1985 in comics

Events and publications

Year overall

• More independent publishers enter the marketplace: Aircel Comics, Arrow Comics, Blackthorne Publishing, Dragon Lady Press, NOW Comics, Sirius Comics, Strawberry Jam Comics, and Wonder Comics all publish their first titles. In addition, David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview publishes its first comic book titles.
• After 41 years as a publisher, Charlton Comics folds.
• Marvel Comics publishes Heroes for Hope: Starring the X-Men, an all-star benefit book for African famine relief and recovery.

  January

• Warrior, with issue #26, publishes its final issue

  February

• February: Bill Tidy's The Fosdyke Saga comes to an end after having been in syndication for 14 years.
• Tales of the Teen Titans #50: Donna Troy marries Terry Long.
• With issue #150, Marvel Comics cancels the Spider-Man title Marvel Team-Up.

  March

• March 7: Albert Uderzo is honoured as Knight in the Légion d'Honneur.
• March 17: First publication of Greg Evans' Luann.
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #100: "Breakin'!" written and drawn by Al Milgrom.
• "The Surtur Saga" comes to a conclusion in Thor #353 by Walt Simonson.
• In London an exhibition of Tomi Ungerer's artwork and cartoons is wrecked with spray-paint by feminist activists led by Valerie Wise who protest against his S&M erotic cartoons.

  April

• Crisis on Infinite Earths 12-issue "maxi-series" debuts, produced by DC Comics to simplify their then-50-year-old continuity. Written by Marv Wolfman, and illustrated by George Pérez, with Mike DeCarlo, Dick Giordano, and Jerry Ordway. The series eliminates the concept of the Multiverse in the fictional DC Universe, and depicts the deaths of such long-standing superheroes as Supergirl and the Barry Allen incarnation of the Flash.

  May

• Sgt. Rock #400: "Easy's 400th," by Robert Kanigher and Adrian Gonzales.

  Summer

• Marvel Comics publishes New Mutants Special Edition #1. Written by Chris Claremont, it is the first X-Men related art by fan-favorite Art Adams with inks by Terry Austin. It continues in Uncanny X-Men Annual #9 again by Claremont and Adams with inks by Al Gordon, Mike Mignola, and Adams, himself.

  July

• July 29: Jimmy Johnson's Arlo and Janis makes its debut.
• Secret Wars II debuts continuing the adventures of the Beyonder from the original Secret Wars series.
• In Middelkerke, Belgium, the first edition of the comics festival Stripfestival Middelkerke is organized, though it's still named Milky Way Stripfestival at this point.

  August

• August 23: The Dutch comics magazine Eppo changes its name into Eppo Wordt Vervolgd, to tie in with the popularity of the TV show Wordt Vervolgd, which deals with comics and cartoons. Under this new name it continues until 1988. In the first issue Ruud Straatman and Peter de Wit's De Familie Fortuin makes its debut.
• DC publishes Superman Annual #11: "For the Man Who Has Everything," by the future Watchmen team of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

  September

• September 15: The first episode of Gleever's comic strip Oktoknopie is published in the Dutch children's magazine Taptoe.
• The "Who Is Sensor Girl?" storyline, written by Paul Levitz, begins in Legion of Super-Heroes #14.
• Mighty Crusaders vol. 2, with issue #13, is cancelled by Archie Adventure Series.

  October

• Crisis on Infinite Earths #7: The death of Supergirl.
• With issue #350, DC Comics publishes the final issue of The Flash.
• "The Death of Jean DeWolff" story arc, written by Peter David, begins in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107.
• Music for Mechanics, the first Love and Rockets collection, is published by Fantagraphics.
• The Vision and the Scarlet Witch vol. 2 #1, the first issue of a 12–issue limited series.

