1985 in comics

Year overall

• More independent publishers enter the marketplace: Aircel Comics, Arrow Comics, Blackthorne Publishing, Dragon Lady Press, NOW Comics, Sirius Comics, Strawberry Jam Comics, and Wonder Comics all publish their first titles. In addition, David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview publishes its first comic book titles (it had been publishing the Comics Interview magazine since 1983).
• After 41 years as a publisher, Charlton Comics folds.
• Marvel Comics publishes Heroes for Hope: Starring the X-Men, an all-star benefit book for African famine relief and recovery.

January

• Warrior, with issue #26, publishes its final issue (Quality Communications)

February

• February: Bill Tidy's The Fosdyke Saga comes to an end after having been in syndication for 14 years.
• Tales of the Teen Titans #50: Donna Troy marries Terry Long. (DC Comics)
• With issue #150, Marvel Comics cancels the Spider-Man title Marvel Team-Up (Web of Spider-Man will debut two months later).

March

• March 17: First publication of Greg Evans' Luann.
• Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #100: "Breakin'!" written and drawn by Al Milgrom.
• "The Surtur Saga" comes to a conclusion in Thor #353 by Walt Simonson.

April

• Crisis on Infinite Earths 12-issue "maxi-series" debuts, produced by DC Comics to simplify their then-50-year-old continuity. Written by Marv Wolfman, and illustrated by George Pérez (pencils/layouts),^[1] with Mike DeCarlo, Dick Giordano, and Jerry Ordway (who shared inking/embellishing chores). The series eliminates the concept of the Multiverse in the fictional DC Universe, and depicts the deaths of such long-standing superheroes as Supergirl and the Barry Allen incarnation of the Flash.

May

• Sgt. Rock #400: "Easy's 400th," by Robert Kanigher and Adrian Gonzales. (DC Comics)

Summer

• Marvel Comics publishes New Mutants Special Edition #1. Written by Chris Claremont, it is the first X-Men related art by fan-favorite Art Adams with inks by Terry Austin. It continues in Uncanny X-Men Annual #9 again by Claremont and Adams with inks by Al Gordon, Mike Mignola, and Adams, himself.

July

• July 29: Jimmy Johnson's Arlo and Janis makes its debut.
• Secret Wars II debuts continuing the adventures of the Beyonder from the original Secret Wars series.

August

• DC publishes Superman Annual #11: "For the Man Who Has Everything," by the future Watchmen team of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

September

• September 15: The first episode of Gleever's comic strip Oktoknopie is published in the Dutch children's magazine Taptoe. ^[2]
• The "Who Is Sensor Girl?" storyline, written by Paul Levitz, begins in Legion of Super-Heroes #14 (and continues through issue #27).
• Mighty Crusaders vol. 2, with issue #13, is cancelled by Archie Adventure Series.

October

• Crisis on Infinite Earths #7: The death of Supergirl.
• With issue #350, DC Comics publishes the final issue of The Flash (volume 1).
• "The Death of Jean DeWolff" story arc, written by Peter David, begins in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107 (eventually running through issue #110).
• Music for Mechanics, the first Love and Rockets collection, is published by Fantagraphics.

November

• November 18: First publication of Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes.
• Crisis on Infinite Earths #8: The death of Barry Allen / The Flash. (DC Comics)
• With issue #50, Arak, Son of Thunder (1981 series) is canceled by DC Comics.
• Tales of the Teen Titans, with issue #59, becomes a reprint book. (DC Comics)
• Iron Man #200: "Resolutions!" by Denny O'Neil, Mark D. Bright, and Akin & Garvey. Tony Stark resumes the identity of Iron Man and defeats Iron Monger. (Marvel Comics)

December

• The Warlord #100: double-sized issue, "Skartaris Unchained," by Michael Fleisher and Adam Kubert. (DC Comics)
• Uncanny X-Men #200: "The Trial of Magneto," by Chris Claremont, John Romita, Jr., and Dan Green. (Marvel Comics)
• Thundercats #1: "Survival Run". (Star Comics)
• December 31: The Dreamer, by Will Eisner, is published by Kitchen Sink.

