72.94.24.90: /* History */

2025-10-28T02:05:30Z

History

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{{Short description|Defunct American comic book publishing company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = First Comics
| logo =
| foundation = 1983 2011 (relaunched)
| defunct = 1991
| founder = Ken F. Levin [[Mike Gold (comics)|Mike Gold]]
| key_people = [[Matt and John Yuan]] (deputy publishers) Alex Wald (art director)<ref>Alex Wald interview, ''David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview'' #52 (1987).</ref> Kurt Goldzung (sales manager)<ref>Kurt Goldzung interview, ''David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview'' #52 (1987).</ref> [[Larry Doyle (writer)|Larry Doyle]] (editor)<ref>"First", ''The Comics Journal'' #124 (August 1988), p. 19.</ref> Bob Garcia<ref>"Bob Garcia Joins First Comics", ''The Comics Journal'' #126 (January 1989), p. 34.</ref>
| location = [[Evanston, Illinois]] (1983–1985) [[Chicago, Illinois]] (1985–1991)
| industry = [[Comics]]
| homepage =
}}

'''First Comics''' is an American [[comic book]] publisher that was active from 1983 to 1991 and then from 2011 to present (stylized as '''1First Comics'''), known for titles like ''[[American Flagg!]]'', ''[[Grimjack]]'', ''[[Nexus (comics)|Nexus]]'', ''[[Badger (comics)|Badger]]'', ''[[Dreadstar]]'', and ''[[Jon Sable]]''. Along with competitors like [[Pacific Comics]] and [[Eclipse Comics]], First took early advantage of the growing [[direct market]], attracting a number of writers and artists from [[DC Comics|DC]] and [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] to produce [[creator ownership|creator-owned]] titles, which, as they were not subject to the [[Comics Code]], were free to feature more mature content.

==History==
Based in [[Evanston, Illinois]], First Comics was co-founded by Ken F. Levin<ref name="relaunch">Phegley, Kiel. [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=33275#storyContinued "CBR News: EXCLUSIVE: Levin On Relaunching First Comics"], Comic Book Resource (July 14, 2011).</ref> and [[Mike Gold (comics)|Mike Gold]]. It launched in 1983 with a line-up of creators including [[Frank Brunner]], [[Mike Grell]], [[Howard Chaykin]], [[Joe Staton]], [[Steven Grant]], [[Timothy Truman]], and [[Jim Starlin]]. In 1984, First acquired all the titles of the short-lived publisher [[Capital Comics]], including [[Mike Baron]]'s action/superhero/fantasy/comedy series ''[[Badger (comics)|Badger]]'', and Baron and [[Steve Rude]]'s space-[[superhero]] series ''[[Nexus (comics)|Nexus]]''.

Among First's best-known titles were Chaykin's satirical futuristic cop series ''[[American Flagg]]''; [[John Ostrander]] and [[Tim Truman]]'s ''[[Grimjack]]''; Baron & Rude's ''Nexus''; ''Badger''; [[Jim Starlin]]'s space opera series ''[[Dreadstar]]''; and [[Mike Grell]]'s ''[[Jon Sable]]'', which was briefly adapted for TV.

In 1984, the publisher sued industry giant [[Marvel Comics]], claiming that Marvel flooded the market with new titles in 1983 in order to shut out First and other new companies. In the same lawsuit, First also sued printer [[World Color Press]] for anti-competitive activities, claiming the printer undercharged Marvel for its business, and in return overcharged First and its fellow independents.<ref>"First Comics Sues Marvel Comics for Anti-Competitive Activities", ''The Comics Journal'' #89 (May 1984), p. 8.</ref><ref>Goodrich, Chris. "Captain America, Get a Lawyer!: An upstart comic book publisher sues mighty Marvel Comics", ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (01 June 1986), p. 9.</ref> The suit was resolved in the spring of 1988.<ref>"First vs. Marvel and World Color", ''The Comics Journal'' #102 (September 1985), pp. 11-14.</ref><ref>"First Awaits Court Verdict", ''The Comics Journal'' #121 (April 1988), p. 8: lawsuit involving First Comics, Marvel Comics, and printing of comics, and World Color Press.</ref>

The company moved to [[Chicago]] in 1985. [[Mike Gold (comics)|Mike Gold]], one of First's founders, served as the company president until late 1985;<ref>"Mike Gold Leaves First Presidential Post" ''The Comics Journal'' #103 (November 1985), pp. 14-15.</ref> Gold soon moved to New York to become a senior editor at [[DC Comics]].<ref>"Mike Gold Leaves First Comics to Become Senior Editor at DC", ''The Comics Journal'' #105 (February 1986), p. 27.</ref> Gold later used his First Comics connections to bring Grell, Chaykin, and Truman over to DC, where they created series such as ''[[Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters]]'', ''[[Blackhawk (DC Comics)|Blackhawk]]'', and ''[[Hawkworld]]''.

From 1985 to 1988, First published [[Peter B. Gillis]] and [[Mike Saenz]]'s [[digital comic]] ''[[Shatter (digital comic)|Shatter]]'', the first commercially published all-digital comic book.<ref name="Publishers2006">{{cite web |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-932051-44-5 |date=17 July 2006 |title=Shatter |author=Staff writer|website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref>

In 1986, despite its success with the direct market, First experimented with newsstand distribution.<ref>"Editorial: First Comics to Experiment with Newsstand Distribution this Spring", ''The Comics Journal'' #107 (April 1986), pp. 14-15.</ref> Later that same year, the publisher found itself in the middle of the industry-wide debate about [[creators' rights]].<ref>"First Comics Pays Up", ''The Comics Journal'' #110 (August 1986), pp. 9-10: On creators' rights.</ref> Clashes with DC Comics, First, and other publishers on this issue led in part to the drafting of the [[Creator's Bill of Rights]] signed by [[Scott McCloud]], [[Kevin Eastman]], [[Peter Laird]], [[Dave Sim]], [[Rick Veitch]], and other comics creators in late 1988.