  November

• November 18: Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes makes its debut.
• Crisis on Infinite Earths #8: The death of Barry Allen / The Flash.
• With issue #50, Arak, Son of Thunder is canceled by DC Comics.
• Tales of the Teen Titans, with issue #59, becomes a reprint book.
• Iron Man #200: "Resolutions!" by Denny O'Neil, Mark D. Bright, and Akin & Garvey. Tony Stark resumes the identity of Iron Man and defeats Iron Monger.
• In Australia the annual comics awards, the Stanley Awards, are established.

  December

• The Warlord #100: double-sized issue, "Skartaris Unchained," by Michael Fleisher and Adam Kubert.
• Uncanny X-Men #200: "The Trial of Magneto," by Chris Claremont, John Romita, Jr., and Dan Green.
• Thundercats #1: "Survival Run".
• December 31: The Dreamer, by Will Eisner, is published by Kitchen Sink.

  Specific date unknown

• Peter de Smet wins the Stripschapprijs. Joost Swarte and the PTT Post receive the Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten.
• The final issue of the Flemish comics magazine/fanzine Stripgids is published. It will be relaunched in October 2006.

  Deaths

January

• January 4: Otto Milo, Dutch film critic, comics artist and cartoonist, dies at age 62.
• January 10: José Luis Salinas, Argentine comics artist, passes away at age 76.

  February

• February 5: Cees Bantzinger, Dutch comics artist, drowns himself in a river out of shame over his war past. He is 70 years old.

  March

• March 24: Dick Kinney, American animator, screenwriter and comics writer, dies at age 68.
• March 27:
• * Don Rico, American novelist and comics writer, dies at age 72.
• * Hans Kossatz, German illustrator, comics artist and cartoonist, dies at age 84.
• March 28: Ferry Zipper, Austrian-Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 74.

  April

• April 11: Bill Zaboly, American comics artist, dies at age 74.
• April 15: Andries Brandt, Dutch comics artist and writer, passes away at age 86.

  May

• May 5: Erkki Tanttu, Finnish comics artist, dies at age 77.
• May 11: Chester Gould, American comics artist, dies at age 84.
• May 22: Wolfgang Reitherman, German-American animator and film director, dies at age 75.

  June

• June 21: Charles Wojtkoski, American comics artist, dies at age 63.

  July

• July: Ernie Hart, American comics writer and artist, dies at age 64.
• July 8: Frank Hampson, British comics artist, dies at age 66.
• July 13: Einar Norelius, Swedish illustrator and comics artist, passes away at age 85.

  August

• August 6: Ken Ernst, American comics artist, dies at age 67.
• August 25: Pino Zac, Italian illustrator, cartoonist, comics artist and animator, co-publisher of the magazine Il Male, dies at age 55.

  October

• October 12: George Lemont, American comics artist, passes away from a stroke at age 58.
• October 15: Sandro Angiolini, Italian comics artist, dies at age 65.
• October 18: Jack Kent, American comics artist, dies from leukemia at age 65.
• October 23: Adolphe Barreaux, American comics artist, passes away at age 86.
• October 26: Cecil Langley Doughty, British illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 71.
• October 30: Manon Iessel, French illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 76.

  November

• November 6: Viktor Kálmán, aka Victor Vashi, Hungarian painter, animator and comics artist, dies at age 74.
• November 23: Roger Brand, American comics artist, dies of liver failure at age 42.
• November 24: C. Buddingh', Dutch poet and comics writer, dies at age 67.

  December

• December 6: Walter B. Gibson, American magician, novelist and comics writer, dies at age 88.
• December 19: Jean Ache/Jean Huet, French animator and comics artist, passes away at age 62.
• December 20: Al Peclers, aka Pec, aka J.B. Stone, Belgian comics artist and caricaturist, passes away at an unknown age.
• December 25:
• * Joseph Oriolo, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 72.
• * Jackie Ormes, American comics artist, dies at age 74.

  Specific date unknown

• Mies Deinum, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, passes away at age 77 or 78.
• Sam Fair, British comics artist, passes away at age 76.
• Roberto Sgrilli, Italian painter, illustrator, comics artist and animator, dies at age 87 or 88.
• Shuhui Wang, Chinese comics artist, dies at age 72 or 73.
• Xiaoying Yue, Chinese comics artist, dies at age 63 or 64.