Specific date unknown

• The Dutch comics magazine Eppo changes its name into Eppo Wordt Vervolgd, to tie in with the popularity of the TV show Wordt Vervolgd (1983-1997), which deals with comics and cartoons. Under this new name it continues until 1988. ^[3]
• The final issue of the Flemish comics magazine/fanzine Stripgids is published. It will be relaunched in October 2006.

January

• January 4: Otto Milo, Dutch film critic, comics artist and cartoonist, dies at age 62. ^[4]
• January 10: José Luis Salinas, Argentine comics artist (Hernán el corsario, The Cisco Kid), passes away at age 76. ^[5]

February

• February 5: Cees Bantzinger, Dutch comics artist (Knobbel), drowns himself in a river out of shame over his war past. He is 70 years old. ^[6]

March

• March 27: Don Rico, American novelist and comics writer (Jann of the Jungle, Leopard Girl, Lorna the Jungle Girl), dies at age 72. ^[7]

April

• April 15: Andries Brandt, Dutch comics artist and writer (Holle Pinkel, Horre, Harm en Hella, Aafje Anders, Tina en Debbie, Roel Dijkstra), passes away at age 86. ^[8]

May

• May 5: Erkki Tanttu, Finnish comics artist (Rymy-Eetu), dies at age 77.
• May 11: Chester Gould, American comics artist (Dick Tracy), dies at age 84. ^[9]
• May 22: Wolfgang Reitherman, German-American animator and film director (Walt Disney Company), dies at age 75.

June

• June 21: Charles Wojtkoski (usually credited as "Charles Nicholas"), American comics artist (Blue Beetle), dies at age 63. ^[10]

July

• July: Ernie Hart, American comics writer and artist (Super Rabbit), dies at age 64. ^[11]
• July 8: Frank Hampson, British comics artist (Dan Dare), dies at age 66. ^[12]
• July 13: Einar Norelius, Swedish illustrator and comics artist (Pelle Svanslös, Jumbo I Djungeln), passes away at age 85. ^[13]

August

• August 6: Ken Ernst, American comics artist (continued Don Winslow, Mary Worth), dies at age 67. ^[14]

October

• October 15: Sandro Angiolini, Italian comics artist (Isabella, Vartan), dies at age 65. ^[15]
• October 18: Jack Kent, American comics artist (King Aroo), dies from leukemia at age 65. ^[16]
• October 30: Manon Iessel, French illustrator and comics artist (Capucine), dies at age 76. ^[17]

November

• November 23: Roger Brand, American comics artist (Creepy, Eerie, Jungle Jim and Web of Horror), dies of liver failure at age 42.^{[18] [19]}
• November 24: C. Buddingh', Dutch poet and comics writer (Spekkie en Blekkie, Jesje en Josje), dies at age 67. ^[20]

December

• December 6: Walter B. Gibson, American magician, novelist and comics writer (The Shadow), dies at age 88.
• December 19: Jean Ache/Jean Huet, French animator and comics artist (Achille, Archibald, Arabelle, La Dernière Sirène, Nic et Mino, Tonton Molécule, Pat'Apouf, Amanda La Pin-Up Fantôme), passes away at age 62.^[21]
• December 20: Al Peclers, aka Pec, aka J.B. Stone, Belgian comics artist and caricaturist (Tchantchès, Les Aventures de Jolliker, L'Or du Foumouala, Roger la Bagarre, Jehan Niguedouille, Texas Jim, Timothée), passes away at an unknown age. ^[22]
• December 25: Jackie Ormes, American comics artist (Torchy Brown), dies at age 74. ^[23]

Specific date unknown

• Mies Deinum, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (Sambo de Olifant, Dieren-jamboree and Myra het Elfje), passes away at age 77 or 78. ^[24]
• Sam Fair, British comics artist (Meddlesome Matty, Addie and Hermy, Musso the Wop), passes away at age 76. ^[25]
• Xiaoying Yue, Chinese comics artist (The Colorful Road), dies at age 63 or 64. ^[26]

