Head Comix Info Wiki

Freak Brothers #1 (equal amount of each cover printed because 2 covers were printed on one sheet,  but since the Kennedy Guide noted that "A" as the first print, the "A" has become more scarce and is considered more valuable in the same condition.  Note that from the 2nd print to approx. the 16th print these covers may have been printed 2 on one sheet and one of the covers on the sheet had a scratch along the top of the cover.)

(1st print "A" 1971) .50 (UGComix.info 1st print "A" & JK 1st print)
(front with Purple 50 cent, Grey Tire & Orange square) (Now known as probably 1/4)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1firstA-1.jpg&hash=323cea971e541e992350c8c7e32e1776ca7d5c6c)

(back with Black flag)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1firstAb.jpg&hash=ae5807f02400d2646f494a27604d37fed7f8dd76)


(1st print "B" 1971) .50 (UGComix.info 1st print "B" & JK 2nd print)
(front with Purple 50 cent, Grey Tire & no Orange Square) (Now known as probably 3/4)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1b-1.jpg&hash=b2e06c1819bbfcd9be9cb8b9a0913897076e2f81)

(back with Black flag)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1firstbb-2.jpg&hash=bee18f621e393b14329c59c14e10d4e367a4ec84)

FB #1 (2nd print) .50 (UGComix.info 2nd print & Not Listed by JK)

(front with Purple 50 cent & White Tire)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1second.jpg&hash=6b477ac1fd5b2777c11faac25178a9731a47365a)

(back with Black Flag)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1secondb.jpg&hash=1134535d17c23d5415e89dad39c27f827d42f409)

FB #1 (3rd print) .50 (UGComix 3rd print & JK 3rd print)

(front with Purple 50 cent & White Tire)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1third.jpg&hash=38f285e5763feec096893b602305481d8e5806e7)

(back with Blue scribble Flag)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1thirdb.jpg&hash=86e7b3919221ebdd2e0e5b242460c3a52726cf32)

FB #1 (4th print) .50 (NEW)

(front similar to 3rd print, but with a Green tint, .33cm difference in size and different staple placement)


(back Blue scribble Flag)

FB #1 (5th print [6th]) .50 (UGComix.info & JK 4th print) (almost identical to JK & UGComix 6th print, but note the 2 tone [green/purple] sky, this more likely might be the printing after the green tint JK 5th, not before.)

(front with Blue 50 cent, Cross Hatching on ground added, Light Cross-Hatching added to Tire, & Blue Cross-Hatching added to above Police Clubs)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1fourth.jpg&hash=d124fb8c580215ec9429d3691d813e226567e300)

(back with Blue Flag with White Dots)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1fourthb.jpg&hash=53948d72f2da9589778388eca99f63e10b0239a3)

FB #1 (6th print [5th]) .50 (UGComix & JK 5th print) Notice that JK didn't find the "3rd print" with the green tint before, so this likely is the first blue .50 version and the JK 4th print followed this one, especially since the JK 4th & 6th prints are almost identical.)

(found a copy of the JK 4th)


(front with Blue 50 cent, Darker Cross-Hatching, Green tint, White Wall/Black Tire)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1sixtha.jpg&hash=0ca16602038bb459a5e0d272fd489156e3495f4e)

(back with Blue Flag with White Dots)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1sixthb.jpg&hash=dc32fa18d3a80f3fba66e5a10ed71ec57f1a1103)

FB #1 (7th print) .50  (UGComix.info & JK 6th print)
(just a slight suspicion that this one might have come out before the 6th print)


(front similar to 6th print, but the shoe soles and trash can have gone from green to reddish brown)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1una.jpg&hash=14634bd3a02481bcac5b8c354154cc5f9efbafd3)

(back)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1unb.jpg&hash=6cb49754c5b295be4dff0064d04cc1951676902b)

FB #1 (8th print) No Price (UGComix.info & JK 7th print) (Slightly over-sized German edition, printed in the U.S.) (this is the last printing with the Jesus ad. for $1.25)

