From 1985 to 1987 DC Comics produced a line of paperback graphic novels, DC Science Fiction Graphic Novel, that adapted the works of notable sci-fi authors. The graphic novels were edited by long-term DC editor Julius Schwartz, who used his connections to recruit famous authors for the project (which was the last editorial work Schwartz did before his retirement from DC). This bound volume is from the personal collection of Dick Giordano and collects all seven graphic novels into a single book. It includes Hell on Earth by Robert Bloch, Nightwings by Robert Silverberg, Frost and Fire by Ray Bradbury, The Merchants of Venus by Frederick Pohl, Demon with a Glass Hand by Harlan Ellison, The Magic Goes Away by Larry Nivin, and Sandkings by George R. R. Martin. It is autographed by Keith Giffen (artist, Hell on Earth), Klaus Janson (who adapted Frost and Fire and also provided the artwork), Paul Kupperberg (signed twice, once in silver sharpe and again in black as he was not pleased with how the silver sharpie took) and Jan Duursema (adaptor and artist, respectively, of The Magic Goes Away, and Pat Broderick (artist on Sandkings). Please note- the signatures are real. They are the actual, hand-signed signatures of the artists and writers stated. They are not pre-printed images in the book. The volume is in good condition overall, though was apparently stored in a non-climate controlled area for a while as it does have spotting on its white pages (but does not effect the graphic novels content pages themselves- see scans, image 5,12 and 15). It measures approximately 8 by 11 inches and is just over an inch thick including its cover. Weight is 3 pounds, 4.4 oz. It will be shipped with the utmost care.
Of note- I can find where no other example of this volume have come to market (Heritage did not feature on in their auction archives nor does a general internet search yield any further information). So, I presume it is a one-of-a-kind item, kept by Mr. Giordano after his retirement from DC in the 1990's (DC having bound the graphic novel into this single book and kept it as part of their office library). I think this more likely than it being one of several, though - if so - still very rare, bound editions given to DC employees that either had something to do with their publication or were higher up in the DC hierarchy (as Mr. Giordano was vice president/executive editor of DC when these graphic novels were published).
About the Dick Giordano Collection:
Saved by Dick Giordano over the course of his fifty-plus year career in the comics industry, the Dick Giordano Collection spans from the beginning of his career in the 1950’s into his semiretirement period in the mid 1990’s and beyond. It includes various comic books, special projects items, advertisements, book covers, cards, stickers, and more. While the reason Giordano may have kept any given item is now unknown, the comic books themselves (all of which date back to the early days of his career) were specifically used by Giordano as source material and references images for latter works. The Charlton Comics portion of his collection include some books Giordano himself contributed to, either as artist, editor, or inker and the remaining comics - all heavily worn - which he did not contribute to were obtained by Giordano in the early days of his career (possibly to examine the styles and methods of other artists as the books including work from such talents as Jack Kirby, Wally Wood, Nick Cardy, John Romita, Sr., and many others). They were perhaps even passed around the offices at Charlton Comics by artists working under Giordano during his years there as editor. Each item in the collection comes with its own Certificate of Authenticity, hand-numbered and signed (COA shown is a sample and will actually be hand-signed, numbered, and note the item information).
About Dick Giordano (From the VaultCollectibles biography):
Alley Award winner, twice awarded the Shazam award, and mentor/inspiration to a generation of comics creators, Dick Giordano (1932-2010) was an artist, inker, editor and ultimately became the Vice President/Executive Editor at DC Comics. He is perhaps best known for his work on Batman but his contribution to comics in general cannot be overstated.
He began his career at Iger Studios and soon moved to Charlton Comics (in 1952), where worked his way up to editor, bringing in new talent such as Jim Aparo and Denny O’Neil (who he would later bring to DC). In 1968, at the suggestion of Steve Ditko, Irwin Donefeld and Carmine Infantino hired Giordano. One of his first assignments was editing Ditko’s creation Hawk & Dove for Showcase #75. He went on to pencil and ink numerous DC characters, including inking Neal Adams' classic run on Green Lantern/Green Arrow.
He left DC for a time, drawing The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu and Dracula for Marvel’s black & white magazines, co-founded with Neal Adams Continuity Studios, and illustrated several other projects before returning to DC. There he went on to be the editorial force behind not only such works as The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen in the 1980’s but his hand can also be seen in everything from DC’s landmark Crisis on Infinite Earths to the company’s revamp of characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, and the Justice League. He was also instrumental in helping to develop DC’s popular Vertigo line of books and bringing in such British talent as Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman.
After leaving DC in 1993 and continuing on in to the early 2000’s Giordano illustrated a graphic adaptation of Modesty Blaise, helped launch Future comics, illustrated several European and Australian comics featuring Lee Falk’s classic character the Phantom, and completed with writer Roy Thomas their Dracula comic originally began in the 1970’s but left unfinished when Marvel canceled their magazine-sized monster comics line. His last published work appeared in, appropriately enough, a DC comic- Johan Hex #51, published in March 2010.