Dreadstar #1

History

Vanth Dreadstar's backstory predates the series by several years: the character first appeared in Epic Illustrated #3 (1980) as a supporting figure in Starlin's 'Metamorphosis Odyssey' serial, before graduating to Marvel Graphic Novel #3 (also 1982) for a full painted chapter. The series proper emerged from a specific institutional moment: editor-in-chief Jim Shooter launched Epic Comics in 1982 as a direct-sales-only, Code-free imprint spun off from Epic Illustrated magazine, with Archie Goodwin and Al Milgrom serving as co-editors, and Dreadstar #1 — on sale October 19, 1982 — was the very first title the imprint published. Starlin ultimately parted ways with Marvel over the Epic arrangement, citing persistent payment delays in interviews with Amazing Heroes, and moved the title to First Comics beginning with issue #27, making Dreadstar also the first creator-owned Epic title to defect to another publisher.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First issue of Epic Comics, Marvel's creator-owned, Comics Code Authority–free, direct-market-only imprint, launched in 1982 under editor-in-chief Jim Shooter with Archie Goodwin and Al Milgrom as co-editors.
• On-sale date was October 19, 1982, with a cover date of November 1982; script, pencils, and inks are all by Jim Starlin, making it a sole-creator production.
• The story, titled 'The Quest,' opens with a recap of Vanth Dreadstar's origin and pivots into a heist: Dreadstar and his crew raid a massive Instrumentality treasure satellite to fund their rebellion; the back cover features a full-color pin-up of the villain Lord High Papal.
• This is Vanth Dreadstar's first appearance in a standard periodical comic book format; prior appearances were in Epic Illustrated magazine (beginning with issue #3) and the Marvel Graphic Novel #3 painted album.
• The full team introduced or assembled by this issue includes Vanth Dreadstar (last survivor of the Milky Way galaxy), Syzygy Darklock (a cybernetic sorcerer-mystic), the cat-like humanoid Oedi, blind telepath Willow, and freebooter Skeevo — collectively known informally as 'Dreadstar and Company.'
• Epic published 26 issues of the series (1982–1986); it then moved to First Comics for 38 more issues (total run: 64 issues), followed by a six-issue limited series from Malibu Comics' Bravura line in the early 1990s, and a 2021 graphic novel (Dreadstar Returns) from Ominous Press.
• The first 12 Epic issues (including #1) were reprinted by Dynamite Entertainment in two full-color trade volumes in 2004, and later collected alongside the Metamorphosis Odyssey in the Jim Starlin's Dreadstar Omnibus Vol. 1 by Ominous Press in 2019.
• A television adaptation deal was signed in 2015 with Universal Content Productions but was placed on indefinite hold following the unexpected death of producer J.C. Spink.

Full credits

Key issues in Dreadstar

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#2 1st appearance — Skeevo