First Comics

First Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1983 to 1991. First was, next to Pacific Comics and Eclipse, one of the typical independent publishers in the 1980s, quite successfully alongside Marvel and DC existed for a short time by not like the new system of direct market (direct sales of comics through comic shops, and earlier usual, kiosks and general stores ) exploited.

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

One month after Warp appeared Joe Statons E-Man at first, then put the first publication of Mike Grell's Starslayer with # 7 on. The first six books were published by Starslayer Pacific Comics. The next First series was Jon Sable, Freelance by Mike Grell.

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

In 1985, after the bankruptcy of First Captial comics publishing Nexus by Mike Baron and Steve Rude and Badger, also by Baron to continue. Nexus started with # 7 at first, with Badger # 5

Atypical was for an American comic book publisher of the 80s that First almost completely renounced classic superheroes, only E-Man by Joe Staton was a near-normal superhero series. The rest of Firsts early output spanned over all possible genres of science fiction ( Nexus, Starslayer, Mars) through agents Stories (Jon Sable ) to fantasy ( Warp ) and futuristic dystopias (American Flagg ).

Second half of the 80

In 1985 Shatter by Mike Saenz at first, the first fully formed in the computer comic. After Mike Golds return to DC Comics Rick Oliver took over the role of Firsts editor in the same year. First started mini-series based on the novels by Michael Moorcock to publish and took over in 1987 Jim Starlins Dreadstar # 27 of Marvel with Epic label. In addition, First published in the second half of the 80s and colored reprints of Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Decline

Despite the generally very high quality of Firsts series, the publisher went bankrupt in 1991. The latest releases from First were Classics Illustrated editions in collaboration with Berkeley Publishing. Some First series found a new home with other publishers, for example, Badger comics was by Darkhorse and Image relocated in Malibu Comics ' Bravura label a six-part mini-series Dreadstar appeared. However, many of the early First Comics have long been unavailable and therefore great was the joy of the fans when, in 2004 several initiatives to revive Firsts heroes were started.

Future

Dynamic Forces and Image Comics published in November 2004, a collection of the first twelve issues of American Flagg Chaykins. Mars, Grimjack and Jon Sable, Freelance are reprinted 2005 by IDW Publishing, in addition new miniseries The latter two characters will appear. Nexus is reissued by Dark Horse Comics in black / white. Also Badger will be collected and published again.