SW3D

AKA... John Byrne's Ultra Rare First Published Comic Book!

Last December, on the 27th to be exact, I shared my little story of how I walked into Midtown Comics Grand Central and walked out with this ultra rare Holy Grail... for only $3. That's right... only three dollars! And the original sticker price on the comic was $5, however, MCGC was running a 40% sale on all back issues. So when all was said and done, I walked away with this piece of comic book history for just three bucks! Incredible!

And what exactly is ACA Comix No. 1?

ACA Comix No. 1 is an Alberta College of Art (ACA) publication (May, 1971); a "brochure" featuring the very first published comic book written and illustrated by the man himself, John Byrne, when he was an art student. Fast forward 42 years, and the color-blind, English born but Canadian bred writer/artist, has achieved legendary status for his work on Avengers, Uncanny X-Men, Alpha Flight, Fantastic Four, Superman, and his creations Rog-2000, Doomsday Plus 1, Danger Unlimited, and Next Men.

From an interview conducted by Jon B. Cooke, which appeared in Comic Book Artist #12, John Byrne states, "Not sure I would actually have called it my "first full-length comic story." Death's-Head Knight was a project done for the Alberta College of Art, which I was attending at the time. The curator of the gallery had brought in a comic art show, and needed a "brochure" to be given away at the door. He asked me if I could prepare something on relatively short notice, and I did, some 20 pages, each double-width. It was a sword-&-sorcery story."

I honestly have no idea how many "brochures" were printed, but I am going to take a guess and say anywhere between 500 to 1,500 copies. The big question: How many have survived for over four decades? I am confident the vast majority have sadly, ended up in the trash. And according to the CGC Census, what I have in my possession is only the second graded copy... and I am exuberant to know it is the highest graded of the two, having been graded an 8.5.

If you visit John Byrne's website, Byrne Robotics, you can click and view his scanned panels of the comic book brochure: http://www.artofjohnbyrne.com/gallery/earlydays/collegedays/.

Anyway... for all you rabid JB fans... here it is... a picture of the ACA Comix No. 1 encapsulated and graded.

Thanks for reading... and as always Happy Collecting!

SW3D

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Hey Brandon,

Thanks for the shout out!

What can i say... your #1 is a beauty... and more importantly your impetus for collecting.

The cherished memory that comic represents is truly priceless.

Thanks for the very enjoyable top 10 list... i am exactly sad to see it end.

SW3D

Of all the collectors I know, a Rocky Mountain is most fitting to be in the hands of someone who has such a majestic view of Pike's Peak. Of course you're partial to it!

Doesn't Superman's "Satanic Son" look a lot like Zan from the Wondertwins of the Superfriends animated TV show?

So basically we have another mystery... no idea what the story is about... only a cover with select images.

Do you remember the last time we conjured up our own ideas for the Red Sonja you own?

Perhaps we should do it for this one as well?

SW3D