We recently learnt that Titan would be publishing Prometheus: The Art of the Film. It turns out Titan is also going to re-publishing a number of older Alien books as well:
“With Prometheus on the way, they are replicating the format for themselves, with Alien: The Illustrated Story: The Artists’ Edition, now renamed from “The Original Edition” to closer mirror the IDW editions. The volume will reprint the original art of the Heavy Metal Archie Goodwin/Walt Simonson adaptation of Ridley Scott’s Alien at the 14″ x 17″ size.
The volume will also include colour tryout pages, the Goodwin script, an interviews with Simonson as well as his signature on every copy. Titan are also making the original story available in colour paperback at a… slightly more affordable price as Alien – The Illustrated Story.”
This comes from Bleeding Cool and is the first official announcement regarding the re-release. According to Amazon The Book of Alien and the Colonial Marine’s Technical Manual are also going to be re-published. If you’re interested in The Illustrated Story, be sure to Like their Facebook page.
Why are you asking, Huddo? You interviewed the guy!
I recall reading some sort of interview with Lee Brimmicombe-Wood where he mentioned it was a licensing thing which was why 'Alien3' isn't referenced directly.
Edit-- yeah, he mentions it in this interview but I also recall him mentioning it in some other interview as well.
How cool would it be to get him to find that and put it in this new version? It's not gonna happen, but that'd be the only way I'd consider buying the book again.
Although if the reprint has actual new content I wouldn't mind dealing with the shitty cover.
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alien--Illustrated-Story-Original-Edition/dp/1781161305/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332106057&sr=1-1
£32.99
EDIT: I was just now going to buy the book for like $37, but there is no way I'm spending $50 on it. Why does the price for things tend to go up on amazon the longer you wait?
I like the old cover design with the Nostromo caught in vines or tentacles, although I am not sure where vines or tentacles come in in the story, but the new design with the Alien creature is pretty eye-catching.
SM wins the interesting question award.
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First Blood - Thanks so much, glad you liked it. It was truly a one of a kind situation, having access to all (or at least 90%) the original artwork to be able to rescan at high-res and have re-colored by the amazing team Steve Oliff put together.
SM - No.
Ta. One more question - Can I have your job?
Just wanted to express that you and those involved did a beautiful job on the Walter Simonson Thor Omnibus. Well done.
Aaron - Sadly, Archie passed away back in '99. I work in Walter's studio so that's how I got the gig to do the art scanning and restoration, as I scanned all the artwork for the recent Marvel THOR Omnibus reprint and some of the artwork for IDW's THOR Artist Edition. Walter is extremely busy drawing Avengers for Marvel currently, but be assured he will be signing off on all portions of the finished product to make sure we get the best book published that we can. We will also have the original creative director for the book and letterer, John Workman involved. He is very excited to see this back in print, as are we all.
SM - When the original book was printed, all of the lettering was done on a separate pieces of drafting vellum for each page, as some of the dialogue was to be printed in blue, and it was easier to have the lettering done that way for printing. Well, fast forward 30 years, printing is done somewhat differently and it's easier to have all the artwork setup and finalized going into the print process. So, I had to re-composite the lettering digitally back onto the artwork for the B&W and color editions. Also, the coloring in the original printing ended up being kinda muddy and the blacks were a little washed out in places. We have scanned in all the color artwork fresh and will adjust things so that it will be printed in the manner that was supposed to be originally released back in '79 but for some reason, did not turn out that way.
What makes them so special, is that if you've ever seen original artwork compared to the printed version, there is usually a significant size difference as artwork is generally reduced by 35% for comics as a rule. The "Artist editions" print the original artwork at it's full original size, that means the pages in this book will 14" x 17", the same size as the original artboards. Plus with all the extra and new material and interviews, that's what makes them so "special". Also, the IDW edition start at US$100 a copy, so the price for the Alien book is a considerable bargain. If you are not one to care about such artistic matters, then the regular color reprint should hold you just fine.
RagingDragon - All copies of the Original Art Edition will come hand-signed by Walter. It will be a limited run and there are no plans for re-printing as I understand it.
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I can't afford it, so I'll just be getting the paperback reprint with the color version. I like da purrty colors
Also, I get your pain about More Than Human. It's so sad that what was supposed to be a triumphant return was a dramatic failure for the comic series.
I'm still recovering from buying Aliens: More Than Human when I' could've gotten Omnibus 4 with Berserker in it.
Cheers.
If folk want the Original Art Edition, I'd get your orders in on Amazon now before the price goes up. I've pre-ordered mine.
Shoveke, are Archie or Walter assisting you in anyway at all with the re-release?
I'm the admin for the "Alien-TIS" facebook page and am responsible for scanning and restoring the artwork for the Titan reprints.
The "Original Art Edition" can be ordered right now at the Amazon.co.uk site, but you didn't have to live overseas to order it. We have plenty of american fans that have already ordered a copy through them. It is true that the only domestic outlet will be Diamond via comic shops and the like.
The new color reprint edition will be available as a mass market edition and is currently up for order at both the US and UK Amazon sites. It will also be available via Diamond.
If you have any questions, please feel free to fire away and I'll do my level-best to answer them in a timely manner.
Also, more info and any new info is posted first over at the Official FB page - http://www.facebook.com/AlienTIS
Thanks for the interest in this reprint project.
Compare it to Earth War, Alien3, Newt's Tale or Resurrection and they pale in comparison.
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This is going to look gorgeous rescanned and redone. Almost like a fresh coat of paint.
And the tech manual finally getting the love it deserves after what... 15 years? I always thought they did a good job with that book, and assembled/presented it in an entertaining way as well.
I'll get these banged on the front page soon, as well.
Per the official Facebook page and this link: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/03/10/alien-the-artists-edition/
That's right--these are very limited edition, and the price is so high because every copy is personally autographed. Note the original color version will only be sold separately in paperback.