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The Simpsons Comics Guide

Index to Variant Issues


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For collectors, and specifically for "completists" variant issues with different covers or contents are both a blessing and a curse; it requires the acquisition of another comic that may not be trivial to locate. For collectors this list is likewise a blessing and a curse; if there's anything a collector hasn't yet acquired the last thing they want is someone advertising it as a rarity. This list includes any issue that is available in more than one version, other than the differences in support of distribution channels, as outlined below.

Comics are distributed through two channels; the traditional channel, consisting of newsstands, grocery stores, toy stores and drug stores, and through the Direct Market, Comic Book Dealers. Differing policies regarding returns require that the issues can be distinguished, so currently all comics have a UPC that flags the source of the comic. Early Bongo comics distributed through the Direct channel had no UPC. These differences are not considered variants, although collectors may prefer early issues with no UPC. Other than that, any other difference is considered a variant.

Following below we include the "standard" issue and the variant(s) for each issue. Click through to the entry for that comic for additional information and a scan of the variant.


An Index to all Simpson Comic Variants

Comic Date Differences
In Date Order by the Standard Issue
Simpsons Comics #1 Nov 1993 Standard issue did not include poster
Simpsons Comics #1 Nov 1993 Included Part 1 of a four-part Bongo Universe poster
Simpsons Comics #1 Nov 1993 Included Bartcode on cover, no poster
Simpsons Comics #1 Jan 2001 Miniature (3 5/8" by 2 3/8") keychain copy
Simpsons Comics #1 Mar 2010 Abrams ComicArts reprint included with reprint volume
The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis.
Itchy & Scratchy #1 Dec 1993 Standard issue did not include poster
Itchy & Scratchy #1 Dec 1993 Included Part 2 of a four-part Bongo Universe poster
Itchy & Scratchy #1 Dec 1993 Included Bartcode on cover
Bartman #1 Dec 1993 Standard issue did not include poster or foil cover
Bartman #1 Dec 1993 Included Part 3 of a four-part Bongo Universe poster
and a foil cover
Bartman #1 Dec 1993 Included Bartcode on standard cover, no poster
Radioactive Man #1 Jan 1994 Standard issue did not include poster or glow-in-the-dark cover
Radioactive Man #1 Jan 1994 Included Part 4 of a four-part Bongo Universe poster and
glow-in-the-dark cover
Radioactive Man #1 Jan 1994 Included Bartcode on standard cover, no poster
Bartman #3 Aug 1994 Standard issue did not include Bartcode
Bartman #3 Aug 1994 Included Bartcode on cover
Simpsons Comics #31 Jun 1997 Standard cover without advertisement
Simpsons Comics #31 Jun 1997 Advertisement on cover
Simpsons Comics #32 Aug 1997 Standard cover without advertisement
Simpsons Comics #32 Aug 1997 Advertisement on cover
I&S Hi-Jinx Special #1 Nov 1994 Standard cover without sticker
I&S Hi-Jinx Special #1 Nov 1994 Sticker raising price
Futurama Comics #1 Nov 2000 Regular issue does not have SDCC banner on front
Futurama Comics #1 Jul 2000 SDCC issue has Comic Con International banner on front
Treehouse of Horror #6 Sep 2000 Direct Market edition has "Treehouse of Horror #6" on cover
Treehouse of Horror #6 Sep 2000 Non-Direct Market edition has "Simpsons Comics Annual 2000"
Treehouse of Horror #7 Sep 2001 Direct Market edition has "Treehouse of Horror #7" on cover
Treehouse of Horror #7 Sep 2001 Non-Direct Market edition has "Simpsons Comics Annual 2001"
Bart Simpson #10 Feb 2003 Orignal printing without additional story
Bart Simpson #10 Feb 2003 Subsequent printing added story "Bartology 101"
Bart Simpson #12 Jun 2003 Orignal printing without additional story
Bart Simpson #12 Jun 2003 Subsequent printing added story "Bart's Anagrams"
Ralph Wiggum #1 Feb 2012 Word balloon:  I'M A COMIC BOOK!
Ralph Wiggum #1 Feb 2012 Word balloon:  I'M IN MINT CONDITIONER!
Ralph Wiggum #1 Feb 2012 Word balloon:  IT'S MY FIRST TISSUE!
Ralph Wiggum #1 Feb 2012 Word balloon:  DADDY SAYS "PRINT IS DEAD!"
Ralph Wiggum #1 Mar 2012 Word balloon:  "RALPH" MEANS THROW UP!
Maggie #1 Oct 2012 Standard Cover
Maggie #1 Oct 2012 Variant Cover by Sergio Aragonés.

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This page last updated on March 15, 2014 by Bruce Gomes (bruce@simpsonsarchive.com)

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