(front without cover price & text in German)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1eigth-1.jpg&hash=6e76a9a5587f40522d1864efd2d609ecaf91024b)
Notice Fat Freddy's carrying a box of "Stoff"

(back, taken from FB #2 with different ad)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1eigthb.jpg&hash=b256c2b0d6cbcbf94a30884e4314a6a41ecbbb00)

FB #1 (9th print) .50  (UGComix.info & JK 8th print) (same at 7th print, but Jesus ad on p. 50 has changed from $1.25 to .50 cents)

(GLOSSY front same (Blue 50 cent with Blue Cross-Hatching above Police Clubs) as 7th print)


(back same as 7th print)

FB #1 (10th print) .50 (UGComix.info & JK 9th print) (Pink Paper guts edition) (approx. 19,000 copies)

(front same (Blue 50 cent) as 9th print, but with Blue Cross-Hatching above Police Clubs Mostly REMOVED)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1ninth.jpg&hash=cd33453112c01bdb9c5bd399d312a774a5bf6af2)

(back same as 9th print)

FB #1 (11th print) .50 (UGComix.info & JK 10th print)

(MATT front similar (Blue 50 cent) to 9th print) (JK states "No Blue Peaks")


(back)

FB #1 (12th print) .60 (UGComix.info & JK 11th print)

(front similar to 11th print but with Yellow 60 cent)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1twelth.jpg&hash=145c1399edfdb682a2681c1589f9624f94f63c2c)

(back)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2F60back.jpg&hash=0cff194f7fca84bd90a75861d7574f088bdb6ec9)

FB #1 (13th print) .75 (UGComix.info & JK 12th print)
(Jesus ad REMOVED from p. 50)

(front similar to 12th print, but with Red 75 cent cover price)


(back)

FB #1 (14th print) .75, but was actually advertised for $5.00 (UGComix.info & JK 13th print) (Limited to less than 1,000 numbered/unnumbered Pink Paper Edition) (guts from 1973 .50 Pink Paper edition, cover from 13th print .75 print)

(front same (75 cent) as 13th print)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1thirteenth-2.jpg&hash=ed4dad297ded1c9ba3479bd847c9a550ce7fb81b)

(back)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1thirteenthb-1.jpg&hash=59d453033a72dba3a68e2740a98808c1f65f7c1d)

FB #1 (15th print) $1.00 (UGComix.info & JK 14th print)

(front similar to 14th print, but with Red $1.00 in yellow circle)

FB #1 (16th print) $1.00 (NEW)

(front similar to 15th print, but Red $1.00 is in Black circle)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1sixteenth.jpg&hash=0b2d7ac57bac44f006d036556fb2ffef956e4bf7)
Note Scratch

(back with $3.50 poster price)

FB #1 (17th print) 1982? (UGComix.info & JK 15th print) $1.25

(front similar to 15th print, but with "FREAK No. 1 BROTHERS" added, Blue added to the tire, Yellow around Police added and Black $1.25 in yellow circle)


(back with White Stars and has been recolored)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1125b.jpg&hash=7a17185d3244be1dfa6cc56a35f3411361b5a7ed)

FB #1 (19th print) (UGComix.info 16th print) $1.50
(No Jesus ad on p. 50)

(front Same as 18th print, with Red $1.50 in White circle)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2F150front.jpg&hash=e2897a1f9c2673db970bef439af9d39ad2ad8b57)

(back with Flag with Pink stars, possible variant with all pink on flag / no blue, poster price goes from $4.25 to $4.75)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2F150back-b.jpg&hash=a9d26ef8e0b4968837cd2b13ff2b82218a3915db)

FB #1 (20th print) (NEW) $1.50
(Typed Copyright 1980 & No Jesus ad on p. 50)

(front Similar to 19th print, but with Red $1.50 in Yellow circle)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1eighteenth.jpg&hash=a5a214c50876b8563593b2361b4f214f60a26bc2)

(back with White Stars and poster price goes from $4.75 to $3.75 + $1.50 shipping)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1eighteenb.jpg&hash=ba1e80c548caa579e95097d6c50782e46d65abf5)

(was there a Red $2.00 in White circle print before this one?)
FB #1 (21th print) (NEW) $2.00

(front similar to 20th print, but with Black $2.00 in White circle)


(back)

FB #1 (22th print) (UGComix.info 17th print) $2.00/Canada $2.75

(front similar to 21th print, but with Black $2.00/Canada $2.75 in White circle)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2Ffffb01_fc.jpg&hash=0b07f6f6717051f2b8c94db9e4cebc8a743ef36d)

(back)

(Was there a $2.50 print?)
FB #1 (23th print) (NEW) $2.95/$3.95 Can.

(front similar to 22st print, but with curved Black $2.95/$3.95 Can. in White Circle)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB1twentysecond.jpg&hash=26db28d4a08ffd89d88156069f3c3d3aaff69f00)

(back)

FB #1 (24th print) 1991 (UGComix.info 18th print) $2.95/Canada $4.00

(front similar to 23nd print, but with 20th Anniversary 1971-1991 Seal added and Black $2.95/Canada $4.00 in white circle)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2FFB02.jpg&hash=edb0057c9b5614cf72b88a56192763ae08005670)

(back)

FB #1 (25th print) (NEW) $3.25

(front with $3.25?)


(back)

(Was there a Black price in White circle printing or other that came out before this one?)
FB #1 (26th print) (NEW) $3.95/$5.50 Can.

(front similar to 25th print, but with White $3.95/$5.50 Can. in Black circle)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2Ffreak0.jpg&hash=6f7407513c6d78eb15400c6e89cc916a17f82462)

(back)

FB #1 (27th print) (NEW) $4.95/5.95 Can.

(front similar to 26th print, but with Red $4.95/$5.95 Can. in Yellow circle)
(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi172.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw35%2FIITravel%2Ffreak_brothers_1.jpg&hash=7e0fc338ce587d3fd51b4b6ef5c1b7c7e0d93030)

(back)

U.K. variants started out at 40p, 50p, etc (list 'em as you see them), and Knockabout printings starting at 1.50, 1.99.

Freak Brothers #2, (75p), 5 (60p)

OK guys, this took hours, your turn. Please scan yours that are not here in and post 'em.
Please let me know if you have anything that doesn't appear here or match.

I've notice this on the back cover re: the Poster price:

$2.15              (1st - 7th print, 9th - 14th print)
(ad. for German 8th print is for an original copy of FB for 50 cents plus 25 cents s/h in German, from the back of FB #2)
$3.50              (15th - 17th print)
$4.25              (18th print)
$4.75              (19th print)
$3.75 + $1.50  (20th print - ?)

Notice that there are at least 8 new printings discovered since the Fogel's Guide came out less than 2 years ago.

Not sure why you include the 1st German Edition in the main print runs but exclude the UK and other non US versions. Should the 1st German edition really be included in the main print run list?

I believe the German Edition was printed in the U.S., the U.K. variants were printed in the U.K., therefore are considered foreign.

Quote from: 50Cent #II (1st print) on February 22, 2008, 04:43:00 PM
FB #1 (17th print) 1982? (UGComix.info & JK 15th print) $1.25

(front similar to 15th print, but with "FREAK No. 1 BROTHERS" added, Blue added to the tire, Yellow around Police added and Black $1.25 in yellow circle)


(back with white dots? or White Stars?)

Here's a front cover picture of the $1.25 printing, it's currently on eBay.

(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi15.ebayimg.com%2F08%2Fi%2F000%2Fdc%2Fa7%2F1271_1_sbl.JPG&hash=11d3799cb282c5244635ab63d75d20f8c13d3b03)

I have the following UK editions.

All mine were published by Knockabout although I understand earlier UK editions were published by Hassle Free Press.

1 1.25 UKP
5 1.25 UKP
7 1.25 UKP
9 1.50 UKP

Earl (From CPG)

I thought the Knockabout editions started with the 1.50 prices, would like to see scans posted if you have them Earl.

I'd have to check my copies, but the £1.00 version of #1 may have been the first Knockabout printing, but understand that Hassle Free Press and Knockabout are the same thing, just a name change.

Quote from: Brother J on February 24, 2008, 10:33:23 PM

Quote from: 50Cent #II (1st print) on February 22, 2008, 04:43:00 PM
FB #1 (17th print) 1982? (UGComix.info & JK 15th print) $1.25

(front similar to 15th print, but with "FREAK No. 1 BROTHERS" added, Blue added to the tire, Yellow around Police added and Black $1.25 in yellow circle)


(back with white dots? or White Stars?)

Here's a front cover picture of the $1.25 printing, it's currently on eBay.

(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi15.ebayimg.com%2F08%2Fi%2F000%2Fdc%2Fa7%2F1271_1_sbl.JPG&hash=11d3799cb282c5244635ab63d75d20f8c13d3b03)

Thanks Brother J, I have scans for most of these already but just posted the ones that were nice a big that I thought would be good for the Wiki.

A large scan of the back cover would help find out if the flag has White Dots or White Stars though.

Now that I think of it, the £0.95 cover may have been the first Knockabout printing.

This helps for the info.  Please post scans.  Perhaps there is a difference between it stating Knockabout on the cover like the 1.50 and the earlier Hassle Free Press that don't state on the cover and then the Knockabout's that don't state on the cover?

With each new printing the cover price was raised. The remaining stock of the previous printing was then stickered over to reflect the new price. Sometimes you'll see stickers with a handwritten "Knockabout" or "Knock-About" on them. As a matter of fact, I even have the last HFP printing of a particular issue (#4, perhaps) that had been stickered "Knock-About." There weren't multiple versions of like cover prices. That information came directly from the man who published them.

Quote from: 50Cent #II (1st print) on February 25, 2008, 02:03:29 PM

Quote from: Brother J on February 24, 2008, 10:33:23 PM

Quote from: 50Cent #II (1st print) on February 22, 2008, 04:43:00 PM
FB #1 (17th print) 1982? (UGComix.info & JK 15th print) $1.25

(front similar to 15th print, but with "FREAK No. 1 BROTHERS" added, Blue added to the tire, Yellow around Police added and Black $1.25 in yellow circle)


(back with white dots? or White Stars?)

Here's a front cover picture of the $1.25 printing, it's currently on eBay.

(https://headcomix.info/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi15.ebayimg.com%2F08%2Fi%2F000%2Fdc%2Fa7%2F1271_1_sbl.JPG&hash=11d3799cb282c5244635ab63d75d20f8c13d3b03)

Thanks Brother J, I have scans for most of these already but just posted the ones that were nice a big that I thought would be good for the Wiki.

A large scan of the back cover would help find out if the flag has White Dots or White Stars though.

Do you not have this printing? If you're interested in the one on eBay, I can send you a link to the auction.

Thanks, but I've seen it.  This info. is going by the scans I've already got and the already known info.  I can't afford to purchase anything else not essential and if I have any extra funds I'd probably put it to the FB #2 research.

You guys have any issues not scanned that you can scan the front and back of?  For example the back of the German edition or a few more?

Well, after going over the Slow Deaths #3, 4 and seeing that some have this washed out look to the blacks and recalling that "TreeLover" had stated that their was actually 2 printings the to gray tire version of Freak Brothers #1(one printings had the wall all black with no orange box on the DD press, the other had 2 covers per print, one with the orange box, one without not done on that one-up press), and him mentioning that the first print of Big Ass #1 was also done on a one-up DD press, I examined my copies today.  First I think we can examine what seems to change between these copies, the yellow building with fire escape.  Some copies have the building gray over yellow with the black fire escape, some have the fire escape almost washed out by the gray (my copy has the blacks looking watery, like washed out water color black). (https://headcomix.info/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=449.0;attach=712;image) (https://headcomix.info/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=449.0;attach=714;image) My guess would be that the washed out ones might be done on a less technical one-up press (just a guess)?  So between my copies I've noticed that the washed fire escape one has the gray on that yellow building smooth and no dots (like pixels on a monitor) making up the gray.  My copy with the orange box on the wall, has the fire escape easily visible under the gray of the yellow building.  As you can see, that copy clearly has dots (like pixels on a monitor).  How about you others with copies examine yours and see what you find?  Let's see if we can figure out the true first print of FB #1, shall we?

