Comic Book Boom! Origins #1

Comic Book Boom! is all about the wildest decade in comics history. In the game, you take on the role of publisher trying to cash in on the hype without getting too greedy and busting the market.

Join us on a trip back to the gnarly '90s to see how the game was inspired by the real life comic book boom...

Aug ’91: X-Force #1

By 1991, comic publishers had discovered they could sell new issues to the growing collectors market. They launched a slew of new #1 issues with gimmicks like poly-bags and trading cards to help increase their allure.

Winner: Megan H., Iowa

Dec ’92: X-Force #17

The gimmicks were a huge hit with readers and collectors alike. Publishers started finding any excuse to enhance issues: Crossover events, anniversary issues, guest appearances, new costumes – you name it.

Winner: Dan Q., Pennsylvania

Jul ’93: Cyber Force #4

With blinged-out, "special collector's editions" flying off of shelves, publishers stopped needing excuses to add gimmicks – they just added gimmicks to everything. But by the summer of '93, dark clouds circled the burgeoning industry: Fans were learning that many of their "collectible" comics weren't so valuable after all...

Winner: Muser R., Virginia

Congrats to all of this round's winners, and thanks to everyone who helped pick an origin story for the game character Semi-Automatik!

Winning origin story

Once an arcade security guard, Semi-Automatik was rebuilt by the shadowy Simonson Corporation after a deadly encounter with a rogue AI. Becoming the ultimate cybernetic enforcer, Semi-Automatik is sworn to protect the mall from technological tyranny.

And we've barely scratched the surface, dear readers! To continue telling our tale, we need to take a quick detour into the future.

Help tell the next chapter of our origin story

Lucky gadabouts who help us create origin stories could win even more vintage '90s comics from the Gadabout Gada-Vault.