1984 in comics
Notable events of 1984 in comics. See also List of years in comics.
Events
Year overall
- The independent publishing boom continues, as Antarctic Press, Continuity Comics, Deluxe Comics, Matrix Graphic Series, and Renegade Press all enter the arena. (In addition, small press publisher Americomics changes its name to AC Comics.)
- The ups-and-downs of the marketplace take their toll, as Gold Key Comics (also known as Whitman Comics), Capital Comics, JC Comics, Pacific Comics, and Spectrum Comics all cease publishing.
- The Marvel Comics imprint Epic Comics releases four new limited series (Six from Sirius, Timespirits, Crash Ryan, and The Sisterhood of Steel), solidifying the new publishing trend.
- Marvel Comics introduces its Star Comics imprint, licensed titles intended for young readers, with the three-issue limited series The Muppets Take Manhattan.
January
February
March
April
May
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, published by Mirage Studios, premiers at a comic book convention in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Originally conceived by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird as a one-off parody, the comic's popularity goes on to inspire three television series, numerous video games, four feature films, and a wide range of toys and merchandise.
- Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars debuts, written by Jim Shooter and published by Marvel Comics. Secret Wars is the first of a new breed of large crossover events which will become a staple of both Marvel and DC Comics publishing schedules from this point forward.
- Spider-Man's black costume first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #252, after the character returns from the Secret Wars. The black costume eventually ties into the origin of the popular supervillain Venom.
- Savage Sword of Conan #100: "When a God Lives," by Michael Fleisher, John Buscema, and Ernie Chan.
- Capital Comics suspends publication; its titles Badger, Nexus, and Whisper are later acquired by First Comics.
June
- Mister X #1, by Jaime, Gilbert, and Mario Hernandez, is published by Vortex Comics.
- Batman Special #1, Batman battles The Wrath, by Mike W. Barr and Michael Golden, published by DC.
- The Fury of Firestorm #24 features an insert previewing the upcoming Blue Devil series by writers Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn and artist Paris Cullins.[1]
- June 23: With issue #689, the British girls' comic Tammy ends its run, merging with Girl.
- June 30: Scream!, with issue #15, ends its run and merges with Eagle. (IPC Magazines)
July
August
September
October
- Superman #400: 68-page anniversary issue: "The Living Legends of Superman." (DC Comics)[2]
- The Incredible Hulk #300: "Days of Rage!" by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema. (Marvel Comics)
- What If, with issue #47, is cancelled by Marvel.
- The West Coast Avengers — #1 in a four-issue mini-series, published by Marvel Comics. Writer: Roger Stern. Artists: Bob Hall and Brett Breeding.
- Timespirits — #1 in an eight-issue limited series, published by Epic Comics.
- Crash Ryan — #1 in a four-issue mini-series, published by Epic Comics.
- Original Shield, with issue #4, is cancelled by Archie Adventure Series.
- Ghostly Tales, with issue #169, cancelled by Charlton Comics.
- Scary Tales, with issue #46, cancelled by Charlton Comics.
November
- Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1, published by Deluxe Comics, a revival of a superhero team originally published by Tower Comics until the late 1960s. The five published issues of this title feature some of the best artists of the era, including George Pérez, Dave Cockrum, Keith Giffen, Murphy Anderson, and Jerry Ordway.
- Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #1 in a six-issue mini-series, by Chris Claremont and Al Milgrom, published by Marvel Comics.
- The Muppets Take Manhattan #1 in a three-issue limited series, by Stan Kay, Dean Yeagle, and Jacqueline Roettcher, published by Star Comics.
- With issue #273, DC cancels Blackhawk volume 1, which ran from 1957 to 1968, 1976 to 1977, and was revived for the final time in 1982.
- November 24: The Judge Dredd story "City of the Damned" begins its run in 2000 AD (the storyline runs through February 23, 1985).
- Ghost Manor (vol. 2), with issue #77, cancelled by Charlton.
December
Deaths
March
May
June
August
December
Exhibitions and shows
Conventions
Awards
Presented in 1985 for comics published in 1984:
First issues by title
DC Comics
Blue Devil
- Release: June. Writers: Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn. Artist: Paris Cullins.
Infinity, Inc.
- Release: March. Writer: Roy Thomas. Artists: Jerry Ordway and Mike Machlan.
Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2
- Release: August. Writer: Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen. Artists: Keith Giffen and Larry Mahlstedt.
New Teen Titans vol. 2
- Release: August. Writer: Marv Wolfman. Artist: George Pérez.
Star Trek
- Release: February. Writer: Mike W. Barr. Artists: Tom Sutton and Ricardo Villagran.
