Den, Richard Corben’s long-out-of-print underground fantasy, now has pages restored from the original plates by José Villarrubia in the ECC Ediciones catalog.

Richard Corben has always been a cult author in Europe, and this is especially popular in Spain. That’s why so many of this author’s long-out-of-print series can be found in our comic stores. Thanks to ECC Ediciones, now comes to us the most emblematic series of Corben, Den Vol. 1: Nothing.

A work of worship

Dan’s long publishing career is complex. In the early seventies Corben started working on this story (based on a short film made a few years earlier) and it was published for several years in various magazines, including the French one Métal Hurlant, the Spanish 1984 and the very relevant American Heavy Metal.

But in the year It was in 1978, thanks to the Catalan editor Josep Tutain, that this story reached our country under the title Den: Fantastic Journey to the World of Nadinada. The opulent atmosphere of the work, its highly erotic content and Corben’s charming method of applying digital sound to his pictures were enough to convince many readers of such challenging stories.

In the year Villarubia had successfully recovered to reprint his old works, so it seemed like a good choice. Using scans of the original pages and covers, we were able to hold in our hands all the benefits and all the flavor of a work done half a century ago.

Underground fantasy

In the first two pages of the work we witness the metaphorical creation of our protagonist. Not knowing what or who he is, this muscular, hairless man wanders completely naked in a landscape that is completely unfamiliar to him. He only knows his name is Dan and his instincts drive him to a horizon where only sex and violence await.

A dystopian fantasy world filled with all kinds of terrifying creatures and fiery women becomes a true protagonist of the story, where the author reveals his unique graphic style and creative and unusual narrative technique. The work has the most fashionable apocalyptic futures of Robert E. Howard’s Conan Sword and Sorcerer and the magazines in which it was first published, which has acquired a more obscure mixture, incorporating pieces of science fiction and occult art. and the use of a color palette that might be more typical of pop-art.

Go inside Richard Corbin

Any of Corben’s works will challenge the reader on several levels, but this one is perhaps the greatest in that respect. The chaotic nature of the plot and the nightmarish nature of the author’s portrayal are signs of how free the creative process was that led to its birth.

That’s why this first volume is not only an entry into Dan’s world, but also into Corben’s mind. In some ways, you can understand the author’s concern from these pages, although in the second half of his career he earned his bread from many commercial projects, he was always doing what he loved and what he loved. He thought his readers would enjoy it.

This volume is presented in hardcover, has 132 pages in color and includes a translation of the first volume of the American edition of the original work, as well as an introduction by José Villarubia, a fine text and a gallery of illustrations of the last part. It has a recommended retail price of €30 and goes on sale in April 2024.

Den Vol. 1: Nothing

A gift card to purchase a copy of the first edition at a specialty bookstore.

Richard Corben’s masterpiece is back in print after decades!

Known for his legendary underground fantasy works published by Fantagor Press and Heavy Metal, Richard Corben’s work has been recognized by the Grand Prix de Angoulême, one of the most prestigious awards in comics literature worldwide, and the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame.

Trapped in a strange fantasy world called Neverland, muscular adventurer Dan finds himself surrounded by ancient ruins, an evil queen, a sacrificial double, strange lizards, giant insects and even more insane and dangerous madness in this legendary, magical and mayhem-filled adventure. This special edition collects the first volume of the long-out-of-print Den.

All pages have been restored from the original plates by Corben’s frequent collaborator José Villarubia.

Authors: Richard Corben and Jose Villarrubia