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.
• Terry Nantier teams up with Chris Beall and Marc Minoustchine to form Nantier, Beall, Minoustchine.
• The ups-and-downs of the marketplace take their toll, as Gold Key Comics, Capital Comics, JC Comics, Pacific Comics, and Spectrum Comics all cease publishing.
• The Marvel Comics imprint Epic Comics releases four new limited series, 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.

  January

• 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.
• Shield-Steel Sterling, with issue #4, is re-titled Steel Sterling.

  February

• World's Finest Comics #300: 52-page anniversary issue.
• 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 24: Scream! #1, published by IPC Magazines.

  April

• New Teen Titans, with issue #41, becomes Tales of the Teen Titans.
• Fantastic Four #265 — She-Hulk joins the Fantastic Four as a result of the Secret Wars

  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.

  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.

  July

• 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.

  August

• Legion of Super-Heroes, with issue #314, becomes Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes.

  September

• Pacific Comics goes into liquidation.
• 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.

  October

• Superman #400: 68-page anniversary issue: "The Living Legends of Superman."
• The Incredible Hulk #300: "Days of Rage!" by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema.
• 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

• 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.
• 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, with issue #77, cancelled by Charlton.

  December

• 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.
• 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.

  Specific date unknown

• Piet Wijn wins the Stripschapprijs. The comics magazine Wordt Vervolgd is given the Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten.

  Deaths

January

• January 13: Ray Moore, American comics artist, dies at age 78 or 79.
• January 15: Tom Hickey, American illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 73.
• January 21: Phil Seuling, American organizer and voice actor, dies at age 50.
• January 31: K-Hito, Spanish caricaturist, animator, sports journalist, film producer, publisher and comics writer and artist, dies at age 93 or 94.

  February

• February 23: Jorge B. Gálvez, aka Jordi Badía Romero, Spanish comics artist, dies at age 45.

  March

• March 1: Carl Burgos, American comics artist, dies at age 67.
• March 15: Joseph Hughes Newton, American comics artist, passes away at age 78.

  April

• April 1: Kurt Klamann, German painter and comics artist, dies at age 76.
• April 7: Vittorio Cossio, Italian comics artist and animator, dies at age 72 or 73.
• April 9: Lex Overeijnder, Dutch comics artist, passes away at age 53.

  May

• May 2: Bob Clampett, American animator, puppeteer and cartoonist, dies at the age of 70.
• May 7: Robert Giordan, French comics artist and half of the Giordan Brothers, dies at age 61.
• May 21: Ruben Moreira, Puerto Rican-American comics artist, dies at age 61.
• Specific date unknown: May: Al Hubbard, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 70 or 71.

  June

• June 4: Sol Brodsky, American comics artist and Marvel Comics' production manager. Also known as Stan Lee's "right-hand man", passes away at age 61.
• June 10: Rodolfo Claro, aka Mico, aka René Foly, Argentine comics artist and illustrator, passes away at age 82.
• June 12: Bill Wright, American comics artist, dies at age 66.
• June 28: Pete Costanza, American comics artist, passes away at age 71.

  July

• July 14: Josep Coll i Coll, aka José Coll y Coll, Spanish comics artist, commits suicide at age 61 with an electric cable in his bathtub.
• July 24: Bob Heinz, German comics artist, dies at age 61.
• July 28: Henk Kabos, Dutch comics artist, passes away at age 71.
• July 29: Fred Waring, American bandleader, musician and comics collector, dies at age 84.

  August

• August 1: Howard Nostrand, American comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 55.
• August 10: Virgil Partch, American cartoonist and comics artist, dies at the age of 67 in a car accident, along with his wife.
• August 17: Bruno Premiani, Italian-American illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 77.
• August 19: Don Newton, American comics artist, dies at age 49.
• August 21: Phil Seuling, American organizer of comic book fan conventions and father of the direct market, dies at age 50.
• August 28: Harry Lucey, American comics artist, dies at age 70.

  September

• September 12:
• * Lola Anglada, Spanish comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 92.
• * Rein Stuurman, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, passes away at the age of 83.
• September 21: Hugh Stanley White, British comics artist, dies at age 79.
• September 25: Laverne Harding, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 78.

