1st Issue Special

1st Issue Special was an anthology series from DC Comics, done in a similar style to their Showcase series. It ran from April 1975 to April 1976.

Publication history

Writer Gerry Conway explained the series' origin: "1st Issue Special was a peculiar book concept based on [publisher] Carmine Infantino’s observation that first issues of titles often sold better than subsequent issues. Carmine’s brainstorm: a monthly series of nothing but first issues. It sounds like a joke, but he was dead serious."

Only one of the characters received an ongoing series, Mike Grell's The Warlord which first appeared in issue #8 (November 1975). Issues #1 featuring Atlas, #5 Manhunter, and #6 (Dingbats of Danger Street) featured art and story by Jack Kirby.

A number of issues featured existing DC characters: issue #3, Metamorpho, written by the character's creator Bob Haney, issue #7, the Creeper, illustrated by the character's creator Steve Ditko, issue #9, the Golden Age character Doctor Fate, and issue #13, the New Gods.

Issue #12 featured a new Starman character which would later be used in James Robinson's 1990's series focused on the character Jack Knight. The character was a supporting player in Justice League: Cry for Justice in 2010.

Some stories which had been intended for publication in 1st Issue Special appeared in other titles instead. A Batgirl and Robin team-up was published in Batman Family #1 (September-October 1975) and a Green Arrow and Black Canary story was kept in inventory until it was published as a backup feature in Green Lantern #100 (January 1978).

List of stories and credits

Collected editions

• The Jack Kirby Omnibus Volume 2 includes Atlas story from 1st Issue Special #1, Manhunter story from #5, and Dingbats of Danger Street story from #6, 624 pages, May 2013, ISBN 978-1401238339
• Showcase Presents: The Great Disaster featuring the Atomic Knights includes Atlas story from 1st Issue Special #1, 576 pages, June 2014, ISBN 978-1401242909
• The Creeper by Steve Ditko includes the Creeper story from 1st Issue Special #7, 288 pages, April 2010, ISBN 978-1401225919
• The Warlord: The Savage Empire includes the Warlord story from 1st Issue Special #8, 240 pages, November 1991, ISBN 978-1563890246
• Showcase Presents: Warlord includes the Warlord story from 1st Issue Special #8, 528 pages, September 2009, ISBN 978-1401224738
• The Art of Walter Simonson includes Doctor Fate story from 1st Issue Special #9, 208 pages, June 1989, ISBN 0930289412

See also

• List of DC Comics publications

References

External links

• 1st Issue Special at the Comic Book DB
• 1st Issue Special at Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics