Starlord Annual 1981 Cover – Brian Bolland’s (possibly) first painted cover
Artist: Brian Bolland (All)
228 Views - 34 Comments - 21 Likes
Additional Images:
Alternative cover design on rear (pencil)
Artwork Details
|
DescriptionFor those unfamiliar with it, Starlord was a British weekly comic, published by IPC Magazines as a sister publication for the hugely successful 2000AD. It was intended as a higher production value title aimed at a more mature audience, cashing in on the success of Star Wars and the renewed interest in Science Fiction. Unfortunately, it only lasted 22 issues before being merged into 2000AD, but it launched Strontium Dog and Ro-Busters (the forerunner to ABC Warriors). In the UK, comic titles often had hardcover annuals for parents to buy their children at Christmas, and 2000AD and Starlord were no exceptions. And although a comic may have folded (Starlord ended in October 1978), the annuals might continue.US characters were also the subject of these hardcover annuals, and Bolland produced the artwork for a 1981 Wonder Woman annual (published by Egmont). Both annuals would actually have had publication dates in autumn 1980, ready for Christmas present purchases. I don’t know which cover was done first (and other CAF members might be aware of painted covers that I have missed). But this Starlord one seems to have been painted in 1979 (noting the BB79 labelling on the space ship, which was mostly cut off in production, perhaps to avoid confusion about the year of the annual). It quite possibly is Bolland’s first painted cover, maybe his second. Starlord is shown opening up his cloak, like a magician, to reveal all the wonderful characters featured in this festive treat. Ro-Jaws and Hammerstein, the main characters of Ro-Busters, are seen at the front. Johnny Alpha and the Gronk (from Strontium Dog) are just behind (and it’s great to see Bolland’s fabulous rendition of Johnny’s timid alien side-kick). In the next row we have Na-Rutha of the Jugla Empire and Ardeni Lakam (I think) of Mind Wars, and we can already see the colour palette being used to allow the rows of characters to recede into the background. Then we get James Blocker and Suzi Cho, Time Control agents from Timequake (and right at the back I’m struggling). I’ve attached a second image, showing an earlier cover design that Brian presumably decided he couldn’t make work. Brian Bolland kindly signed the page for me after I purchased it. Hope you enjoy this little bit of history in the artistic evolution of one of the greatest artists in comics. Social/Sharing |
About the Owner
|
 |
Contact the OwnerUse can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
|
Comments on this Artwork
You must be logged in to make comments.
Rick W 
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 11/18/2025
Holy smokes! Just wonderful! Thanks for sharing this rare gem.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 11/19/2025
Rick W wrote:
Holy smokes! Just wonderful! Thanks for sharing this rare gem.
And thanks for the 'Holy smokes'! It's been a while since I've had one of those in the comments.
Dave W
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 11/18/2025
Great looking cover! Early Bolland! That's a book I would pick up to read based on the cover, for sure! Congrats!
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 11/20/2025
Dave W wrote:
Great looking cover! Early Bolland! That's a book I would pick up to read based on the cover, for sure! Congrats!
Thanks, Dave! The annuals sometimes had some 'filler' material, and they often weren't as good as the regular comics - so the covers had to look spectacular to make sure the kids were excited about them! ;-)
Duke Fleed
Member Since 2013
1 - Posted on 11/18/2025
Doesn't look anything like Chris Pratt..buy not bad! By the way, just joking. Awesome and fun find! Love it!!
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 11/18/2025
Duke Fleed wrote:
Doesn't look anything like Chris Pratt..buy not bad! By the way, just joking. Awesome and fun find! Love it!!
Ha ha. Perhaps there are many stars out there with lords? Anyway, thanks!
Kavi H
Member Since 2018
2 - Posted on 11/18/2025
Excellent and rare Bolland painted cover, congrats!!! It's a really intriguing looking group shot poster-style cover, and love the space background and other elements of color shifts going on throughout the piece! Makes me want to check it out as a sci-fi fan (thanks for sharing the detailed background info on the series history as well).
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 11/18/2025
Kavi H wrote:
Excellent and rare Bolland painted cover, congrats!!! It's a really intriguing looking group shot poster-style cover, and love the space background and other elements of color shifts going on throughout the piece! Makes me want to check it out as a sci-fi fan (thanks for sharing the detailed background info on the series history as well).
Thanks Kavi. There were some great strips in the comic. Although Strontium Dog and Ro-Busters got a new lease of life in 2000AD, Mind Wars missed out. And that was a complex and unusual tale, in which the Human empire came across as just as villainous as their Jugla empire enemies.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 11/19/2025
Geoff Art wrote:
Lovely image of the Gronk there!
Yes, it really is a special take on the Gronk that captures all of his anxiety.
Robert Altamura
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 11/18/2025
Even if this is his first, Bolland shows his true power on this painting. Love it.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 11/20/2025
Robert Altamura wrote:
Even if this is his first, Bolland shows his true power on this painting. Love it.
Thanks, yes. The colours are rich and his handling of characters that he didn't normally do is so confident.
Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 11/18/2025
Amazing! What a elcectic cast of characters to get the Bolland treatment! He controls the colors so well with the nuanced lighting and shadows.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 11/21/2025
Marcus Wai wrote:
Amazing! What a elcectic cast of characters to get the Bolland treatment! He controls the colors so well with the nuanced lighting and shadows.
I guess it's what gives it a real 'poster' feel, and I do look at it and wonder whether there were characters that he found tough to draw - as they were known to readers only in the style of the one artist who drew them in the comic.
Peter Sullivan
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 11/18/2025
This always interested me as it looks like it was drawn much earlier by Brian. Possibly 78? 79 at latest? Think it might have been an inventory leftover. Brian might remember.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 11/19/2025
Peter Sullivan wrote:
This always interested me as it looks like it was drawn much earlier by Brian. Possibly 78? 79 at latest? Think it might have been an inventory leftover. Brian might remember.
Yes, definitely '79 - there's a "BB79" marking on the spaceship just above the logo. That's what's pushing me towards thinking it's his first painted cover. I don't think Brian has mentioned it being inventory, but '79 would already be after the comic folded. And the design feels like it was done deliberately for an annual or a milestone celebration, rather than an ordinary issue.
John Bamber
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 11/19/2025
Fantastic piece of artwork. Goodness I love Brian's work.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 11/21/2025
John Bamber wrote:
Fantastic piece of artwork. Goodness I love Brian's work.
I know the feeling. I do keep looking at this and thinking "Gosh, do I really have this in my collection?".
Ben Heywood
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 11/19/2025
Oh wow! Fabulous, and what a treat to see the image on the rear!
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 11/21/2025
Ben Heywood wrote:
Oh wow! Fabulous, and what a treat to see the image on the rear!
Yes, I try to share interesting notes and sketches on the backs of art. I suppose if I really enjoy seeing them I hope that someone else will too.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 12/18/2025
David Roach wrote:
A genuine piece of history!
True!
Nils E
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 11/21/2025
Its amazing, Brian has always been so precise and crisp, yet so full of life
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 11/21/2025
Nils E wrote:
Its amazing, Brian has always been so precise and crisp, yet so full of life
Agreed! It is quite a strange mix of talents, but so Bolland.
Red Raven
Member Since 2012
1 - Posted on 11/21/2025
Beautiful cover colors by the master - congratulations my friend !!!
Toni S
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 11/22/2025
Excellent piece of ART! Bolland is without any doubt a MASTER! I have enjoyed a lot reading your descrption.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 12/18/2025
Toni S wrote:
Excellent piece of ART! Bolland is without any doubt a MASTER! I have enjoyed a lot reading your descrption.
Thanks Toni! Glad you liked the write-up.
Joe Murray
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 12/2/2025
Wow, what an amazing Bolland cover, an absolute feast for the eyes, big congrats!!
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 12/18/2025
Joe Murray wrote:
Wow, what an amazing Bolland cover, an absolute feast for the eyes, big congrats!!
Thanks, Joe! I was very relieved to win that auction.
levi jacob
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 12/2/2025
Incredible piece. Nice to see something this special from early in his career.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 12/18/2025
levi jacob wrote:
Incredible piece. Nice to see something this special from early in his career.
Thanks! I'll try to put up something even earlier in the New Year.
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 1/17/2026
Now that's a book I never ran into before! Thanks for sharing!
Latest Updates
All |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
Auctions ADVERTISEMENT
 |
Auctions
| George Pérez Annie Playbill Cover Illustration Ori |
Auctions
 |
STEVE DITKO AMAZING SPIDER-MAN MARVEL MASTERWORK PIN-UP ORIGINAL ART (SOLD FOR $590K) |
Auctions
 |
Tony Moore - Walking Dead #1, Page 7 |
Hakes Auctions
 |
BLACK CAT #1 AUGUST 2019 CGC 9.8 NM/MINT (BRUCE TIMM ORIGINAL ART SKETCH COVER). |
Subscribe to the YouTube Channel.. FREE!
Modern Mythology Comic Art
1 Accepting Commissions
Commission an Artist
For Sale Updates
Classified Updates |
|
Robert Hughes1/23/2026 7:28:00 PM |
|
Monty B1/23/2026 5:37:00 PM |
|
Mugen R.1/23/2026 4:52:00 PM |
|
ComicLINK.Com Auctions1/23/2026 4:47:00 PM |
|
NELSON H1/23/2026 3:11:00 PM |
|
ENRIQUE ALONSO1/23/2026 2:36:00 PM |
|
Dealer Updates |
|
RomitaMan Original Art1/24/2026 4:49:00 AM |
|
Coollines Artwork1/23/2026 9:53:00 PM |
|
Koch Comic Art1/23/2026 7:20:00 PM |
|
Anthony's Comicbook Art1/23/2026 4:51:00 PM |
|
ComiConArt1/23/2026 3:57:00 PM |
|
Catskill Comics1/23/2026 2:15:00 PM |
|
|
Become a Premium CAF Gallery Owner & you'll be supporting CAF and also gain access to many services and features not available to standard members.
|