Publishers / Image / Kurt Busiek's Astro City (1995) / #1
1August 1995
$2.25; 3.20 CAD

Kurt Busiek's Astro City #1

Image · August 1995

First appearance: SamaritanFirst appearance: Asa MartinFirst appearance: N-Forcer1 variantAward on record
Buy it now on eBay ›Graded copies ›
How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
  • Buy links are eBay affiliate links. They never change what the record says.

Identification plate

Series
Kurt Busiek's Astro City (Image, 1995 series)
Issue
#1
Publication date
August 1995
Key date
1995-08-10
Indicia publisher
Image Comics Inc.
Price
$2.25; 3.20 CAD
Pages
36

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

Why this issue matters

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

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

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

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

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

First appearance of Jessica Darlene Taggart - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

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

First appearance of The Silver Agent - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

First appearance of The Black Rapier - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

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

First appearance of The Living Nightmare - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the record: Thompsons - Best Publication Design (1995).

On the record: Harvey Award - Best Single Issue or Story (1996).

On the record: Squiddy Award - Comic Single Issue (1995).

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.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1pencils: Alex Ross; inks: Alex Ross; colors: Alex Ross; letters: Richard Starkings, John RoshellAsa Martin First, Samaritan First
1-credits, title page1letters: typeset
2In Dreamscomic story24script: Kurt Busiek; pencils: Brent Anderson; inks: Brent Anderson; colors: Steve Buccellato, Electric Crayon; letters: Richard Starkings, ComicraftBeautie First, The Black Rapier First, Ms. Cavendish First, Cleopatra First, Foxie Loxy First, The Living Nightmare First, Asa Martin First, MPH First, N-Forcer First, Quarrel First, Samaritan First, Dr. Saturday First, Jessica Darlene Taggart First, Sarah Brandeis First
3Astro City Pullout Posterillustration2pencils: Alex Ross; inks: Alex Ross; colors: Alex Ross
4Greetings from Astro Citytext article1script: Kurt Busiek; pencils: Art Nichols, Alex Ross; inks: Art Nichols, Alex Ross; colors: Alex RossElliot Mills First, The Silver Agent First, Alan Craig First
5-promo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: Chris Marrinan; inks: Al GordonWildStar
6-promo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: Ron Randall; inks: Dan DavisBlackjak [Spence Hillman]; Arson [Nick Pugh]
7-promo (ad from the publisher)1script: ? (promo copy); letters: typeset
8-promo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: Jeff Smith; inks: Jeff SmithFone Bone
9Astro City Character Galleryillustration1pencils: Alex RossAsa Martin First, Samaritan First

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Second PrintingSee the GCD record for identification notes.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Kurt Busiek's Astro City: Life in the Big City #[nn]
ISBN 1-56389-551-X		1996On eBay ›
Astro City: Life in the Big City #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-4012-3261-0		2011On eBay ›
Astro City: Life in the Big City #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-4012-3262-7		2011On eBay ›
Kurt Busiek's Astro City: Life in the Big City #[nn]
ISBN 0-9653290-0-3		1996On eBay ›
Astro City Metrobook #1
ISBN 978-1-5343-2204-2; 1534322043		2022On eBay ›
Image Firsts: Astro City #12022On eBay ›
Image Firsts: Astro City #1 [second printing]2025On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Confirm which printing is being sold; later printings usually carry changed cover marks or indicia lines.
  • For variant covers, match the listing photo against the variant list on this page before paying a ratio-variant price.
  • Pressable defects (spine stress, corner blunting) matter to graders; ask for photos at an angle.

Series context

1 of 6#2 ›

Sources

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