The Best of the Nintendo Comics System #[nn] - First Appearance of Herman Smirch, Printings and Contents

Identification plate

Series: The Best of the Nintendo Comics System (Acclaim / Valiant, 1990 series)
Issue: #[nn]
Publication date: 1990
Key date: 1990
On-sale date: 1990
Price: [none]
Pages: 196
Barcode: 716892170102
ISBN: 0-9626252-1-3

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Herman Smirch - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Tatanga - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Princess Daisy - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Pionpi - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Uranos - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Ridley - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Kraid - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Bagu - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Super-Macho Man - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

Origin story on record for: Samus Aran.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Seq	Story	Type	Pages	Credits	Characters
0	-	cover	1		Captain N, Kevin Keene, Link, Little Mac, Mario, Princess Lana, Princess Zelda
1	The Best of the Nintendo Comics System	cover reprint (on interior page)	1		Captain N, Kevin Keene, Link, Mario
2	Start	foreword, introduction, preface, afterword	1	letters: typeset
3	Welcome!	illustration	1		Mario
4	In the Palm of Your Hand...	comic story	11	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Gray Morrow, Paul Creddick, Haedrich Todd; inks: Art Nichols; colors: The Gradations; letters: Ken Lopez	Mario, Princess Daisy First, Herman Smirch First, Tatanga First
5	In the Palm of Your Hand... Part II	comic story	11	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Gray Morrow, Jim Shooter, Haedrich Todd; inks: Art Nichols; colors: The Graduations; letters: Ken Lopez	Mario, Princess Daisy First, Herman Smirch First, Tatanga First
6	It's a Small World After All	comic story	11	script: Mark McClellan, Bill Vallely; pencils: Dennis Francis; inks: Art Nichols; colors: The Gradations; letters: Jade	Princess Daisy First, Herman Smirch First, Tatanga First
7	It's a Small World After All Part II	comic story	11	script: Mark McClellan, Bill Vallely; pencils: Dennis Francis; inks: Art Nichols; colors: The Graduations; letters: Jade Moede	Mario, Pionpi First, Princess Daisy First, Herman Smirch First, Tatanga First
8	International Enquistor - July 20, 1990	text story	1	letters: typeset
9	The Legend of Zelda	comic story	2	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Rodney Ramos; inks: Art Nichols; colors: J. Jackson; letters: Jade	Ganon, Impa, Link, Princess Zelda
10	Missing in Action	comic story	10	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Rodney Ramos; inks: P. Zorito; colors: The Gradations; letters: Ken Lopez	Ganon, Link, Princess Zelda
11	Secrets of the Triforce	comic story	1	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Ken Penders; inks: P. Zorito; colors: Christiaan; letters: Jade	Ganon, Link, Princess Zelda
12	Trust Me	comic story	10	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Richard Rockwell; inks: Don Hudson; colors: Andrea Brooks, The Gradations; letters: Ken Lopez	Ganon, Link, Princess Zelda
13	Thief in the Night	comic story	10	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Mark Pacella; inks: Andy Mushynsky; colors: The Gradations; letters: Jade	Bagu First, Link, Princess Zelda
14	Zelda's Consumer Tips	comic story	2	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Art Nichols; inks: P. Zorito; colors: Heather Eatman; letters: Jade	Link, Princess Zelda
15	The Power	comic story	10	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Richard Rockwell; inks: Don Hudson; colors: The Gradations; letters: Jade	Ganon, Link, Princess Zelda
16	The Price	comic story	10	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Art Nichols; inks: Don Hudson; colors: The Gradations; letters: Jade	Ganon, Link, Princess Zelda
