1981 in comics


Notable events of 1981 in comics.

Events and publications

January

  • January 24: In Linus, first episode of Rebecca, by Anna Brandoli and Renato Queirolo. The series has for protagonist a gypsy girl, looking for the St. Ambrose treasure in the Fifteenth century Lombardy.
  • January 25: In Il Giornalino, first episode of the series Father ''Brown’s tales, by Renata Gelardini and Tommaso Landolfi, from G. K. Chesterton.
  • Capital Comics makes its entrée into publishing with the release of Nexus #1.
  • Frank Miller takes over full writing duties on Daredevil with issue #168, creating Elektra.
  • The "Days of Future Past" storyline debuts in Uncanny X-Men #141.
  • The reprint title Marvel's Greatest Comics, with issue #96, is cancelled by Marvel.
  • The reprint title Amazing Adventures vol. 3, with issue #14, is cancelled by Marvel.
  • The reprint title Tales to Astonish vol. 2, with issue #14, is cancelled by Marvel.
  • Les chiens meurent en hiver by Yves Swolfs, first album of the western series Durango; the hero is inspired by the Jean-Louis Trintignant’s character in The great silence.
  • Le demon blanc by Derib, 10th album of the Buddy Longway series.
  • Tribunal noir by André-Paul Duchateau and Tibet, 32. qlbum of the Ric Hochet series.
  • Les trois vieillards du pays d’Aran'', by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosiński, 3. album of the Thorgal series.
  • First issue of Necron by Magnus and Ilaria Volpe.

    February

  • February 22: in Topolino, Paperobot contro i Paperoidi by Romano Scarpa, first episode of the sci-fi series Storie stellari.
  • Jenette Kahn becomes president of DC Comics, succeeding Sol Harrison. Kahn retained the title of publisher, which she had held since 1976.
  • Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2 #272 features an insert previewing the upcoming "Dial H for Hero" series in Adventure Comics by Marv Wolfman and Carmine Infantino.
  • New York the big city by Will Eisner.

    March

  • March 1.: in the Spanish Magazine Cimoc, debut of El mercenario by Vicente Segrelles.
  • March 1: in Pilote, Brooklyn Station, Terminus Cosmos by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mezieres, 10th episode of the Valerian series, is prepublished.
  • March 8: The final episode of Stan Lynde's Rick O'Shay is published.
  • March 8. In Topolino, Paperino di Bergerac, by Guido Martina and Giovan Battista Carpi, parody of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, is prepublished.
  • March 17: In a widely mediatized event, Hergé finally meets his old Chinese friend Zhang Chongren again in Brussels, whom he hadn't seen again for almost half a century. Zhang was the inspiration for the Tintin character Chang Chong-Chen. Hergé's longing to see his old friend again inspired the story Tintin in Tibet.
  • March 19: The first episode of Raoul Cauvin and Philippe Bercovici's Les Femmes en Blanc is published in Spirou.
  • Robert Crumb launches the American adult comics magazine Weirdo, which will run until 1993.
  • Marvel takes notice of the growing direct market and produces a title specifically for comic shops — Dazzler #1 sells 400,000 copies.
  • Marvel Preview, with issue #25, changes its name to Bizarre Adventures and becomes an official Marvel Comics publication.
  • Detective Comics #500: 84 pages, 7 different anniversary stories by several well-known creators, including television writer Alan Brennert and Walter B. Gibson, best known for his work on the pulp fiction character The Shadow.
  • "The Exaggerated Death of Ultra Boy" story arc begins in DC Comics' Legion of Super-Heroes #273. Written by Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas, and Paul Levitz, with pencils by Jimmy Janes and Steve Ditko, the story arc concludes in Legion of Super-Heroes #282.
  • Mystery in Space, with issue #117, is cancelled by DC Comics.
  • Captain Canuck, with issue #14, is cancelled by Comely Comix.
  • John Byrne and Terry Austin leave The Uncanny X-Men, with issue 143 being their last.
  • In Frigidaire, Giallo scolastico by Andrea Pazienza, the anti-hero Zanardi, a young hooligan, nihilist and drug-addicted, makes his debut.

    April

  • Jan Bucquoy launches the Belgian adult comics magazine Spetters. It will last until 1982.
  • Steve Warson contre Michel Vaillant by Jean Graton, 38th episode of the Michel Vaillant series.

