Hellboy 1st appearance?

[FullOnHorror]

With all the Hellboy movie hype going on I have noticed Ebay getting flooded wth many Hellboy raw and graded comics. I have noticed that three books in particular and all three are be being pushed by the sellers as the first appearance. The three books are Dime Press #4 which I'm pretty sure is an Italian fanzine, San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2, and of course Next Men #21. I was always under the impression that Next Men 21 was the first appearance. I think that Dime Press #4 has what would be considered a prototype of Hellboy and I have never read San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2 so I don't know what the story is with that one.

 

Hopefully somebody can fill me in if my info is correct or not. I know some 1st appearances are debated when it comes to a 1st cameo and 1st full appearance but I have never really seen it happen with three books like this so it also has me curious what anybody else might think.

[gilbertotorres]

dime press #4- hellboy was just on the cover.

 

san diego comic-con #2 is the first true hellboy appearance. there is a hellboy story in the end.

 

next men #21 was the first color hellboy appearance.