1985 in comics explained
See also: List of years in comics. Notable events of 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 (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
February
March
April
May
- The Norwegian band A-ha releases a re-recorded version of their song Take On Me, with a partially animated music video, in which a girl is brought into a comic book world. The video is directed by Steve Barron and Candace Reckinger, with the animation done by Michael Patterson. The comic featured in the music video is drawn by Michael Patterson and later printed in the sleeve of the single release.[8]
- Sgt. Rock #400: "Easy's 400th," by Robert Kanigher and Adrian Gonzales. (DC Comics)
June
- In the Italian magazine Corto Maltese, Y todo a media luz (or Tango) by Hugo Pratt; in Buenos Aires, Corto Maltese meets Butch Cassidy.
Summer
July
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 (1983-1997), which deals with comics and cartoons. Under this new name it continues until 1988.[11] In the first issue Ruud Straatman and Peter de Wit's De Familie Fortuin makes its debut.[12]
- DC publishes Superman Annual #11: "For the Man Who Has Everything," by the future Watchmen team of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.
September
October
November
December
Specific date unknown
Deaths
January
- January 4: Otto Milo, Dutch film critic, comics artist and cartoonist, dies at age 62.[20]
- January 10: José Luis Salinas, Argentine comics artist (Hernán el corsario, The Cisco Kid), dies at age 76.[21]
- January 29: George Needham, aka George Robb, British-Australian comics artist (The Dwight Family, The Bosun and Choclit), dies at age 81.[22]
February
- February 5: Cees Bantzinger, Dutch comics artist (Knobbel), drowns himself in a river out of shame over his war past. He is 70 years old.[23]
March
- March 24: Dick Kinney, American animator, screenwriter and comics writer (Donald Duck, Scrooge McDuck), dies at age 68.[24]
- March 27:
- Don Rico, American novelist and comics writer (Jann of the Jungle, Leopard Girl, Lorna the Jungle Girl), dies at age 72.[25]
- Hans Kossatz, German illustrator, comics artist and cartoonist (Willi und Familie Kaiser also known as: Vater Kaiser und Dackel Willi), dies at age 84.[26]
- March 28: Ferry Zipper, Austrian-Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 74.[27]
April
- April 11: Bill Zaboly, American comics artist (Otto Honk, worked on Popeye, Wash Tubbs, Our Boarding House), dies at age 74.[28]
- April 15: Andries Brandt, Dutch comics artist and writer (Holle Pinkel, Horre, Harm en Hella, Aafje Anders, Tina en Debbie, Roel Dijkstra), dies at age 86.[29]
May
- May 5: Erkki Tanttu, Finnish comics artist (Rymy-Eetu), dies at age 77.
- May 11: Chester Gould, American comics artist (Dick Tracy), dies at age 84.[30]
- May 20: Nettie van Wijland, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (De Avonturen van Tijs Loerendraaier en Dikkie Duik), dies at age 73.[31]
June
- June 20: Ralph A. Wolfe, American animator and comic artist (The Outline of Polar Exploration, Sancho and the Don, Animal Wisecracks, continued The Pioneers), dies at age 90.[32]
- June 21: Charles Wojtkoski (usually credited as "Charles Nicholas"), American comics artist (Blue Beetle), dies at age 63.[33]
- June 28: Lynd Ward, American illustrator and comic artist (God's Man, Madman's Drum, Wild Pilgrimage, Prelude to a Million Years, Song Without Words, Vertigo), dies at age 80.[34]
July
August
September
- September 7: José Zabala-Santos, aka Mang Pepe, Filipino comics artist (Sianog Sano, Popoy, Lukas Malakas), dies at age 74.[40]
October
- October 12: George Lemont, American comics artist (Rhode Island Red later retitled Feeny Farm, Micro-Funnies, Doctor Smock), dies from a stroke at age 58.[41]
- October 15: Sandro Angiolini, Italian comics artist (Isabella, Vartan), dies at age 65.[42]
- October 18: Jack Kent, American comics artist (King Aroo), dies from leukemia at age 65.[43]
- October 23: Adolphe Barreaux, American comics artist (Sally the Sleuth, The Enchanted Stone of Time), dies at age 86.[44]
- October 25: Charles Kemper, Dutch painter and comics artist (De Avonturen van Bob en Bobby), dies at age 72.[45]
- October 26: Cecil Langley Doughty, British illustrator and comics artist (Dick Turpin, continued Jack O'Lantern), dies at age 71.[46]
- October 30: Manon Iessel, French illustrator and comics artist (Capucine), dies at age 76.[47]
November
- November 6: Viktor Kálmán, aka Victor Vashi, Hungarian painter, animator and comics artist (Kuksi), dies at age 74.[48]
- November 23: Roger Brand, American comics artist (Creepy, Eerie, Jungle Jim and Web of Horror), dies of liver failure at age 42.[49] [50]
- November 24: C. Buddingh', Dutch poet and comics writer (Spekkie en Blekkie, Jesje en Josje), dies at age 67.[51]
December
- December 3: Sam Gilman, American actor and comics artist (worked for Funnies Inc. and Centaur Comics), dies at age 70.[52]
- December 6: Walter B. Gibson, American magician, novelist and comics writer (The Shadow), dies at age 88.
