2000AD #11 Cover: Brian Bolland’s first ever cover (1977), Dan Dare story

What an honor to be the first on commenting this exceptional piece of art!!!

Historical first Bolland's cover on 2000AD. It was just the beginning but its quality was the perfect evidence of what had to come.

It is so lovely to see this piece in your collection.

It is also so amazing to know that it comnes directly from the artist colection.

Huge congrats on this!

Thanks for the kind words, Toni! It was good to know that Brian had kept it for so long, and that he must have had reasons for wanting to hold on to it. That kept it in perfect condition as well!

Historic piece of art from one of the best!

Thanks Brent!

Thanks! Yes, Bolland seemed to have an eye for the spectacular right from the start. And his art has outlived that early signature...

wow, great piece of art history!  Congrats!

Epic!

TOP THRILL indeed!

:-) I really wish they'd kept the 'Top Thrill' box. It was often Dan Dare in those days, rather than Dredd.

Congratulations on getting this historic Bolland cover!

This must've been mind blowing to see on the stands at the time!

True! It really did stand out, as quite a few of the early 2000AD covers did. But this one almost has a direct command to buy the comic!

Fantastic! What a piece of history!

Wow, love the detail and lighting on the head shot, and how big it is on the board.  Feels like the page can't hold everything that's going on, including the explosion and the lettering.  And I dig that about it!  Congrats!

Thanks! And it's a large board as well, so the boldness of the large head is even more stark in the artwork. I love the idea that the page can't hold it all in.

A Mr. Monday cover on a Monday eh!? Tremendous and historic first Bollo cover, congrats!

Ha ha! I hadn't even noticed the Monday thing. I really should  make this a regular feature - Mr Monday Mondays. Except that I only have one Mr Monday page... Oh well.

Still time to change that before next Monday ;-)

ADEQUATE!!!

Love it! I really hope that's your new calling card, like "Baller" is for Foggy Bottom.

As a first time, upon seeing this cover, it just blows me away. 

I would watch the film based on this movie poster!

I hadn't thought of it as a movie poster before, but you're right - it has that eye appeal. Glad you like it!

A top thrill to see and a top thrill for you as the comic welcomed you to a future where you would own such a significant piece!

Ha ha! That's a lovely way of looking at it. Thanks, Marcus.

Wow.

Just, y'know...wow.

WHOA and WOW - that is a true gem - early Bolland is so good. Another HOME RUN addition to your collection. 

Thanks Dave! I'm not sure I can keep the home runs coming, but I'll give it my best shot.

What a scoop. A calling card debut with stippling on a par with Drew Friedman and Howard Cruse. It always makes you feel better, if as it sounds to me, to get the art direct from the artist or their rep. Congrats on a real gem.

Thanks, Simon! Yes, Bolland could have become one of the great stipplers. Perhaps Wolverton is in that list too? That's a good point about how I came to get it - it was via Brian's rep, so I added that to the description. 

A truly iconic cover, and one that I adored way back in 1977, and still do today. I'm in the very unusual position of seeing it at Brian's house- then seeing it about a week later at your house- talk about a surprise! Definitely one of your bezt pages.

Really a piece of history!! Congrats!

This is nothing short of a historical artifact.  Call the Lucas Museum!

Matt? I thinks he's in Les Miserables at the moment. Not running a museum. Are you talking about sellout to Disney, Lucas? I think he changed his name to Greedy George.

Thanks, Steve! I couldn't believe it when I had a chance to get it. Even now, I can't believe I have it. But you must feel the same way when you add to your great gallery another illo from an '80s D&D book, that you pored over for years of gaming until every line had become familiar.

Whatever happened to Brian Bollo? Haven't heard or seen much about him since the 1970's.

Ha ha! Yes, that seemed to be a short-lived signature - albeit a very neatly and stylishly executed one.

This is an incredible piece in so many ways. It relates to a well-loved character in British comics and the great BB's first ever cover to boot. You have the British equivalent of what would be considered a priceless cover of a significant American title. And, to think that 2000AD continues to this very day! Many congrats, Paul!

Thanks! Yes, 2000AD isn't quite considered in the same way despite its longevitude, but perhaps one day... Either way, I'm happy to share just how good Bolland was right from the start of his career.

You sure went BIG with this acquisition!  What an awesome score!!!

Looks like Bolland was an expert at cover design right from the start.  An awesome pickup!

Wow, absolutely awesome & historical Bolland cover, well spent Earth Money, love it, big congrats!!

Thrill power overload!  Another historical tour-de-force!  Bolland's impactfuly page design compels your complete attention and makes you want to purchase the Prog and dive right in.  Who needs zippotone when meticulous dot shading?  Love the Odyssey ship practically exploding towards the reader.  Everything so cleanly executed by the artist.  

Allow me to stand and applaud!