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 (son of the original 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, 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. Debut of the western series Kerry il trapper, written by Tiziano Sclavi, published in appendix to Comandante Mark (Sergio Bonelli). 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 (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. 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 (1957 series), 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 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 (Sergio Bonelli) 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.