Quote from: 50Cent #II (1st print) on February 28, 2008, 01:33:30 PM
You guys have any issues not scanned that you can scan the front and back of?  For example the back of the German edition or a few more?

Here's a scan of my own copy of the German ed.  (I used to be able to read German pretty well at one time.)  Don't know which printing this is, tho.
-Projunior :01_bounce:

Thanks, yes they used the back from a #2 for the German edition, it's already posted here though.

Quote from: 50Cent #II (1st print) on June 04, 2008, 10:33:04 PM
Thanks, yes they used the back from a #2 for the German edition, it's already posted here though.

Oh, OK.  From your previous msg. I thought it wasn't.
-Projunior

Yeah, sorry about that.  I posted an image after that message.

It appears to me, from studying scans, that gray was printed as a 5th color.
And soon dropped as unnecesary.

To me, this is the only explaination for the fadeing fire-escape.
The fire-escape being on the Black plate. The gray background on another.
If you're not feeding enough ink to the press, the ink fades.
On the scans with disappearing fire-escapes, All the blacks look faded.
It looks to me like the  fire-escapes have just faded into the solid Gray background.
If the background and fire-escape were on the same plate, they would both fade to the same degree, you would still see the  fire-escape.

I am still not clear if there was one or two "Black Tire" printings.
(note the tire is not actually black, just dark gray)
But on the next "White tire" printing, the wall, road, fence, and yellow building with fire-escape, - all get much lighter.
I take this as evidence that Gray was on a sepreate plate.

I'm not very familiar with printing techniques but I suspected (probably wrongly) that one printing had a gray color print along with a black ink print and one had a black only print (if that's possible).  And that the one with the black only print just used a less dots per inch to make up for the grays and perhaps that's why one had the fire escape that's clear with the black and one with the the fire escape blended in (perhaps because the black layer ink was not black enough?).

From J. David Moriaty on 05 June 2008 in the Big Ass #2 thread:
"I have an uncut cover sheet of Freak Bros #1 here before me, run 1-up on the Davidson because we had not yet gotten the Ebco to feed properly. The tire and the ground are gray from a second screen burn on the black plate (ziptone was not often used on originals, because, due to the short depth of field of a process camera, it would look like bubbly mud). The frame next to Gilbert's signature is out of register. On the uncut sheet there is a small yellow square on the bottom of the back cover next to the fold that would likely be lost in the trim.

The second printing was done on the Ebco with either a second printing of Subvert,   
the first printing of Armadillo, and two Freak Bros #1 at the bottom of the plate, both missing the
overburned screen, or, more likely, one copy of Freak 1 without the screen with first printing of Rowlf, Mother's Oats #2 and reprint of Mother's Oats #1.

Because of our experience with the unexpectly slow sales of Hydrogen Bomb, we were overcautious with Freak Bros. Almost every plate after this contains two FB covers until we got the 24-inch two color Solna, when printing reverted to two-up.

The screen reappears with a reprint of Up From the Deep, Last Gasp's Slow Death 1, and 2-up Freak Bros.  After that Gilbert colored in the tire by hand to make it a white wall, and the troublesome second burn was dispensed with."



Now that we have this new info., I'll share something I've noticed and others can see if it corresponds with their copies of FB #1 (gray tire printing).  The lower staple seems to be in either of 2 spots.  The ones with the orange square (I've labeled "B") has them all in one place on all the copies and scans I've seen.  The copies that don't have the orange square have the lower staple in either of 2 locations as far as I've seen.  For some the location is the same as the orange square (I've labeled "A").  I suspect these are the 2nd print from the Ebco.  The others have them lower.

Notice the staples are slightly further apart on these books, with the lower staple with about 1/3 above the lower chair foot and 2/3 below it.
The lower staple placement of on printing I suspect was done on the Davidson (therefore the 1st) seem to be here:

Notice the staples are closer together with the lower staple is placed right in between the feet of the front and rear legs of the chair laying on it's back against the fence.
2nd print "A"? (without the orange square)

Notice the staples are closer together with the lower staple is placed right in between the feet of the front and rear legs of the chair laying on it's back against the fence.
2nd? print "B" (with orange square)

I should have said the frame next to Gilbert's signature on the BACK cover

The position of the staples would depend on whether we bound them in house with the ancient saddle stitcher or sent them to the modern bindery in South San Francisco.  When we had back orders and needed copies quick, we did them by hand.

There is a black ink speck in the orange border near the ear on the lower back cover of the first edition which may be a fault in the black plate, which is not repeated in any printings of the double-burn screen. (Now you've got me obsessing).

Are you talking about the chair back? What orange square?

jdave

Glad to see you back and it's very kind of you to help clear things up after all these years of it being unknown to the public.

The orange square (more like a rectangle of missing black/gray) I talk about is what Kennedy originally indicated was a 1st print.  It's next to the price on the front cover seen here, just before the A in AMERICA.

Is this the black spot you're talking about near the ear (below it) in the orange frame?

Here's a pic. of the Gilbert Shelton signature, but still not sure what you mean by "yellow frame out of register"?  (Do you mean the yellow sliver in front of the "G"?)

No, the orange box is a reprint error on the top FB that was reprinted with Up from the Deep when the double burn was restored. The FB on the bottom of the plate on that run has no such error.

Did I say yellow? I meant black. Altzheimer's again.

No, the mark you show is an artifact from a splash of fountain solution.

How do I attach a jpeg? I'll send you a scan of the original and pix of the big press sheets.

You can e-mail it to me and I'll post it.  [email protected]
Or you can just attach the image at the bottom of the screen when you reply to a post.  If the size is less than 300KB.  If not, e-mail it to me and I'll shrink it and post it.

I don't think you mentioned a color, I just assumed yellow because you state yellow box in the next sentence.  My fault there.  So you are just saying the black frame around the 3 FB characters is off register and not correctly around the box?

So we've had a very interesting and enlightening week here on the forums to say the least...

J. David Moriaty via e-mail on 06 June 2008.
> On the original FB run, the black plate was toning, and we had to 
> fight it all through the run. What no one noticed, where the oxidized 
> plate picked up the ink, a splash was printing like someone had 
> dribbled water on the plate that dissolved the gum arabic 
> preservative and caused that image to print. By the time Gilbert 
> showed up the run was over. He just shrugged and said, "well, maybe 
> we'll get it right next time".  The run was only 5000, out of the 
> millions printed, so it must be rare.
>
> The flaw is right in the middle of the street, and runs from Fat 
> Freddy's head to  the bannisters on the fire escape-

So what are we saying here? To be an actual first print, the black speck on the back cover near the "Freakfans" ear has to be present?

Yes, along with all the black spots on the front cover between Fat Freddy's face and the stairs.

Quote from: 50Cent #II (1st print) on June 06, 2008, 10:53:55 PM
Yes, along with all the black spots on the front cover between Fat Freddy's face and the stairs.

ok, so who has one like the one pictured?

Funny thing is I think I recall one being on eBay about a year or more ago.  I haven't seen any others.

OK i was wrong about Gray being a 5th color.

Sorry 50cent,
Staple placement is meaningless, if they're stiched on demand, in small batches, on a hand-fed sticher.

