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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, 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 and Marvel Comics to produce creator-owned titles, which, as they were not subject to the Comics Code, were free to feature more mature content.
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."First Comics Sues Marvel Comics for Anti-Competitive Activities", The Comics Journal #89 (May 1984), p. 8.Goodrich, Chris. "Captain America, Get a Lawyer!: An upstart comic book publisher sues mighty Marvel Comics", San Francisco Chronicle (01 June 1986), p. 9. The suit was resolved in the spring of 1988."First vs. Marvel and World Color", The Comics Journal #102 (September 1985), pp. 11-14."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.
The company moved to Chicago in 1985. Mike Gold, one of First's founders, served as the company president until late 1985;"Mike Gold Leaves First Presidential Post" The Comics Journal #103 (November 1985), pp. 14-15. Gold soon moved to New York to become a senior editor at DC Comics."Mike Gold Leaves First Comics to Become Senior Editor at DC", The Comics Journal #105 (February 1986), p. 27. Gold later used his First Comics connections to bring Grell, Chaykin, and Truman over to DC, where they created series such as , Blackhawk, and Hawkworld.
From 1985 to 1988, First published Peter B. Gillis and Mike Saenz's digital comic Shatter, the first commercially published all-digital comic book.
In 1986, despite its success with the direct market, First experimented with newsstand distribution."Editorial: First Comics to Experiment with Newsstand Distribution this Spring", The Comics Journal #107 (April 1986), pp. 14-15. Later that same year, the publisher found itself in the middle of the industry-wide debate about creators' rights."First Comics Pays Up", The Comics Journal #110 (August 1986), pp. 9-10: On creators' rights. 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 Eternal Champion books by Michael Moorcock and English translations of the Manga series Lone Wolf and Cub.
The company's final major project was a revival of Classics Illustrated."First Comics Revives Classics Illustrated", The Comics Journal #120 (March 1988), p. 12."First Comics Revives Classics Illustrated in January", The Comics Journal #132 (November 1989), p. 23. 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."Newswatch: First Closes Offices," The Comics Journal #148 (February 1992), p. 27.
Publishing resumed in June 2014.
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.
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.
In February of 2022, Matt and John Yuan were named Deputy Publishers.
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