Love and Rockets Issues: A Collector's Reference

Love and Rockets is the Hernandez brothers’ anthology series, published by Fantagraphics in multiple volumes since 1982. The series has gone through several format changes while maintaining its status as the gold standard for independent American comics.

Volume I (1982–1996): 50 issues

The original magazine-format series. Issue #1 was self-published by the Hernandez brothers in 1981 before Fantagraphics picked up the series. Key issues:

• #1 (self-published, 1981): The holy grail. Near mint: $200–$500.
• #1 (Fantagraphics, 1982): The standard first issue. Near mint: $75–$200.
• #2–10: Early issues with developing “Locas” and “Heartbreak Soup” stories. $15–$50 each.

Volume II (2001–2007): 20 issues

Standard comic-book format. Both brothers continued their ongoing narratives.

New Stories (2008–2016): 8 issues

Annual magazine-format issues with substantial page counts.

Volume IV (2016–present)

Current ongoing series, returning to the magazine format.

Complete Run Values

• Complete Volume I run (unsigned): $500–$1,500
• Complete run including self-published #1: $700–$2,500
• Signed individual issues: $15–$50 each

Assembling a complete Volume I run in fine condition is a major collecting achievement. The series’ multi-decade span and format changes create a complex but rewarding collecting landscape.