Iron Maiden marks 40 years of 'Somewhere in Time' with comic book

Iron Maiden has released a graphic novel to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its 1986 album, Somewhere in Time. The publication is a collaboration with Z2 comics and transforms the music into a visual science fiction narrative.

The book contains individual stories for all eight tracks on the original record. It also includes a prologue and an epilogue that focus on the band’s mascot, Eddie. These sections depict events leading up to the moment captured on the iconic album cover.

Guitarist Adrian Smith praised the new artistic direction for the character. He described the version of Eddie in the book as muscular and menacing. Smith noted that the visual style complements the music and possesses a genuine power.

The collection also features an in-depth interview with Smith. In that conversation, he details the creative process behind writing and recording the original 1986 material.

Deluxe editions of the graphic novel include rare 7-inch vinyl singles of two songs from the album. The tracks are 'Wasted Years' and 'Stranger in a Strange Land'.

The original Somewhere in Time album reached stores on Sept. 29, 1986. It marked a shift in the band’s sound by adding synthesizers to their metal instrumentation. The record achieved platinum sales in the United States.