The points of issue
First trade paperback, Dark Horse Comics, 1997, ISBN 1-56971-226-X (978-1-56971-226-9), collecting the five-issue 1996 mini-series Hellboy: Wake the Devil. The first printing has the original cover and no later-printing statement in the indicia. The collected edition adds a new epilogue.
Is this the true first?
The single issues, Wake the Devil numbers 1 through 5 from 1996, are the true first appearance; the 1997 trade paperback is the first book collection, the second Hellboy collection overall.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition; later re-covered and library/omnibus editions exist.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Hellboy: Wake the Devil a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First trade paperback, Dark Horse Comics, 1997, ISBN 1-56971-226-X (978-1-56971-226-9), collecting the five-issue 1996 mini-series Hellboy: Wake the Devil. The first printing has the original cover and no later-printing statement in the indicia. The collected edition adds a new epilogue.
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 single issues, Wake the Devil numbers 1 through 5 from 1996, are the true first appearance; the 1997 trade paperback is the first book collection, the second Hellboy collection overall.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition; later re-covered and library/omnibus editions exist.
I have a first edition of Hellboy: Wake the Devil — 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.