Notable events of 1984 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. Small press publisher Americomics changes its name to AC Comics. Terry Nantier teams up with Chris Beall and Marc Minoustchine to form Nantier, Beall, Minoustchine (NBM Publishing).NBM entry, Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999. Accessed Jan. 8, 2014. 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. Opening of the San Francisco-based Cartoon Art Museum.Tanner, Marcia. "Getting Serious About the Comics," San Francisco Chronicle (03 Feb 1993), p. 7/Z1.
January January 31: in Tintin, Alinoe by Jrean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosiński, eighth chapter of the Thorgal series. British writer Alan Moore takes over Swamp Thing at issue #20, a run which would turn the title around and set the foundations for Moore's career in American comics. "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man", written by Roger Stern, with art by Ron Frenz and Terry Austin is published in The Amazing Spider-Man #248. The story is later selected as one of the "Top 10 Spider-Man stories of all time" by Wizard magazine. Shield-Steel Sterling, with issue #4, is re-titled Steel Sterling. (Red Circle Comics) The temple of oblivion, by Serge Le Tendre and Regis Loisel, second chapter of La Quête de l'oiseau du temps (Dargaud)
February February 19: in Spirou, Wotan's fire, by Roger Leloup, 19th story of the Yoko Tsuno series. February 20: in the Italian magazine Più the humoristic series Gipsy, by Carlo Peroni, makes its debut; it has for protagonists a little girl and her friend, the living personal computer Dido. World's Finest Comics #300: 52-page anniversary issue. (DC Comics) Nathaniel Dusk — #1 in a four-issue mini-series, by Don McGregor and Gene Colan, published by DC Comics. Archie Comics changes the name of its Red Circle Comics superhero imprint to Archie Adventure Series.
March March 5: in Anders & co, Hang Gliders Be Hanged by Carl Barks and Vicar. March 18: Political cartoonist Pat Oliphant launches a Sunday comic, Sunday Punk, starring his character Punk the penguin. The comic will, however, be discontinued on 16 September. March 19: Bill Holbrook's On the Fastrack makes its debut. March 24: Scream! #1, published by IPC Magazines.
April April 8: The final episode of Stuart Hample's celebrity comic Inside Woody Allen is published in papers. New Teen Titans, with issue #41, becomes Tales of the Teen Titans. (DC Comics) Fantastic Four #265 — She-Hulk joins the Fantastic Four in a tie-in with "Secret Wars". Sciopero by Gianfranco Berardi and Ivo Milazzo (Bonelli). Ken Parker kills a policeman to defend the strikers and becomes an outlaw; it's a turning point for the series, that passes from western adventure to sical drama with a metropolitan background.
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 four television series, numerous video games, five 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. Al Jaffee starts drawing the long-running comic The Shpy for The Moshiach Times. Dave Berg draws The Right Thing. in Marvel Graphic Novel 9, Futurians by Dave Cockrum.
June June 7: Jean van Hamme and William Vance's XIII makes its debut. 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. 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) In Italy, first issue of the anthological magazine Comic art, by the homonymous publishing house.
July July 10: In Tintin, the ninth Thorgal story The Archers by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosiński starts serialisation. Six from Sirius — #1 in a four-issue mini-series, by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy, published by Epic Comics. Steel Sterling, with issue #7, is cancelled by Archie Adventure Series. First issue of Bella e Bronco by Gino D'Antonio (Sergio Bonelli Editore). The series starring a female saloon owner and a cultured redskin as protagonists, is an attempt to renew the traditional Italian western comics in an ironic and light-hearted way. By lack of success, it only lasts 16 albums. Il cobra d'oro (The Golden Cobra) by Alfredo Castelli and Franco Bignotti is released: a special issue of Martin Mystere. It marks the debut of the ditzy stripper Angie, a recurring character in the more humorous episodes of the series.