Marvel Comics
Alien Legion
- Release: April by Epic Comics. Writers: Carl Potts and Alan Zelenetz. Artist: Frank Cirocco.
Amazing High Adventure
- Release: August. Editor: Carl Potts
Micronauts: The New Voyages
- Release: October cover. Writer: Peter B. Gillis. Artists: Kelley Jones and Bruce Patterson.
Power Pack
- Release: May (August cover). Writer: Louise Simonson. Artist: June Brigman.
Transformers
- Release: September. Writers: Ralph Macchio and Bill Mantlo. Artists: Frank Springer and Kim DeMulder.
Independent titles
- Dragon Ball, by Akira Toriyama, first serialized on Weekly Shōnen Jump.
- Echo of Futurepast, by Continuity Comics
- Mister X, by Vortex Comics
- Mage: The Hero Discovered, by Comico Comics
- New Triumph, by Matrix Graphic Series
- Original Shield, by Archie Adventure Series
- Scream!, by IPC Magazines
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, by Mirage Studios
- Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1, by Deluxe Comics
- Zero Patrol #1, by Continuity Comics
- Zot!, by Scott McCloud, published by Eclipse Comics
Initial appearances by character name
DC Comics
- Bizarra, in DC Comics Presents #71 (July)
- Blackbriar Thorn, in DC Comics Presents #66 (February)
- Blue Devil, in The Fury of Firestorm #24 (DC Comics)
- Bolt, in Blue Devil #6 (November)
- Crowbar, in Justice League of America #233 (December)
- Demolition Team, in Green Lantern #176 (May)
- Nathaniel Dusk, in Nathaniel Dusk #1 (February)
- Gypsy, in Justice League of America Annual #2
- Javelin, in Green Lantern #173 (February)
- Jemm, in Jemm, Son of Saturn #1 (September)
- Jericho (Joseph Wilson), in New Teen Titans #42 (May)
- Killer Frost (Louise Lincoln), in The Fury of Firestorm #21 (March)
- Overmaster, in Justice League of America #233 (December)
- Steel (Hank Heywood III), in Justice League of America Annual #2
- Tezcatlipoca, in Wonder Woman #314 (April)
- Tsunami, in All-Star Squadron #33 (May)
- Vibe, in Justice League of America Annual #2
- Wrath, in Batman Special #1 (1984)
Marvel Comics
- Aquarius (Zachary Drebb), in Iron Man #184 (July)
- Aries IV, in Iron Man #184 (July)
- Autobots, in The Transformers #1 (September)
- The Beyonder, in Secret Wars #1 (May)
- Lila Cheney, in New Mutants Annual #1
- Decepticons, in The Transformers #1 (September)
- Forge, in Uncanny X-Men #184 (August)
- Madison Jeffries, in Alpha Flight #16 (November)
- Amiko Kobayashi, in Uncanny X-Men #181 (May)
- Kurse (as the Dark Elf Algrim the Strong), Thor #347 (September)
- Leech, in Uncanny X-Men #179 (March)
- Magus, in New Mutants #18 (August)
- Ogun, in Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #1 (November)
- Power Pack, in Power Pack #1 (August)
- Puma, in The Amazing Spider-Man #256 (September)
- Nathaniel Richards, in Fantastic Four #272 (November)
- Rose, in The Amazing Spider-Man #253 (June)
- Sin, in Captain America #290 (February)
- Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter), in Secret Wars #6 (October)
- Spot, in Spectacular Spider-Man #97 (December)
- Titania, in Secret Wars #3 (July)
- Venom (as the "alien costume"), in The Amazing Spider-Man #252 (May)
- Walrus, in Defenders #131 (May)
- Warlock, in New Mutants #18 (August)
- Warpath, in New Mutants #16 (June)
- Aelfyre Whitemane, in Power Pack #1 (August)
Mirage Studios
Independent titles
References
- ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1980s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. "[A] sixteen-page preview story marked the debut of fledgling stuntman-turned-hero Blue Devil. An attempt to put the fun back into comics, writers Gary Cohn and Dan Mishkin and penciller Paris Cullins had Blue Devil face the machinations of Flash villain the Trickster in this lead-in to his own ongoing series."
- ^ Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 209 "The Man of Steel celebrated his 400th issue in star-studded fashion with the help of some of the comic industry's best and brightest...the issue also featured a visionary tale written and drawn by Jim Steranko, and an introduction by famous science-fiction author Ray Bradbury."
- ^ Davis profile, Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999.
- ^ Ditko profile, Who's Who of American Comics Books, 1928–1999.