1985 in comics

1985

1984 in comics

1986 in comics

Notable events of 1985 in comics. See also List of years 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 (it had been publishing the Comics Interview magazine since 1983).
• 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 (Quality Communications)

February

• Tales of the Teen Titans #50: Donna Troy marries Terry Long. (DC Comics)
• With issue #150, Marvel Comics cancels the Spider-Man title Marvel Team-Up (Web of Spider-Man will debut two months later).

March

• 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.

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 (pencils/layouts),^[1] with Mike DeCarlo, Dick Giordano, and Jerry Ordway (who shared inking/embellishing chores). 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. (DC Comics)

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

• Secret Wars II debuts continuing the adventures of the Beyonder from the original Secret Wars series.

August

• DC publishes Superman Annual #11: "For the Man Who Has Everything," by the future Watchmen team of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

September

• The "Who Is Sensor Girl?" storyline, written by Paul Levitz, begins in Legion of Super-Heroes #14 (and continues through issue #27).
• 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 (volume 1).
• "The Death of Jean DeWolff" story arc, written by Peter David, begins in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107 (eventually running through issue #110).
• Music for Mechanics, the first Love and Rockets collection, is published by Fantagraphics.

November

• Crisis on Infinite Earths #8: The death of Barry Allen / The Flash. (DC Comics)
• With issue #50, Arak, Son of Thunder (1981 series) is canceled by DC Comics.
• Tales of the Teen Titans, with issue #59, becomes a reprint book. (DC Comics)
• 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. (Marvel Comics)

December

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

Deaths

March

• Writer Don Rico, known for his jungle girl characters, dies at age 72.

May

• May 11: Chester Gould, creator of Dick Tracy, dies at age 84.

June

• June 21: Charles Wojtkoski (usually credited as "Charles Nicholas"), creator of Blue Beetle, dies at age 63.

July

• Ernie Hart, creator of Super Rabbit, dies at age 64.
• July 8: British cartoonist Frank Hampson dies at age 66.

November

• November 23: Roger Brand, underground cartoonist, dies of liver failure at age 42.^[2]

December

• December 26: Jackie Ormes, pioneering female African-American strip cartoonist, dies at age 74.

Conventions

• Jan. 25-27: Angoulême International Comics Festival (Angoulême, France) — 12th annual festival^[3]
• April: 1st Annual Victoria International Cartoon Festival (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)
• May 29–June 2: Salon International de la Bande Dessinee de Montreal (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
• June: Heroes Convention (Charlotte, North Carolina)
• June 13–16: BD '85 (Sierre, Switzerland)
• June 22–23: Colorado Comic Art Convention (Auraria Campus Student Center, Denver, Colorado) — fifth and final iteration of the show; guests include Michael Kaluta, Elaine Lee, Stan Phillips, and Drew Litton
• July 5–7: Chicago Comicon (Ramade O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois) — guest of honor: Sergio Aragonés
• July 5–7: Dallas Fantasy Fair (Dallas, Texas) — guests include Gil Kane, Wendy Pini, Kenneth Smith, and Gary Groth^[4]
• August 1–4: San Diego Comic Con (Convention and Performing Arts Center and Hotel, San Diego, California) — 6,000 attendees; official guests: Ben Bova, Jack Cummings, Jack Davis, Gil Kane, Harvey Kurtzman, Alan Moore (in his only U.S. convention appearance), Dan O'Bannon, Jerry Ordway, Alex Schomburg, Julius Schwartz, Jerry Siegel, Louise Simonson, Walt Simonson
• August 2–4: Atlanta Fantasy Fair (Omni Hotel & Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia) — 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 (Eastern Michigan University Student Union, Ypsilanti, MI):^[5]
• September 21–22: United Kingdom Comic Art Convention (University of London Union, London, England) — 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 (Richland County Fairgrounds, Mansfield, Ohio) — guests include John Byrne
• November 30–December 1: Creation Comic Book Convention (Roosevelt Hotel, New York City) — 15th annual show; guests include Jim Shooter, Chris Claremont, Robin Curtis, Frank Ashmore, and Terrance Dicks^[6]

Awards

Eagle Awards

Presented in 1986 for comics published in 1985:

• Roll of Honour: Alan Moore^[7]

