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 â including Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, and the Question â from the failing publisher.
- Long-time comics publisher Warren Publishing declares bankruptcy.
- The publicly traded Archie Comics is acquired by Richard Goldwater (son of Archie co-founder John L. 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, takes over both Justice Machine and Elementals.
January
February
March
April
- The Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2 #298 features an 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
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 ÃÂ La Recherche de Peter Pan (On the Search for 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 (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 #305âÂÂ313, 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).
- In the Italian magazine Orient express, L'Intervista by Gino DâÂÂAntonio 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
September
- September 1: In the Italian Disney magazine Topolino, the Mickey Mouse story Topolino e la regina dâÂÂAfrica, by Romano Scarpa marks the debut of the African princess Zenobia, who'll become GoofyâÂÂs girlfriend.
- September 11: The final episode of the newspaper comic Priscilla's Pop is published (originally created by Al Vermeer).
- 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 (Ediperiodici), 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 â #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 (Rizzoli), Italian magazine of author comics; the first number includes a version of Bram StokerâÂÂs Dracula by Guido Crepax and Tutto cominciò con unâÂÂestate Indiana (All began in an Indian summer), by Hugo Pratt and Milo Manara, set in the colonial New England.
- ' 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
December
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.
- 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 (Dykes to Watch Out For ) 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 (Doug Wright's Family, aka Nipper, continued Birdseye Center as Juniper Junction), dies at age 65.
- January 9: Merrill Blosser, American comics artist (Freckles and His Friends), dies at age 90.
- January 17: Doodles Weaver, American actor, comedian, musician and comics writer (Mad Magazine), commits suicide at age 71.
- January 19: Willy Kuyper, Dutch comics artist and illustrator (Tobis Sloom en Blinkie, Valentijn de Veroveraar, De Kapitein van den Geheimen Dienst, Ted Bolt), dies at age 54.
- 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.
- February 24: Roy Krenkel, American illustrator and comics artist (EC Comics), dies at age 64.
- February 28: Ira Yarbrough, American comics artist (worked on Superman), dies at age 72.
March
- March 1: Val Heinz, American comics artist (Dawn O'Day, assisted on Gasoline Alley), dies at age 75.
- March 3: Hergé, Belgian writer and comics artist (Totor, The Adventures of Tintin, Quick & Flupke, Popol Out West, and Jo, Zette and Jocko), chief editor (Le Petit Vingtième, Tintin) and studio founder (Studio Hergé), dies at age 75.
- March 5: Ruggero Giovannini, Italian comics artist (Olac the Gladiator, Wulf the Briton), dies at age 60.
- March 16: Rick Fletcher, American comic artist (assisted on/continued Dick Tracy), dies at age 66.
- March 19: Harry Nielsen, Danish comics artist (Willy pÃÂ¥ Eventyr, Bamse og Dukke Lise), dies at age 87.
- March 23: Wolfgang Hicks, German cartoonist and caricaturist, dies at age 73.
April
May
- May 13: Lucie Lundberg, Swedish illustrator and comics artist (Pelle Svanslös), dies at age 74.
- May 23: Jen Trubert, French comics artist (Chevalier Printemps, continued Bécassine), dies at age 74.
- May 25: Cy Hungerford, American comics artist (Snoodles), dies at age 93.
- May 28: André Durst, French painter, illustrator, musician and comic artist, A.K.A. Durane (Gnouf, Dydo), dies at age 88.
- 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.
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), dies at age 78.
- 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.
July
- July: Jack Greenall, British comics artist (Useless Eunice), dies at age 78.
- 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.
- July 31: Mark Lasky, American comics artist (continued Nancy), dies from cancer at age 29.
August
- August 11: Jostein ÃÂvrelid, Norwegian comic artist (Ingeniør Knut Berg pÃÂ¥ eventyr), dies at age 72.
- August 15: Al Kilgore, American comics artist (Rocky & Bullwinkle comic strip), dies at age 55 from an embolism.
- August 29: Rory Hayes, American underground cartoonist (Bogeyman), dies from a drug overdose at age 34.
September
- September 5: Lloyd Piper, Australian comics artist (continued Ginger Meggs), dies at age 59.
- September 14: Laure Hovine, Belgian comics writer (Nic et Nac), dies at age 87.
- September 27: Wong Sze-ma, AKA Wong Wing-hing, Chinese comic artist (Father and Ms., Ngau-chai, Gorgeous Susan, Debussy), dies at age 42 or 43.
