The points of issue
Cover-dated March 2012, printed cover price, Fiona Staples cover showing Alana breastfeeding the newborn Hazel. The first print has no reprint notation and the series title 'Saga' is lettered in orange. The second printing (April 2012) renders the 'Saga' title in black and adds the words 'Second Printing' directly below the price; subsequent printings are likewise marked. The first-print indicia is dated 2012.
Is this the true first?
True first appearance of Alana, Marko, and Hazel. The unmarked first print is the key; high-grade and CGC 9.8 first-print copies are the most sought. Later printings are common and clearly marked.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition; later printings carry a printing notation and the black title color. Verify the unmarked, orange-title first print dated 2012.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Saga #1 (comic) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cover-dated March 2012, printed cover price, Fiona Staples cover showing Alana breastfeeding the newborn Hazel. The first print has no reprint notation and the series title 'Saga' is lettered in orange. The second printing (April 2012) renders the 'Saga' title in black and adds the words 'Second Printing' directly below the price; subsequent printings are likewise marked. The first-print indicia is dated 2012.
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. True first appearance of Alana, Marko, and Hazel. The unmarked first print is the key; high-grade and CGC 9.8 first-print copies are the most sought. Later printings are common and clearly marked.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition; later printings carry a printing notation and the black title color. Verify the unmarked, orange-title first print dated 2012.
I have a first edition of Saga #1 (comic) — 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.