Image, DC, Marvel and Diamond

Admittedly the hot comic books collectors look for usually are first issues, first appearances or crucial events.

But, not all first appearances, et al happen in the pages of comic books.

Many promotional pieces, catalogs and other comic book literature contain some key and collectibles art.

Back in the early and mid-1990s the Internet was in its infancy.  Most promotional material was still only available in printed form and then it was not readily available to everyone.

Comic book publishers were still going through a transitional phase. The Direct Sales Market had revolutionized the distribution of comic books and publishers were scrambling in an attempt to take full advantage of the situation.

Often publishers would create ‘in-house’ publications meant for stockholders, retailers and were often distributed at retailer conventions and to the press.  Very few copies managed to make to the comic book collectors themselves.

Interestingly enough many of the ‘proposed’ projects laid out in the publications either were shelved, creative teams changed or modified.  Many simply did not get published.

What makes these publications so interesting is that much of the art in them were the first appearances of certain characters seen long before Diamond Previews or collector magazines such as Wizard, Fan and Combo spotlighted them sometimes months later.

For ‘true’ first appearances these magazines are a goldmine.  Marvel, DC, Image and to a smaller degree alternate press publishers turned out their own catalog/previews.

I predict as the comic book collecting frenzy continues to escalate that these publications will soon be much sought after.

After perusing Amazon and Ebay I was only able to find two such copies of the publications seen in the accompanying photo.