Drawn & Quarterly #1, published in Spring 1990, marked the beginning of a highly influential indie comics anthology curated by Chris Oliveros. The issue set a tone of eclectic, artful storytelling, blending humor, introspection, and experimental visuals.
The cover art was created by Anne D. Bernstein, who also contributed a satirical piece titled "Out of Control Fantasy Comics." Inside, Marisa Gelfusa illustrated a striking woman with a snake. The issue features a variety of stories: "A Dear John Letter from Your Dog on Moving Day," scripted by Philip Fine with art by John Oliveros, tells of a dog leaving his owner during a move; Peter Bagge’s untitled story; Joe Matt’s autobiographical series including "My Life in a Nutshell," "Apr. 10th, 1989," and "Mar. 31st, 1988," exploring life and insecurities with humor and honesty; J.D. King’s "Christmas 1,000,000 B.C.," a prehistoric take on Santa; John Oliveros’ sci-fi tale "Thermal Dynamics"; and Chris Oliveros’ "Life After Three Card Monte," recounting a swindle in New York City.
At 36 pages, this first issue showcased a rich variety of voices and styles, establishing Drawn & Quarterly as a key platform for innovative, character-driven alternative comics.
