New Folio Edition Of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, Illustrated By Dave McKean

In the run-up to American Gods’ TV premiere, there’s a gorgeous new Folio Society edition of the book, illustrated by Dave McKean.

There’s a new edition of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods featuring illustrations by none other than Dave McKean. This may actually be the exquisite work I’ve seen from their decades-long collaboration.

Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean first worked together on Sandman #1. Although other artists are responsible for the pages inside each Sandman edition, McKean produced the iconic covers. In fact, there’s a whole edition devoted solely to them.

Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman have this alchemy. McKean’s otherworldly multimedia collages manifest Neil’s work so perfectly and completely. It’s like they just really get each other. Gaiman agrees. Via The Folio Society, he said:

"People ask me who my favourite artist is, to work with. I’ve worked with world-class artists, after all, heaps of them. World-class people. And when they ask me about my favourite, I say Dave McKean."

In addition to the Sandman series, McKean illustrated many of Gaiman’s books, like The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish, and Mirrormask.

With some help from Jim Henson Studios, McKean also turned Mirrormask into an amazing movie, which you really need to watch. It doesn’t have a great score on Rotten Tomatoes, but I think that’s because some people go in there expecting a normal movie. It is not normal. But Gaiman and McKean don’t do normal, and that’s exactly what we love about them.

About The Folio Society

The Folio Society does not produce first editions. So don’t go sending them your manuscript. In their words:

"The Folio Society publishes carefully crafted editions of the world’s finest literature. We believe that great books deserve to be presented in a form worthy of their contents. For nearly 70 years we have celebrated the unique joy to be derived from owning, holding and reading a beautiful printed edition."

American Gods Folio Sociey edition front end page and title page Illustrated by Dave McKean (Promotional Image via The Folio Society Publishers London)

The American Gods Folio Society edition is a legitimate work of art, so the price is steeper than your average hardcover. You’ll need to shell out $120 U.S. dollars for a copy. But one of the two hardcover editions in my house will soon make its way to a Goodwill store. So keep your eyes out for that.

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This special edition of American Gods is available exclusively through The Folio Society.