TMNT Archie Comics Editions

[Chet]

Does anyone know of a good resource for determining whether issues of the Archie comics series are first, second, third (etc) editions?

[Chet]

I have two copies of the first issue

One says "1st Edition Collector's Issue!" and has a "Archie salutes Victor Gorelick Editor" panel on it, the inside front cover is a black & white anti-drug strip with the Archie characters. Inside back cover is a black & white Archie fan club ad.

The other does not have the text or panel on the cover, and the inside front cover is a color ad for the TMNT Role Playing Game, while the inside back cover is a black & white child care PSA with the Archie characters.

The fine print in both issues says March 1989

[Nortock Diab]

There was a review of a very thorough investigation here on the board.
Apparently it was more complex than it could be expected.

[MrPliggins]

Any of the ones with Victor Gorelick in the upc box are reprints. You should see which printing it is in the indicia, where the date and year are.

I believe a true first printing of issue one has no upc box, and does not say "1st Edition Collector's Issue!" like this one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-adventures-1-NM-archie-comics/163738308677?hash=item261f905045:g:vVgAAOSwG8Jcz3U 5

[rich]

Does anyone know of a good resource for determining whether issues of the Archie comics series are first, second, third (etc) editions?

This is answered in another thread. Here's the link (http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showpost.php?p=1795159&postcount=8).

[Chet]

This is answered in another thread. Here's the link (http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showpost.php?p=1795159&postcount=8).

Thank you, I have multiple versions of the first 11 or 12

EDIT: Actually, I don't see an indication of first or second printing in my issue 12's

[rich]

Thank you, I have multiple versions of the first 11 or 12

EDIT: Actually, I don't see an indication of first or second printing in my issue 12's

1- Absolutely everything printed by Archie has a Direct edition AND Newsstand edition.

Do they have barcodes on the cover? If so, they are newsstand and not 1st or 2nd printings.

[Chet]

1- Absolutely everything printed by Archie has a Direct edition AND Newsstand edition.

Do they have barcodes on the cover? If so, they are newsstand and not 1st or 2nd printings.

No barcodes.

[rich]

No barcodes.

Interesting. Please share some pictures of the covers and insides (especially the legal info) of anything you have that doesn't adhere to the aforementioned "Archie rules."

[Chet]

Issue #12 falls outside of this and actually specifies First and Second Printing.


Front Cover
http://oi68.tinypic.com/2i1gw7n.jpg

Inside Front Cover
http://oi66.tinypic.com/2crx7p0.jpg

First Page
http://oi66.tinypic.com/2lmvxo0.jpg

Legal Info
http://oi68.tinypic.com/23h7uhc.jpg

Inside Back Cover
http://oi65.tinypic.com/2r3gigw.jpg

Back Cover
http://oi68.tinypic.com/25h2069.jpg

[rich]

That's really interesting. I'll have to defer to @Rat_King on this as he's the Archie printings expert. I'll ping him and have him take a look at this to get his thoughts on what we're looking at with this #12 with no barcode AND no printing designation.

[Chet]

I've got two copies of #12 and they are both like this.

[rich]

I had a chat with @Rat_King and apparently the rules for #11 and #12 are different than he originally posted. He just checked his issues and the rules should be corrected for those as follows:

#11
- 1st Direct Market - Color ad on inside front - printing NOT specified inside
- 2nd Direct Market - Color ad on inside front - printing IS specified inside
- 3rd Direct Market - Color ad on inside front - printing IS specified inside
- 4th Direct Market - Color ad on inside front - printing IS specified inside
- Newsstand - barcode on cover
- Canadian - $1.25 cover price

#12
- 1st Direct Market - Color ad on inside front - printing NOT specified inside
- 2nd Direct Market - Color ad on inside front - printing IS specified inside
- Newsstand - barcode on cover

[Chet]

Thank you for the info!