American Section

• Favourite Comic Book: Swamp Thing, written by Alan Moore (DC Comics)
• Favourite Graphic Novel: American Flagg! Hard Times, by Howard Chaykin (First Comics)
• Favourite Single or Continued Story: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-9
• Favourite New Comic Title: Miracleman, written by Alan Moore (Eternity Comics)
• Favourite Comic Cover: Swamp Thing #34, by John Totleben (DC)
• 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 (Marvel Comics)
• Favourite Group Book: The New Teen Titans, by Marv Wolfman (DC)
• Favourite Writer: Alan Moore, Swamp Thing (DC)
• 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 (Fleetway)
• Favourite Comic Album: Nemesis Book III (Fleetway)
• Favourite Comic Character: Halo Jones
• Favourite Villain: Torquemada, from Nemesis the Warlock
• Favourite Supporting Character: Meggan (Captain Britain)
• Character Most Worthy of Own Title: Halo Jones
• Favourite Single or Continued Story: Halo Jones Book Two (2000 AD #406-415)
• Favourite New Comic: Captain Britain (Marvel UK)
• 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 (DC Comics)
• Best Continuing Series: Swamp Thing, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC)
• Best Black & White Series: Cerebus by Dave Sim (Aardvark-Vanaheim)
• Best Finite Series: Crisis on Infinite Earths, by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez (DC)
• Best New Series: Zot!, by Scott McCloud (Eclipse Comics)
• Best Graphic Album: Beowulf (First Comics)
• Best Artist: Dave Stevens, for The Rocketeer (Comico)
• Best Writer: Alan Moore, for Swamp Thing (DC)
• Best Art Team: Steve Bissette and John Totleben, for Swamp Thing (DC)
• Best Cover: Swamp Thing #34, by Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC)
• Best Comics Publication: Comics Buyer's Guide (Krause Publications)

First issues by title

DC Comics

DC Science Fiction Graphic Novel: Hell on Earth

Release:. Writers: Robert Bloch and Robert Loren Fleming. Artist: Keith Giffen.

Hex

Release: November. Writer: Michael Fleisher. Artist: Mark Texeira.

The Outsiders

Release: November. Writer: Mike W. Barr. Artist: Jim Aparo.^[8]

Limited Series

America vs. the Justice Society (4 issues)

Release: January: Writers: Roy and Dann Thomas.^[9]

Crisis on Infinite Earths (12-issues)

Release: April. Writer: by Marv Wolfman. Artist: George Pérez.

The Shadow War of Hawkman (4 issues)

Release: May. Writer: Tony Isabella. Artists: Richard Howell and Alfredo Alcala.

Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (26 issues)

Release: March. Editors: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, and Robert Greenberger.

Marvel Comics

The Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe

Release: December. Writer: Peter Sanderson.

Swords of the Swashbucklers

Release: March by Epic Comics. Writer: Bill Mantlo. Artists: Geof Isherwood and Ricardo Villamonte.

ThunderCats

Release: December by Star Comics. Writer: David Michelinie. Artists: Jim Mooney and Brett Breeding.

Web of Spider-Man

Release: April. Writer: Louise Simonson. Artists: Greg LaRocque and Jim Mooney.

West Coast Avengers

Release: October. Writer: Steve Englehart. Artists: Al Milgrom and Joe Sinnott.

Limited series

The Bozz Chronicles (6 issues)

Release: December by Epic Comics. Writer: David Michelinie.

Eternals (12 issues)

Release: October. Writer: Peter Gillis. Artists: Sal Buscema and Al Gordon.

Longshot (6 issues)

Release: September. Writer: Ann Nocenti. Artist: Art Adams.

Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu (6 issues)

Release: June.

Moonshadow (12 issues)

Release: March by Epic Comics. Writer: J. M. DeMatteis.

Nightcrawler (4 issues)

Release: November. Writer/Artist: Dave Cockrum.

The One (6 issues)

Release: July by Epic Comics. Writer/Artist: Rick Veitch.

Secret Wars II (9 issues)

Release: July. Writer: Jim Shooter. Artist: Al Milgrom.

Squadron Supreme (12 issues)

Release: September. Writer: Mark Gruenwald. Artists: Bob Hall and John Beatty.

Independent titles

Alien Encounters

Release: June by Eclipse Comics. Editor: Catherine Yronwode.

Femforce

Release: by AC Comics. Writer: Bill Black. Artist: Mark G. Heike.

Fish Police

Release: June by Fishwrap Productions. Writer/Artist: Steven Moncuse.

Miracleman

Release: August by Eclipse Comics. Writer: Alan Moore. Artists: Mick Anglo and Garry Leach.

Neat Stuff

Release: June by Fantagraphics. Writer/Artist: Peter Bagge.

Scout

Release: September by Eclipse Comics. Writer/Artist: Timothy Truman.

Tales from the Aniverse

Release: December by Arrow Comics. Writer/Artists: Randy Zimmerman and Susan Van Camp.

