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Notable events of 1980 in comics. See also List of years in comics.

Contents 1 Events and publications 1.1 Year overall 1.2 February 1.3 July 1.4 August 1.5 September 1.6 October 2 Deaths 2.1 March 2.2 September 2.3 December 3 First issues by title 3.1 DC Comics 3.2 Marvel Comics 3.3 Independent titles 4 Initial appearances by character name

[edit] Events and publications

[edit] Year overall

• Big Rapids Distribution, a major Midwestern comics distributor, goes under, and two former employees (John Davis and Milton Griepp), form Capital City Distribution, headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin.
• Notable alternative titles RAW, World War 3 Illustrated, and Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman, all make their debuts.
• "The Dark Phoenix Saga" runs in X-Men #129–138 (January–October), by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Terry Austin (Marvel Comics).
• "Metamorphosis Odyssey", a long-running storyline by Jim Starlin, runs in Epic Illustrated.
• Marvel Comics phases out Curtis Magazines, its black-and-white magazine imprint.
• FantaCo Enterprises, which began as a retailer in 1978, begins publishing comics, starting with Fred Hembeck's The Hembeck Series.

[edit] February

• "Fiends of the Eastern Front," a 2000 AD storyline runs in issues #152-161, February-April, by Gerry Finley-Day and Carlos Ezquerra (IPC Media)

[edit] July

• The Untold Legend of the Batman #1, debut of three-issue mini-series (DC Comics)
• John Byrne takes over as writer/artist of Fantastic Four with #220.

[edit] August

• Weird Western Tales (DC Comics) publishes its final issue, #59.

[edit] September

• Mystery in Space revived by DC (after a 14-year hiatus), picking up with issue #111, continuing the old numbering.
• The Brave and the Bold #166, featuring the first appearance of Nemesis (Tom Tresser) — DC Comics

[edit] October

• David Boswell self-publishes Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman, a title later published by Eclipse Comics and Deep Sea Comics.
• DC Comics Presents #26 features an insert previewing the upcoming New Teen Titans series by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez.

[edit] Deaths

[edit] March

• March 1: Richard Allen "Dick" Dillin, Blackhawk and Justice League of America penciller, dies at age 50.

[edit] September

• September 7: Whitney Ellsworth, Golden Age editor and writer, passes away at age 71.

[edit] December

• Dick Briefer, Golden Age artist, dies at age 65.

[edit] First issues by title

[edit] DC Comics

New Teen Titans

Release: November. Writer: Marv Wolfman. Artist: George Pérez.

The New Adventures of Superboy

Release: January. Writer: Cary Bates. Artists: Kurt Schaffenberger and Dave Hunt.

[edit] Marvel Comics

Epic Illustrated

Release: Spring. Editor: Archie Goodwin.

Savage She-Hulk

Release: February. Writer: Stan Lee. Artist: John Buscema.

[edit] Independent titles

RAW

Release: July. Editors: Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly.

Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman

Release: October by David Boswell. Writer/Artist: David Boswell.

Thorgal

Release: by Lombard Editions. Writer: Jean Van Hamme. Artist: Grzegorz Rosiński.

Tinkle

Release: April by India Book House. Editor: Anant Pai.

World War 3 Illustrated

Editors: Seth Tobocman and Peter Kuper.

Queen Millennia

Release: January 28 by Sankei Shimbun and Nishinippon Sports. Writer/Artist: Leiji Matsumoto.

[edit] Initial appearances by character name

• Anaconda, in Marvel Two-in-One #64 (Marvel Comics)
• Judge Anderson, in 2000 AD #150 (Fleetway)
• Sunset Bain, in Machine Man #17 (Marvel Comics)
• Beep the Meep
• Bushman (comics)
• Calypso (comics), in Amazing Spider-Man #209 (Marvel Comics)
• Abslom Daak
• Dazzler, in Uncanny X-Men #130 (Marvel Comics)
• Deathstroke, in The New Teen Titans #2 (DC Comics)
• Dragon Lord (comics)
• Reid Fleming, in Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman (David Boswell)
• Fusion (Marvel Comics)
• Hammer (comics)
• Hellfire Club, in Uncanny X-Men #129 (January) (Marvel Comics)
  • Emma Frost, in Uncanny X-Men #129 (January)
  • Harry Leland, in Uncanny X-Men #132 (April)
  • Donald Pierce, in Uncanny X-Men #132 (April)
  • Sage (Tessa), in Uncanny X-Men #132 (April)
  • Sebastian Shaw, in Uncanny X-Men #129 (January)
• Hobgoblin (comics), in Amazing Spider-Man #238 (Marvel Comics)
• Hussar (comics)
• Robert Kelly (comics)
• Dansen Macabre
• Mister E
• Mister Fear
• Mongul, in DC Comics Presents #27 (DC Comics)
• Nemesis (Tom Tresser) in The Brave and the Bold #166 (September), created by Cary Burkett and Dan Spiegle, published by DC Comics.
• New Teen Titans, in DC Comics Presents #26 (DC Comics)
  • Cyborg
  • Raven
  • Starfire
• Kitty Pryde, in Uncanny X-Men #129 (Marvel Comics)
• Bernie Rosenthal
• Shakira (comics), in Warlord #32 (DC Comics)
• She-Hulk, in Savage She-Hulk #1 (Marvel Comics)
• Squid (DC Comics)
• Margali Szardos, in Uncanny X-Men Annual #4 (Marvel Comics)
• Taskmaster, in Avengers #195 (Marvel Comics)
• U-Foes, in Incredible Hulk #254 (Marvel Comics)
  • Ironclad
  • Vapor
  • Vector
  • X-Ray
• Vindicator (comics)
• Wintergreen (comics)