Sneak Peek: 2000AD Zenith “Apex” Edition

By John Freeman on August 12, 2015

This week (Thursday) sees the release of the Zenith: Apex Edition – a gorgeous-looking full size reproduction from 2000AD publishers Rebellion of the original artwork from Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell’s seminal superhero story from the late 1980s – and we have a sneak peek at some pages for you.

Carefully hidden away by Yeowell for almost 30 years and curated by 2000AD’s design team, the Apex Edition will be the closest readers can get to holding the original artwork in your hands – right down to seeing faded speech balloons pasted to the surface, editorial and design marks, and Yeowell’s brush and pen strokes.

Berlin, 1945: The allies unleashed the second world war hero Maximan upon the German super soldier Masterman. Maximan’s defeat was only kept secret by the nuclear bomb which destroyed both men. Forty-plus years later, and twenty years after a generation of ’60s British superpowered heroes came and went, the teenage pop star Zenith is the only superhuman left – and his only interest in women, drugs, alchohol and fame. So when he is contacted about the threat from the many-angled ones and the impending destruction of our world, his first reaction is to steer well clear.

But the superhumans of the past have other plans…

• This edition will not be available digitally and is limited to only 1,000 first editions, 200 available from 2000AD with a limited edition bookplate signed by Steve Yeowell

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.