Schedule Monthly Publication date April 1975–April 1976 Publisher DC Comics | Format Ongoing series Number of issues 13 | |
 | ||
Writer(s) List
Gerry Conway, Michael Fleisher, Mike Grell, Bob Haney, Robert Kanigher, Jack Kirby, Dennis O'Neil, Martin Pasko, Joe Simon, Steve Skeates Artist(s) List
Ramona Fradon, Jerry Grandenetti, Mike Grell, Walt Simonson, Mike Vosburg Similar Warlord, Our Fighting Forces, Astonishing Tales, Weird War Tales, DC Special | ||
Kirby 1st issue special
1st Issue Special was an anthology series from DC Comics, done in a similar style to their Showcase series. It ran from April 1975 to April 1976.
Contents
Publication history
Writer Gerry Conway explained the series' origin: "1st Issue Special was a peculiar book concept based on [publisher] Carmine Infantino’s observation that first issues of titles often sold better than subsequent issues. Carmine’s brainstorm: a monthly series of nothing but first issues. It sounds like a joke, but he was dead serious."
Only one of the characters received an ongoing series, Mike Grell's The Warlord which first appeared in issue #8 (November 1975). Issues #1 featuring Atlas, #5 Manhunter, and #6 (Dingbats of Danger Street) featured art and story by Jack Kirby.
A number of issues featured existing DC characters: issue #3, Metamorpho, written by the character's creator Bob Haney, issue #7, the Creeper, illustrated by the character's creator Steve Ditko, issue #9, the Golden Age character Doctor Fate, and issue #13, the New Gods.
Issue #12 featured a new Starman character which would later be used in James Robinson's 1990s series focused on the character Jack Knight. The character was a supporting player in Justice League: Cry for Justice in 2010.
Some stories which had been intended for publication in 1st Issue Special appeared in other titles instead. A Batgirl and Robin team-up was published in Batman Family #1 (September–October 1975) and a Green Arrow and Black Canary story was kept in inventory until it was published as a backup feature in Green Lantern #100 (January 1978).