First Comics

First Comics is an American comic-book publishing company established in 1983 by Ken F. Levin and Mike Gold. Based first in Evanston, Illinois, and later in Chicago, the company emerged during a period when the direct market of specialist comic shops was creating opportunities for independent publishers outside the dominant Marvel and DC system. First used that market to build a line of creator-driven titles and attracted established and emerging writers and artists, many of whom had worked for major publishers. Its books were generally creator-owned or strongly creator-controlled, allowing the company to publish material with more experimental, satirical, political, violent, or mature themes than were commonly associated with Comics Code-approved mainstream superhero comics. The original publishing program launched with work by creators including Frank Brunner, Mike Grell, Howard Chaykin, Joe Staton, Steven Grant, Timothy Truman, and Jim Starlin. In 1984, First acquired the publishing rights to titles associated with the short-lived Capital Comics, notably Mike Baron's Badger and Baron and Steve Rude's Nexus. These acquisitions strengthened First's position and helped establish a recognizable portfolio of unconventional genre comics. Other major properties included Chaykin's satirical science-fiction police series American Flagg!, John Ostrander and Timothy Truman's supernatural crime series Grimjack, Starlin's space-opera series Dreadstar, and Grell's action-adventure series Jon Sable. Jon Sable was briefly adapted for television, giving the publisher exposure beyond the comic-shop market. First also experimented with formats and distribution. From 1985 to 1988 it published Shatter by Peter B. Gillis and Mike Saenz, widely recognized as the first commercially published all-digital comic book. In 1986, the company tested newsstand distribution in addition to its established direct-market business. It published adaptations of Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion stories, English editions of the Japanese manga Lone Wolf and Cub, and a revived Classics Illustrated line produced in partnership with Berkley Books. The latter project featured work by artists such as Kyle Baker, Dean Motter, Mike Ploog, P. Craig Russell, Bill Sienkiewicz, Joe Staton, Rick Geary, and Gahan Wilson, but lasted only a little more than a year. The company was also involved in major industry disputes. In 1984, First sued Marvel Comics and printer World Color Press, alleging that market practices disadvantaged independent publishers. The litigation was resolved in spring 1988. First's conflicts with larger publishers over creators' rights formed part of the wider industry conversation that contributed to the development of the Creator's Bill of Rights in the late 1980s. First Comics ceased publishing in 1991 and closed its original operation in early 1992. Its former properties continued to have a publishing afterlife through later reprints, continuations, and revivals by companies including Dark Horse Comics and IDW Publishing. Ken Levin announced a return at San Diego Comic-Con in 2011, and new publishing resumed in 2014. In 2015, First Comics merged with Devil's Due Publishing to form Devil's Due/1First Comics LLC, while both labels were intended to retain editorial independence. The relationship ended by 2019, after which First again published under its own banner. Its later creator-owned projects have included Inspector Oh, Love Town, Night Stalker, and a Dogwitch omnibus. In 2020, the company introduced a board-game division, First Games, beginning with a board-game adaptation of The Boys. In 2022, Matt and John Yuan were named deputy publishers.