As per JDavid:
"...They were stapled on a foot-operated saddle sticher from the 1920s as needed.  The operator simply slid the book over and nailed another staple...."
"...The position of the staples would depend on whether we bound them in house with the ancient saddle stitcher or sent them to the modern bindery in South San Francisco.  When we had back orders and needed copies quick, we did them by hand..."

We have a similar "foot-operated saddle sticher from the 1920s" where i work, but i won't bore you with horror stories about how sloppy we are (i am) when we use it. (i'm the one who usually gets asigned those miscellaneous jobs, on my shift)

Trimming comes next, so would also be trimmed in the same small batches. Making book size meaningless too.

JDavid; What kind of cutter did you use?

Is the stitcher a single staple stitcher or dual?  does it staple one staple at a time, or both at the same time for each book?

One staple at a time.

In JDavid's own words:
"The operator simply slid the book over and nailed another staple."

So what do we got at this point?

(1) Gray tire; smudges on cops; fire escape; black flag

(Be advised, the smudge won't always look the same.
If they was fighting with it, the smudge will get better and worse.
There might even be some "perfict" coppies.)

(2) White tire; black flag

(3) Gray tire; black flag
    half with orange patch (JK 1st); half with hidden fire escape (JK 2nd).

(4) White tire; blue squiggle flag. (JK 3rd)

(5) White-wall tire; blue .50;  blue squiggle flag. (JK 4th)

1st print with black toning:
"...The run was only 5000, out of the millions printed, so it must be rare."

Yeah, I never even heard of this before.

This is what I've come to understand (with the purple .50 cent printings).

1st print gray tire with black smudges done 01 Feb. 1971 (5,000 copies done on the 1-up DD)

(was there more than one printing of Freak Brothers #1 done on the 1-up DD printer?  I suspect there might have been.)

2nd print "A" (with orange rectangle) and "B" (without orange rectangle) done around May 1971 on the 4-up Ebco.

3rd print white tire printing with black flag on back (June 1971?).

4th print white tire printing with blue flag on back, done around July 1971

5th print white tire printing with blue flag on back "A" and "B" (with green cover) done with Armadillo #2 (2nd print) and Subvert #1 (3rd print) (after July 1971, date?)

6th print starts blue .50 cent printings...

4th print (notice on the back just left of the big black "D" the black frame is broken leaving a white area)

5th print "A" (notice the black frame by the "D" is fixed, but there is a slight sliver of white still by there, also my copy also has the yellow dot in the orange frame under the character at the bottom)

"B" (green soles on boots on front cover and green fence, back has the sliver next to "D" on my copy in yellow, as well as a small bit of yellow on the opposite side of the orange frame on the left, along the whole side of the orange frame on the left is also a long scratch down the whole cover right in between the yellow slivers mentioned previously, just like the one barely visible here)

My copies that seem to match the above pics.

4th print (colors a bit muted)

5th print "A" (fence is a rich brown)

5th print "B" (Notice on this one that the sole/bottom of the boot next to the trash can is green.)

J. Dave,

Here's a couple questions we've got regarding Motor City Comics #1 if you've got time,
http://headcomix.info/forum/index.php/topic,689.msg4726.html#msg4726

And if you've got any info. on this FB #1 (3rd print) regarding this anomaly on the fence (the "peg" inside the black splotch shaped like a "P" always confused me because it's not on any other printing I've seen and seems to be too clean for an artifact)?

"...it's not on any other printing I've seen and seems to be too clean for an artifact)?"

Clean?
Ah, contrare!
The very essence of la artifact, it is.
La dried ink chip. La disintagrating roller.
How you say, la hickey!

Anyone have a copy of the JK/UGComix.info FB #1 (8th print)?  Could you scan the front and back or would you be interested in trading for a NM .50 cent pink edition (you pay for both shipping though)?  You can tell this printing as it's the same as the 10th print but with glossy covers, not matte (which is the same as the 9th pink paper print), the Jesus ad on the last page is for .50 cents and the blue peaks are removed on the glossy cover.