  November

• November 14: Greg Irons, American underground cartoonist, animator, poster- and tattoo artist, is killed by a bus in Bangkok, Thailand, at age 37.
• November 30: Frans Mettes, Dutch illustrator, poster- and comics artist, dies at age 75.
• Specific date unknown:
• * Ben Oda, American comics letterer, dies at age 69.
• * Brian White, British animator and comics artist, dies at age 82.

  December

• December 7: Otto Dicke, Dutch illustrator, cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 66.
• December 30: Mo Gollub, American comics artist, passes away at the age of 74.
• December 30: Al Avison, American comics artist, dies at age 64.

  Specific date unknown

• Guy Brasseur, Belgian comics artist and teacher, dies at age 43 or 44.
• Will Gould, American comics artist, passes away at age 72 or 73.
• Guglielmo Guastaveglia, Italian journalist and comics artist, dies at age 94 or 95.
• Giovanni Manca, Italian comics artist, dies at age 94 or 95.

  Exhibitions and shows

• Summer: Gimpel Fils — "Strip Language: An Exploration of Representation and Comment, Serial Image and Text", curated by Caryn Faure Walker. Artists in the original art exhibition include Terry Atkinson, Sonia Boyce, Ruth Blench, Daniel Brandley, Eddie Campbell, Sue Coe, Robert Combas, Riana Duncan, Myra Hancock, Clifford Harper, Peter Kennard, Holly Metz, Gary Panter, Savage Pencil, Ian Pollack, Art Spiegelman, Oscar Zarate, Hollis Zigler

  Conventions

• Creation Entertainment convention — guests include Walter Koenig, Butch Guice, and Bob Layton
• Spring: Atlanta Comics Festival — co-organized by Glenwood Distributors and Marvel Comics; featured the Jim Shooter Roast, with guests Jim Shooter, John Byrne, Bob Layton, Bob McLeod, Mark Gruenwald, and John Romita Jr.
• May 5: Portsmouth Mini-Con — guests include Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird, and the debut of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• June: Heroes Convention — guest: Stan Lee
• June 2: London Comic Mart — guests include John Ridgway, Gary Russell, and Richard Marson
• June 23–24: Colorado Comic Art Convention — guests include Bill Sienkiewicz, Joe Kubert, Ed Stein, and Drew Litton
• June 28–July 1: San Diego Comic-Con — 5,500 attendees; official guests: Greg Bear, Howard Chaykin, Stan Drake, Burne Hogarth, Greg Jein, Ollie Johnston, Bob Layton, Brant Parker, Marshall Rogers, Mike Royer, Robert Shayne, Dave Stevens, Curt Swan, Frank Thomas, and Al Williamson. The Con is held earlier than usual due to the Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Sergio Aragonés hosts the Masquerade.
• July 6–8: Chicago Comicon — convention moves from Chicago to northern suburb of Rosemont; c. 12,000 attendees
• July 6–8: Dallas Fantasy Fair — guests include Mike W. Barr, Kerry Gammill, Fred Saberhagen, Kenneth Smith, Jim Starlin, Roger Zelazny, and Philip José Farmer
• August 3–5: Atlanta Fantasy Fair — 3-day membership: $25; official guests include Larry Niven, Forrest J Ackerman, Robert Bloch, Sharon Webb, Richard Pini, Peter Laird, Kevin Eastman, Fred Hembeck
• September 22–23: OrlandoCon — guests include Will Eisner
• September 23: King Kon Comic & Fantasy Convention — inaugural show; guests include Dave Sim, Bill Willingham, William Messner-Loebs, Fred Schiller, Mike Gustovich, Mike Vosberg, Keith Pollard, Bob McLeod, Jeff Dee, and Tom Morgan
• November: Mid-Ohio Con
• November 23–25: Creation '84

  Awards

[Eagle Awards]

• Best New Title: Power Pack, written by Louise Simonson
• Best Group Book: The New Teen Titans, written by Marv Wolfman
• Best Character: Torquemada, from Nemesis the Warlock, by Pat Mills and Brian Talbot
• Best UK Title: Warrior, edited by Dez Skinn
• Favourite Artist : Alan Davis
• Roll of Honor: Steve Ditko

  First issues by title

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

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
• 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

