The points of issue
First collected hardcover edition, Pantheon Books, 2005, in dust jacket; stated first edition with a number line ending in 1. Collects the twelve-issue Black Hole comic series originally published by Kitchen Sink and then Fantagraphics, 1995 to 2005. Laminated boards with the original Burns jacket design; price present on the jacket flap.
Is this the true first?
The 1995 to 2005 single-issue comic series is the serial true first appearance. The 2005 Pantheon hardcover is the first collected book edition. Distinguish the collected first from the original serial run and from the later trade paperback.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No separate book-club edition is recorded. Later printings and the subsequent paperback differ in number line and binding. Confirm the stated first edition with a number line ending in 1, dated 2005.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Black Hole a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First collected hardcover edition, Pantheon Books, 2005, in dust jacket; stated first edition with a number line ending in 1. Collects the twelve-issue Black Hole comic series originally published by Kitchen Sink and then Fantagraphics, 1995 to 2005. Laminated boards with the original Burns jacket design; price present on the jacket flap.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The 1995 to 2005 single-issue comic series is the serial true first appearance. The 2005 Pantheon hardcover is the first collected book edition. Distinguish the collected first from the original serial run and from the later trade paperback.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No separate book-club edition is recorded. Later printings and the subsequent paperback differ in number line and binding. Confirm the stated first edition with a number line ending in 1, dated 2005.
I have a first edition of Black Hole — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.