1982 in comics

Year overall

San Diego-based independent publisher Pacific Comics makes a strong push in the marketplace, following Jack Kirby's Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers with four new ongoing titles, Starslayer, Ms. Mystic, Twisted Tales, and Alien Worlds, featuring such established talents as Neal Adams and Mike Grell.

To stem the flow of creators defecting to companies such as First Comics, Pacific Comics, and Eclipse Comics, DC Comics begins offering royalties to artists and writers of regular newsstand comics that sell more than 100,000 copies; Marvel soon follows suit with its creator-owned imprint Epic Comics. Launched by editor-in-chief Jim Shooter as a spin-off of the successful Epic Illustrated magazine, the Epic imprint allows creators to retain control and ownership of their properties. Co-edited by Al Milgrom and Archie Goodwin, the imprint also allows Marvel to publish a mature line of comics oriented toward an older audience. Epic titles are printed on higher quality paper than typical Marvel comics, and are only available via the direct market.

Marvel debuts its Marvel Graphic Novels series, releasing five trade paperbacks over the course of the year: The Death of Captain Marvel, Elric: The Dreaming City, Dreadstar, The New Mutants, and X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.

Marvel publishes its first limited series titles: Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions, Wolverine, Hercules: Prince of Power, and Vision and the Scarlet Witch.

After 41 years as a publisher, Harvey Comics ceases publishing.

After ten years as a publisher, Spire Christian Comics ceases publishing original titles.

Attempting to create synthesis for two Warner Communications subsidiaries, DC Comics teams up with Atari Inc. to publish Atari Force, storylines for Atari home console games. The comics are packed in with the games Defender, Berzerk, Star Raiders, Phoenix, and Galaxian.

DC cancels its last three suspense/horror anthologies, The Unexpected, Ghosts, and Secrets of Haunted House.

With the demise of New Media/Irjax, Steve Geppi takes over their warehouses and distribution centers and founds Diamond Comic Distributors; 14 years later the company would become the sole major comics distributor

Independent publisher Paragon Publications changes its name to Americomics.

January

Warren Publishing suspends publication.

DC Comics Presents #41 features an insert previewing the new Wonder Woman creative team of writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan as well as an update of the character's costume.

House of Mystery #300: "Special Thrill-Filled 300th Issue," edited by Karen Berger. (DC Comics)

Phantom Zone #1 (of a four-issue limited series), by Steve Gerber, Gene Colan, and Tony DeZuniga; published by DC Comics.

Marvel Super-Heroes (1967 series), with issue #105, cancelled by Marvel.

"Apocalypse War" Judge Dredd storyline begins in 2000 AD. (continues through July)

February

The Flash #306 began a Doctor Fate backup series by writer Martin Pasko and artist Keith Giffen which ran through issue #313.

The New Teen Titans #16 features an insert previewing the upcoming Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! series by Roy Thomas and Scott Shaw.

Savage She-Hulk, with issue #25, is cancelled by Marvel.

March

The debut of Alan Moore's new, darker Marvelman in Warrior #1.

The debut of Alan Moore and David Lloyd's V for Vendetta in Warrior #1.

Justice League of America #200: 76-page anniversary issue, "A League Divided". The double-sized issue was a "jam" featuring a story written by Gerry Conway, a framing sequence drawn by George Pérez, and chapters drawn by Pat Broderick, Jim Aparo, Dick Giordano, Gil Kane, Carmine Infantino, Brian Bolland, and Joe Kubert. Bolland's chapter gave the artist his "first stab at drawing Batman."

DC's horror-suspense anthology Secrets of Haunted House ceases publication with issue #46.

Flash Gordon (1966 series), with issue #37, is cancelled by the Gold Key Comics imprint Whitman Comics.

Underground cartoonist Dave Sheridan dies at age 39.

March 27: Britain's weekly Eagle comic relaunched by IPC Media in a mostly photonovel format.

April

Daredevil #181 — Bullseye fatally stabs Elektra.

