Just in case you’ve spent the past thirty years lamenting that you never got your hands on Astro City #1, Image Comics has you covered. The Kurt Busiek classic is getting a facsimile edition on July 2… And it’s only one of 12 first issue comics the publisher is releasing, all on the same day.
Each of the books has a hook to them: a big anniversary, a perennial favorite, or they’re either about to be adapted or were just adapted into a movie or TV show. And per the format, they’re all an exact replica of the first issue, although they will also be released with a foil variant and a blank sketch variant.
The series being released include:
- Astro City by Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Alex Ross celebrating its 30th anniversary.
- Descender by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen celebrating its 10th anniversary.
- Fell by Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith celebrating its 20th anniversary.
- Godland by Joe Casey and Tom Scioli celebrating its 20th anniversary.
- Hunter Killer by Mark Waid and Marc Silvestri celebrating its 20th anniversary.
- I Hate Fairyland by Skottie Young celebrating its 10th anniversary.
- Monstress by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda celebrating its 10th anniversary.
- Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang celebrating its 10th anniversary.
- Revival by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton celebrating its upcoming SYFY Channel adaptation.
- The Old Guard by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez celebrating its upcoming Netflix film sequel adaptation.
- Tokyo Ghost by Rick Remender and Sean Murphy celebrating its 10th anniversary.
- Witchblade by Michael Turner, Marc Silvestri, David Wohl, Brian Haberlin, and Michael Turner celebrating its 30th anniversary.
I will note that it’s unfortunate to see Warren Ellis’s name in there, as the writer was accused of sexual misconduct in 2020 by over 60 women. In 2021, Image Comics backed off publishing additional issues of Fell due to the allegations and explained, “Image Comics will not be working with Warren on anything further until he has made amends to the satisfaction of all involved.”
Despite what seemed like some promising steps forward thanks to an organization called SoManyOfUs that initially opened a dialogue with Ellis, in 2023, they announced that he “took none of the steps we hoped he would.” There have been no updates since then, and Image Comics offered no comment when asked whether Ellis will see any financial compensation from its publishing, as well as what changed from their previous statement in 2021.
Check out the facsimile edition covers, which are shockingly similar to the original covers, below, and click for larger versions. All Image Comics facsimile editions hit stores on July 2. You can also check out the solicit text, via Image.
About Astro City #1 Facsimile Editions:
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Astro City, this facsimile edition reprints the first issue of the classic series from superstars Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Alex Ross. There’s very little rest in a day for Samaritan, who must juggle a secret identity, a day job and his duties as a hero in “In Dreams.” Appearances by Quarrel, Cleopatra, Black Rapier, N-Forcer, M.P.H., Beautie, Living Nightmare.
About Descender #1 Facsimile Editions:
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Descender, this facsimile edition reprints the first issue of this beloved science fiction odyssey. One young robot’s struggle to stay alive in a universe where all androids have been outlawed and bounty hunters lurk on every planet. A rip-roaring and heart-felt cosmic odyssey that pits humanity against machine, and world against world, to create a sprawling space opera from the creators of Trillium, Sweet Tooth, and Little Gotham.
About Fell #1 Facsimile Editions:
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Fell, this facsimile edition reprints the first issue of this neo-noir classic. Detective Richard Fell is transferred over the bridge from the big city to Snowtown, a feral district whose police roster numbers three-and-a-half people (one detective has no legs). Dumped in this collapsing urban trashzone, Richard Fell is starting all over again. In a place where nothing seems to make any sense, Fell clings to the one thing he knows to be true: Everybody’s hiding something. Even him. Fell is a series about murder, love, strangeness and what people hide.
About Godland #1 Facsimile Editions:
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Godland, this facsimile edition reprints the first issue of this cosmic comic event. Adam Archer is Earth’s star-powered champion. But what does his existence mean for the rest of humanity? And how long until the rest of the universe takes notice? Mind-altering aliens! Surreal super-villains! All-out action! The greatest heroic epic of the new age begins here.
