Vice Press launch E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial limited edition posters “timed sale”

By John Freeman on April 19, 2019

Vice Press have just announced a new partnership with ISH, Bottleneck Gallery, Andrea Alvin and the John Alvin Estate that will see the release of some classic film poster reproductions originally created by a John Alvin, starting with a classic – E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial.

John Alvin’s legendary career is unmatched in cinema illustration / design as he created art and theatrical posters for legendary films like Gremlins, Blade Runner and E.T. and several more that Vice Press are excited about sharing in this new series.

Each poster released in the John Alvin series will be sourced from original art and files from John’s archive and will be approved, not only by the studio, but by Andrea Alvin with a signed and embossed certificate.

“We are so excited to not only release classic posters from John’s career,” says James Henshaw from Vice Press, “but also unreleased finished works for some of your favorite films that have rarely or never seen before!”

E.T. Vice Press Poster – Regular Timed Edition

E.T. Vice Press Poster – Foil Variant Edition

Up first is E.T.… one of the most successful films of all time and beloved by the world over. The classic original theatrical poster was created by John Alvin and nobody had any idea of the impact it would cause!

Seemingly everywhere today, this image was painted by John using very little reference from the actual film as the studio wanted to keep E.T. hidden prior to the film’s release. Andrea Alvin tells the story of how John was taken to the studio and shown a floppy hand that looked like a rubber chicken and then expected to create something to sell this new Steven Spielberg film!

He went to work and used his daughter for the human hand reference on the poster and actually created the E.T. logo we all know by hand cutting the “E.T.” out of cardboard and painting it onto the actual art with an airbrush to achieve the glow.

(You can read more about this in The Art of John Alvin by Andrea Alvin, published by Titan Books).

“John was often asked, ‘Of all the posters you created, which was your favourite?’, says Andrea Alvin. “He would usually answer E.T., because of the movie’s great success. It was also ‘the big one that didn’t get away.’ His work was on everything from keychains to bed sheets. It was crazy!”

Vice Press are a UK-based print house focused on producing fully licensed art prints and screen printed posters for cult and mainstream properties from all manner of pop culture; movies, television, literature and games. They work with both up and coming and well known artists from around the world to produce new and distinctive works of art.

The company also work with a number of studios, production companies and distributors to create unique illustrated pieces, prints and posters and media campaigns for theatrical and home releases.

• A timed sale is on now, running until Monday April 22nd at 12.00pm eastern/ 5.00pm/ BST. The edition will be determined once the sale ends. The print is available at Bottleneck Gallery and Vice Press

Print Details

Regular Timed Edition: 24 x 36 inches | 9 colour screen print £55/ $75 – Comes with a numbered COA embossed by the Alvin Estate

Foil Variant Edition: 24 x 36 inches | 9 colour screen print on foil £75/ $100 | Numbered edition of 225 – Comes with a numbered COA embossed by the Alvin Estate

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.