

The remarqued edition doesn't feature any image for cover, but these illustrations are in the book itself. Graphitti Designs have also produced a limited signed edition of this book (250 copies), with a slipcase and a sequentially numbered Signature Page signed by Kevin O'Neill. Sadly I don't have any visual of this edition. Prices, store descriptions and availability of all these editions can be found here.

the main book

The inner book (12 x 17 inches or 31 x 44 cm, 184 pages) was printed on thick mat paper. Second and third of cover feature the same background illustration. One of the picture below is for size comparison with issue #6 of the original series and the DC Absolute Edition. There are also pictures of the sewn binding (the book has been printed in China).

third of cover

this is the middle of the book to have a look at the interior seam

This book, referenced as Graphitti Designs Gallery Edition #5, has been designed by Brainchild Studios and edited by Bob Chapman & Joseph Melchior. There are pictures below explaining how at Graphitti Designs they have sourced the original art, and how they have handled the scanning process.

table of contents

The main part of the book, i.e. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol 1, features all original covers (back cover art, the same for the six original issues, is included in the extra section), and chapter breaks to replace the second of covers of each issues (the vintage adverts have been logically excluded as they are not from the hands of Kevin O'Neill ). Notice that the cover for issue #4 is reproduced here in its original painted form with its velum overlay. Many of the hi res scans are very cleaned, while in others we can easily spot glued dialogues (Arabic and Chinese dialogues) for example.

issue #1 cover

left, chapter break

right: issue #3 cover

notice the velum overlay used for issue #4

cover for issue #4 in its painted form

issue #5 cover

issue #6 cover

zoom on the previous picture, these are indeed hi res scans

so beautiful again ...

The extra section is 21 pages long, and divided in two sections: Kevin O'Neill Gallery (10 pages) and Allan and The Sundered Veil Gallery (11 pages).

Let's begin by the Kevin O'Neill Gallery which features:

• slipcase back cover of the DC Absolute Edition
• endpapers for the DC Absolute Edition
• title page produced for collected edition (including the Absolute)
• the DF variant cover produced for issue #1 (and used for the variant cover of this Gallery Edition). Notice that this variant cover was reproduced in the Absolute Edition. See also the end of this article
• covers for the compendium edition part one and two, and for part three and four
• cover used for the collected edition and Absolute Edition
• slipcase cover of the DC Absolute Edition
• the back cover illustration used for the six original issues

illustrations used for the Absolute Edition slipcase back cover

title page used for collected editions and the DF variant cover for issue #1

cover used for the DC Absolute Edition

Every issue of the original series included several illustrations drawn by Kevin O'Neill to accompany Alan Moore's text. Here are listed the one reproduced in their natural state (in size and look) in this book, and the one that were not (the fact that I list what is not included is for the deranged completist that lies inside my wretched soul, in no way it is the beginning of a reproach towards the stupendous work of Graphitti Designs people):

• Opening illustration included in the DC Absolute Edition
• Issue #1: the first three illustrations are included, the fourth is absent
• Issue #2: all three illustrations are not reprinted here (the second was painted)
• Issue #3: the first and third illustration are included, not the second painted one. Notice that this issue features for the first time an illustration for the Letters to the Editor ... Sir not reprinted here.
• Issue #4: the first illustration is included, not the two others (the second one was colored)
• Issue #5: the second and third illustrations are included, not the first
• Issue #6: none of the three illustrations is included
• The Bloomsbury Quintet illustration used for collected edition and included in the DC Absolute Edition
• Biography flap art used for collected editions (including the Absolute Edition)

left, illustration used for collected editions, right, from issue #1

zoom on the previous picture: left, from the original issue #1, right this edition

from issue #3

left, from issue #5, right the Bloomsbury Quintet

illustration for biography flap

Now if at least 15 signed an numbered pieces of new original pencil & ink art by Kevin O'Neill have been produced (probably a little more in case of shipping issues), I haven't found any other browsing the internet. Fink Angel has been kind enough to send me a picture of his own remarqued edition (#3/15), and it is gorgeous:

I hope all of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series will be reprinted in this form (but my wallet could use a break). Although the top priority remains for me Marshal Law.

I have recently acquired issue #1 with the limited Dynamic Forces variant cover (5000 copies):

In addition to this article, and for more detailed insight about the reproduction quality, don't hesitate to read this Comic Book Daily review by Scott VanderPloeg, and go see other pictures on the comicstrade blog.