About Hunter Killer #1 Facsimile Editions:
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Hunter Killer, this facsimile edition reprints the first issue of Top Cow’s classic series. When the government goes too far, the highest authority steps in. Wolf and Ellis are the superpowered hunter-killers in the secret Failsafe branch of the government. Their mission: Watch the Watchmen, police the police, and fulfill the missions that are blacker than Black Ops. Fast-paced superhero action against a backdrop of lies and deception.
About I Hate Fairyland #1 Facsimile Editions:
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of I Hate Fairyland, this facsimile edition reprints the first issue of the best-selling series. The Adventure Time/Alice in Wonderland-style epic that smashes its cute little face against Tank Girl/Deadpool-esque violent madness has arrived. In an adventure that ain’t for the little kiddies, (unless you have super cool parents, then whatever), you’ll meet Gert-a six year old girl who has been stuck in the magical world of Fairyland for thirty years and will hack and slash her way through anything to find her way back home. Join Gert and her giant battle-axe on a delightfully blood soaked journey to see who will survive the girl who HATES Fairyland.
About Monstress #1 Facsimile Editions:
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Monstress, this facsimile edition reprints the first issue of the best-selling dark fantasy series. Steampunk meets Kaiju in this original fantasy epic for mature readers, as young Maika risks everything to control her psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, placing her in the center of a devastating war between human and otherworldly forces.
About The Old Guard #1 Facsimile Editions:
Celebrating the release of the latest Netflix motion picture adaptation of The Old Guard. Eisner-winning writer Greg Rucka (Lazarus, Black Magick, Wonder Woman) and critically acclaimed artist Leandro Fernandez (The Discipline, Deadpool, Punisher: MAX) team up together to introduce The Old Guard, the story of old soldiers who never die…and yet cannot seem to fade away. Trapped in an immortality without explanation, Andromache of Scythia—’Andy’—and her comrades ply their trade for those who can find-and afford-their services. But in the 21st century, immortality is a hard secret to keep, and when you live long enough, you learn that there are many fates worse than death.
About Paper Girls #1 Facsimile Editions:
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Paper Girls, this facsimile edition reprints the first issue of the mega-hit series from superstars Brian K. Vaughan & Cliff Chiang. In the early hours after Halloween of 1988, four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls uncover the most important story of all time. Stand By Me meets War of the Worlds in this mysterious young adult adventure.
About Revival #1 Facsimile Editions:
Celebrating the release of the SYFY channel adaptation of Revival, this facsimile edition reprints the first issue of this ‘farm noir’ that put a new twist on the zombie genre. For one day in rural central Wisconsin, the dead came back to life. Now it’s up to Officer Dana Cypress to deal with the media scrutiny, religious zealots, and government quarantine that has come with them. In a town where the living have to learn to deal with those who are supposed to be dead, Officer Cypress must solve a brutal murder, and everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect.
About Tokyo Ghost #1 Facsimile Editions:
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Monstress, this facsimile edition reprints the first issue of the best-selling series. The Isles of Los Angeles 2089: Humanity is addicted to technology, a population of unemployed leisure seekers blissfully distracted from toxic contamination, who borrow, steal, and kill to buy their next digital fix. Getting a virtual buzz is the only thing left to live for. It’s the biggest industry, the only industry, the drug everyone needs, and gangsters run it all. And who do these gangsters turn to when they need their rule enforced? Constables Led Dent and Debbie Decay. This duo is about to be given a job that will force them out of the familiar squalor of Los Angeles to take down the last tech-less country on Earth: The Garden Nation of Tokyo.
About Witchblade #1 Facsimile Editions:
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Witchblade, this facsimile edition reprints the first issue of the best-selling series. Police officer Sara Pezzini dresses to kill as she investigates businessman Kenneth Irons and his deadly bodyguard, Nottingham. Her adventures begin when she is offered a chance to try on a mystic gauntlet called the Witchblade.
This article has been updated to include the lack of comment from Image.
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