  Exhibitions and shows

Conventions

• Jan. 25-27: Angoulême International Comics Festival — 12th annual festival
• April: 1st Annual Victoria International Cartoon Festival
• May 29–June 2: Salon International de la Bande Dessinee de Montreal
• June: Heroes Convention
• June 13–16: BD '85
• June 22–23: Colorado Comic Art Convention — fifth and final iteration of the show; guests include Michael Kaluta, Elaine Lee, Stan Phillips, and Drew Litton
• July 5–7: Chicago Comicon — guest of honor: Sergio Aragonés
• July 5–7: Dallas Fantasy Fair — guests include Gil Kane, Wendy Pini, Kenneth Smith, and Gary Groth
• August 1–4: San Diego Comic Con — 6,000 attendees; official guests: Ben Bova, Jack Cummings, Jack Davis, Gil Kane, Harvey Kurtzman, Alan Moore, Dan O'Bannon, Jerry Ordway, Alex Schomburg, Julius Schwartz, Jerry Siegel, Louise Simonson, Walt Simonson
• August 2–4: Atlanta Fantasy Fair — official guests include Newt Gingrich, Frederick Pohl, Theodore Sturgeon, Gerald W. Page, Ted White, Forrest J Ackerman
• September 21–22: King Kon Comic & Fantasy Convention :
• September 21–22: United Kingdom Comic Art Convention — first annual edition; £7.50 admission charge for both days; guests include Steve Bissette, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dave Sim, Marv Wolfman, Brian Bolland, John Bolton, Eddie Campbell, Alan Davis, Hunt Emerson, Brett Ewins, Dave Gibbons, Ian Gibson, Denis Gifford, Alan Grant, Garry Leach, David Lloyd, Mike McMahon, Alan Moore, Steve Moore, Paul Neary, Kevin O'Neill, Ron Smith, Dez Skinn, Bryan Talbot, and John Wagner
• November: Mid-Ohio Con — guests include John Byrne
• November 30–December 1: Creation Comic Book Convention — 15th annual show; guests include Jim Shooter, Chris Claremont, Robin Curtis, Frank Ashmore, and Terrance Dicks

  Awards

[Eagle Awards]

• Roll of Honour: Alan Moore

  American Section

• Favourite Comic Book: Swamp Thing, written by Alan Moore
• Favourite Graphic Novel: American Flagg! Hard Times, by Howard Chaykin
• Favourite Single or Continued Story: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-9
• Favourite New Comic Title: Miracleman, written by Alan Moore
• Favourite Comic Cover: Swamp Thing #34, by John Totleben
• Favourite Character: Batman
• Favourite Supporting Character: John Constantine, from Swamp Thing
• Character Most Worthy of Own Title: Wolverine
• Favourite Group or Team: The X-Men
• Favourite Group Book: The New Teen Titans, by Marv Wolfman
• Favourite Writer: Alan Moore, Swamp Thing
• Favourite Artist: George Pérez
• Favourite Inker: Terry Austin
• Favourite Specialist Comics Publication: Amazing Heroes

  UK Section

• Favourite Artist: Alan Davis
• Favourite Writer: Alan Moore
• Favourite Comic: 2000 AD
• Favourite Comic Album: Nemesis Book III
• Favourite Comic Character: Halo Jones
• Favourite Villain: Torquemada, from Nemesis the Warlock
• Favourite Supporting Character: Meggan
• Character Most Worthy of Own Title: Halo Jones
• Favourite Single or Continued Story: Halo Jones Book Two
• Favourite New Comic: Captain Britain
• Favourite Comic Cover: Captain Britain #6, by Alan Davis
• Favourite Specialist Comics Publication: Speakeasy

  [Kirby Awards]