• Big Sir in The Flash #338
• Bizarra, in DC Comics Presents #71
• Blackbriar Thorn, in DC Comics Presents #66
• Blue Devil, in The Fury of Firestorm #24
• Bolt, in Blue Devil #06
• Crowbar, in Justice League of America #233
• Demolition Team, in Green Lantern #176
• Nathaniel Dusk, in Nathaniel Dusk #01
• Cynthia Reynolds, in Justice League of America Annual #02
• Javelin, in Green Lantern #173
• Jemm, in Jemm, Son of Saturn #01
• Jericho, in New Teen Titans #42
• Kid Devil in Firestorm #24
• Louise Lincoln, in The Fury of Firestorm #21
• Predator in Green Lantern #178
• Slipknot, in The Fury of Firestorm #28
• Felicity Smoak, in The Fury of Firestorm #23
• Steel, in Justice League of America Annual #02
• William Walsh in Tales of the Teen Titans #44
• Tezcatlipoca, in Wonder Woman #314
• Tsunami, in All-Star Squadron #33
• Vibe, in Justice League of America Annual #02
• Wrath, in Batman Special #1
• Hardline in Justice League of America #233
• Windfall in Batman and the Outsiders #09
• Midnight in All-Star Squadron #31
• Red Torpedo in All-Star Squadron #31
• Geode in Batman and the Outsiders #09
• Overmaster in Justice League of America #233
• Barracuda in World's Finest #304
• Shockwave in Blue Devil #02
• Alan Welles in Vigilante #07
• Richard Raleigh in All-Star Squadron #33
• Paragon in Justice League of America #224
• Nathaniel Dusk in Nathaniel Dusk #01
• Major Victory in Batman and the Outsiders Annual #01
• NoMan in T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #02
• Sparkler in Batman and the Outsiders Annual #01
• Lady Liberty in Batman and the Outsiders Annual #01
• Mayflower in Batman and the Outsiders Annual #01
• Silent Majority in Batman and the Outsiders Annual #01
• Neon the Unknown in All-Star Squadron #31
• Scyla in Sun Devils #01

  Marvel Comics

• Aquarius , in Iron Man #184
• Aries IV, in Iron Man #184
• Autobots, in The Transformers #1
• *Bluestreak
• *Brawn
• *Bumblebee
• * Cliffjumper
• *Gears
• *Huffer
• * Ironhide
• *Jazz
• *Mirage
• * Optimus Prime
• * Prowl
• *Ratchet
• * Sideswipe
• *Sparkplug
• *Sunstreaker
• *Trailbreaker
• *Wheeljack
• *Windcharger
• The Beyonder, in Secret Wars #1
• Lila Cheney, in New Mutants Annual #1
• Decepticons, in The Transformers #1
• *Buzzsaw
• *Frenzy
• *Laserbeak
• * Megatron
• * Ravage
• *Rumble
• *Skywarp
• *Soundwave
• *Starscream
• *Thundercracker
• Forge, in Uncanny X-Men #184
• Madison Jeffries, in Alpha Flight #16
• Amiko Kobayashi, in Uncanny X-Men #181
• Kurse , Thor #347
• Leech, in Uncanny X-Men #179
• Magus, in New Mutants #18
• Ogun, in Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #1
• Power Pack, in Power Pack #1
• * Alex Power
• * Jack Power
• * James Power
• * Julie Power
• * Katie Power
• * Margaret Power
• Puma, in The Amazing Spider-Man #256
• Nathaniel Richards, in Fantastic Four #272
• Rose, in The Amazing Spider-Man #253
• Sin, in Captain America #290
• Spider-Woman , in Secret Wars #6
• Spot, in Spectacular Spider-Man #97
• Titania, in Secret Wars #3
• Venom , in The Amazing Spider-Man #252
• Walrus, in Defenders #131
• Warlock, in New Mutants #18
• Warpath, in New Mutants #16

  Mirage Studios

• Foot Clan, in Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
• Hamato Yoshi, in Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
• April O'Neil, in Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
• Shredder, in Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
• Splinter, in Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, in Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
• * Donatello
• * Leonardo
• * Michelangelo
• * Raphael

  Independent titles

• Bulma, in Dragon Ball Ch. 1
• Chief Judge Fargo, in 2000 AD #377
• Nightveil, in Nightveil #1
• Northguard, in New Triumph #1
• Bucky O'Hare, in Echo of Futurepast #1
• Son Goku, in Dragon Ball Ch. 1
• Zachary T. Paleozogt, in Zot! #1