Primer

    (COMICO, 1982-1984)
™ and ©1982 COMICO, the Comic Company and the characters’ creators

During the early 1980s, when comic companies were sprouting with a renewed vitality, one of those companies, Comico, the company that first published Elementals and Mage, produced a book to give amateurs a chance to break into the business. The aptly named Primer was a book much like DC’s New Talent Showcase, and featured an eclectic mix of super-hero, science fiction, fantasy, and humor stories.

Primer’s most notable achievements include its introduction of Matt Wagner’s Grendel in issue #2, and the first appearance of warrior-nun Evangeline in issue #6. Sam Kieth, later of Wolverine and The Maxx, got his professional start in comics in a feature in Primer #5.
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    Oct 1982
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Gerry Giovinco, Phil Lasorda, Vince Argondezzi, Bill Cucinotta  ·  A: Gerry Giovinco, Phil Lasorda, Vince Argondezzi, Bill Cucinotta
    1st Appearance of Az; 1st appearance of Skrog; 1st appearance of Slaughterman; B&W
    5 copies from $18.60
  • 3
    #3
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Rick McCollum, Andrew Murphy, Bill Bryan, Jim Dever, Gerry Giovinco  ·  A: Rick McCollum, Andrew Murphy, William Messner-Loebs, Jim Dever, Bill Cucinotta, Matt Wagner, Bill Ryan
    3 copies from $2.99
  • 4
    #4
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Andrew Murphy, Barb Armata, Bernie Armata, Bill Anderson, Francis J. Mao, Larry Nadolsky  ·  A: Andrew Murphy, Barb Armata, Bill Anderson, Francis J. Mao, Larry Nadolsky, Ron Kasman
    1st Appearance of Firebringer; 1st Appearance of Laserman; B&W
    1 copy for $64.98
  • 5
    #5
    Cover: $1.50
    A: Sam Kieth
    1st professional art by Sam Kieth
    1 copy for $210.00
  • 6
    #6
    Feb 1984
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Chuck Dixon, Neil Vokes, Michael Vance, Al Wiesner, Andrew Murphy  ·  A: Judith Hunt, Neil Vokes, Grass Green, Al Wiesner, Reggie Byers
    1st Appearance of Evangeline
    1 copy for $36.00