How to identify a first printing
- Underground comix era (1970 through roughly 1980): single-issue underground comix (Slow Death, Wimmen's Comix, Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary 1972, and others) are identified by indicia and, critically, by cover price and printing notations. Underground comix were frequently reprinted, and printings are tracked in the Fogel Underground Price Guide; first printings carry a premium, and reprints often note the printing or change the price and back-cover details.
- Book and collected era (1980s-present): art books and graphic-novel reprints are identified by the indicia printing statement, and some carry a number line ending in 1 for a first printing.
- Reprint identification for vintage undergrounds relies on comparing cover price, the printing line on the inside cover or last page, and physical paper and printing quality against the Fogel guide, because undergrounds are notorious for unmarked or lightly marked reprints.
Notable points & cautions
- One of the foundational underground comix publishers, founded by Ron Turner in 1970; Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary (Justin Green, 1972) is a landmark autobiographical comic.
- Underground comix printing identification relies heavily on the Fogel Underground Price Guide, which catalogs printings, price variants, and color variants.
- Distributed many other underground publishers, so its catalog overlaps with Rip Off Press, Kitchen Sink, and Print Mint era undergrounds.
- Later pivoted to art books and lowbrow/pop-surrealism, including manga-influenced artists such as Junko Mizuno.
Imprints
First editions also appear under: Last Gasp, Last Gasp Eco-Funnies (historical). Each generally follows the house convention above.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my Last Gasp (Last Gasp Eco-Funnies) book is a first edition?
Check the copyright page. Underground comix era (1970 through roughly 1980): single-issue underground comix (Slow Death, Wimmen's Comix, Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary 1972, and others) are identified by indicia and, critically, by cover price and printing notations. Underground comix were frequently reprinted, and printings are tracked in the Fogel Underground Price Guide; first printings carry a premium, and reprints often note the printing or change the price and back-cover details. Book and collected era (1980s-present): art books and graphic-novel reprints are identified by the indicia printing statement, and some carry a number line ending in 1 for a first printing.
Does Last Gasp (Last Gasp Eco-Funnies) use a number line?
Book and collected era (1980s-present): art books and graphic-novel reprints are identified by the indicia printing statement, and some carry a number line ending in 1 for a first printing.
Is a book-club edition a Last Gasp (Last Gasp Eco-Funnies) first edition?
No. Book-club editions reprint the text but are not the true first edition. One of the foundational underground comix publishers, founded by Ron Turner in 1970; Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary (Justin Green, 1972) is a landmark autobiographical comic.
What era does this cover?
This covers Last Gasp (Last Gasp Eco-Funnies) (1970-present). Conventions changed over time, so confirm the era of your copy.