1984 in comics

Years in comics
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Notable events of 1984 in comics. See also List of years 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.
• 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.

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, published in Amazing Spider-Man #248. (The story is later selected as one of the "Top 10 Spider-Man stories of all time" by Wizard magazine.)

March

• March 24: Scream! #1, published by IPC Magazines.

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 three television series, numerous video games, four 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.
• Capital Comics suspends publication; its titles Badger, Nexus, and Whisper are later acquired by First Comics.

June

• Mister X #1, by Jaime, Gilbert, and Mario Hernandez, is published by Vortex Comics.
• June 23: With issue #689, the British girls' comic Tammy ends its run, merging with Girl.

July

• Six from Sirius — #1 in a four-issue mini-series, by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy, published by Epic Comics.

October

• 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.

November

• 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.
• November 24: The Judge Dredd story "City of the Damned" begins its run in 2000 AD (the storyline runs through February 23, 1985).

December

• The Sisterhood of Steel — #1 in an eight-issue limited series, published by Epic Comics.
• December 3: With issue #2103, Fleetway publishes the final issue of War Picture Library.

Deaths

March

• Carl Burgos, creator of the original Human Torch, dies at age 67.

May

• May 21: Ruben Moreira, long-time Tarzan artist, dies at age 61.

June

• June 4: Sol Brodsky, for many years Marvel Comics' production manager, and Stan Lee's "right-hand man," passes away at age 61.
• June 28: Pete Costanza, long-time Captain Marvel artist, passes away at age 71.

August

• Phil Seuling, father of the direct market, dies at age 50.
• August 19: Don Newton, long-time Batman artist, dies at age 49.

December

• Golden Age artist Al Avison dies at age 64.

Exhibitions and shows

Conventions

Awards

First issues by title

DC Comics

Blue Devil

Release: June. Writer: Dan Mishkin. Artists: Gary Cohn and Paris Cullins.

Infinity, Inc.

Release: March. Writer: Roy Thomas. Artists: Jerry Ordway and Mike Machlan.

Marvel Comics

Alien Legion

Release: April by Epic Comics. Writers: Carl Potts and Alan Zelenetz. Artist: Frank Cirocco.

Power Pack

Release: May (August cover). Writer: Louise Simonson. Artist: June Brigman.

Transformers

Release: September. Writers: Ralph Macchio and Bill Mantlo. Artists: Frank Springer and Kim DeMulder.

Independent titles

• Dragon Ball, by Akira Toriyama, first serialized on Weekly Shōnen Jump.
• Echo of Futurepast #1, by Continuity Comics
• Mister X, by Vortex Comics
• Mage: The Hero Discovered, by Comico Comics
• New Triumph, by Matrix Graphic 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

Initial appearances by character name

• Blue Devil, in The Fury of Firestorm #24 (DC Comics)
• Grimjack, in Starslayer #10 (Pacific Comics)
• Halo Jones, in 2000 AD #376 (IPC Media)
• Northguard, in New Triumph #1 (Matrix Graphic Series)
• Bucky O'Hare, in Echo of Futurepast #1 (Continuity Comics)