The Mercenary Returns to Print

This October, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary, one of NBM’s bestselling series in its history comes back for a complete republishing in remastered handsome quarter-bound cloth editions.

One of the first fully painted series in comics when it was launched in the early eighties, the series sold over 100,000 copies for NBM through that decade and the nineties, the fledgling years of graphic novels. Vicente Segrelles, a Spanish artist coming from the world of SF/Fantasy illustration and book covers, tried his hand at bringing his oil painting technique to comics, doing a few pages of the adventures of a dragon-riding chivalrous Mercenary in a fantasy medieval world suspended high up in the mountains amidst the clouds, to be presented at the Bologna Book Fair. His agent found takers immediately.

In Europe at the time, comics were exploding in all directions with many different styles and increasingly sophisticated themes for adults. This never before seen highly realistic painted style, where each panel can be a poster on one’s wall, wowed everyone and proved an instant success. “For us,” NBM publisher Terry Nantier recollected, “it was another way to prove to sceptics how amazing beyond anyone’s vision comics could be and opened a lot of doors.” The first volume sold out of its 5000 copy print run to the budding direct market instantly in advance orders.

After a number of years where the series was out of print in English, NBM is proud to bring it back in 14 handsome volumes coming out on a quarterly basis with revised translations and lettering. Segrelles himself rescanned all his original artwork using the latest scanning technology for the most authentic and sharpest reproduction ever. Each volume will have its spine wrapped with real cloth, silver stamped, including an image that will come together as one on people’s shelves when all volumes are published.

Each volume also comes with beautiful abundantly illustrated new 16 page galleries at the end by Segrelles explaining his ideas, his process and his inspiration. Worldwide, this series has sold in the millions in over a dozen languages. These new editions are marking the come-back of this great classic in many parts of the world as well.

Note advisory for mature readers because of nudity. Each volume will be in a large 9×12 format (larger than NBM’s original editions), 64 pages, full color, quarter-bound hardcover with real cloth, $17.99. First volume’s ISBN 9781681121246. This series will be available for the first time as e-books as well at $9.99 each. For more information, go to nbmpub.com.