First Comics Graphic Novel / First Graphic Novel

A pioneering imprint from First Comics, the First Graphic Novel line (1984–1990) was one of the earliest dedicated series of original, full-length graphic novels in the American direct market. It served as a launchpad for ambitious, creator-owned works, most famously Mike Grell's Starslayer and Howard Chaykin's The Swords of the Swashbucklers, while also publishing notable standalone projects like The Spiral Cage by Al Davison. By treating the graphic novel as a distinct format rather than a collection of floppies, the series helped establish the artistic and commercial legitimacy of the form during the mid-1980s boom. Its legacy lies in proving that original, book-length comics could thrive outside the superhero mainstream.