- December 15: Lars Wangensten-Berge, Norwegian illustrator and comic artist (Bassen & Co), dies at age 80.[53]
- December 19: Jean Ache/Jean Huet, French animator and comics artist (Achille, Archibald, Arabelle, La Dernière Sirène, Nic et Mino, Tonton Molécule, Pat'Apouf, Amanda La Pin-Up Fantôme), dies at age 62.[54]
- December 20: Al Peclers, AKA Pec, AKA J.B. Stone, Belgian comics artist and caricaturist (Tchantchès, Les Aventures de Jolliker, L'Or du Foumouala, Roger la Bagarre, Jehan Niguedouille, Texas Jim, Timothée), dies at an unknown age.[55]
- December 25:
Specific date unknown
- Mies Deinum, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (Sambo de Olifant, Dieren-jamboree and Myra het Elfje), dies at age 77 or 78.[58]
- Sam Fair, British comics artist (Meddlesome Matty, Addie and Hermy, Musso the Wop), dies at age 76.[59]
- Roberto Sgrilli, Italian painter, illustrator, comics artist and animator (Formichino), dies at age 87 or 88.[60]
- John Whitfield Taylor, British teacher and gag cartoonist, dies at age 76 or 77. [61]
- Shuhui Wang, Chinese comics artist, dies at age 72 or 73.[62]
- Xiaoying Yue, Chinese comics artist (The Colorful Road), dies at age 63 or 64.[63]
- Cliff Young, American comics artist, dies at age 79 or 80.[64]
Conventions
- Jan. 25-27: Angoulême International Comics Festival (Angoulême, France) — 12th annual festival[65]
- 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 (Ramada 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[66]
- 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, Frederik 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):[67]
- 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[68]
Awards
Presented in 1986 for comics published in 1985:
American Section
UK Section
- 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.[70]
Limited Series
America vs. the Justice Society (4 issues)
Release: January: Writers: Roy and Dann Thomas.[71]
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.
Those Annoying Post Bros.
Release: Jan. by Vortex Comics. Writer/Artists: Matt Howarth.
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 02 (May)
- Bekka, in DC Graphic Novel #4: The Hunger Dogs
- Black Mask, in Batman #386 (August)
- Black Mass, in Justice League of America #234 (January)
- Cadre, in Justice League of America #235
- John Constantine, in Swamp Thing #37 (June)
- Fastball, in Justice League of America #234 (January)
- Kimiyo Hoshi, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #4 (July)
- Jinx, in Tales of the Teen Titans #56 (August)
- Kid Devil, in Blue Devil #14 (July)
- Kole, in The New Teen Titans #9 (June)
- Lady Quark, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #4 (July)
- Alexander Luthor, Jr., in Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 (April)
- Doctor Mid-Nite (Beth Chapel), in Infinity, Inc. #19
- Mister Bones, in Infinity, Inc. #16
- Onyx, in Detective Comics #546 (January)
- Pariah, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #1
- Shadow Thief (Hammer), in Vigilante #14
- Superboy-Prime, in DC Comics Presents #87 (November)
- Rick Tyler, in Infinity, Inc. #20 (November)
- Looker in Batman and the Outsiders #25 (September)
- Mogo in Green Lantern #188 (May)
- Marcie Cooper in Infinity Inc. #14 (May)
- Nightfall in Justice League of America #234 (January)
- Jonni Thunder in Jonni Thunder #1 (February)
- Yolanda Montez in Infinity Inc. #12 (March)
- Elizabeth Chapel in Infinity Inc. #19 (October)
- Shrike in Justice League of America #235 (February)
- Bolphunga in Green Lantern #188 (May)
- David Winston in Vigilante #23 (November)
- Mekanique in Infinity Inc. #19 (October)
- Weasel in Firestorm #38 (August)
- Tellus in Legion of Super-Heroes #14 (September)
- Lord Volt in Crisis on Infinite Earths #4 (July)
- Princess Fern in Crisis on Infinite Earths #4 (July)
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
- 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
Notes and References
- Book: Strickler, Dave . Syndicated Comic Strips and Artists, 1924-1995: The Complete Index . 1995 . Comics Access . Cambria, California . 180 . 0-9700077-0-1.
