The Alan Moore First Edition Collector's Guide
Alan Moore (born 1953) is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the history of comics. Watchmen, V for Vendetta, From Hell, The Killing Joke, and his ABC line of titles redefined what the medium could achieve. His prose novels — Voice of the Fire and Jerusalem — demonstrate the same ambition and density in a different form. Moore is also one of the most difficult signatures to obtain in all of book and comics collecting.
The Collecting Landscape
Moore’s market is defined by two characteristics: extraordinary literary quality and extreme signing scarcity. Moore famously fell out with the mainstream comics industry in the 2000s, retired from comics, and became increasingly selective about public appearances. He has never participated in organized signing events in the manner of most comics creators, and his signatures are genuinely rare.
Bibliography Overview
DC/Vertigo Era: Watchmen (1986–87, collected 1987), V for Vendetta (1982–89, collected 1988), The Killing Joke (1988), Swamp Thing (1984–87).
Independent/Creator-Owned: From Hell (1989–96, collected 1999 by Eddie Campbell Press), Lost Girls (2006, Top Shelf).
ABC Line (America’s Best Comics): The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Promethea, Tom Strong, Top 10.
Prose Novels: Voice of the Fire (1996), Jerusalem (2016).
Late Career: Providence (2015–17), The Bumper Book of Magic (2024).
Key Collecting Priorities
- Watchmen — The trophy. First printing of the collected edition or individual issues #1–12.
- V for Vendetta — The first collected edition (1988).
- The Killing Joke — First printing (1988) of the single issue.
- From Hell — Eddie Campbell Press collected edition (1999).
- Jerusalem — Knockabout Comics first edition (2016).