We present a history, in the form of a cover gallery, of Capital City Distribution's Advance Comics, the first distributor-produced monthly consumer comics catalog. The first issue published was un-numbered, essentially a #0 issue, listing comics and other products planned for release in December of 1988. Issue #1 came the following month, listing products for release in January 1989. The publication continued on a monthly basis until #94, listing products for October 1996; the publication was then shut down as the result of the acquisition of Capital City Distribution's assets by Diamond Comic Distributors.
The model for a consumer catalog that could be used by retailers to collect orders for upcoming releases, continues to be used to this day, although there's some question as to whether that’s a good idea (see "A New Model for Taking Advance Orders").
This history is part of ICv2's Comics Direct Market 50th Anniversary celebration; for more, see "Comics Direct Market 50th Anniversary."
Click Gallery below for key landmarks in Direct Market history!

With Cover Gallery
Posted by Milton Griepp on September 7, 2023 @ 2:52 am CT

MORE COMICS
Classic Sword-and-Sorcery Series to Be Remastered with Original Colors
June 25, 2025
The fantasy series, which debuted in 1975, is being remastered with the original colors.
From Titan Comics
June 25, 2025
Check out the preview for Return to Skull Island #1, coming from Titan Comics.
MORE NEWS
New Ancient Blue Dragon Figure
June 25, 2025
WizKids will release D&D Icons of the Realms: Anthradusk, Ancient Blue Dragon, a new dragon figure, into retail.
Into U.S. Retail
June 25, 2025
25th Century Games will release Liar's Dice, a new dice game, into retail.