Key Collector Comics

Artist's Firsts I

Artist's 1sts I Legendary artists in comics and their first published work

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Flash #289
DC ⋅ 1980
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Flash #289
 
Low
$1
Mid
$3
High
$12

Key Facts

First published artwork at DC by George Perez

The Gift #1
Image ⋅ 2003
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The Gift #1
 
Low
$1
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$2
High
$3

Key Facts

First published artwork in the comic book industry by Tyler Kirkham

The Warlord #63
DC ⋅ 1982
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The Warlord #63
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$4

Key Facts

First interior art by Dan Jurgens

Power Girl #27
DC ⋅ 2011
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Power Girl #27
 
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$125

Key Facts

First cover art by Warren Louw

Final issue

Copies ordered by retailers: 16,491

CrossGen Primer #1
CrossGen Comics ⋅ 2000
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CrossGen Primer #1
 
Low
$1
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$2
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$3

Key Facts

First partial cover art by Joshua Middleton, one character

Distributed with Wizard Magazine #103

Galathea #1
Emmanuel Proust Editions ⋅ 2005
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Galathea #1
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20

Key Facts

First cover art by Stephanie Hans

Coyote #11
Epic ⋅ 1985
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Coyote #11
 
Low
$8
Mid
$25
High
$85

Key Facts

First interior art by Todd McFarlane in the comic industry, officially

McFarlane previously had a sketch published in the Comics Journal #84 fanzine

Megaton #5
Megaton ⋅ 1986
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Megaton #5
 
Low
$1
Mid
$3
High
$12

Key Facts

First interior art by Rob Liefeld

Agent Three-Zero #1
Galaxi Novels ⋅ 1993
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Agent Three-Zero #1
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$3

Key Facts

First cover art by Stephen Platt

Includes a trading card and poster

Necrowar #1
Dreamwave ⋅ 2003
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Necrowar #1
 
Low
$1
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$2
High
$3

Key Facts

First cover art by Adi Granov

Gatefold cover

House of Mystery #179
DC ⋅ 1969
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House of Mystery #179
 
Low
$18
Mid
$75
High
$225

Key Facts

First interior art by Bernie Wrightson

Cover art by Neal Adams

Hot Stuf' #1
Sal Quartuccio ⋅ 1974
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Hot Stuf' #1
 
Low
$25
Mid
$80
High
$250

Key Facts

Early interior art by George Perez in a Fanzine, not professionally published by a comic book company

Jumbo Comics #1
Fiction House ⋅ 1938
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Jumbo Comics #1
 
Low
$3.1k
Mid
$9k
High
$26k

Key Facts

First professionally published interior art by Jack Kirby, as Jack Curtiss

1st appearance of Sheena Queen of the Jungle

Nova #17
Marvel ⋅ 2007
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Nova #17
 
Low
$1
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$2
High
$5

Key Facts

First cover art by Francesco Mattina

Alpha Flight #51
Marvel ⋅ 1987
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Alpha Flight #51
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20

Key Facts

First full issue with interior artwork by Jim Lee at Marvel Comics

Lee provided an illustration for The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Book of the Dead Deluxe Edition (August 1987)

Prior to aforementioned issues, Jim Lee inked 'Solson Christmas Special Featuring Samurai Santa #1' (December 1986)

Gore Shriek #1
FantaCo ⋅ 1986
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Gore Shriek #1
 
Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$25

Key Facts

First interior art by Greg Capullo

💀 MATRIX COMIX: Probably the best-known book on this list, I would be remiss not to include this essential issue for those new to the genre

Published by FantaCo in 1986, Gore Shriek ushered in a new age of horror comics with its splatterpunk aesthetic

Featuring a Bruce Spaulding Fuller cover and boasting the first published work of Greg Capullo, this anthology issue is the foundation of Copper Age horror

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With only 16 CGC 9.8s on census and a 90-day 9.8 average of just under $500, this historic horror book is drastically undervalued

Gore Shriek #4
FantaCo ⋅ 1988
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Gore Shriek #4
 
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$50

Key Facts

First cover art by Greg Capullo

Witchblade #129
Non-Key
Variant ⋅ Top Cow ⋅ 2009
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Witchblade #129
 
Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$3

Key Facts

First cover art by John Tyler Christopher

The Hulk! #13
Marvel ⋅ 1979
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The Hulk! #13
 
Low
$8
Mid
$20
High
$85

Key Facts

First published interior art by Bill Sienkiewicz

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #202
DC ⋅ 1974
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Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #202
 
Low
$4
Mid
$10
High
$45

Key Facts

ERG-1 becomes Wildfire

First interior art by Mike Grell, interior inks

True Secrets #4
Timely ⋅ 1951
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True Secrets #4
 
Low
$35
Mid
$115
High
$350

Key Facts

First known artwork by John Romita Sr., previously did many uncredited ghost artist works for Lester Zakarin

The story 'When Love Is Lost' is assumed to be the work of Romita but there are no interior creator credits

Warhammer: Forge of War #5
BOOM! ⋅ 2007
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Warhammer: Forge of War #5
 
Low
$4
Mid
$12
High
$40

Key Facts

First cover art by Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau

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