1983 in comics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Notable events of 1983 in comics. See also List of years in comics.

Events and publications[]

  • Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird found Northampton, Massachusetts-based Mirage Studios.
  • Chicago-based First Comics makes a strong entry into the publishing field, putting out four ongoing titles, American Flagg!, E-Man, Jon Sable Freelance, and Warp!; featuring the talents of such established creators as Howard Chaykin, Mike Grell, Frank Brunner, and Joe Staton.
  • DC Comics acquires most of Charlton Comics' "Action Hero" superhero characters — including Blue Beetle, Captain Atom and The Question — from the failing publisher.
  • Long-time comics publisher Warren Publishing declares bankruptcy.
  • Publicly traded Archie Comics acquired by Richard Goldwater (son of original Archie co-founder John L. Goldwater) and Michael Silberkleit, returning the publisher to private ownership.[1]
  • , original publisher of Justice Machine, ceases publication. Texas Comics picks up the title, publishing the Justice Machine Annual, featuring the first appearance of Bill Willingham's Elementals, as well as a crossover between the Justice Machine and the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. After Texas folds later the same year, Comico takes over both Justice Machine and Elementals.

January[]

February[]

  • Wonder Woman #300: Special anniversary issue written by Roy Thomas, Danette Thomas, and Dan Mishkin (consultant). (DC Comics)
  • Bizarre Adventures (Marvel Comics) publishes its final issue, #34.
  • The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom is acquired by Krause Publications and changes its name to Comics Buyer's Guide.

March[]

  • March 16: Queen Fabiola of Belgium pays an official visit to Willy Vandersteen's studio.[4][5]
  • March 22: Philippe Geluck's Le Chat makes its debut. It will run for 30 years.[6]
  • David Anthony Kraft publishes the first issue of his long-running magazine Comics Interview.
  • Archie Comics revives its Red Circle Comics superhero imprint with Mighty Crusaders #1.
  • Billy the Kid (1957 series), with issue #153, canceled by Charlton.

April[]

May[]

  • Jason Todd makes his debut as the second Robin in Detective Comics #526.

June[]

  • June 25: Jack Edward Oliver's Cliff Hanger debuts in Buster.
  • Action Comics #544: 68-page anniversary issue; origins of revamped Lex Luthor (by Cary Bates and Curt Swan) and Brainiac (by Marv Wolfman and Gil Kane).
  • Adventure Comics #500: 148-page giant, reprints of "Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes" from issues #305–313, mostly written by Edmond Hamilton (who had died in 1977).
  • Legion of Super-Heroes #300: 68-page anniversary issue; the cover features the Legionnaires drawn by over twenty separate artists.
  • With issue #124, DC publishes the final issue of its supernatural war comic Weird War Tales.
  • Master of Kung Fu, with issue #125, is cancelled by Marvel.
  • Marvel Two-in-One, with issue #100, is cancelled by Marvel (replaced the following month by the new title The Thing).

July[]

  • July 13: The first episode of the Lucky Luke story Fingers is prepublished in the magazine VSD, which marks the first time Luke is drawn with a straw, rather than a cigarette.[8][9]
  • First issue of Frank Miller's Ronin limited series published by DC Comics.
  • With issue #200, DC publishes the final issue of The Brave and the Bold, which also features a preview insert for the new title Batman and the Outsiders.[10]

August[]

September[]

  • September 1: In the Italian Disney magazine Topolino, the Mickey Mouse story Topolino e la regina d’Africa, by Romano Scarpa is the debut of the African princess Zenobia, who'll become Goofy’s girlfriend.
  • September 29: The first episode of Raoul Cauvin and Marc Hardy's Pierre Tombal is published in Spirou.[11]
  • With issue #503, DC ceases publishing Adventure Comics, which had been running continuously since November 1938.

