Bruce Dickinson Presses Grave Dirt from William Blake into Deluxe Graphic Novel Edition. What’s Inside the Deluxe Edition. Full Story Content: The first four issues of The Mandrake Project, plus the prologue previously limited to vinyl .

Bruce Dickinson Presses Grave Dirt from William Blake into Deluxe Graphic Novel Edition.

 

Los Angeles / London — March 27, 2025 — In a striking fusion of artistry, reverence, and theatricality, Bruce Dickinson—the iconic frontman of Iron Maiden—has unveiled a deluxe edition of The Mandrake Project: Year One, printed using ink mixed with soil collected from the grave of his literary hero, William Blake.

The deluxe volume, which compiles the first four issues of the Mandrake Project comic series alongside a previously vinyl-only prologue, arrives as a lavish 12″ × 12″, 184‑page tome. Published by Z2 Comics, the edition is housed in a luxurious slipcase featuring a rotating embossed Mandrake dial, gilt-edged pages, a silk ribbon marker, and sealed with a ribbon-bound casing .

This edition offers more than gripping supernatural storytelling. Each copy is printed with ink infused with soil taken from William Blake’s grave—a deeply symbolic gesture that bridges Dickinson’s creative world with that of the poet who so profoundly inspired him.

In heartfelt commentary, Dickinson explained: “William Blake has given me so much over the years and I want to repay the debt by helping to restore the Cottage… Despite his impact on the world, there is no center for Blake… I want to change this.” A patron of the William Blake Cottage Trust since May 2024, Dickinson is ambitiously supporting preservation efforts for Blake’s only surviving home .

What’s Inside the Deluxe Edition

Full Story Content: The first four issues of The Mandrake Project, plus the prologue previously limited to vinyl .

Creative Insights: A collection of interviews and essays documenting Dickinson’s journey in crafting the album, tour, and comic series .

Foreword by Kurt Sutter—creator of Sons of Anarchy—adds narrative depth .

Collector’s Items: Four foil collector cards, a cast-metal Mandrake Project medallion (mirroring the one in the comic and music video), and extravagant slipcase design .

The Ink with Grave Soil: A literal tribute to Blake—“actual soil from the grave.”—interwoven into the ink itself .

Release and Availability

Set for release on August 5, 2025, the deluxe 12″ × 12″ edition (including a limited signed platinum variant) is exclusively available from Z2 Comics. A more compact 9″ × 9″ hardcover (lacking the slipcase) will be distributed through Amazon, Barnes & Noble (U.S.), HMV UK (with exclusive cover and trading card), and independent comics shops worldwide .

A Theatrical Homage to a Timeless Visionary

This edition embodies Dickinson’s long-standing fascination with Blake—from his Chemical Wedding album (1998) to filming the Mandrake Project music video “Rain on the Graves” at Blake’s burial place . His statement about feeling the story “squeezing the blood out of [his] subconscious” emphasizes the profound, almost mystical connection he feels with Blake’s work .

By merging literature, music, and visual art—and by physically incorporating Blake’s earth into the book—Dickinson has created a collector’s piece that is poetic, macabre, and unforgettable.