1983 in comics
Notable events of 1983 in comics.
Events and publications
- Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird found Mirage Studios, which is headquartered at Northampton, Massachusetts.
- 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.
- The publicly traded Archie Comics is acquired by Richard Goldwater and Michael Silberkleit, returning the publisher to private ownership.
- Noble Comics, 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
January 2: La Dernière Carte, by Jean Michel Charlier and Jean Giraud, the first album of the saga The rehabilitation of Blueberry.January 14: The first episode of Gilles de Geus by Hanco Kolk and Peter de Wit is published in Eppo.- The first volume of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is published
- Debut of the western series Kerry il trapper, written by Tiziano Sclavi, published in appendix to Comandante Mark.
- In the Italian erotic magazine Playmen, first chapter of Milo Manara's Click. Ramor's conch, by Serge Le Tendre and Regis Loisel, first album of the saga La Quête de l'oiseau du temps.300 à l'heure dans Paris by Jean Graton.
- The Lucky Luke album Daisy Town by Goscinny and Morris is released.
- The first episode of Ram Waeerkar's comic series Suppandi is published.
February
Wonder Woman #300: Special anniversary issue written by Roy Thomas, Danette Thomas, and Dan Mishkin. Bizarre Adventures 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.- The Thorgal story La chute de Brek Zarith by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosiński.
March
March 16: Queen Fabiola of Belgium pays an official visit to Willy Vandersteen's studio.March 20: In the Disney comics magazine Topolino, the first episode of Messer Papero, by Guido Martina and Giovan Battista Carpi is serialized, a saga in 7 episodes, starring Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge, living in the medieval Florence.March 22: The newspaper comic Philippe Geluck's Le Chat makes its debut in Le Soir. It will run for 30 years.- 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, with issue #153, canceled by Charlton.
- In RAW, the horror comic Big Baby by Charles Burns makes its debut.
April
The Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2 #298 features an [DC Comics DC Comics insert previews|insert previews|insert] previewing the upcoming Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld series by writers Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn and artist Ernie Colón.- After releasing its final issue, nr. 94, Crazy Magazine is cancelled.
- In Epic illustrated, ''The chess game, by Archie Goodwin and Pepe Moreno, first chapter of the sci-fi series Generation Zero, set after the Third World War.
- In the Spanish magazine Metropol, Polux, spy story by Manfred Sommer.
- First issue of the annual magazine Trumoon, published by a collective of cartoonists in Salerno.
- The Alix story L'Empereur de Chine'' by Jacques Martin is published.
May
May 27: The first issue of the short-lived magazine Full is published. It will last until December.- Jason Todd makes his debut as the second Robin in Detective Comics #526.
- In Glamour international magazine, Little Ego, by Vittorio Giardino makes his debut.
June
June 1: in Pilote, first chapter of The ghosts of Inverloch, by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières.June 7: The first episode of Cosey's À La Recherche de Peter Pan is serialized in Tintin. June 25: Jack Edward Oliver's Cliff Hanger debuts in Buster.Action Comics #544: 68-page anniversary issue; origins of revamped Lex Luthor and Brainiac.Adventure Comics #500: 148-page giant, reprints of "Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes" from issues #305–313, mostly written by Edmond Hamilton.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.
- In the Italian magazine Orient express, L'Intervista by Gino D’Antonio is published, the epilogue of the saga Storia del West.
- The Ric Hochet story La fleche de sang by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet is published.Les murailles de Samaris by François Schuiten and Benoît Peeters is published.
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.- 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.
- Last album of Akim; the Italian version of Tarzan closes his cycle after 33 years of editorial life.
August
August 20: In 2000 AD, TheTtime mMnster, by Pat Mills and Angie Kincaid is published, marking the debut of Slaine.- Alan Moore's "The Bojeffries Saga" starts with "The Rentman Cometh," in Warrior #12, published by Quality Communications.
- Harris Publications acquires bankrupt publisher Warren Publishing's company assets at auction.La Ccittà delle Ombre Diafane by Alfredo Castelli and Giancarlo Alessandrini is published, important antecedents of the Martin Mystère series are revealed.
- The Thorgal story Au-delà des ombres by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosiński is published.