• Best Single Issue: Swamp Thing Annual #2, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben
• Best Continuing Series: Swamp Thing, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben
• Best Black & White Series: Cerebus by Dave Sim
• Best Finite Series: Crisis on Infinite Earths, by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez
• Best New Series: Zot!, by Scott McCloud
• Best Graphic Album: Beowulf
• Best Artist: Dave Stevens, for The Rocketeer
• Best Writer: Alan Moore, for Swamp Thing
• Best Art Team: Steve Bissette and John Totleben, for Swamp Thing
• Best Cover: Swamp Thing #34, by Steve Bissette and John Totleben
• Best Comics Publication: Comics Buyer's Guide

  First issues by title

DC Comics

Limited Series

Marvel Comics

Limited series

Independent titles

Initial appearances by character name

DC Comics

• Fel Andar, in The Shadow War of Hawkman #1
• Anti-Monitor, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #02
• Bekka, in DC Graphic Novel #04: The Hunger Dogs
• Black Mask, in Batman #386
• Black Mass, in Justice League of America #234
• Cadre, in Justice League of America #235
• John Constantine, in Swamp Thing #37
• Fastball, in Justice League of America #234
• Kimiyo Hoshi, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #04
• Jinx, in Tales of the Teen Titans #56
• Kid Devil, in Blue Devil #14
• Kole, in The New Teen Titans #09
• Lady Quark, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #04
• Alexander Luthor, Jr., in Crisis on Infinite Earths #01
• Doctor Mid-Nite , in Infinity, Inc. #19
• Mister Bones, in Infinity, Inc. #16
• Onyx, in Detective Comics #546
• Pariah, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #1
• Shadow Thief , in Vigilante #14
• Superboy-Prime, in DC Comics Presents #87
• Rick Tyler, in Infinity, Inc. #20
• Looker in Batman and the Outsiders #25
• Mogo in Green Lantern #188
• Marcie Cooper in Infinity Inc. #14
• Nightfall in Justice League of America #234
• Syonide in Batman and the Outsiders #19
• Jonni Thunder in Jonni Thunder #01
• Yolanda Montez in Infinity Inc. #12
• Elizabeth Chapel in Infinity Inc. #19
• Shrike in Justice League of America #235
• Bolphunga in Green Lantern #188
• David Winston in Vigilante #23
• Chroma in Infinity Inc. #14
• Mekanique in Infinity Inc. #19
• Weasel in Firestorm #38
• Tellus in Legion of Super-Heroes #14
• Lord Volt in Crisis on Infinite Earths #04
• Princess Fern in Crisis on Infinite Earths #04

  Marvel Comics

• Brian Banner, in The Incredible Hulk #312
• Bushmaster II, in Captain America #310
• Guido Carosella , in New Mutants #29
• Diamondback , in Captain America #310
• Dennis Dunphy , in The Thing #28
• Erg, in Power Pack #12
• Eternals
• * Cybele, in The Eternals #1
• * Interloper, in The Defenders #147
• * Khoryphos, in The Eternals #1
• * Phastos, in Eternals #1
• Fenris , in Uncanny X-Men #194
• Firestar, in Uncanny X-Men #193
• Flag-Smasher, in Captain America #312
• Freedom Force, in Uncanny X-Men #199
• Kofi Whitemane, in Power Pack #16
• Legion, in New Mutants #25
• Longshot, in Longshot #1
• Mojo, in Longshot #3
• Nimrod, in Uncanny X-Men #191
• Normie Osborn, in The Amazing Spider-Man #263
• Rattler, in Captain America #310
• Scourge of the Underworld, in Iron Man #194
• Silver Sable, in The Amazing Spider-Man #265
• Sin-Eater, in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #107
• Skrullian Skymaster, in Squadron Supreme #1
• Tabitha Smith, in Secret Wars II #5
• Alistair Smythe, in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #19
• Sharon Ventura, in The Thing #27

  Independent titles

• Casey Jones, in Raphael #1
• Druuna, in Morbus gravis
• Krillin, in Dragon Ball chapter #25
• Emanuel Santana, in Scout #1
• She Cat, in Femforce #1