October[]

  • October 1: The final episode of Pil's long-running comic series Meneerke Peeters is published. [12]
  • House of Mystery, with issue #321, canceled by DC.
  • The Comet — #1 of a planned six-issue limited series, published by Red Circle Comics.
  • The Black Hood, with issue #3, is cancelled by Red Circle.

November[]

  • Walt Simonson makes his debut as writer/artist on Thor with issue #337 and introduces the character Beta Ray Bill.
  • The Daredevils, with issue #11, is merged with The Mighty World of Marvel (Marvel UK).

December[]

  • December 15: The first episode of Washington "Tonton" Young's Pupung appears in print.
  • First issue of Marvel's Magik (Storm and Illyana Limited Series), written by Chris Claremont.
  • Lancelot Strong: The Shield, with issue #3, is re-titled Shield—Steel Sterling. (Red Circle Comics)
  • The Comet, a planned six-issue limited series, is cancelled with issue #2 by Red Circle Comics.

Specific date unknown[]

  • Peter van Straaten wins the Stripschapprijs. The Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten (nowadays the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs) is given to Maarten de Meulder, the editorial board of Donald Duck and Betty Sluyzer, Cees Taheij and Fred Marschall for their book Stripwerk.[13]
  • The official Rupert the Bear fanclub, The Followers of Rupert, is founded.[14]

Deaths[]

January[]

  • January 3: Doug Wright, British-Canadian illustrator, cartoonist and comics artist (Doug Wright's Family, aka Nipper, continued Birdseye Center as Juniper Junction), dies at age 65.[15]
  • January 9: Merrill Blosser, American comics artist (Freckles and His Friends), dies at age 90.[16]
  • January 17: Doodles Weaver, American actor, comedian, musician and comics writer (Mad Magazine), commits suicide at age 71.[17]
  • January 19: Willy Kuyper, Dutch comics artist and illustrator (Tobis Sloom en Blinkie, Valentijn de Veroveraar, De Kapitein van den Geheimen Dienst, Ted Bolt), passes away at age 54.[18]
  • January 28: Frank Chiaramonte, Cuban-American comics artist and inker (DC Comics, Marvel Comics), dies at age 40.

February[]

  • February 10: Wally Robertson, Scottish comics artist (Funny Wonder), dies at age 80.[19]
  • February 24: Roy Krenkel, American illustrator and comics artist (EC Comics), passes away at age 64.[20]
  • February 28: Ira Yarbrough, American comics artist (worked on Superman), passes away at age 72.[21]

March[]

  • March 1: Val Heinz, American comics artist (Dawn O'Day, assisted on Gasoline Alley), dies at age 75.[22]
  • March 3: Hergé, Belgian comics artist (Totor, The Adventures of Tintin, Quick & Flupke, Popol Out West, and Jo, Zette and Jocko), dies at age 75.[23]
  • March 5: Ruggero Giovannini, Italian comics artist (Olac the Gladiator, ), dies at age 60.[24]
  • March 19: Harry Nielsen, Danish comics artist (Willy på Eventyr, Bamse og Dukke Lise), dies at age 87.[25]
  • March 23: Wolfgang Hicks, German cartoonist and caricaturist, dies at age 73.[26]

April[]

May[]

  • May 13: , Swedish illustrator and comics artist (Pelle Svanslös), dies at age 74.[28]
  • May 25: Cy Hungerford, American comics artist (Snoodles), dies at age 92 or 93.[29]
  • Specific date in May unknown: Kho Wang Gie, Indonesian comics artist (Put On, Nona A Go Go, Si Lemot, Agen Rahasia Bolong Jilu), dies at age 74 or 75.[30]

June[]

  • June 8: Jacques Van Melkebeke, Belgian comics artist (Baron du Crac), comics writer (The Adventures of Tintin, Blake and Mortimer, Corentin, Hassan et Kadour), journalist, painter, art critic and first chief editor of Tintin magazine (1946), passes away at age 78.[31]
  • June 25: Celmar Poumé, Uruguayan comics artist and sports journalist (Tom Steele, el Justiciero Texas, Peter Colt, Cab Kennedy, Oceanic Rey del Mar, Les Travesuras del Eduardito, Kar-Thoun, el Hombre Universal, Pamela y su Parentella), dies at age 59.[32]