August Legion of Super-Heroes, with issue #314, becomes Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes. (DC Comics) First issue of Power Pack (Marvel)
September September 22: The first episode of the gag comic Rasher, a spin-off of Dennis the Menace and Gnasher, is published in The Beano, drawn by David Sutherland. Pacific Comics goes into liquidation."Newswatch: Pacific Suspends Operations," The Comics Journal #93 (September 1984), pp. 8-10. Jemm, Son of Saturn — #1 in a 12-issue limited series, by Greg Potter, Gene Colan and Klaus Janson, published by DC Comics. The Mighty World of Marvel vol. 2, with issue #17, is cancelled by Marvel UK. Haunted, with issue #75, cancelled by Charlton. Child of the stars by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosiński (Le Lombard); the album collects three short stories, already published in Super Tintin, and telling the Thorgal's origins.
October October 9: The final episode of Cosey's À La Recherche de Peter Pan (On the Search for Peter Pan) is serialized in Tintin. October 24: A non-profit organization is founded, to promote and fund an upcoming museum devoted to Belgian comics, which in 1989 will open as the Belgian Comic Strip Center. Superman #400: 68-page anniversary issue: "The Living Legends of Superman." (DC Comics)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." 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. First issue of Zolt! by Scott McCloud (Eclipse Comics) Babette by Hermann, first album of the saga The Towers of Bois-Maury
November November 1: The first episode of Leigh Rubin's Rubes appears in print. November 4: Topolino announces on cover the wedding of Uncle Scrooge and Brigitta MacBridge; actually, in a Massimo De Vita story, Scrooge accepts to marry his eternal suitor, but leaves her at the altar last-minute. November 6: In Amsterdam the Dutch comics store Lambiek publishes a special Yiddish edition of Will Eisner's A Contract with God in the presence of Eisner himself. November 24: The Judge Dredd story "City of the Damned" begins its run in 2000 AD (the storyline runs through February 23, 1985). 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 1944 to 1968, 1976 to 1977, and was revived for the final time in 1982. Ghost Manor (vol. 2), with issue #77, cancelled by Charlton. In Albedo Anthropomorphics (Thoughts and Images), Usagi Jojimbo by Stan Sakai makes his debut Le vent sauvage by Derib, 13th album of the Buddy Longway series (Le Lombard)
December December 3: With issue #2103, Fleetway publishes the final issue of War Picture Library. December 3: The first chapter of Dragon Ball is published by Shueisha and Shōnen Jump. December 13: in Spirou, Le Bébé Schtroumpf by Peyo; a stork brings Baby Smurf in the Smurfs village. December 18: in Tintin, The land of Qâ, by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosiński, 10th episode of the Thorgal series. Captain America #300: "Cap vs. The Red Skull — To the Death!" by J. M. DeMatteis, Paul Neary, and Dennis Janke. The Sisterhood of Steel — #1 in an eight-issue limited series, published by Epic Comics. Iceman — #1 in a four-issue limited series by J.M. DeMatteis, Alan Kupperberg, and Mike Gustovich; published by Marvel Comics. Blue Ribbon Comics, with issue #14, is cancelled by Archie Adventure Series.
Specific date unknown Piet Wijn wins the Stripschapprijs. The comics magazine Wordt Vervolgd is given the Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten (nowadays the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs). Charles M. Schulz' Peanuts enters the Guinness Book of Records as the most widespread comic on Earth, appearing in 2.600 newspapers. French comic artist Jacques Martin is honoured as a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. Venere in pelliccia (Venus in furs) – by Guido Crepax, from the Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's novel (Olympia press). Aloys Oosterwijk's Cor Morelli debuts.
Deaths
January January 1: Frank Baginski, American comic artist (Plainsville, Splitsville, The Loner), dies in a car accident at age 45. January 13: Ray Moore, American comics artist (co-creator of The Phantom), dies at age 78 or 79. January 15: Tom Hickey, American illustrator and comics artist (Slapsie, worked for DC Comics, Dell Comics, Harvey Comics), dies at age 73.