Comic Books of the 1980s

Comic Books
1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020-2029

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Most long runners from previous decades persist here. During this decade The Bronze Age of Comic Books ended and The Dark Age of Comic Books began. The Jim Shooter era of Marvel Comics mostly took place in this decade.

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A

• Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters. First appeared in 1986.
• Albedo: Erma Felna EDF. Series started in Summer, 1983.
• Alpha Flight. The team received its own series in August, 1983.
• Ambush Bug. First appeared in December, 1982.
• America vs. the Justice Society. Published in 1985.
• American Flagg!. First appeared in October, 1983.
• Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld. First appeared in April-May, 1983.
• Anarky. First appeared in November, 1989.
• Angel Love. First appeared in 1986.
• Anselme Lanturlu. Series started in September, 1980.
• Arak: Son of Thunder. First appeared August, 1981.
• Archie Comics. Series began December, 1941.
  • Cheryl Blossom. First appeared in October, 1982.
• Arne Anka. Series started in 1983.
• Atari Force. First appeared in 1982.

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B

• Baker Street. Series started March, 1989.
• The Ballad of Halo Jones. Series started in July, 1984.
• Bananaman. First appeared in February, 1980.
• Batgirl. First appeared in April, 1961.
• Batman. First appeared in May, 1939.
  • The Untold Legend of the Batman. Mini-series published July-September, 1980.
  • Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. First published in February, 1986.
  • Batman: Year One. Storyline started in February, 1987.
  • The Killing Joke. Published in March, 1988.
  • Batman: The Cult. Storyline started in August, 1988.
  • A Death in the Family. Storyline started in December 1988.
  • Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth. Published in October, 1989.
• Batman and the Outsiders. Team debuted in July, 1983.
• Beta Ray Bill. First appeared in November, 1983.
• Blake and Mortimer. First appeared in September, 1946.
• Blue Devil. First appeared in June, 1984.
• Booster Gold. First appeared in February, 1986.

C

• Camelot 3000. First appeared in December, 1982.
• Captain Atom/Nathaniel Adam. First appeared in March, 1987.
• Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!. Series started in March, 1982.
• Captain Electron. Only issue published in 1986.
• Checkmate. First appeared in March, 1988.
• Cloak and Dagger. First appeared in March, 1982.
• Commander Steel/Henry "Hank" Heywood III. First appeared in October, 1984.
• Contest of Champions (1982). Series started in June, 1982.
• Crisis on Infinite Earths. Storyline began in April, 1985.
• Crystar Crystal Warrior. First published February, 1983.
• Cyborg. First appeared in October, 1980.

D

• Damage Control. First published May, 1989.
• De Generaal. Series began in 1971.
• De Kiekeboes. Series started in February, 1977.
• Death's Head. The "freelance peacekeeping agent" version first appeared in May, 1987.
• Deathstroke. First appeared in December, 1980.
• The Desert Peach. First published in 1988.
• Detective Comics
  • The Attack of the Annihilator. First published in 1981.
  • The Night of Thanks, But No Thanks!. First published in 1986.
• Disney Ducks Comic Universe.
  • Duckworth. First adapted to the medium in October, 1988.
  • Launchpad McQuack. First adapted to the medium in October, 1988.
  • Mrs. Bentina Beakley. First adapted to the medium in November, 1988.
  • Webbigail "Webby" Vanderquack. First adapted to the medium in February, 1989.
  • Doofus Drake. First adapted to the medium in October, 1989.
• Doom Patrol. Relaunched with new members in October, 1987.
• Douwe Dabbert. Series began in 1975.
• D.P. 7. First appeared in November, 1986.
• Dragon's Claws. First issue released in May 1988.
• D.R. & Quinch. First appeared in May, 1983.
• Dreadstar
  • Vanth Dreadstar was introduced in September, 1980.
  • His eponymous series in November, 1982.
• Dylan Dog. First published in October, 1986.

E

• Ed the Happy Clown. First appeared in 1983.
• Elektra. First appeared in January, 1981.
• Elementals. Characters first appeared in a 1983 issue of Justice Machine. Got their own series in 1984.
• The Eternals (1985) First published in 1985.
• Ewoks. First appeared in May 1985.
• Excalibur (Marvel Comics). First appeared in April, 1988.
• The Eye Of Mongombo. First published in 1989.^note Revived in 2020 as a three-part Graphic Novel.

F

• Fish Police. First appeared in June 1985.
• The Flaming Carrot. Series started in May, 1984.
• The Flash. Series began January, 1940.
  • The Flash Vol 1. Series began in 1959, ended this decade in 1985.
  • The Flash Vol 2. Series began June, 1987.
  • Wallace "Wally" West assumed the mantle of The Flash in March, 1986.