Tales of the Beanworld

Release: by Beanworld Press. Writer/Artists: Larry Marder.

To Be Announced

Release: July by Strawberry Jam Comics. Writer: Derek McCulloch. Artist: Mike Bannon.

Initial appearances by character name

DC Comics

• Fel Andar, in The Shadow War of Hawkman #1
• Anti-Monitor, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #2
• Bekka, in DC Graphic Novel #4: 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
• Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi), in Crisis on Infinite Earths #4
• Jinx, in Tales of the Teen Titans #56
• Kid Devil, in Blue Devil #14 (July)
• Kole, in The New Teen Titans vol. 2, #9
• Lady Quark, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #4
• Alexander Luthor, Jr., in Crisis on Infinite Earths #1
• Doctor Mid-Nite (Beth Chapel), in Infinity, Inc. #19
• Mister Bones, in Infinity, Inc. #16
• Onyx, in Detective Comics #546
• Pariah, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #1
• Shadow Thief (Hammer), in Vigilante #14
• Superboy-Prime, in DC Comics Presents #87^[10]
• Hourman (Rick Tyler), in Infinity, Inc. #20
• Vigilante (Alan Welles), in Vigilante #20

Marvel Comics

• Brian Banner, in The Incredible Hulk #312
• Bushmaster II, in Captain America #310 (October )
• Guido Carosella (Strong Guy), in New Mutants #29 (July)
• Diamondback (Rachel Leighton), in Captain America #310 (October)
• Dennis Dunphy (Demolition Man), in The Thing #28 (October)
• Erg, in Power Pack #12 (July)
• Eternals
  • Cybele, in The Eternals (vol.2) #1 (October)
  • Interloper, in The Defenders #147 (September)
  • Khoryphos, in The Eternals (vol.2) #1 (October)
  • Phastos, in Eternals (vol. 2) #1 (October)
• Fenris (Andrea & Andreas Von Strucker), in Uncanny X-Men #194 (June)
• Firestar, in Uncanny X-Men #193 (May)
• Flag-Smasher, in Captain America #312 (December)
• Freedom Force, in Uncanny X-Men #199 (November )
• Kofi Whitemane, in Power Pack #16 (November )
• Legion, in New Mutants #25
• Longshot, in Longshot #1 (September )
• Mojo, in Longshot #3 (November )
• Nimrod, in Uncanny X-Men #191 (March)
• Normie Osborn, in The Amazing Spider-Man #263 (April )
• Rattler, in Captain America #310 (October )
• Scourge of the Underworld, in Iron Man #194 (May)
• Silver Sable, in The Amazing Spider-Man #265 (June)
• Sin-Eater, in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #107 (October )
• Skrullian Skymaster, in Squadron Supreme #1 (August)
• Tabitha Smith, in Secret Wars II #5 (November )
• Alistair Smythe, in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #19
• Sharon Ventura, in The Thing #27 (September )

Independent titles

• Casey Jones, in Raphael #1 (Mirage Studios)
• Druuna, in Morbus gravis (Dargaud)
• Krillin, in Dragon Ball chapter #25 (Shueisha)
• Emanuel Santana, in Scout #1 (Eclipse Comics)
• She Cat, in Femforce #1 (AC Comics)

References

1. Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1980s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Comics didn't get any bigger than this. Crisis on Infinite Earths was a landmark limited series that redefined a universe. It was a twelve-issue maxiseries starring nearly every character in DC Comics fifty-year history and written and drawn by two of the industry's biggest name creative talents - writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez.
2. T.H. "Comix Artist Richard Brand Dead," The Comics Journal #107 (Apr. 1986).
3. Bernardi, Luigi. "Angoulême : Grandezza e Miserie delle BeDe," Orient Express #30 (Mar. 1985), pp. 110-112.
4. "Peer Pressure," The Comics Journal #105 (Feb. 1986), pp. 69–74.
5. Detroit Free Press (September 20, 1985), p. 34.
6. "Weekender Guide," New York Times (Nov. 29, 1985).
7. Moore profile, Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999.
8. Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 215: "[The Outsiders] saw the popular team given the enhanced quality of a Baxter-format series...written by Mike W. Barr and drawn by Jim Aparo."
9. Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 212: "In this limited series by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Rafael Kayanan, the JSA was taken to trial following a modern-day witchhunt."
10. Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 215 "This issue set into motion the life of Earth-Prime's youngest superhero, a major player in the Crisis on Infinite Earths saga, and the brutal adversary at the heart of 2005-2006's Infinite Crisis limited series."