Preview: The Inspired Vision Of A True Great — ‘The 2000 AD Art Of Kevin O’Neill Apex Edition’

To say there was no one like Kevin O’Neill is no exaggeration, simply a truth universally acknowledged. In celebration of his art and his life… The 2000 AD Art of Kevin O’Neill Apex Edition.

2000 AD’s Apex Editions, massive (no really, absolutely massive. HUUUGE) tomes dedicated to the greatest artists, Brian Bolland and Mick McMahon thus far, are beautiful things no doubt and really wonderful celebrations of the artists.

But the 2000 AD Art of Kevin O’Neill Apex Edition, coming out on 28 June 2023, is more than that. Sadly, it’s both a celebration and a memorial, as sadly Kevin died last November, far too young, far too soon.

Originally due for release on 28th June 2023, but now delayed thanks to those darned problems of manufacturing problems and now due to be released on or before 19th July, this latest Apex Edition is available in both standard and special slipcase editions – but if you haven’t already pre-ordered the slipcase edition you’re out of luck on that one. However, even if you don’t get the slipcase, you really should take a look at the 160 pages on offer here, all compiled by O’Neill from his own collection and given the archival and restoration treatment from 2000 AD‘s team.

As I say, it’s a massive volume, presenting the pages of O’Neill’s work at their actual size – from covers to stunning double-page spreads and more. It’s a must for any fan of his work and a beautiful and fitting tribute to a great.

The Apex Edition includes work from every stage of O’Neill’s 2000 AD career, right from the very first strips and designs when he was working as art assistant at 2000 AD and Starlord through to his work on Nemesis, Dredd, ABC Warriors, and Ro-Busters. There’s also a chance to see some of his 2000 AD covers for the DC Comics Metalzoic series – first published by DC and then licensed to 2000 AD. It’s frankly a tragedy that Metalzoic remains uncollected as a prestige hardcover, it really is.

The majority of the work here comes from before he made the move to US comics and Marshal Law with Pat Mills and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Alan Moore, but there are a few more recent things, including his and Pat Mills’ very last Nemesis strip from Prog 2000 and his very last work, a return to Bonjo From Beyond The Stars in Prog 2312

But from the first to the last here, this is unmistakably O’Neill, technically adept even from the early days, always innovative, hugely inventive, spectacularly bizarre at times – as David Roach says in the introduction here, he really was “the unique and unforgettable Mr Kevin O’Neill.”

And this isn’t the last of these Apex Editions, there’s already plans afoot for a second volume that will include a hell of a lot more of his Nemesis work amongst other delights.

THE 2000 AD ART OF KEVIN O’NEILL

Published by 2000 AD on 28 June 2023

Now, preview time, followed by the complete list of contents – a genius at work, Mr Kevin O’Neill…

The complete list of contents:

Tharg the Mighty head shot concepts
2000 AD Sci-fi Special 1977 cover
Judge Dredd: Judges Graveyard pages 1-6
Tharg’s Future Shocks: Hunted pages 1-3
Mach Zero Star Scan
2000 AD Annual 1979 cover
2000 AD covers – Progs 40, 71, 84, 88, 97 (unused due to strike action), 103, 112, 167 (sketch & cover) 398, 483, 485, 489, 492, 500
Ro-Busters cover – Starlord issues 5 & 16 Cover
Ro-Busters Star Scan – Starlord issue 19
Ro-Busters – 2000 AD Prog 88, pages 1-4, 6
Ro-Busters – 2000 AD Prog 90, pages 1-6
Ro-Busters – 2000 AD Prog 103, pages 1-6
Ro-Busters – 2000 AD Prog 104, pages 1-6
Ro-Busters – Ro-jaws, 2000 AD Prog 106 Star Scan
Ro-Busters – 2000 AD Prog 111, pages 1-6
Ro-Busters – 2000 AD Prog 112, pages 1-6
ABC Warriors – 2000 AD Prog 119, pages 3-7
ABC Warriors – 2000 AD Prog 123, pages 1-6
ABC Warriors – Titan Book One frontispiece
ABC Warriors – Prologue pages 1-3
ABC Warriors – Epilogue pages 1-3
Shok! – Judge Dredd Annual 1981, pages 1-7
Judge Dredd: The Law According To Dredd – 2000 AD Prog 474, pages 3-7
Judge Dredd: The Law According To Dredd – 2000 AD Page 475, pages 1-2, 4-7
Judge Dredd – 2000 AD Prog 521, page 1,
Nemesis: Terror Tube – 2000 AD Prog 167, pages 1-6
Torquemada The God – 2000 AD Prog 520, pages 1-6
Torquemada’s Second Honeymoon – 2000 AD Annual 1988, pages 1-6
Tomb Of Torquemada Poster Prog, cover
Tomb Of Torquemada Poster Prog, pages 1-6
Tomb Of Torquemada Poster Prog, poster
Nemesis the Warlock: The Final Conflict – 2000 AD Prog 2000, pages 1-6
Bonjo From Beyond The Stars – 2000 AD Prog 2312