The long-running British series The Trigan Empire ceases publication with the cancellation of Look and Learn with issue #1042.

May

To help raise money for his lawsuit against Marvel Comics for ownership of Howard the Duck, Steve Gerber brings out his own Destroyer Duck from Eclipse Comics.

Fantastic Four Roast a one-shot written by Fred Hembeck is published by Marvel Comics.

DC's long-running weird/horror anthology The Unexpected ceases publication with issue #222.

Ghosts, with issue #112, is cancelled by DC.

The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves, with issue #72, is cancelled for the second time by Charlton.

June

Fantagraphics makes its first foray into comic book publishing with the Hernandez brothers (Jaime and Gilbert)'s Love & Rockets anthology.

Marvel begins publishing the Hasbro-licensed series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, which would sell over 200,000 copies and out-sell Superman and the X-Men.

Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #1 (of a three-issue limited series), by Mark Gruenwald, John Romita, Jr., and Bob Layton; published by Marvel Comics.

The two-issue "Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut!" storyline by creative team Roger Stern, John Romita, Jr., and Jim Mooney begins in The Amazing Spider-Man #229.

Silver Surfer one-shot scripted by Stan Lee, plotted and penciled by John Byrne, and inked by Tom Palmer is published by Marvel Comics.

June 7: Warren Tufts dies at age 56.

July

The New Teen Titans #21 features an insert previewing the upcoming Night Force series by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan.

The Penguin Books imprint Plume releases Creepshow, a graphic novella based on the 1982 horror movie Creepshow.

The Marvel UK storyline "Jaspers' Warp" (also known as "Crooked World") begins in Marvel Superheroes #387 (continuing through June 1984 in Mighty World of Marvel)

August

The Legion of Super-Heroes storyline "The Great Darkness Saga" begins with issue #290 (runs through December).

Marvel Superheroes, with issue #388, is cancelled by Marvel UK; it replaced in all but name by The Mighty World of Marvel.

September

Marvel's Wolverine four-issue mini-series, by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, begins.

Marvel's Hercules: Prince of Power four-issue mini-series, by Bob Layton, begins.

The Marvel/DC intercompany crossover The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans, by Chris Claremont, Walt Simonson, and Terry Austin.

September 13: Reed Crandall, Blackhawk and EC artist, dies at age 65.

September 23: Gene Day, Canadian artist and mentor to Dave Sim, dies of a coronary at age 31.

October

Norristown, Pennsylvania-based Comico begins publishing with the release of the black-and-white anthology title Primer #1.

With issue #251, DC again revives Blackhawk volume 1, which ran from 1944 to 1968, and then from 1976 to 1977.

Josie and the Pussycats (1963 series) is cancelled by Archie Comics with issue #106.

Justice League of America #207 and All-Star Squadron #14 feature the beginning of the "Crisis on Earth-Prime" crossover between the two titles. The storyline continues into Justice League of America #208 and All-Star Squadron #15 in November and concludes in Justice League of America #209 in December.

October 10 - Illustrator Ben Krefta is born

November

Jim Starlin's Dreadstar, the first title published by Marvel's creator-owned imprint Epic Comics, begins.

Canadian publisher Vortex Comics makes its entrée into the comics world with its anthology Vortex

Marvel's Vision and the Scarlet Witch four-issue mini-series, by Bill Mantlo, Rick Leonardi, Ian Akin and Brian Garvey, begins.

December

DC publishes its first tailored direct market offering: the first of 12 issues of Camelot 3000, Mike W. Barr & Brian Bolland's future-set tale of King Arthur. It is widely recognized as the first "maxi-series".

Detective Comics #521: Green Arrow becomes the backup feature.

DC publishes the first issue of its three-issue Masters of the Universe mini-series

Charlton Bullseye, with issue #10, canceled by Charlton.