17	The Compleat Hero	comic story	1	script: Bryan D. Leys; pencils: Richard Rockwell; inks: Art Nichols; colors: Kingman Huie; letters: Ken Lopez	Ganon, Link, Princess Zelda
18	Welcome to Videoland	comic story	2	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Bob Layton; inks: Art Nichols; colors: John Cebollero; letters: Ken Lopez	Samus Aran, Captain N, Duke, Eggplant Wizard, King Hippo, Kid Icarus, Kevin Keene, Donkey Kong, Little Mac, Mother Brain, Princess Lana
19	All's Well That Ends Swell	comic story	10	script: Brian Leys; pencils: Art Nichols; inks: John Cebollero; colors: Sean Grissom; letters: Ken Lopez	Captain N, Duke, Kid Icarus, Kevin Keene, Mother Brain, Princess Lana
20	The Item	comic story	1	script: Bill Vallely, Mark McClellan; pencils: Bob Layton; inks: Dan Panosian; colors: Meridee Mandio; letters: Ken Lopez	Mother Brain
21	Money Changes Everything	comic story	10	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Ross Andru; inks: Bob Layton; colors: J. Jackson, The Gradations; letters: Jade	Samus Aran, Captain N, Kid Icarus, Kevin Keene, Princess Lana
22	Every Dog Has Its Day	comic story	2	script: Bryan D. Leys; pencils: Rodney Ramos; inks: Art Nichols; colors: John Cebollero; letters: Dan McKinnon	Captain N, Duke, Kid Icarus, Kevin Keene, Mother Brain, Princess Lana, Uranos First
23	Nervous Meltdown	comic story	10	script: Mark McClellan, Bill Vallely; pencils: James Brock; inks: Wansi; colors: The Gradations; letters: Jade	Captain N, Duke, Eggplant Wizard, King Hippo, Kid Icarus, Kevin Keene, Mother Brain, Princess Lana
24	Video-Town	comic story	1	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Joe Q; inks: Joe Rubinstein; colors: Christiaan; letters: Jade
25	A Dog's Life	comic story	10	script: Bryan D. Leys; pencils: Bob Layton; inks: Bob Layton; colors: The Gradations; letters: Jade	Captain N, Duke, King Hippo, Kid Icarus, Kevin Keene, Mother Brain, Princess Lana
26	Villains' Do's and Don'ts	comic story	2	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Don Hudson; inks: José Marzán Jr.; colors: John Cebollero; letters: Jade	Samus Aran, Captain N, Eggplant Wizard, Kid Icarus, Kevin Keene, Mother Brain, Princess Lana, Uranos First
27	The Coming of a Hero	comic story	2	script: George Caragonne; pencils: James Brock; inks: Bob Layton; colors: Kathryn Bolinger; letters: Jade	Samus Aran Origin, Kraid First, Mother Brain, Ridley First
28	Profile of Metroid Asteroid	character profile	1	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Mickey Ritter; inks: Jan Harpes; letters: Jade	Mother Brain
29	Deceit Du Jour	comic story	10	script: Mark McClellan, Bill Vallely; pencils: Vince Mielcarek; inks: Bob Layton; colors: The Gradations, Joe Q; letters: Jade	Samus Aran, Mother Brain
30	The First Fight	comic story	2	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Donald Hudson; inks: Art Nichols; letters: Ken Lopez	Doc Lewis, Little Mac
31	Outsiders	comic story	10	script: George Caragonne; pencils: Donald Hudson; inks: José Marzán Jr.; colors: John Cebollero, Sean Grissom; letters: Ken Lopez	Piston Honda, Doc Lewis, Little Mac
32	Fox and Hounds	comic story	10	script: Bryan D. Leys; pencils: Don Hudson; inks: Bob Layton; colors: The Gradations; letters: Jade	Doc Lewis, Little Mac, Super-Macho Man First

Before you buy

Confirm the UPC box: a publisher mark instead of a barcode means direct edition, a barcode means newsstand.
Glossy covers of this era show edge chipping easily. Check black edges closely in the photos.
Check the staples and centerfold; heavily read anniversary and key issues loosen there first.

Series context

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Sources

Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Wikidata, Q9081996 (Tatanga), first-appearance property (CC0)

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com