First also published a series of comic adaptations of the ''[[The Eternal Champion (novel)|Eternal Champion]]'' books by [[Michael Moorcock]] and English translations of the [[Manga|Japanese manga]] series ''[[Lone Wolf and Cub]]''.

The company's final major project was a revival of ''[[Classics Illustrated]]''.<ref>"First Comics Revives ''Classics Illustrated''", ''The Comics Journal'' #120 (March 1988), p. 12.</ref><ref>"First Comics Revives ''Classics Illustrated'' in January", ''The Comics Journal'' #132 (November 1989), p. 23.</ref> The company partnered with [[Berkley Books]] (then Berkley Publishing Group) to acquire the rights, and ''Classics Illustrated'' returned with new adaptations and a line-up of artists that included [[Kyle Baker]], [[Dean Motter]], [[Mike Ploog]], [[P. Craig Russell]], [[Bill Sienkiewicz]], [[Joe Staton]], [[Rick Geary]], and [[Gahan Wilson]]. However, the line lasted only a little over a year.

First Comics ceased publishing in 1991, and closed their doors for good in early 1992.<ref>"Newswatch: First Closes Offices," ''The Comics Journal'' #148 (February 1992), p. 27.</ref>

=== Rebirth ===
At [[San Diego Comic-Con]] in 2011, First co-founder Levin announced that the company would resume publishing new material in late 2011.<ref name="relaunch" /> Two years later, Mike Baron announced a new project on his Facebook page: "HOWL! coming next year from First Comics. Shane Oakley is the artist".<ref>https://www.facebook.com/michael.a.baron.7 {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref> Publishing resumed in June 2014.<ref>{{cite web | url-access=limited |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/261736003873797/681463641901029 |archive-date = 2022-04-27| url = https://www.facebook.com/FirstComics/posts/681463641901029 |title = 1First Comics on Facebook |website=[[Facebook]]}}{{cbignore}}{{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref>

First Comics and Devil's Due Publishing merged to form Devil's Due/1First Comics LLC in June 2015. In addition to reprinting older properties, Devil's Due/1First Comics launched five new ongoing series. Despite the merge and emphasis on creator owned properties, both 1First Comics and Devil's Due intend to maintain editorial independence.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2015/06/devils-due-1first-comics-merger-film-licensing-1201443257/ | title=Devil's Due and 1First Comics Merge to Form Mini-Major Comics Publisher | date=16 June 2015 }}</ref>

First Comics and Devil's Due parted ways and by September of 2019, First Comics was publishing titles under their own banner.

Since 2019, First Comics has continued publishing creator-owned titles, including Inspector Oh and Love Town by [[Matt and John Yuan]], Night Stalker by [[Orlando Harding]], and the Dogwitch Omnibus by [[Dan Schaeffer]].

In December of 2020, First Comics launched its board game division, First Games (aka 1First Games) with a board game adaptation of the [[Garth Ennis]] and [[Darick Robertson]] series [[The Boys (comics)|The Boys]].

In February of 2022, [[Matt and John Yuan]] were named Deputy Publishers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/1first-comics-official-announcement-matt-and-john-yuan-as-deputy-publishers/ | title=1First Comics Official Announcement Matt and John Yuan as Deputy Publishers | date=28 February 2022 }} </ref>

== Awards ==
The company picked up many industry awards, including a 1985 [[Kirby Award]] for Best Graphic Album for ''[[List of artistic depictions of Beowulf#Comic books|Beowulf]]''.

== Legacy/collected editions ==
[[Dark Horse Comics]] would later reprint the ''Lone Wolf and Cub'' series in English, and finally complete it in 2002. In 2005, [[IDW Publishing]] revived ''Jon Sable'' and ''Grimjack'' with new miniseries and reprint collections of the First Comics issues, and would also publish a complete collection of ''Mars''. In 2007 IDW also started reprinting ''[[Badger (comics)|Badger]]'' as well as starting a new series.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11727 Mike Baron's "Badger" is Back] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902152918/http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11727 |date=2007-09-02 }}, [[Comic Book Resources]], August 29, 2007</ref> IDW also reprinted the four [[Land of Oz|Oz]] stories by [[Eric Shanower]] originally published as issues of ''First Graphic Novel'' as ''Adventures in Oz''. ''First Graphic Novel'' also featured [[colorized]] reprints of early issues of the original ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mirage Studios)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' series.

==Titles==
{{main article|List of First Comics publications}}

==See also==
* [[The F-Men]]

==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
* {{Official Website|http://www.1firstcomics.com/}}
* [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/f/first.htm First Comics] at [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk International Superheroes]
* {{cite web |url= http://home.hiwaay.net/~tfharris/pulpculture/columns/050217.shtml |title= '80s publisher First Comics' legacy still felt |date= Feb 17, 2005 |display-authors= 0 |first= Franklin |last= Harris |series= Pulp Culture }}

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[[Category:First Comics| ]]
[[Category:Companies based in Chicago]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:1983 comics debuts]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1983]]
[[Category:1991 disestablishments in Illinois]]

First Comics - Revision history

72.94.24.90: /* History */