December 20: Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira debuts in Young Magazine

Conventions

Katy-Kon 2 (Modesto, California) — 2nd convention dedicated to Katy Keene

Minneapolis Comic-Con (Minneapolis, Minnesota) — guests include C. C. Beck

March 27–28: Dimension Convention (Statler Hotel, New York City) — dedicated to the artists and writers who created EC Comics

June: Heroes Convention (Charlotte, North Carolina) — First annual staging of the multigenre convention. Official guests: George Pérez, Marv Wolfman, Mike Zeck, Butch Guice, Romeo Tanghal

June 5–6: Colorado Comic Art Convention II (Rocky Mountain School of Art, Denver, Colorado) — guests include Jim Payne, Michael Golden, and Bob Layton

June 10–13: Fantasy Fair (Dallas, Texas) — inaugural show; guest: Philip José Farmer

July 3–5: Comic Art Convention (Sheraton Hotel, New York City) — admission: $7/day; $15/weekend

July 8–11: San Diego Comic-Con (Convention and Performing Arts Center and Hotel, San Diego, California) — 5,000 attendees; official guests: Carl Barks, Terry Beatty, Brian Bolland, Max Allan Collins, Will Eisner, Mike Grell, Chuck Jones, Hank Ketcham, Walter Koenig, Frank Miller, Arn Saba, Leonard Starr, Ken Steacy, Robert Williams

July 16–18: Chicago Comicon (Americana-Congress Hotel, 520 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois)

August 13–15: Atlanta Fantasy Fair (Omni Hotel & Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia) — official guests include Frank Miller, Ray Harryhausen, Will Eisner, Philip Jose Farmer, Forrest J Ackerman, Bob Burden, Mike W. Barr, Dick Giordano, Brad Linaweaver, Somtow Sucharitkul, Len Wein, and musical guests Axis

August 21–22: Anaheim comic convention (Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, CA) — guests include George Pérez and Michael Golden

September: OrlandoCon (Orlando, Florida) — guests include C. C. Beck

September 11–12: Houston comic convention (Dunfey Houston Hotel, Houston, TX) — guests include Chris Claremont, Michael Golden, and David Prowse

October 23–24: Encounter 6 (Hilton Inn East, Wichita, Kansas)

November: Mid-Ohio Con (Mansfield, Ohio)

Deaths

March 28: Dave Sheridan, American comics artist (Tales from the Leather Nun, co-worked on The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers), dies at age 38 or 39.

July 6: Warren Tufts, American comics artist (Casey Ruggles) dies at age 56.

July 25: Harold Foster, American comics artist (Prince Valiant, Tarzan) passes away at age 89.

August 15: Ernie Bushmiller, American comics artist (Nancy, Fritzi Ritz) dies at age 76.

September 23: Gene Day, Canadian comics artist (Star Wars, Master of Kung Fu) dies of a coronary while crossing a street. He is only around 30 years old.

Exact date unknown: Eric Roberts, British comics artist (The Beano, The Dandy), passes away at age 72.

Eagle Awards

Presented in 1983 for comics published in 1982:

Best Story: V for Vendetta, by Alan Moore and David Lloyd (Warrior, Quality Communications)

Best New Book: Teen Titans, by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez (DC Comics)

Character Most Worthy of Own Title: Judge Anderson, 2000 AD (Fleetway)

Best Comics Writer: Alan Moore, V For Vendetta (Warrior, Quality Communications)

Favourite Artist: Bill Sienkiewicz

Best UK Title: Warrior, edited by Dez Skinn

Favourite Artist (UK): Brian Bolland

DC Comics

Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!

Release: March. Writer: Roy Thomas. Artists: Ross Andru, Scott Shaw, and Bob Smith

Daring New Adventures of Supergirl

Release: November. Writer: Paul Kupperberg. Artists: Carmine Infantino and Bob Oksner

The Fury of Firestorm

Release: June. Writer: Gerry Conway. Artists: Pat Broderick and Rodin Rodriguez.

Saga of the Swamp Thing

Release: May. Writer: Martin Pasko. Artist: Thomas Yeates.