First Comics was founded in 1983 in Illinois by Ken F. Levin and Mike Gold. It was part of a generation of independent comic-book publishers that benefited from the growing direct market, in which specialist comic shops purchased and sold comics directly rather than relying exclusively on conventional newsstand distribution. Alongside companies such as Pacific Comics and Eclipse Comics, First offered creators an alternative to Marvel and DC. Its publishing model emphasized creator-owned or creator-centered projects and was less constrained by the Comics Code, permitting more mature and unconventional material. The initial line included work by Frank Brunner, Mike Grell, Howard Chaykin, Joe Staton, Steven Grant, Timothy Truman, and Jim Starlin. First expanded in 1984 by acquiring the titles of Capital Comics, including Badger and Nexus. Its most influential properties soon included American Flagg!, Grimjack, Nexus, Badger, Dreadstar, and Jon Sable. These series covered satire, science fiction, fantasy, crime, and action-adventure rather than forming a single conventional superhero line. Jon Sable later received a short-lived television adaptation. First moved from Evanston to Chicago in 1985. Mike Gold remained president until late that year, then left for a senior editorial role at DC Comics. The company's creator-oriented network remained influential in the broader industry, and several First-associated creators later worked on prominent DC projects. First also became an important site for experiments in comics production and distribution. Shatter, published from 1985 to 1988, was created by Peter B. Gillis and Mike Saenz and is commonly identified as the first commercially published all-digital comic book. In 1986, First tested newsstand distribution, seeking to extend beyond the direct market. The publisher became involved in disputes over competition and creator rights. In 1984, it sued Marvel Comics, alleging that Marvel's release of numerous titles had been intended to disadvantage First and other new publishers. First also sued World Color Press, claiming that the printer's pricing and business practices favored Marvel and burdened independent publishers. The litigation was settled in spring 1988. Separately, disagreements involving First, DC, and other publishers contributed to the late-1980s industry debate that helped lead to the Creator's Bill of Rights, a statement associated with broader demands for creator control and fairer treatment. The company's catalog also extended beyond original periodical comics. First published adaptations of Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion novels and English-language editions of Lone Wolf and Cub. With Berkley Books, it revived Classics Illustrated and commissioned new adaptations from a notable group of artists, but the project lasted only slightly more than a year. First stopped publishing in 1991 and closed its original operation in early 1992. The catalog retained value after the company's closure. Dark Horse Comics later reprinted and completed the English-language Lone Wolf and Cub publication. IDW Publishing revived or collected several First properties, including Jon Sable, Grimjack, Mars, Badger, and material connected with Oz adaptations. These later editions helped preserve First's role in the development of creator-owned and independent comics. At San Diego Comic-Con in 2011, Levin announced that First would return. New publishing resumed in June 2014. In June 2015, First Comics and Devil's Due Publishing merged into Devil's Due/1First Comics LLC. The combined operation launched new ongoing series and reprinted earlier properties, while the two labels were intended to remain editorially independent. The relationship ended by September 2019, when First was again publishing under its own banner. Later projects included Inspector Oh and Love Town by Matt and John Yuan, Night Stalker by Orlando Harding, and a Dogwitch omnibus by Dan Schaeffer. In December 2020, First launched First Games, also called 1First Games, with a board-game adaptation of The Boys. In February 2022, Matt and John Yuan became deputy publishers.

• 2022

  Deputy publishers appointed

  [1]First Comicsen.wikipedia.org

  Matt Yuan and John Yuan are named deputy publishers.

• 2020

  First Games launches

  [1]First Comicsen.wikipedia.org

  The company enters board games with a licensed adaptation of The Boys.

• 2015

  Merger with Devil's Due

  [1]First Comicsen.wikipedia.org

  First Comics and Devil's Due Publishing form Devil's Due/1First Comics LLC.

• 2014

  Publishing resumes

  [1]First Comicsen.wikipedia.org

  First Comics returns to publishing new material in June.

• 2011

  Revival is announced

  [1]First Comicsen.wikipedia.org

  Ken Levin announces plans to resume First Comics publishing at San Diego Comic-Con.

• 1991

  Original publishing operation ends

  [1]First Comicsen.wikipedia.org

  First Comics ceases publishing during 1991 and closes its original operation in early 1992.

• 1988

  Antitrust litigation is resolved

  [1]First Comicsen.wikipedia.org

  First's litigation against Marvel Comics and World Color Press is settled in spring 1988.

• 1985

  Headquarters move to Chicago

  [1]First Comicsen.wikipedia.org

  The publisher relocates from Evanston to Chicago.

• 1985

  Shatter begins publication

  [1]First Comicsen.wikipedia.org

  First begins publishing Shatter, an early commercially distributed all-digital comic created by Peter B. Gillis and Mike Saenz.

• 1984

  Capital Comics titles are acquired

  [1]First Comicsen.wikipedia.org

  First acquires the Capital Comics catalog, including Badger and Nexus.

• 1983

  First Comics is founded

  [1]First Comicsen.wikipedia.org

  Ken F. Levin and Mike Gold establish First Comics in Illinois and launch an independent line aimed at the expanding direct comic-book market.

