Internationally celebrated publishers Top Shelf Productions and Knockabout Ltd have announced the publication date of the long-awaited The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic by Alan Moore and Steve Moore.
Born of the longstanding creative partnership between legendary writer Alan Moore (From Hell, V for Vendetta) and his creative and magical mentor Steve Moore (no relation, 2000AD, Doctor Who), this celebration of magic and the occult has been meticulously under development for nearly two decades and is brought to life through a combination of prose, illustration, and sequential art from five incredible artists.
This veritable grimoire of the magical, the mystical, and even the macabre will be on sale in October 2024.
The secrets of the celebrated Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels (sorcery by appointment since circa 150 AD) promise to be revealed in The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic. This clear and practical grimoire of the occult pairs the knowledge of the proprietors of the aforementioned Grand Egyptian Theatre with illuminating visual delights from the late Kevin O’Neill, John Coulthart, Steve Parkhouse, Rick Veitch, and Ben Wickey.
Unprecedented in its scope and splendour, this tome is full to bursting with illustrated instructional essays, activity pages, biographies of the great sorcerers, and forbidden knowledge sure to tantalise even the most disillusioned of adults into believing in magic once again.
The journey of The Moon And Serpent Bumper Book Of Magic has been as mystical as its content. In development for nearly twenty years, the project is a testament to the enduring legacy of Alan Moore’s creative partnership with Steve Moore. The latter, a revered figure in the world of comics and esoteric writing, passed away in 2014, but his spirit and contributions vibrantly live on through the pages of this book.
The release of is not just the culmination of a project; it is the celebration of a profound creative partnership between Alan Moore and Steve Moore. Alan, renowned for his revolutionary work in comics and graphic novels, has always been deeply interested in the mystical and the esoteric. Steve, a writer and scholar of the occult, was not just a collaborator but a close friend. Together, they embarked on a journey that transcended the boundaries of conventional storytelling, exploring the depths of magic and its place in the world. This book is their legacy, a gift to those who seek to understand the unseen and to explore the mysteries that lie just beyond the veil of the everyday.
“One of the great honours of my publishing career has been to work with Alan Moore on so many monumental projects, like From Hell and Lost Girls,” says Chris Staros, Editor-in-Chief of Top Shelf Productions. “The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic represents an amazing capstone, created by Alan and Steve, and brilliantly brought to life by five unforgettable artists. It’s been a privilege to watch those magical minds spend years building this grimoire, and I’m proud to join Knockabout in finally sharing it with the world.”
Alan Moore is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential writer in the history of comics. His seminal works include Miracleman and Watchmen, for which he won the coveted Hugo Award.
Never one to limit himself in form or content, Moore has also published several novels, Voice of the Fire, Jerusalem and Illuminations, an epic poem, The Mirror of Love, and ground-breaking graphic novels such as From Hell, V for Vendetta, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Moore currently resides in Northampton, England.
Steve Moore, often described as the man who led Alan Moore astray (usually by Alan himself), who died in March 2014, created many science-fiction and fantasy strips (sometimes under the name Pedro Henry) for a variety of British and American publishers, over a 40 year career. He created Abslom Daak – Dalek Killer with Steve Dillon wrote strips several “Tharg’s Future Shocks” for 2000AD, and “Laser-Eraser & Pressbutton”, for Warrior.
Occasionally taking a break to work on non-fiction in the oriental, historical and Fortean fields, he wrote on the I Ching (The Trigrams of Han) and edited the scholarly journal Fortean Studies.
A Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, other works include a collection of short fantasy stories, Tales of Telguuth, the novelisation of the film, V for Vendetta, and the original novel, Somnium.
• The UK edition of The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic (UK Edition ISBN 978-0861662890) will be available from Knockabout’s eBay shop | 300 x 230 mm hardcover | 352 pages | £39.99 (UK)
• Knockabout Comics – knockaboutcomics.com | Follow Knockabout on Twitter or Facebook for up-to-the-minute (or at least up-to-the-month) news
• The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic (US edition ISBN 978-1603095501) will be available in US bookstores and comic shops in October 2024
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.
Categories: Art and Illustration, Books, British Comics, British Comics - Books, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds
Sneak Peek: 2000AD Art of Kevin O’Neill: Apex Edition, available to pre-order now