Limited series

Atari Force: Promos distributed with Atari 2600 video games.

Writers: Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas. Artists: Ross Andru, Mike DeCarlo, and Dick Giordano

Camelot 3000

Release: December. Writer: Mike W. Barr. Artist: Brian Bolland

Marvel Comics

Dreadstar

Release: November by Epic Comics. Writer/Artist: Jim Starlin

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

Release: June. Writer: Larry Hama. Artists: Herb Trimpe and Bob McLeod

Marvel Fanfare

Release: March. Editor: Al Milgrom

Marvel Graphic Novel: "The Death of Captain Marvel"

Release: January. Writer/Artist: Jim Starlin.

The Mighty World of Marvel vol. 2

Release by Marvel UK: June. Editor: Dez Skinn.

Limited series

Hercules

Release: September. Writer/Artist: Bob Layton.

Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions

Release: June. Writer: Mark Gruenwald. Artists John Romita, Jr. and Bob Layton.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch

Release: November. Writer: Bill Mantlo. Artists: Rick Leonardi, Ian Akin, and Brian Garvey.

Wolverine

Release: September. Writer: Chris Claremont. Artists: Frank Miller and Josef Rubinstein.

Pacific Comics

Alien Worlds

Release: December. Editor: Bruce Jones

Ms. Mystic

Release: October. Writer/Artist: Neal Adams

Starslayer: The Log of the Jolly Roger

Release: February. Writer/Artist: Mike Grell

Twisted Tales

Release: November. Editor: Bruce Jones

Other publishers

Destroyer Duck

Release: May by Eclipse Comics. Writer: Steve Gerber. Artist: Jack Kirby

Domino chance

Release: May by Chance Enterprises. Writer/Artist: Kevin Lenagh

Love and Rockets

Release: June by Fantagraphics. Writers/Artists: Los Bros Hernandez

Primer

Release: October by Comico.

Vortex

Release: November by Vortex Comics. Editor: William P. Marks

Warrior

Release: March by Quality Communications. Writer: Alan Moore. Artists: Garry Leach and Alan Davis

DC Comics

Ambush Bug in DC Comics Presents #52

Arion in The Warlord #55

Blackfire in New Teen Titans #22

Brother Blood in New Teen Titans #21

Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! in New Teen Titans #16

Ch'p in Green Lantern #148

Firehawk in The Fury of Firestorm #1

Global Guardians in DC Comics Presents #46

Hamilton Hill, in Detective Comics #511 (February)

Frances Kane in New Teen Titans #17

Lyla (Harbinger), in New Teen Titans #21

The Monitor, in New Teen Titans #21

Plastique in The Fury of Firestorm #7

The Psions in New Teen Titans #4

Terra in New Teen Titans #26

Marvel Comics

The Acanti in Uncanny X-Men #156

Arcanna, in The Defenders #112 (October)

The Brood in Uncanny X-Men #155

Cloak and Dagger in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #64

Luna, in Fantastic Four #240 (March)

Marada, the She-Wolf, in Epic Illustrated #10 (Feb)

New Mutants, in Marvel Graphic Novel #4: The New Mutants

Cannonball

Danielle Moonstar

Sunspot

Wolfsbane

Nuke, in The Defenders #112 (October)

Power Princess, in The Defenders #112 (October)

Monica Rambeau in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16

Sikorsky in Uncanny X-Men #156 (April)

Obadiah Stane, in Iron Man #163 (October)

William Stryker in X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills

Varnae in Bizarre Adventures #33

Vermin in Captain America #272

Vertigo, in Marvel Fanfare #1 (March)

Yukio in Wolverine #2

Independent titles

Grendel in Primer #2, published by Comico

Groo the Wanderer in Destroyer Duck #1, published by Eclipse Comics

Ms. Mystic in Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers #3, published by Pacific Comics

Rocketeer in Starslayer #2, published by Pacific Comics

The Warpsmiths in Warrior Summer Special #4, published by Quality Communications