Iron Maiden‘s landmark album Somewhere In Time is 40 years old this year. The 1986 album was a bit of a departure for the band with the use of synthesizers, but it remains one of their best now. They’re teaming up with Z2, the leading publisher of music-driven graphic novels and illustrated books. Together, they’re putting out quite the package of releases for Somewhere In Time.
Bookending the song-inspired stories within SOMEWHERE IN TIME: The Graphic Album is a prologue and epilogue that delivers what every Maiden fan wants… More EDDIE! Written by award-winner Kelly Sue DeConnick and illustrated by Andy MacDonald, these stories tell the tale of what could have happened in the moments leading up to that iconic album cover that captured the imagination of generations of Maiden fans. The book will be released worldwide on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2027.
Iron Maiden Guitarist Adrian Smith says, regarding the appeal of the Somewhere In Time incarnation of Eddie “Yeah, I mean, it’s just a great version of Eddie, my favourite version of Eddie probably. There’s a real power there you know, a genuine power and menace. He’s very muscular isn’t he? He looks like he’s been working out. Like I say, it complements the music, which is fantastic.”
Smith took over on the album, writing a majority of the tracks, including some of the most famous ones like ‘Wasted Years’, a track that the band still plays to this day, closing concerts with.
Diving deep into the eight time-spanning Sci-Fi stories are an all star lineup of creators from comics and film, including: Steve Niles, Goran Parlov, Benjamin Raab, Deric Hughes, Matt Haley, Dan Hernandez, Adam Markiewicz, David Dastmalchian, Stan Yak, Corin Hardy, Montos, Stefano Cardoselli, John Reppion, Leah Moore, Vincent Locke, Henry Sansom, and Davide Frabbi. Kicking off the volume is an introduction by comic legend, and Bruce Dickinson collaborator, Bill Sienkiewicz.
Wrapping up this exciting collection of new stories is an in-depth interview with Iron Maiden guitarist/songwriter Adrian Smith, conducted by Dave Shack of Phantom, looking back at the creative process of writing and recording Somewhere In Time, and the lasting appeal of its songs.
Details About The Various Editions Of Somewhere In Time: The Graphic Album
This is a project where you truly can judge a book by its cover, as Deluxe and Platinum editions come housed in a metallic Time Machine slipcase, with a DieCut “Green Acetate” targeting lens with cover art by Blake Armstrong. A Tony Harris cover is exclusively available in retail, with a cover by Jay Geldhof available via EMP and a Dan Mumford cover available via Rarewaves. The deluxe and Platinum editions come with art prints of all four covers, and the Platinum edition comes with four exclusive framed “Eddie” Somewhere in Time cards by artist Davide Fabbri and a bookplate signed by Iron Maiden guitarist, Adrian Smith.
You can preorder the graphic album right here.
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