Dark Horse Books has announced Dave Gibbons’ Confabulation: An Anecdotal Autobiography, compiled by Tim Pilcher.
The book will go on sale from 25th October 2022, but copies will be available ahead of that at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival in Bowness-on-Windermere (14th – 16th October), with Dave and Tim in attendance.
A comprehensive, in-depth, and personal journey through the eyes of one of the world’s most famous comics creators, Confabulation spans Dave’s earliest years copying Superman and Batman comics as a kid, to co-creating the bestselling graphic novel of all-time, Watchmen, and beyond.
Presented alphabetically, with informally written anecdotes that can be read from cover-to-cover or simply dipped into, Gibbons reveals unseen comics’ pitches, life as the first Comics Laureate, adventures in advertising and album cover design, and his journey from fanzine artist to infiltrating DC Thomson in the 1970s.
This book covers everything from his work on Doctor Who and meeting Tom Baker, to his induction into the Eisner Hall of Fame. Gibbons also discusses, for the first time anywhere, the end of his relationship with fellow Watchmen co-creator Alan Moore.
Packed with over 300 iconic, rarely seen, and unpublished art pieces and photographs, Confabulation: An Anecdotal Autobiography will not only entertain, but peels back the layers of a fascinating career in comics.
Dave Gibbons established himself in underground comics and fanzines in Britain before becoming a frequent contributor to the seminal 2000AD, illustrating “Harlem Heroes”, “Dan Dare” and co-creating “Rogue Trooper”.
Since then, he has drawn and written for most comics publishers on both sides of the Atlantic. His work has encompassed Doctor Who, Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Captain America, Doctor Strange, The Incredible Hulk, Predator and Aliens. With writer Frank Miller he co-created Give Me Liberty and Martha Washington Goes To War.
Watchmen, his collaboration with writer Alan Moore, is the best-selling graphic novel ever published. It became a major motion picture in 2009 and was the basis of a multi-award winning TV show in 2019.
He collaborated with Revolution Software, as Art Director, to create the cult classic adventure video game Beneath a Steel Sky, released in 1994.
His autobiographical graphic novel The Originals won an Eisner Award in 2005. His recent work has included Kingsman: The Secret Service, with Mark Millar, now also a major motion picture franchise.
He was appointed Comics Laureate in 2014, with the brief to develop the use of comics in education and, in 2015, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Comic Arts from the University of Dundee.
He renewed his relationship with Revolution Software, art directing Beyond a Steel Sky, released in 2020 as a pillar Apple Arcade title.
Tim Pilcher is an award-winning Senior Publishing, Editing and Writing professional, the co-owner of Soaring Penguin Press, a creator with almost 30 years’ experience, delivering multi-faceted and engaging content across multiple publications and genres, including books, comics and more.
He is also currently organiser for the Comic Zone at the London Film & Comic Con, a Director and Trustee of Queenspark Books, and a former chair of the Comic Book Alliance.
He’s worked for some of the trade publishing industry leaders, whilst also working on a freelance basis as an Author, Editor and Consultant. His books include Comic Book Babylon: A Cautionary Tale of Sex, Drugs and Comics (2013), the candid, uncensored and utterly unofficial of story of DC Comic’s infamous Vertigo UK office, the bestselling Erotic Comics Volumes 1 & 2 (2008-9) and How Comics Work (2017), with artist Dave Gibbons.
During his career, he’s worked with people across all levels and ages, ranging from senior academics through to mentoring young students, including with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, with Dave Gibbons and Carole Tait, on the Breakthrough comics project, which aimed to open up opportunities for a number of creators of diverse backgrounds to learn about the industry. A collection of stories was published by Soaring Penguin Press in 2020.
Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics is an excellent example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and transform a company with humble beginnings into an industry giant. Over the years, Dark Horse has published the work of creative legends such as Yoshitaka Amano, Margaret Atwood, Paul Chadwick, Geof Darrow, Will Eisner, Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons, Faith Erin Hicks, Kazuo Koike, Matt Kindt, Jeff Lemire, Mike Mignola, Frank Miller, Moebius, Chuck Palahniuk, Wendy Pini, and Gerard Way. In addition, Dark Horse has a long tradition of establishing exciting new creative talent throughout all of its divisions.
The company has also set the industry standard for quality licensed comics, graphic novels, collectibles, and art books, including Stranger Things, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Dragon Age, James Cameron’s Avatar, Game of Thrones, Mass Effect, StarCraft, The Witcher, and Halo. Today, Dark Horse Comics is one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.
• Confabulation: An Anecdotal Autobiography by Dave Gibbons | Illustrated by Dave Gibbons | Compiled by Tim Pilcher | Hardcover | ISBN 9781506729053 | will be available everywhere books are sold 25th October, 2022.
It is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at your local comic shop and bookstore. Confabulation: An Anecdotal Autobiography will retail for $39.99 in the US, £29.99 in the UK, and $49.99 in Canada
• The Lakes International Comic Art Festival – back 14th – 16th October 2022, moving to Bowness-in-Windermere – is online at: www.comicartfestival.com
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