An independent, creator-focused comics publisher positioned around distinctive genre fiction, creator ownership, mature storytelling, and formats outside the traditional mainstream superhero publishing model.

• Comic-book series

  American Flagg!

  Howard Chaykin's satirical futuristic police series was one of First Comics' signature publications. It used science-fiction world-building, political satire, media commentary, and action storytelling to distinguish itself from conventional superhero comics.

• Comic-book series

  Grimjack

  Created by John Ostrander and Timothy Truman, Grimjack combines crime fiction, fantasy, and supernatural adventure. The series became one of the best-known properties associated with First and was later revived and collected by IDW Publishing.

• Comic-book series · 1984

  Nexus

  Nexus is a space-superhero series by Mike Baron and Steve Rude. First Comics acquired it from Capital Comics in 1984, adding a distinctive science-fiction title to its independent publishing line.

• Comic-book series · 1984

  Badger

  Mike Baron's Badger mixes action, superhero parody, fantasy, and comedy. First acquired the title through its 1984 purchase of Capital Comics' titles.

• Comic-book series

  Dreadstar

  Jim Starlin's Dreadstar is a space-opera property centered on large-scale interstellar conflict and morally complex characters. It was among First Comics' most prominent creator-led science-fiction publications.

• Comic-book series

  Jon Sable

  Mike Grell's Jon Sable is an action-adventure series featuring a mercenary and hunter. The property received a short-lived television adaptation and was later revived and collected by IDW Publishing.

• Digital comic · 1985

  Shatter

  Created by Peter B. Gillis and Mike Saenz, Shatter was published from 1985 to 1988 and is widely regarded as the first commercially published all-digital comic book, making it an early experiment in electronic comics production.

• Manga translation

  Lone Wolf and Cub

  First published English-language editions of the Japanese manga Lone Wolf and Cub. The translation was later reprinted and completed by Dark Horse Comics.

• Adaptation series

  Classics Illustrated

  In partnership with Berkley Books, First revived Classics Illustrated with new literary adaptations by a broad roster of established artists. The revival was short-lived, lasting a little more than a year.

• Board games · 2020

  First Games

  First Games, also styled 1First Games, is First Comics' board-game division. It launched in 2020 with a board-game adaptation of The Boys, expanding the company beyond periodical comics and collected editions.

• 2020

  Launch of First GamesProduct launch

  Background

  The company sought to extend its comics-property business into tabletop entertainment.

  Action taken

  First launched First Games, also known as 1First Games, with a board-game adaptation of The Boys.

  Aftermath

  The available material identifies the launch but does not provide sales, distribution, or subsequent product information.

  Source

• 2015

  Merger with Devil's Due PublishingM&A

  Background

  Following First Comics' return to publishing, the company sought to operate alongside another independent comics publisher while continuing to emphasize creator-owned properties.

  Action taken

  First Comics and Devil's Due Publishing merged to form Devil's Due/1First Comics LLC and launched new ongoing series as well as reprints.

  Aftermath

  The labels were intended to retain editorial independence, but the companies later separated. By September 2019, First was publishing under its own banner.

  Source

• 1986

  First experiments with newsstand distributionStrategy

  Background

  First had built its business around the specialist direct market but sought additional reach during the expansion of independent comics.

  Action taken

  The publisher tested distribution through newsstands alongside its direct-market activity.

  Aftermath

  The reference material does not provide sales results or explain whether the experiment became a sustained channel.

  Source

• 1984

  First pursues litigation against Marvel and World Color PressOther

  Background

  First alleged that Marvel's release practices were intended to disadvantage new publishers and that World Color Press used pricing practices that favored Marvel while burdening First and other independent companies.

  Action taken

  The company filed legal action against Marvel Comics and World Color Press. The dispute was resolved in spring 1988.

  Aftermath

  The case became part of the industry's wider discussion about competition and the difficulties faced by independent publishers, although the available reference material does not state the settlement terms.

  Source

1. 1First Comicsen.wikipedia.org