REVIEWED: Absolute Batman: The Killing Joke

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September 2018 saw the release of DC Comics’ Absolute edition of Batman: The Killing Joke. This new collection celebrates the 30th anniversary of writer Alan Moore and artist Brian Bolland’s seminal Batman and Joker story, originally published in 1988. For this review I’m not going to look at the story, but rather at the Absolute edition itself in order to discover if this new prestige format re-release is worth a double — or even triple — dip. I’m also going to take a quick look at the history of DC’s Absolute range of reprints.

The Little Book of Superman (Taschen, 2016)

The Little Book of Superman is a fitting tribute to the world’s first — and many would argue biggest — superhero: The Man of Steel; The Last Son of Krypton; The Man of Tomorrow — Superman.

The Little Book of Fantastic Four (Taschen, 2017)

The Little Book of Fantastic Four is a small celebration of a very big  comic book.

Paperback covers #9: Geoff Taylor’s covers to The Belgariad

Time for another look at some of my favourite book cover illustrations. This week it’s the turn of Geoff Taylor’s covers to the UK editions of The Belgariad, the best-selling 1980’s fantasy series by David Eddings.

The Movie Art of Syd Mead, Visual Futurist (Titan Books, 2017)

The Movie Art of Syd Mead, Visual Futurist is a new hardback art book celebrating the career of one of the film industry’s most distinctive and influential concept artists.

Star Trek: The Original Topps Trading Cards

Star Trek: The Original Topps Trading Card Series was published by Abrams ComicArts and celebrated the series of bubblegum cards originally released by Topps in 1976.

James Bond novels: Penguin Modern Classics (2004)

A series looking at some of my favourite book covers and cover artists

#9: The James Bond novels published by Penguin Modern Classics in 2004

Since his first appearance in 1953’s Casino Royale Ian Fleming’s super-spy James Bond has become a global cultural phenomenon, appearing in over 20 blockbuster movies while the original novels have stayed constantly in print.

The Fantastic Four in ‘The House of Horrors’ (1968)

By the mid-1960’s Marvel Comics’ The Fantastic Four had seen the stars of the ‘The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!’ square-off against some imposing and oversized enemies. But in 1968 they featured in an adventure that was a little more diminutive than they were used too.

Spider-Man “The Schemer Strikes!” pop-up book (1982)

It’s taken me a while but I’ve finally tracked down a copy of the third and final Piccolo Spider-Man pop-up book, “The Schemer Strikes!”. (Apparently, even in my forties, the completist comic book collector in me is still very much alive and kicking).

Rogue Trooper, Books 1-7 (Titan Books)

In 1981 Titan Books began reprinting stories from 2000AD, the weekly British sci-fi comic. Fan-favourite Judge Dredd was the first to receive the reprint treatment and over the next decade other popular strips from ‘The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic’ saw print, including seven volumes starring genetic infantryman Rogue Trooper.