July[]

  • July: , British comics artist (Useless Eunice), dies at the age of 78.[33]
  • July 18: George Lichty, American comics artist (Grin and Bear It), dies of a heart attack at age 78.
  • July 22: Jack Rickard, American illustrator and comics artist (Mad Magazine, assisted on Li'l Abner and Pauline McPeril), dies at age 61.[34]
  • July 31: Mark Lasky, American comics artist (continued Nancy), dies from cancer at the age of 29.[35][36]

August[]

  • August 15: Al Kilgore, American comics artist (Rocky & Bullwinkle comic strip), dies at age 55 from an embolism.[37]
  • August 29: Rory Hayes, American underground cartoonist (Bogeyman), dies in his sleep from a drug overdose at age 34.[38]

September[]

  • September 5: Lloyd Piper, Australian comics artist (continued Ginger Meggs), dies at age 59.[39]
  • September 14: Laure Hovine, Belgian comics writer (Nic et Nac), dies at age 87.[40]

October[]

  • October 4: Dino Battaglia, Italian comics artist (Mark Fury, Till Eulenspiegel, L'Ispettore), dies age 60.[41]
  • October 23: Helge Hall Jensen, Danish comics artist (Hilarius Petersens Radiooplevelser Bulder og Bum + Minus, Storebroer og Lillebror, Kjukken i Fritiden, Hans og Grete, Nullerten), passes away at age 76.[42]

November[]

  • November 5: Jean-Marc Reiser, French cartoonist (Hara-Kiri), dies of bone cancer at age 42.[43]
  • November 7: Hanns Erich Köhler, aka Erik, German caricaturist, illustrator and comics artist (Tipp und Tapp), dies at age 78.[44]
  • November 13: Douwe Sikkema, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (De Avonturen van Van Bergen), dies at age 84.[45]
  • November 18: Loÿs Pétillot, French illustrator and comics artist (Bob et Bobette, Pascal et Michèle Montfort), dies at age 72.[46]

December[]

  • December 30: Libico Maraja, Italian illustrator, animator and comics artist (made comics for the magazine Topolino), dies at age 71.[47]

Specific date unknown[]

  • Gustav Bergström, Swedish comics artist (Brainy Bill, Thomas Whiskey, Strömberg), dies at age 83 or 84.[48]
  • Hector Brault, aka Tom Lucas, Canadian comics artist (Casimir, Tom Brinfin et Dodolf), dies at age 75.[49]
  • Fred Julsing Sr., Dutch comics artist (De Helse Patrouille), dies at age 74 or 75.[50]
  • Shigeo Mayo, Japanese woodblock artist and caricaturist (Kushisuke Manyuki (The Adventures of Dango Kushisuke), Manga Taro, Karutobi Karusuke), dies at age 81.[51]
  • Nora Schnitzler, Dutch comics artist, painter and illustrator (Keesje Knabbel), dies at age 81 or 82.[52]

Exhibitions and shows[]

  • 2 June-2 October Penny Dreadfuls and Comics: English Periodicals for Children from Victorian Times to the Present Day (Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK) — loan exhibition from the Library of Oldenburg University, West Germany
  • July 19–August 26: The Comic Art Show: Cartoons and Paintings from Winsor McCay and Stuart Davis through R. Crumb and Keith Haring (Whitney Museum of American Art, Downtown, New York City) — curated by John Carlin and Sheena Wagstaff; artists include Alfred Jarry, Stuart Davis, Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Lyonel Feininger, and Art Spiegelman[53]

Conventions[]