September
September 1: In the Italian Disney magazine Topolino, the Mickey Mouse story Topolino e la regina d’Africa, by Romano Scarpa marks the debut of the African princess Zenobia, who'll become Goofy’s girlfriend.September 11: The final episode of the newspaper comic Priscilla's Pop is published.- September 29: The first episode of Raoul Cauvin and Marc Hardy's Pierre Tombal is published in Spirou.
- With issue #503, DC ceases publishing Adventure Comics, which had been running continuously since November 1938.
- First issue of Storie blu special, an Italian horror and erotic comics magazine.
October
October 1: The final episode of Pil's long-running comic series Meneerke Peeters is published.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.- First issue of Corto Maltese, Italian magazine of author comics; the first number includes a version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula by Guido Crepax and Tutto cominciò con un’estate Indiana, by Hugo Pratt and Milo Manara, set in the colonial New England.Star Wars: Return of the Jedi by Archie Goodwin, Al Wiliamson and Carlos Garzon.
- The Astérix story Asterix and son is published, by Albert Uderzo.
- The Buddy Longway story Capitaine Ryan by Derib is published.
- The Ric Hochet story Le Malefice Vaodou is published, by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet.
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.Pertini by Andrea Pazienza, an ironic and affectionate homage to the Italian president.
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. The Comet, a planned six-issue limited series, is cancelled with issue #2 by Red Circle Comics.
- First issue of the Lupo Alberto story Il mensile di Lupo Alberto is publishedSur l'etoile by Moebius is published, originally as a simple promotional album for Citroen. It later becomes the first chapter of the saga Le Monde d'Edena.
Specific date unknown
- Peter van Straaten wins the Stripschapprijs. The Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten is given to Maarten de Meulder, the editorial board of Donald Duck and Betty Sluyzer, Cees Taheij and Fred Marschall for their book Stripwerk.
- The official Rupert the Bear fanclub, The Followers of Rupert, is founded.
- In L. A. Reader, the first episode of The Angriest Dog in the World, by film director David Lynch is published. It will run until 1992.
- The first strip of the series DTWOF by Alison Bechdel is published.
- In Don, la revista para Juan, the sci-fi series Husmeante, by Carlos Trillo and Domingo Roberto Mandrafina debuts.
- François Rivière and Francis Carin publish the first episode of their historical adventure comic series Victor Sackville.
- Albert Uderzo successfully sues a German translation of Roger Brunel's pornographic parody series Pastiches, because of a porn parody of his series Astérix. All titles are confiscated.Little Archie, published since 1956, is discontinued.
Deaths
January
January 3: Doug Wright, British-Canadian illustrator, cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 65.January 9: Merrill Blosser, American comics artist, dies at age 90.January 17: Doodles Weaver, American actor, comedian, musician and comics writer, commits suicide at age 71.January 19: Willy Kuyper, Dutch comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 54.January 28: Frank Chiaramonte, Cuban-American comics artist and inker, dies at age 40.February
February 10: Wally Robertson, Scottish comics artist, dies at age 80.February 24: Roy Krenkel, American illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 64.February 28: Ira Yarbrough, American comics artist, dies at age 72.March
March 1: Val Heinz, American comics artist, dies at age 75.March 3: Hergé, Belgian writer and comics artist, chief editor and studio founder, dies at age 75.March 5: Ruggero Giovannini, Italian comics artist, dies at age 60.March 16: Rick Fletcher, American comic artist, dies at age 66. March 19: Harry Nielsen, Danish comics artist, dies at age 87.March 23: Wolfgang Hicks, German cartoonist and caricaturist, dies at age 73.April
April 6: Christopher Rule, American comics inker, dies at age 88.April 29: Alfred Andriola, American comics artist, dies at age 70.May