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G

• Gilles de Geus. First appeared in 1983.
• Global Guardians. Debuted in June, 1982.
• Great Lakes Avengers. First appeared in July, 1989.
• The Great Power of Chninkel. First appeared in 1986.
• Grendel: Devil's Legacy. First appeared in 1982.

H

• Hawkman. First appeared in January, 1940.
  • Hawkman Vol 2. Published August, 1986 - December, 1987
  • The Post-Hawkworld version of Hawkman/Katar Hol. First appeared in August, 1989.
  • The Post-Hawkworld version of Hawkwoman/Shayera Thal. First appeared in August, 1989.
• John Constantine. First appeared in June, 1985.
• Heroes Against Hunger. One-shot published in 1986.
• Hourman/Rick Tyler. First appeared in November, 1985.
• Huntress/Helena Bertinelli. First appeared in April, 1989.

I

• The Intertidal Zone. Drawn in the late part of the decade.

J

• Jan, Jans en de Kinderen. Series began in 1970.
• Jommeke. Series began in 1955.
• Jon Sable, Freelance. First appeared in June, 1983.
• Judge Dredd. Started in 1977, but many of the most significant stories, such as the Apocalypse War and The Judge Child appeared in this time period, as well as iconic antagonists The Dark Judges and P.J. Maybe.
• Justice. First appeared in November, 1986.
• Justice League International. First appeared in May, 1987.
• Justice Machine. First appeared in June, 1981.
• Last Days of the Justice Society. One-shot special published in 1986.

K

• Kickers, Inc.. Series began in July, 1986.

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L

• Legion of Super-Heroes. Series began in 1958.
  • Cosmic Boy. Limited series started in December, 1986.
  • The Great Darkness Saga. Storyline published in 1982.
  • L.E.G.I.O.N. (DC Comics). Series started February, 1989.
• Lobo. First appeared in June, 1983.
• Lucifer. First appeared in April, 1989.
• Lucky Luke. Series began in 1947.

M

• Magik. Series started in December 1983.
• ManTech. First issue published in September, 1984.
• Mark Hazzard: Merc. First published in July, 1986.
• Marvel Star Wars. Started in 1977, ended this decade in 1987.
• Marshal Law. First published in October, 1987.
• The Maze Agency. First published in December, 1988.
• Mockingbird. The character of Huntress/Barbara 'Bobbi' Morse received its new codename in July, 1980.
• Maus I was published in 1986.
• Mickey Mouse Comic Universe
  • Arizona Goof. First appeared in December, 1988.
• Monica Rambeau. First appeared in 1982.
• Ms. Tree. First appeared in May, 1981.
• Mutant Massacre. Event began in October, 1986.

N

• Nemesis the Warlock. First appeared in July, 1980.
• Nero. Series began in 1947.
• The New Universe. Launched in October, 1986.
• New Warriors. First appeared in December, 1989. Received their own series in July, 1990.
• Nightmask. First appeared in November, 1986.
• Nightwing. a new persona for Robin/Richard Grayson. First appeared in July, 1984.
• Ninja High School. First appeared in 1987.
• normalman. First appeared in November, 1983.

O

• Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Series started in January, 1983.
• Omega Men. First appeared in April, 1983.

P

• Paulus de Boskabouter. Series began in 1946, ended this decade in 1984.
• Le Petit Spirou. First appeared in 1987.
• Pierre Tombal. First appeared in 1986.
• Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber. Series began in 1950.
• The Pitt. First appeared in March, 1988.
• Planet Terry. First appeared in April 1985.
• Power Pack. First appeared in August, 1984.
• Psi-Force. First appeared in November, 1986.

R

• Rat-Man. First appeared in Spot 2. as a supplement to L'Eternauta #86 of June, 1989.
• Raven. First appeared in October, 1980.
• Robin. First appeared in April, 1940.
  • Jason Todd. First appeared March, 1983. Became Robin December, 1983.
  • Damian Wayne. First appeared^note as an infant in an out of continuity one-shot to be welded messily into continuity in 2006 before canon discrepancies were handwaved by Superboy-Prime's punch September, 1987. Would become Robin in the 2000s.
  • Timothy "Tim" Drake. First appeared in August, 1989. Became Robin December, 1989.
• Rocket Raccoon. First appeared in Summer 1976, gained his own mini-series in May, 1985.
• Rogue Trooper. First appeared in September, 1981.

