Dime Press #4 (1993): Early Mike Mignola Hellboy Prototype Cover

Dime Press #4 is a "Holy Grail" for Hellboy aficionados and high-end "key" collectors. While many cite San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2 or Next Men #21 as the first appearances, Dime Press #4 predates them both, featuring the world's first prototype appearance of Mike Mignola's legendary creation on the cover.

Recent Sold Comps: High-grade raw copies have recently commanded between $750.00 and $950.00 on eBay. Mid-grade copies (VG/FN) typically fluctuate between $350.00 and $500.00.

Scarcity: With an estimated print run of only 2,000 copies—originally distributed only in Italy—supply is chronically low in the North American market.

Investment Potential: As the undisputed "prototype" appearance of Hellboy, this issue continues to see steady appreciation as more collectors move away from standard US keys toward rare international milestones.

Item Description: An Affair with Dark Art

Indulge your collection with a piece of comic history so rare it’s spoken of in hushed, reverent tones. This isn't just a magazine; it's a sultry encounter with the genesis of a legend.

Dime Press #4 invites you into the smoky, atmospheric world of Italian fanzine culture, where the lines between high art and pulp fiction blur. Gracing the cover is a breathtaking, primal collaboration between the visionary Mike Mignola and the masterful Nicola Mari. Behold the first-ever public appearance of Hellboy as he squares off against the futuristic Nathan Never in a display of raw, ink-drenched power.

Inside, the allure only deepens. This issue features an intimate dossier on Nathan Never, alongside seductive interviews and deep-dives into the worlds of Dylan Dog, Martin Mystère, and Bruno Ramella. With its oversized format and thick, luxurious paper stock, every page turn is a tactile experience. This is more than a "first appearance"—it is a sophisticated, European embrace of the macabre and the fantastic. Dare you look inside?

Specifications

Title: Dime Press (Magazzino Bonelliano)

Issue: #4

Published: May 1993 (Italy)

Key Artists: Mike Mignola, Nicola Mari

Key Features: 1st Appearance of Hellboy (Prototype/Cover only); Dossier Nathan Never; Interviews with Bruno Ramella.

Language: Italian

CONDITION PROTOCOL

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