May 13: Lucie Lundberg, Swedish illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 74.May 23: Jen Trubert, French comics artist, dies at age 74. May 25: Cy Hungerford, American comics artist, dies at age 93.May 28: André Durst, French painter, illustrator, musician and comic artist, A.K.A. Durane, dies at age 88. Specific date in May unknown: Kho Wang Gie, Indonesian comics artist, dies at age 74 or 75.June
June 8: Jacques Van Melkebeke, Belgian comics artist, comics writer, journalist, painter, art critic and first chief editor of Tintin magazine, dies at age 78.June 25: Celmar Poumé, Uruguayan comics artist and sports journalist, dies at age 59.July
July: Jack Greenall, British comics artist, dies at age 78.July 18: George Lichty, American comics artist, dies of a heart attack at age 78.July 22: Jack Rickard, American illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 61.July 31: Mark Lasky, American comics artist, dies from cancer at age 29.August
August 11: Jostein Øvrelid, Norwegian comic artist, dies at age 72.August 15: Al Kilgore, American comics artist, dies at age 55 from an embolism.August 29: Rory Hayes, American underground cartoonist, dies from a drug overdose at age 34.September
September 5: Lloyd Piper, Australian comics artist, dies at age 59.September 14: Laure Hovine, Belgian comics writer, dies at age 87.September 27: Wong Sze-ma, AKA Wong Wing-hing, Chinese comic artist, dies at age 42 or 43.October
October 4: Dino Battaglia, Italian comics artist, dies age 60.October 13: Eric Eden, British comic writer and artist, dies at age 58.October 23: Helge Hall Jensen, Danish comics artist, dies at age 76.November
November 5: Jean-Marc Reiser, French comics writer, artist and cartoonist, dies of bone cancer at age 42.November 7: Hanns Erich Köhler, aka Erik, German caricaturist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 78.November 13: Douwe Sikkema, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 84.November 18: Loÿs Pétillot, French illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 72.December
December 30: Libico Maraja, Italian illustrator, animator and comics artist, dies at age 71.Specific date unknown
- Gustav Bergström, Swedish comics artist, dies at age 83 or 84.
- Hector Brault, aka Tom Lucas, Canadian comics artist, dies at age 75.
- Fred Julsing Sr., Dutch comics artist, dies at age 74 or 75.
- Shigeo Mayo, Japanese woodblock artist and caricaturist, dies at age 81.
- Nora Schnitzler, Dutch comics artist, painter and illustrator, dies at age 81 or 82.
Exhibitions and shows
June 2–October 2: Penny Dreadfuls and Comics: English Periodicals for Children from Victorian Times to the Present Day — loan exhibition from the Library of Oldenburg University, West GermanyJuly 19–August 26: The Comic Art Show: Cartoons and Paintings from Winsor McCay and Stuart Davis through R. Crumb and Keith Haring — curated by John Carlin and Sheena Wagstaff; artists also include Alfred Jarry, Stuart Davis, Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Lyonel Feininger, and Art SpiegelmanSeptember 26–November 4: "Active cartoonists" — work by members of the National Cartoonists Society and the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists; part of the inaugural Festival of Cartoon ArtOctober 10–October 31: "Comic art prints" — display of limited-edition set of 20 prints owned by the OSU Library for Communication and Graphic Arts; part of the inaugural Festival of Cartoon ArtOctober 13–November 4: "Historic cartoons" — from the collections of Philip Sills and Frank Pauer, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the Ohio Historical Society; part of the inaugural Festival of Cartoon ArtConventions