  • January 28–30: Angoulême International Comics Festival (Angoulême, France) — 10th annual festival[54]
  • Summer: FantaCon (Albany, New York) — show returns after a one-year hiatus; guests include James Doohan[55]
  • June: Heroes Convention (Charlotte, North Carolina)
  • June 25–26: (Rocky Mountain School of Art, Denver, Colorado) — official guests include , Marshall Rogers, , Ron Wilson, Gil Kane, and Edward Bryant
  • July 2–4: Comic Art Convention (as "International Science Fiction and Comic Art Convention") (Sheraton Hotel, New York City) — final iteration of this long-running show; guests include Philip José Farmer; presentation of the Saturn Awards
  • July 22–24: Chicago Comicon (American-Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois)
  • July 29–31: Comix Fair 83 (Ramada Hotel West, Houston, Texas) — first annual show; guests include Terrance Dicks, Bill Mumy, Jim Shooter, Steve Englehart, Chris Claremont, Paul Smith, Kerry Gammill, Ernie Chan, Josef Rubinstein, Sam De La Rosa, Dick Giordano, Sal Amendola, Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, Mike W. Barr, P. Craig Russell, Rick Obadiah, Mike Grell, Mark Wheatley & Marc Hempel, Dave & Deni Sim, Cat Yronwode, Dean Mullaney, Max Allan Collins, Terry Beatty, John Carbonaro, Jaxon, Jeff Millar & Bill Hinds, and Jerry Bittle
  • August 4–7: San Diego Comic-Con (Convention and Performing Arts Center and Hotel San Diego, California) — 5,000 attendees; official guests: Douglas Adams, Bob Clampett, Floyd Gottfredson, Harvey Kurtzman, Norman Maurer, Grim Natwick, George Pérez, Trina Robbins
  • August 5–7: Atlanta Fantasy Fair (Omni Hotel and Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia) — guests include Chuck Jones, Theodore Sturgeon, Chris Claremont, Wendy & Richard Pini, Forrest Ackerman, Mike Grell, Ted White, and Bob MacLeod; admission to the show: $19 at the door
  • September: OrlandoCon (Orlando, Florida) — guests include Harvey Kurtzman, Wayne Boring, Will Eisner, C. C. Beck, Joe Kubert, Don Wright, , Morris Weiss, Dik Browne, and Dean Young
  • October 15: London Comic Mart (Central Hall, Westminster, England) — presentation of the Eagle Awards by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons[56]
  • November: Mid-Ohio Con (Ohio) — guests include David Prowse
  • November 25–27: Fantasy Festival (Sheraton Park Central, Dallas, Texas) — guests include Roger Zelazny, Alan Dean Foster, George R.R. Martin, and Howard Waldrop

Awards[]

  • Ronald Michaud receives the Advertising and Illustration Award from the National Cartoonist Society.

Eagle Awards[]

Presented in 1984 for comics published in 1983:

  • Best Story: V for Vendetta, by Alan Moore and David Lloyd (Warrior, Quality Communications)
  • Best Graphic Novel: Nemesis the Warlock, by Bryan Talbot
  • Favourite Group Book: The New Teen Titans (DC Comics)
  • Favourite Group or Team: The X-Men
  • Favourite Character: Torquemada, from Nemesis the Warlock, by Brian Talbot
  • Favourite Comics Writer: Alan Moore, "V for Vendetta", Warrior (Quality Communications)
  • Favourite Artist: Bill Sienkiewicz[57]
  • Favourite Inker: Terry Austin
  • Favourite Single or Continued Story (UK): "Marvelman", in Warrior #1–3 & 5–6, by Alan Moore and Garry Leach
  • Best UK Title: Warrior, edited by Dez Skinn (Quality Communications)
  • Best New Title (UK): The Daredevils, edited by Bernie Jaye (Marvel UK)
  • Favourite Artist (UK): Alan Davis[58]
  • Roll of Honour: Will Eisner[59]

First issues by title[]

Archie Comics[]

The Black Hood

Release: June by Red Circle Comics. Editor: Rich Buckler.

