First comics

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First Comics was an American comic book publisher that existed from 1983 to 1991. First was, along with Pacific Comics and Eclipse , one of the typical independent publishers of the 1980s, which for a short time existed quite successfully alongside Marvel and DC by introducing the novel system of the Direct Market (direct distribution of comics through comic book shops, and not like previously common, kiosks and general stores) exploited.

Beginnings

First was founded in 1981 by Mike Gold (Editor), Rick Obadiah (Publisher), Richard Felber (Business Manager) and Joe Staton (Art Director). In 1983 the first series appeared, a fantasy series called Warp , with contributions from comic book greats such as Frank Brunner , Peter B. Gillis and John Ostrander . The eight-page Sargon story in Warp # 1 was Ostrander's first published comic book.

One month after Warp, Joe Staton's E-Man was released on First, then First continued to release Mike Grell's Starslayer at # 7. The first six Starslayer issues were published by Pacific Comics . The next first series was Jon Sable, Freelance by Mike Grell.

Other early first series included Grimjack by John Ostrander and Timothy Truman , which started as a backup feature in Starslayer, American Flagg by Howard Chaykin, and Mars by Mark Hempel and Marc Wheatley .

In 1985, after Capital Comics went bankrupt, First continued publishing Nexus by Mike Baron and Steve Rude and Badger , also from Baron. Nexus started at # 7 at First, Badger at # 5.

It was atypical for an American comic book publisher in the 1980s that First almost completely dispensed with classic superheroes, only E-Man by Joe Staton was an almost normal superhero series. The rest of First's early output spanned all sorts of genres, from science fiction (Nexus, Starslayer, Mars) to agent stories (Jon Sable) to fantasy (Warp) and futuristic dystopias (American Flagg).

Second half of the 80s

In 1985, Mike Saenz's Shatter was published by First, the first completely computer-based comic. After Mike Gold's return to DC Comics , Rick Oliver took on the role of First's Editor that same year. First began publishing miniseries based on Michael Moorcock's novels and in 1987 acquired Jim Starlin's Dreadstar at # 27 from Marvel's Epic Label. In addition, First also published color reprints of Peter Lairds and Kevin Eastman's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the second half of the 1980s .

Decline

Despite the generally high quality of First's series, the publisher went bankrupt in 1991. First's most recent publications were Classics Illustrated editions in association with Berkeley Publishing. Some first series found a new home with other publishers, for example Badger was published by Dark Horse and Image Comics , a six-part Dreadstar mini-series was released on Malibu Comics' Bravura label . However, many of the early First Comics were not available for a long time, and the fans were accordingly delighted when various initiatives to revive First's heroes were launched in 2004.

future

Dynamic Forces and Image Comics released a collection of the first twelve issues of Chaykin's American Flagg in November 2004 . Mars , Grimjack and Jon Sable, Freelance will be reprinted by IDW Publishing in 2005, and new mini-series of the latter two characters will appear. Nexus is being reissued in black and white by Dark Horse Comics . Also Badger is collected and published again.

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