January 28–30: Angoulême International Comics Festival — 10th annual festivalSummer: FantaCon — show returns after a one-year hiatus; guests include James DoohanJune: Heroes Convention June 25–26: Colorado Comic Art Convention — official guests include Phil Normand, Marshall Rogers, Larry Mahlstedt, Ron Wilson, Gil Kane, and Edward BryantJuly 2–4: Comic Art Convention — final iteration of this long-running show; guests include Philip José Farmer; presentation of the Saturn AwardsJuly 22–24: Chicago Comicon July 29–31: Comix Fair 83 — 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 BittleAugust 4–7: San Diego Comic-Con — 5,000 attendees; official guests: Douglas Adams, Bob Clampett, Floyd Gottfredson, Harvey Kurtzman, Norman Maurer, Grim Natwick, George Pérez, Trina RobbinsAugust 5–7: Atlanta Fantasy Fair — 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 doorSeptember: OrlandoCon — guests include Harvey Kurtzman, Wayne Boring, Will Eisner, C. C. Beck, Joe Kubert, Don Wright, Ralph Kent, Morris Weiss, Dik Browne, and Dean Young- October 14: Festival of Cartoon Art — guest speakers include Mike Peters, Mort Walker, Bill Yates, Tony Auth, Tom Batiuk, Milton Caniff, Luke Feck, Jules Feiffer, Cathy Guisewite, Irwin Hasen, Draper Hill, Etta Hulme, Bil Keane, Fred Lasswell, Toni Mendez, Kate Palmer, and Art Sansom October 15: London Comic Mart — presentation of the Eagle Awards by Alan Moore and Dave GibbonsNovember: Mid-Ohio Con — guests include David ProwseNovember 25–27: Fantasy Festival — 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 Best Graphic Novel: Nemesis the Warlock, by Bryan TalbotFavourite Group Book: The New Teen Titans Favourite Group or Team: The X-MenFavourite Character: Torquemada, from Nemesis the Warlock, by Brian TalbotFavourite Comics Writer: Alan Moore, "V for Vendetta", Warrior Favourite Artist: Bill SienkiewiczFavourite Inker: Terry AustinFavourite Single or Continued Story : "Marvelman" in Warrior #1–3 & 5–6, by Alan Moore and Garry LeachBest UK Title: Warrior, edited by Dez Skinn Best New Title : The Daredevils, edited by Bernie Jaye Favourite Artist : Alan DavisRoll of Honour: Will EisnerFirst issues by title
Archie Comics
The Black HoodBlue Ribbon Comics
The Fly
Lancelot Strong: The Shield
Mighty Crusaders vol. 2
DC Comics
Batman and The OutsidersDC Graphic Novels: Star Raiders
Omega Men
'Thriller'''''
First Comics
American Flagg!E-Man
Jon Sable Freelance
'Warp!'''''
Marvel Comics
Alpha FlightThe Daredevils
Marvel Age
New Mutants
'The Thing'''''
Independent titles
;Albedo Anthropomorphics;Badger
;Biebel
;A Distant Soil
;Eclipse Monthly
;Les Cités Obscures: Les murailles de Samaris
;Nexus
;''Skateman''
Initial appearances by character name
DC Comics
- Adeline Kane in New Teen Titans #34
- Alexander Luthor Jr. in Action Comics #544
- Amazing-Man in All-Star Squadron #23
- Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld in Legion of Super-Heroes #298
- Atom Smasher in All-Star Squadron #25
- Atomic Knight in DC Comics Presents #57
- Cheshire in New Teen Titans Annual #2
- Comet Queen in Legion of Super-Heroes #304
- Crescent Moon in World's Finest #295
- Deathbolt in All-Star Squadron #21
- Doc in Omega Men #3
- Felicity in Omega Men #4
- Hippolyta Trevor in Wonder Woman #300
- Geo-Force in Brave and the Bold #200
- Green Man in Green Lantern #164
- Halo in Brave and the Bold #200
- Harbinger in New Teen Titans Annual #2
- Hector Hall in All-Star Squadron #25
- Henry King Jr. in All-Star Squadron #24
- Jade in All-Star Squadron #25
- Jason Todd in Batman #357
- Katana in Brave and the Bold #200
- Killer Croc in Detective Comics #523
- Little Cheese in Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew #12
- Lobo in Omega Men #3
- New Moon in World's Finest #295
- Nightslayer in Detective Comics #529
- Nocturna in Detective Comics #529
- Northwind in All-Star Squadron #25
- Obsidian in All-Star Squadron #25
- Protector in New Teen Titans Drug Awareness Special
- Reactron in Supergirl #8 Shlagen in Omega Men #3 Sunburst in Superboy #45
- Thunder and Lightning in New Teen Titans #32
- Tokamak in Firestorm #15
- Trident in New Teen Titans #33 Vigilante (Adrian Chase) in New Teen Titans Annual #2
Marvel Comics
Beta Ray Bill in Thor #337Box in Alpha Flight #1Cypher in New Mutants #13Diamond Lil in Alpha Flight #1Hobgoblin in The Amazing Spider-Man #238Lord Dark Wind in Daredevil #196Magma in New Mutants #8Meggan in The Mighty World of Marvel #7, published by Marvel UKMorlocks in Uncanny X-Men #169- * Callisto
- * Masque
- * SunderYuriko Oyama in Daredevil #197Madelyne Pryor in Uncanny X-Men #168Puck in Alpha Flight #1Selene in New Mutants #9Marrina Smallwood in Alpha Flight #1Talisman in Alpha Flight #5Kate Waynesboro in The Incredible Hulk #287White Rabbit in Marvel Team-Up #131Wild Child in Alpha Flight #1