October
- October 4: Dino Battaglia, Italian comics artist (Mark Fury, Till Eulenspiegel, L'Ispettore), dies age 60.
- October 13: Eric Eden, British comic writer and artist (worked on Dan Dare and comics based on Thunderbirds), dies at age 58.
- 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), dies at age 76.
November
- November 5: Jean-Marc Reiser, French comics writer, artist and cartoonist (Jeanine, Grosse Déguelasse, published in Hara-Kiri, Charlie Hebdo), dies of bone cancer at age 42.
- November 7: Hanns Erich Köhler, aka Erik, German caricaturist, illustrator and comics artist (Tipp und Tapp), dies at age 78.
- November 13: Douwe Sikkema, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (De Avonturen van Van Bergen), dies at age 84.
- November 18: Loÿs Pétillot, French illustrator and comics artist (Bob et Bobette, Pascal et Michèle Montfort), dies at age 72.
December
- December 30: Libico Maraja, Italian illustrator, animator and comics artist (made comics for the magazine Topolino), dies at age 71.
Specific date unknown
- Gustav Bergström, Swedish comics artist (Brainy Bill, Thomas Whiskey, Strömberg), dies at age 83 or 84.
- Hector Brault, aka Tom Lucas, Canadian comics artist (Casimir, Tom Brinfin et Dodolf), dies at age 75.
- Fred Julsing Sr., Dutch comics artist (De Helse Patrouille), dies at age 74 or 75.
- Shigeo Mayo, Japanese woodblock artist and caricaturist (Kushisuke Manyuki (The Adventures of Dango Kushisuke), Manga Taro, Karutobi Karusuke), dies at age 81.
- Nora Schnitzler, Dutch comics artist, painter and illustrator (Keesje Knabbel), dies at age 81 or 82.
Exhibitions and shows
- June 2âÂÂOctober 2: 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) â loan exhibition from the Library of Oldenburg University, West Germany
- July 19âÂÂAugust 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) â 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 Spiegelman
- September 26âÂÂNovember 4: "Active cartoonists" (Ohio State University Main Library; Columbus, Ohio) â work by members of the National Cartoonists Society and the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists; part of the inaugural Festival of Cartoon Art
- October 10âÂÂOctober 31: "Comic art prints" (Public Library of Columbus; Columbus, Ohio) â 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 Art
- October 13âÂÂNovember 4: "Historic cartoons" (Hoyt Sherman Gallery; Columbus, Ohio) â 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 Art
Conventions
- January 28âÂÂ30: Angoulême International Comics Festival (Angoulême, France) â 10th annual festival
- Summer: FantaCon (Albany, New York) â show returns after a one-year hiatus; guests include James Doohan
- June: Heroes Convention (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- June 25âÂÂ26: Colorado Comic Art Convention (Rocky Mountain School of Art, Denver, Colorado) â official guests include Phil Normand, Marshall Rogers, Larry Mahlstedt, Ron Wilson, Gil Kane, and Edward Bryant
- July 2âÂÂ4: Comic Art Convention (as "International Science Fiction and Comic Art Convention") (Sheraton Hotel, New York City) â final iteration of this long-running show; guests include Philip José Farmer; presentation of the Saturn Awards
- July 22âÂÂ24: Chicago Comicon (American-Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois)
- July 29âÂÂ31: Comix Fair 83 (Ramada Hotel West, Houston, Texas) â 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 4âÂÂ7: San Diego Comic-Con (Convention and Performing Arts Center and Hotel San Diego, California) â 5,000 attendees; official guests: Douglas Adams, Bob Clampett, Floyd Gottfredson, Harvey Kurtzman, Norman Maurer, Grim Natwick, George Pérez, Trina Robbins
- August 5âÂÂ7: Atlanta Fantasy Fair (Omni Hotel and Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia) â 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) â 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 (Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio) â 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 (Central Hall, Westminster, England) â presentation of the Eagle Awards by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
- November: Mid-Ohio Con (Ohio) â guests include David Prowse
- November 25âÂÂ27: Fantasy Festival (Sheraton Park Central, Dallas, Texas) â guests include Roger Zelazny, Alan Dean Foster, George R.R. Martin, and Howard Waldrop
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
- Favourite Inker: Terry Austin
- Favourite Single or Continued Story (UK): "Marvelman" in Warrior #1âÂÂ3 & 5âÂÂ6, 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
- Roll of Honour: Will Eisner
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: Robin Snyder.
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 GarcÃÂa-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