    May

  • May 3: in Topolino, Zio Paperone e il tuffo nel black hole by Giorgio Pezzin and Guido Scala; the story is published simultaneously with the release in Italy of the film The black hole.
  • May 8: The first issue of Eclipse Magazine is published by Dean and Jan Mullaney. It will run until January 1983.
  • May 10: in Il giornalino, the comic-adventure series Captain Rogers, by Giorgio Pezzin and Giorgio Cavazzano, makes his debut; the hero is an American trapper, fighting against the English in the War of independence.
  • May 19: in Tele junior, Le bandit manchot by Morris and Bob de Groot, 81th episode of Lucky Luke series, is pre-published.
  • Master of Kung Fu #100: "Red of Fang and Claw, All Love Lost," by Doug Moench, Mike Zeck, and Gene Day.
  • Ghosts #100 : Edited by Jack C. Harris.
  • With issue #66, Charlton revives The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves, cancelled in May 1978.

    June

  • June 15: Doug Marlette's Kudzu makes its debut. It will run until 2007.
  • June 26: In Berkeley Breathed's Bloom County Opus the Penguin makes his debut.
  • Weird War Tales #100
  • Final issue of The Hulk! published by Curtis Magazines.
  • First issue of Charlton Bullseye
  • Debut of the comics industry magazine Amazing Heroes.
  • Rallye sur un vulcan by Jean Graton, 39th episode of the Michel Vaillant series.
  • In the Spanish magazine cimoc, the war reporter Frank Kappa, by Manfred Sommer, makes his debut.
  • In the Argentinian magazine Superhumor, the inept New York cop Merdichesky, by Carlos Trillo and Horacio Altura, makes his debut.

    July

  • Superman and Spider-Man, "The Heroes and the Holocaust," a DC/Marvel intercompany crossover.
  • Man-Thing vol. 2, with issue #11, is cancelled by Marvel.
  • John Byrne begins his 62-issue run as writer/artist on Fantastic Four with issue #232.
  • In Italy, first issue of the weekly magazine Paperino & c., publishing Danish and American Disney comics.

    August

  • August 5: in Le matin de Paris, first chapter of La jeunesse de Corto Maltese by Hugo Pratt and Patrizia Zanotti.:
  • DC's The Flash reaches its 300th issue and celebrates its 25th anniversary.
  • Justice League of America #193 features an insert previewing the upcoming All-Star Squadron series by Roy Thomas and Rich Buckler.
  • Final issue of Marvel Premiere published by Marvel Comics
  • With issue #47, DC cancels Super Friends.
  • "Doomquest" storyline debuts in Iron Man #149
  • The Warlord #48 features an insert previewing the upcoming Arak, Son of Thunder series by Roy Thomas and Ernie Colón.

    Fall

  • DC Special Series #27 — Batman vs. The Incredible Hulk, an intercompany crossover between DC and Marvel Comics. This marks the final issue of DC Special Series, a catch-all series primarily for one-shots of different formats, released on an irregular schedule.

    September

  • September 5: in 2000 AD, first strip of Rogue Trooper, by Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons.
  • September 20: Jean Dulieu wins the Stripschapprijs. Patty Klein, Annemieke and Har van Fulpen win The Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten.
  • September 21: Guy Gilchrist and Brad Gilchrist's newspaper comic based on The Muppet Show is published for the first time and in more than 80 countries across the world on the same simultaneous date. An exceptional event.
  • September 24:
  • * Kamagurka and Herr Seele's Cowboy Henk makes its debut in De Morgen.
  • * Toon van Driel's gag comic Hullie debuts in Algemeen Dagblad, where it will run until 2001.
  • Le scandale Ric Hochet by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet, 33th episode of the Ric Hochet series.

    October

  • October 18: in Il giornalino, Nicoletta, by Clod and Claudio Nizzi, makes her debut.
  • The Defenders #100: Double-sized issue written by J.M. DeMatteis.
  • "Block Mania" storyline begins in 2000 AD.
  • The Hunting Party, by Pierre Christin and Enik Bilal
  • Asterix and the black gold – by Uderzo.
  • La tour de Babele by Jacques Martin, 16. album of the Alix series.

    November

  • November 1: In the Italian Disney magazine Topolino, the Donald Duck story The Tourist at the End of the Universe, by Giorgio Cavazzano and Carlo Chendi marks the debut of O. K. Quack.
  • November 2: Steve Bell's political comic strip If debuts in The Guardian. It will run until 2021.
  • November 22: in Il giornalino, Rosco and Sonny, by Claudio Nizzi and Giancarlo Alessandrini, make their debut.
  • November 26: in Spirou, first chapter of La Ceinture du grand froid, by Nic Broca and Raoul Cauvin.
  • Jinty merges with Tammy.
  • Pacific Comics makes its entree into publishing with the release of Jack Kirby's Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers #1
  • The reprint title Marvel Super Action, with issue #37, is cancelled by Marvel.
  • In Linus, the shabby private eye Joe Balordo by Benito Jacovitti, makes his debut; the series, very short lived, for its explicitly sexual contents, is one of the few comics by the author aimed to an adult audience.