# Is "Violent Cases (with Dave McKean)" by Neil Gaiman a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Violent Cases (with Dave McKean) by Neil Gaiman (Escape Books / Titan, 1987) is identified by: Gaiman's first graphic novel and Dave McKean's first published comics work. The UK Escape 1987 black-and-white softcover is the true first and among Gaiman's earliest book-form works.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Gaiman's first graphic novel and Dave McKean's first published comics work
- UK first edition published by Escape Books with Titan, 1987
- 48-page black-and-white printing in wraps (softcover)
- Later editions reproduce McKean's art in color
- Publisher imprint reads Escape Books / Titan
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neil Gaiman |
| Publisher | Escape Books / Titan |
| Year | 1987 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Gaiman's first graphic novel and Dave McKean's first published comics work |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Gaiman's first graphic novel and Dave McKean's first published comics work. UK first edition published by Escape Books with Titan, 1987; 48-page black-and-white printing in wraps (softcover). Later editions reproduce McKean's art in color.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Escape 1987 black-and-white softcover is the true first and among Gaiman's earliest book-form works. Scarce.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The later Tundra (1991) and Kitchen Sink color editions are not the first; a color interior indicates a later edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Violent Cases (with Dave McKean)* by Neil Gaiman a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/violent-cases-with-dave-mckean
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.