Blue Ribbon Comics

Release: November by Red Circle Comics. Editor: .

The Fly

Release: May by Red Circle Comics. Editor: Rich Buckler.

Lancelot Strong: The Shield

Release: June by Red Circle Comics. Editor: Rich Buckler.

Mighty Crusaders vol. 2

Release: March by Red Circle Comics. Editor: Rich Buckler.

DC Comics[]

Batman and The Outsiders

Release: July. Writer: Mike W. Barr. Artist: Jim Aparo.

DC Graphic Novels: Star Raiders

Release: August. Writer: Elliot S! Maggin. Artist: José Luis García-López.

Omega Men

Release: April. Writer: Roger Slifer. Artist: Keith Giffen.

Thriller

Release: November. Writer: Robert Loren Fleming. Artist: Trevor Von Eeden.

First Comics[]

American Flagg!

Release: October. Writer/Artist: Howard Chaykin.

E-Man

Release: April. Writer: Martin Pasko. Artist: Joe Staton.

Jon Sable Freelance

Release: June. Writer/Artist: Mike Grell.

Warp!

Release: March. Editor: Mike Gold.

Marvel Comics[]

Alpha Flight

Release: August. Writer/Artist: John Byrne.

The Daredevils

Release: January by Marvel UK. Editor: Bernie Jaye.

Marvel Age

Release: April. Editors: Peter David and Carol Kalish.

New Mutants

Release: March. Writer: Chris Claremont. Artists: Bob McLeod and Mike Gustovich.

The Thing

Release: July. Writer: John Byrne. Artists: Ron Wilson and Joe Sinnott.

Independent titles[]

Albedo Anthropomorphics
Release: Thoughts & Images. Writers/Artists: Steve Gallacci, et al.
Badger
Release: July by Capital Comics. Writer: Mike Baron. Artist: Jeff Butler.
Biebel
Release: by Standaard Uitgeverij. Writer and artist: Marc Legendre.
A Distant Soil
Release: December by WaRP Graphics. Writers/Artists: Colleen Doran.
Eclipse Monthly
Release: August by Eclipse Comics. Editors: Cat Yronwode and Dean Mullaney.
Les Cités Obscures
Les murailles de Samaris
Release: Casterman. Writer: Benoît Peeters. Artist: François Schuiten.
Nexus
Release: May by Capital Comics. Writer: Mike Baron. Artist: Steve Rude.
Skateman
Release: November by Pacific Comics. Writer/Artist: Neal Adams.

Initial appearances by character name[]

DC Comics[]

Marvel Comics[]

Independent titles[]

References[]