S

• Sam & Max: Freelance Police. First appeared in 1987.
• Samurai Squirrel. First published in 1986.
• The Sandman 1974. Series began April, 1939.
  • Silver Scarab/Hector Hall. First appeared September, 1983. Became Sandman May, 1988.
  • The Sandman (1989) Vol 2. Series began January, 1989.
• The Savage Dragon. First appeared in June, 1982.
• Secret Wars (1984). First appeared in May, 1984, starting the trend of crossovers.
• Secret Wars II. Storyline started in July, 1985.
• Sensational She-Hulk. First published in 1989.
• She-Hulk. First appeared in February, 1980.
• Silverblade. 12 issue maxi-series. September, 1987 - September, 1988.
• Silver Sable. First appeared in June, 1985.
• Sláine. Character debuted in August, 1983.
• Spider-Man. First appeared in 1962.
  • Kraven's Last Hunt. Story began in October, 1987.
• Spider-Woman/Julia Carpenter. First appeared in October-November, 1984.
• Spirou and Fantasio. Series began in 1938.
• Spitfire and the Troubleshooters. First appeared in October, 1986.
• Squadron Supreme. Limited series started in September, 1985.
• Star Brand. First appeared in October, 1986.
• Starfire. First appeared in October, 1980.
• Strikeforce: Morituri. Published December, 1986 – July 1989.
• Suicide Squad. The modern version of the team debuted in January, 1987.
• Superboy-Prime. First appeared in November, 1985, as part of Crisis On Infinite Earths. He would come back with a Face-Heel Turn for 2005-2006's Infinite Crisis.
• Supergirl. First appeared in 1959.
  • The Strange Revenge of Lena Luthor. Storyline started in October, 1981.
  • Supergirl (1982). First appeared in November, 1982.
  • Power Girl (1988). Started publication in June, 1988.
  • The Supergirl Saga. Storyline started in September, 1988.
• Superman. Series began in 1938.
  • War World. Storyline started in November, 1980.
  • The Krypton Chronicles. Mini-series published in 1981.
  • The Phantom Zone. Mini-series started publication in January, 1982.
  • Two for the Death of One. Storyline started in August, 1982.
  • A Mind Switch In Time. Storyline published in 1983.
  • The Day The Cheering Stopped. Published in November, 1984.
  • For the Man Who Has Everything. Published in 1985.
  • The Jungle Line. Published in June, 1985.
  • Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?. Published in September, 1986.
  • The Man of Steel. Series started in October, 1986.
  • World of Krypton. Second series started in 1987.
• Suske en Wiske. Series began in 1945.
• Swordquest. First appeared in 1982.

T

• Tandy Computer Whiz Kids. First appeared in 1982.
• Taskmaster. First appeared in May, 1980.
• Teen Titans. Relaunched with new cast members in November, 1980.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. First appeared in May, 1984.
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures. Series started in March, 1989.
• Tintin. Series started in 1929.
  • Tintin - Tintin and Alph Art (1986).
• Tom Poes. Series began in 1941, ended this decade, in 1986.
• The Transformers (Marvel). Series started in September, 1984.
• Le Transperceneige. First published in 1982, and set in a distant Dystopia.
• Urbanus. First appeared in November, 1982.
• U.S. Agent. First appeared in November, 1986.

V

• V for Vendetta. Storyline started in March, 1982.
• Venom.
  • The eponymous symbiote first appeared in May, 1984.
  • Eddie Brock first appeared in September, 1986.
  • The combination of the two above first appeared in April-May, 1988.
• Vibe. First appeared in October, 1984.
• Vigilante. First appeared in September, 1982. Received their own series in November, 1983.
• The Vision and the Scarlet Witch. First appeared in November, 1982.
• Vixen. Secondly appeared in July, 1981.

W

• Watchmen. Published September, 1986 - October, 1987.
• West Coast Avengers. Debuted in September, 1984.
• Wonder Woman. Series began December, 1941.
  • Wonder Woman (1942). Series began in 1942, ended this decade in 1986.
  • Judgment In Infinity. Storyline began in 1982.
  • Wonder Woman (1987). Series began February, 1987.

X

• XIII. Series started in September, 1984.
• X-Men. Series began in 1963.
  • The Dark Phoenix Saga. Storyline started in January, 1980.
  • Emma Frost. First appeared in January, 1980.
  • Kitty Pryde. First appeared in January, 1980.
  • Dazzler. Series began March, 1981.
  • Days of Future Past. First written in January, 1981.
  • Rachel Summers. First appeared in January, 1981.
  • Rogue. First appeared in November, 1981.
  • Wolverine (1982). First appeared in September, 1982
  • Sunspot. First appeared in September, 1982.
  • New Mutants. First appeared in December, 1982. Received their own series in March, 1983.
  • Legion. First appeared in March 1985.
  • Cable. First appeared (as newborn Nathan Summers) in January, 1986.
  • X-Factor. First version. Debuted in February, 1986.
  • Apocalypse. First appeared in May, 1986.
  • Psylocke. First appeared in December 1986 for U.S..
  • Inferno (1988). Storyline started in October, 1988.
  • Jubilee. First appeared in May, 1989.

Z

• Zenith. First appeared in August, 1987.
• Zot!. First appeared in April, 1984.

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