How to Identify a Dark Horse Comics First Edition

How to identify a first printing

• Trade paperbacks / hardcovers: the indicia/copyright page states 'First edition:' or 'First printing:' with month and year; later printings update the wording.
• Many Dark Horse collected editions print a printing-history line that adds dates as printings accrue — a first printing shows a single date.
• Floppy issues: a first printing has no printing statement; later printings state the printing in the indicia.
• ISBN-bearing book editions are distributed to the book trade (historically via Penguin Random House Publisher Services), so standard number-line/printing-statement book conventions apply.

Notable points & cautions

• Founded 1986 by Mike Richardson (Dark Horse Presents #1, July 1986). The 1990s 'Legend' imprint (Sin City, Hellboy, Next Men) was a creator-owned branding label, not a separate first-printing rule, and ended in 1998.
• Hellboy and Sin City collections went through many printings, and the Sin City editions were re-formatted and re-titled over time, so match the specific edition title plus the stated first-printing date.
• Dark Horse held the Star Wars comics license from 1991 (Dark Empire) until the license returned to Marvel for 2015; era of publication, not just the title, identifies the publisher.

Imprints

First editions also appear under: Dark Horse Manga (formerly Studio Proteus / Dark Horse Manga), Maverick, Berger Books, DH Press (prose), Comics' Greatest World, Legend (Frank Miller/John Byrne shared imprint, 1990s). Each generally follows the house convention above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Dark Horse Comics book is a first edition?

Check the copyright page. Trade paperbacks / hardcovers: the indicia/copyright page states 'First edition:' or 'First printing:' with month and year; later printings update the wording. Many Dark Horse collected editions print a printing-history line that adds dates as printings accrue — a first printing shows a single date.

Does Dark Horse Comics use a number line?

Many Dark Horse collected editions print a printing-history line that adds dates as printings accrue — a first printing shows a single date.

Is a book-club edition a Dark Horse Comics first edition?

No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. Founded 1986 by Mike Richardson (Dark Horse Presents #1, July 1986). The 1990s 'Legend' imprint (Sin City, Hellboy, Next Men) was a creator-owned branding label, not a separate first-printing rule, and ended in 1998.

What era does this cover?

This covers Dark Horse Comics (1986-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.