  1. ^ Blumenthal, Ralph. "John L. Goldwater, Creator of Archie and Pals, Dies at 83," New York Times (March 2, 1999).
  2. ^ "Hanco Kolk". lambiek.net. Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  3. ^ "Peter de Wit". lambiek.net. Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  4. ^ "Fabiola op bezoek bij Suske en Wiske". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  5. ^ "Fabiola op bezoek bij Suske en Wiske". De Morgen (in Dutch). 5 December 2014. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  6. ^ "Philippe Geluck". lambiek.net.
  7. ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, eds. (2010). "1980s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 201. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. The other-dimensional Gemworld found a new princess in the form of Amy Winston, an ordinary young girl from a distant reality, in the pages of a sixteen-page insert comic by writers Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn, and artist Ernie Colón." "Standing strong against the forces of the nefarious Dark Opal, Amethyst was gearing up for her own self-titled maxiseries in May.
  8. ^ "VSD no:306 13/07/1983 | Musée de la presse". Archived from the original on 2020-04-29. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  9. ^ "Morris". lambiek.net. Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  10. ^ "Despite being the final issue of this particular series, the book wasn't closed on Batman's team-ups. Although Batman was through working with partners, it was time to think bigger, and in a special sixteen-page preview insert written by Barr and with art by Jim Aparo, the Outsiders debuted. A super-hero team of Batman's own creation, the Outsiders would soon star alongside Batman in the new monthly series Batman and the Outsiders." Manning p. 202
  11. ^ "Marc Hardy". lambiek.net. Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  12. ^ "Pil". lambiek.net. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  13. ^ https://www.stripschap.nl/pages/stripschapprijzen/p.-hans-frankfurtherprijs/complete-lijst.php
  14. ^ "About Us Public | The Followers of Rupert Bear". Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  15. ^ "Doug Wright". lambiek.net. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  16. ^ "Merrill Blosser". lambiek.net. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  17. ^ The New York Times
  18. ^ "Willy Kuyper". lambiek.net. Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  19. ^ "Wally Robertson". lambiek.net.
  20. ^ "Roy G. Krenkel". lambiek.net.
  21. ^ "Ira Yarbrough". lambiek.net.
  22. ^ "Val Heinz". lambiek.net.
  23. ^ Hergé entry, Lambiek Comiclopedia. Accessed Nov. 15, 2016.
  24. ^ Giovanninni entry, Lambiek Comiclopedia. Accessed Nov. 20, 2016.
  25. ^ "Harry Nielsen". lambiek.net. Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  26. ^ "Wolfgang Hicks". lambiek.net. Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  27. ^ "Christopher Rule". lambiek.net.
  28. ^ "Lucie Lundberg". lambiek.net.
  29. ^ "Cy Hungerford". lambiek.net.
  30. ^ "Kho Wang Gie". lambiek.net.
  31. ^ "Jacques Van Melkebeke". lambiek.net.
  32. ^ "Celmar Poumé". lambiek.net.
  33. ^ Greenal entry, Lambiek Comiclopedia. Accessed Nov. 20, 2016.
  34. ^ "Jack Rickard". lambiek.net.
  35. ^ "Mark Lasky, 29, Dies; Did 'Nancy' Cartoons". The New York Times. August 2, 1983.
  36. ^ "Mark Lasky". lambiek.net.
  37. ^ "Al Kilgore". lambiek.net.
  38. ^ "Rory Hayes". lambiek.net.
  39. ^ "Lloyd Piper". lambiek.net. Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  40. ^ "Jeanne Hovine". lambiek.net.
  41. ^ "Dino Battaglia". lambiek.net.
  42. ^ "Helge Hall". lambiek.net. Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  43. ^ "Jean-Marc Reiser". lambiek.net.
  44. ^ "Hanns Erich Köhler". lambiek.net. Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  45. ^ "Douwe Sikkema". lambiek.net. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  46. ^ "Loÿs Pétillot". lambiek.net. Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  47. ^ "Libico Maraja". lambiek.net. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  48. ^ "Gustav Bergström". lambiek.net.
  49. ^ "Hector Brault". lambiek.net. Retrieved Jul 31, 2020.
  50. ^ "Fred Julsing Sr". lambiek.net.
  51. ^ "Shigeo Miyao". lambiek.net.
  52. ^ "Nora Schnitzler". lambiek.net.
  53. ^ Russell, John. "Art: A Show Of Comics At Downtown Whitney," New York Times (Aug. 12, 1983).
  54. ^ Jennings, Dana. "The Angouleme Convention," The Comics Journal #89 (Mar. 1984), p. 100.
  55. ^ Green, Roger. "The Tom Skulan/FantaCon interview, part 2," "Information without the Bun," TimesUnion.com (Feb. 21, 2013).
  56. ^ "News From Hither and Yon: Eagles Return, New Dog Strip, EC Update, Computer Comics," The Comics Journal #84 (Sept. 1983), p. 22.
  57. ^ wordsandpictures.org. "Bill Sienkiewicz-Awards, Exhibits".
  58. ^ "Who's Who bio". www.bailsprojects.com.
  59. ^ "Who's Who bio". www.bailsprojects.com.
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