The points of issue
Cover-dated October 2003, printed cover price, first print run of roughly 7,000 to 7,500 copies. The first print carries no printing notation on the cover and the indicia shows no 'printing' line (or states 'First Printing, October 2003'). The 'Walking Dead' logo red is the lighter first-print shade. The second print (December 2003) adds a 'Second Printing' notation near the Image logo at the bottom of the cover, the logo red is noticeably darker and almost black, and the indicia explicitly reads 'Second Printing, December 2003.' Later printings (third, fourth) are likewise cover-marked. A known first-print color error exists in which 'Mature Readers' prints in black on a minority of copies.
Is this the true first?
True first appearance of Rick Grimes. The direct edition with the Image logo is standard; a genuine 2003 newsstand copy with a UPC barcode is far scarcer. Any newsstand premium attaches only to the first print.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition. The key trap is paying first-print prices for a marked later printing or a later-printing newsstand copy. Confirm there is no printing notation anywhere and that the logo is the lighter first-print red rather than the darker second-print red.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Walking Dead #1 (comic) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Cover-dated October 2003, printed cover price, first print run of roughly 7,000 to 7,500 copies. The first print carries no printing notation on the cover and the indicia shows no 'printing' line (or states 'First Printing, October 2003'). The 'Walking Dead' logo red is the lighter first-print shade. The second print (December 2003) adds a 'Second Printing' notation near the Image logo at the bottom of the cover, the logo red is noticeably darker and almost black, and the indicia explicitly reads 'Second Printing, December 2003.' Later printings (third, fou
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 Rick Grimes. The direct edition with the Image logo is standard; a genuine 2003 newsstand copy with a UPC barcode is far scarcer. Any newsstand premium attaches only to the first print.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition. The key trap is paying first-print prices for a marked later printing or a later-printing newsstand copy. Confirm there is no printing notation anywhere and that the logo is the lighter first-print red rather than the darker second-print red.
I have a first edition of The Walking Dead #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.