- Web site: Bill Tidy. lambiek.net. 12 March 2023.
- Web site: Jack Dunkley. lambiek.net. July 18, 2024.
- Web site: Décret du 12 juillet 2013 portant promotion et nomination | Legifrance. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Tomi Ungerer. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Guy Dessicy. lambiek.net. February 15, 2024.
- Book: Manning, Matthew K.. Dolan . Hannah. 1980s. DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. . 2010 . 978-0-7566-6742-9 . 213 . 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..
- Web site: Patterson & Eckinger. lambiek.net. 11 December 2022.
- Web site: Ereprijzen. www.stripfestivalmiddelkerke.be. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Jommeke Digitaal. stripheld.hoembeka.be. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Eppo. www.lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Peter de Wit. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Gerard Leever. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Het Stripschap - de Stripschapprijs.
- Web site: Het Stripschap - Complete lijst.
- Web site: Bill Watterson. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: History of The Stanleys / Australian Cartoonists Association. www.cartoonists.org.au. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Alfred Bestall. Lambiek.net. 5 December 2020.
- Web site: Will Eisner. Lambiek.net. 7 December 2020.
- Web site: Otto Milo. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: José Luis Salinas. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: George Needham. lambiek.net. September 16, 2020.
- Web site: Cees Bantzinger. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Dick Kinney | I.N.D.U.C.K.S.. inducks.org. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Don Rico. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Hans Kossatz. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Ferry Zipper. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Bill Zaboly. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Andries Brandt. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Chester Gould. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Nettie van Wijland. lambiek.net. January 5, 2020.
- Web site: Ralph A. Wolfe. lambiek.net. September 27, 2022.
- Web site: Charles Nicholas. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Lynd Ward. lambiek.net. September 22, 2022.
- Web site: Ernest Hart. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Frank Hampson. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Einar Norelius. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Ken Ernst. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Pino Zac. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: José Zabala-Santos. lambiek.net. April 2, 2021.
- Web site: George Lemont. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Sandro Angiolini. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Jack Kent. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Adolphe Barreaux. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Charles Kemper. lambiek.net. March 30, 2021.
- Web site: Cecil Langley Doughty. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Manon Iessel. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Victor Vashi. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- T.H. "Comix Artist Richard Brand Dead," The Comics Journal #107 (Apr. 1986).
- Web site: Roger Brand. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Otto Dicke. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Sam Gilman. lambiek.net. March 9, 2021.
- Web site: Lars Wangensten-Berg. lambiek.net. September 22, 2022.
- Web site: Jean Ache. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Al Peclers. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Joseph Oriolo. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Jackie Ormes. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Mies Deinum. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Sam Fair. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Roberto Sgrilli. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: John Whitfield Taylor. lambiek.net. February 7, 2024.
- Web site: Shuhui Wang. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Xiaoying Yue. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Cliff Young. lambiek.net. April 2, 2021.
- Bernardi, Luigi. "Angoulême : Grandezza e Miserie delle BeDe," Orient Express #30 (Mar. 1985), pp. 110-112.
- "Peer Pressure," The Comics Journal #105 (Feb. 1986), pp. 69–74.
- Detroit Free Press (September 20, 1985), p. 34.
- https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/29/arts/weekender-guide.html?pagewanted=2 "Weekender Guide,"
- Web site: Who's Who bio. www.bailsprojects.com. Jul 31, 2020.
- 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."
- 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."