Brian Bolland’s iconic “Amazing Heroes” Judge Dredd cover included in ComicLink auction next month

By John Freeman on January 12, 2020

*Amazing Heroes #52 Cover featuring Judge Dredd by Brian Bolland*

Published in 1984, Fantagrahics Amazing Heroes magazine (#52), ran a Judge Dredd cover by Brian Bolland which on publication promoted a “European Invasion” of US comics – and the art itself is up for auction next month at ComicLink.

For some reason I always think of this as the “British Invasion” cover – and, it seems, that was the original intent. The pencils for this cover do declare a “British Invasion” of US comics, which “Geoff Art” posted on ComicArtFans some time ago – the first piece of Brian Bolland art he ever owned.

Quite why Fantagraphics changed their minds on the cover lioness a mystery.

Brian Bolland's Pencils and the final cover for Amazing Heroes #52, the pencils declaring a "British Invasion" of US comics — *Brian Bolland’s Pencils and the final cover for Amazing Heroes #52, the pencils declaring a “British Invasion” of US comics*

It wasn’t the first or last such invasion of the US by British creators, of course: Paul Gravett charts the course of those bids to take over the comic shelves here on his excellent web site.

Other British artists whose work features in the February 2020 include Fables art by Mark Buckingham, John Bolton (an impressive page featuring Marada the She Wolf), and Cable art by Ian Churchill, alongside terrific work by artists such as Cliff Chiang, Jack Kirby, Jae Lee, Bernie Wrightson and many more.

*Marada the She Wolf Page 29 by John Bolton*

Fables: Farewell #150 - art by Mark Buckingham — *Fables: Farewell #150 – art by Mark Buckingham*

*Tales of the Unexpected #2 Splash Page by Cliff Chiang*

ComicLink is a full-service US-based auction house, exchange and brokerage service for vintage, investment-quality comic books and original comic art. Its mission is to help sellers maximize return, whether selling an entire collection, or selling individual comic books or comic art. Launched on the Web in 1996, ComicLink has established the strongest network of buyers and sellers of vintage comic books and comic art in the world, leading to the widest selection of listings for their buyers and frequent sales at record-breaking prices for our sellers. As a result, some of the most valuable comic books and comic art in existence have sold on through the service.

• You can preview the auction here on ComicLink; bidding starts on 13th February 2020

• ComicLink Home Page: www.comiclink.com

• Brian Bolland books on AmazonUK

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.