EXTRACTS: Brian Bolland (illustrators special issue) © 2019 Book Palace Books (144 PAGES in Full edition)

144 In 1988 Brian Bolland stunned the comic world with his version of Batman’s arch-nemesis—The Joker. Unknown to many at the time, an earlier appearance of the famous villain had been eight years previously in a relatively little seen, certainly in the US, print ad campaign for the newly opened Comic Showcase in central London. Brian was already well known for his ‘People like us shop at’ series of advertisements for the Forbidden Planet store that opened in 1978 and where I had worked since its initial launch . When I left their employment after two years to strike out on my own I approached Paul Levitz on a visit to DC Comics New York offices and was delighted that he was prepared to grant permission to use the likeness of one of their characters with no fee as long it was accompanied by a copyright notice. I then tentatively approached Brian with a proposal that, after some deliberation about whether this would be a conflict of interest, he accepted. As the shop was to specialise in back issue comics only, we came up with the idea of The Joker working behind the counter and presenting the creme de la creme of back issues. Amazing Fantasy No. 15 was a no-brainer and took pride of place, Brian chose Justice League of America No. 1 and I completed the trilogy with Weird Science Fantasy No. 29. Brian then suggested that perhaps The Joker should have an ace up his sleeve with what would now be known as a ‘grail’ comic, hence the just visible Marvel Comics No. 1 ready to be whipped out for any particularly wealthy and discerning customer. Brian could easily have taken a short cut and slotted in a photographic reproduction of the covers but, with his customary eye to detail, he insisted in painstakingly drawing them by hand and even going to the trouble to represent them accurately as held at an oblique angle. If I recall correctly he spent easily as much time, if not longer, on the covers as he did on the main figure. The end result is just as pleasing today as it was when it first appeared nearly forty years ago. ● A Previous Outing For The Bolland Joker… BELOW: The legendary Paul Hudson at the opening of Comic Showcase back in August 1980. RIGHT: Brian's design for Comic Showcase, his attention to detail involved as much time on the 'holy grail" comic covers as it did the rendering of the Clown Prince of Crime. Paul Hudson, founder of the fondly remembered Comic Showcase recalls his first encounter with Brian Bolland's Joker.