# Is "Monica" by Daniel Clowes a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Monica by Daniel Clowes (Fantagraphics Books, 2023) is identified by: First edition, first printing hardcover, Fantagraphics, October 2023 (ISBN 978-1-68396-882-5). An all-original graphic novel; the 2023 Fantagraphics hardcover is the true first edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first printing hardcover, Fantagraphics, October 2023 (ISBN 978-1-68396-882-5)
- An all-original graphic novel of about 106 full-color pages in roughly 8.25 by 11 inch format, issued in illustrated boards
- The first printing carries no later-printing statement on the copyright page
- Correct publisher/imprint: Fantagraphics Books

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Daniel Clowes |
| Publisher | Fantagraphics Books |
| Year | 2023 |
| True first | world edition |
| Format | Comic / graphic novel |
| Key point | First edition, first printing hardcover, Fantagraphics, October 2023 (ISBN… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First edition, first printing hardcover, Fantagraphics, October 2023 (ISBN 978-1-68396-882-5). An all-original graphic novel of about 106 full-color pages in roughly 8.25 by 11 inch format, issued in illustrated boards. The first printing carries no later-printing statement on the copyright page.

## Is this the true first?
An all-original graphic novel; the 2023 Fantagraphics hardcover is the true first edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings are indicated on the copyright page; the first printing lacks any later-printing statement.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Monica* by Daniel Clowes a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/monica
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.