Eagle Awards

Presented in 1986 for comics published in 1985:

• Roll of Honour: Alan Moore^[31]

Kirby Awards

• Best Single Issue: Swamp Thing Annual #2, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben (DC Comics)
• Best Continuing Series: Swamp Thing, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC)
• Best Black & White Series: Cerebus by Dave Sim (Aardvark-Vanaheim)
• Best Finite Series: Crisis on Infinite Earths, by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez (DC)
• Best New Series: Zot!, by Scott McCloud (Eclipse Comics)
• Best Graphic Album: Beowulf (First Comics)
• Best Artist: Dave Stevens, for The Rocketeer (Comico)
• Best Writer: Alan Moore, for Swamp Thing (DC)
• Best Art Team: Steve Bissette and John Totleben, for Swamp Thing (DC)
• Best Cover: Swamp Thing #34, by Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC)
• Best Comics Publication: Comics Buyer's Guide (Krause Publications)

DC Comics

DC Science Fiction Graphic Novel: Hell on Earth

Release:. Writers: Robert Bloch and Robert Loren Fleming. Artist: Keith Giffen.

Hex

Release: November. Writer: Michael Fleisher. Artist: Mark Texeira.

The Outsiders

Release: November. Writer: Mike W. Barr. Artist: Jim Aparo.^[32]

Marvel Comics

The Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe

Release: December. Writer: Peter Sanderson.

Swords of the Swashbucklers

Release: March by Epic Comics. Writer: Bill Mantlo. Artists: Geof Isherwood and Ricardo Villamonte.

ThunderCats

Release: December by Star Comics. Writer: David Michelinie. Artists: Jim Mooney and Brett Breeding.

Web of Spider-Man

Release: April. Writer: Louise Simonson. Artists: Greg LaRocque and Jim Mooney.

West Coast Avengers

Release: October. Writer: Steve Englehart. Artists: Al Milgrom and Joe Sinnott.

Independent titles

Alien Encounters

Release: June by Eclipse Comics. Editor: Catherine Yronwode.

Femforce

Release: by AC Comics. Writer: Bill Black. Artist: Mark G. Heike.

Fish Police

Release: June by Fishwrap Productions. Writer/Artist: Steven Moncuse.

Miracleman

Release: August by Eclipse Comics. Writer: Alan Moore. Artists: Mick Anglo and Garry Leach.

Neat Stuff

Release: June by Fantagraphics. Writer/Artist: Peter Bagge.

Scout

Release: September by Eclipse Comics. Writer/Artist: Timothy Truman.

Tales from the Aniverse

Release: December by Arrow Comics. Writer/Artists: Randy Zimmerman and Susan Van Camp.

Tales of the Beanworld

Release: by Beanworld Press. Writer/Artists: Larry Marder.

Those Annoying Post Bros.

Release: Jan. by Vortex Comics. Writer/Artists: Matt Howarth.

To Be Announced

Release: July by Strawberry Jam Comics. Writer: Derek McCulloch. Artist: Mike Bannon.

DC Comics

• Fel Andar, in The Shadow War of Hawkman #1
• Anti-Monitor, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #02 (May)
• Bekka, in DC Graphic Novel #04: The Hunger Dogs
• Black Mask, in Batman #386 (August)
• Black Mass, in Justice League of America #234 (January)
• Cadre, in Justice League of America #235
• John Constantine, in Swamp Thing #37 (June)
• Fastball, in Justice League of America #234 (January)
• Kimiyo Hoshi, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #04 (July)
• Jinx, in Tales of the Teen Titans #56 (August)
• Kid Devil, in Blue Devil #14 (July)
• Kole, in The New Teen Titans #09 (June)
• Lady Quark, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #04 (July)
• Alexander Luthor, Jr., in Crisis on Infinite Earths #01 (April)
• Doctor Mid-Nite (Beth Chapel), in Infinity, Inc. #19
• Mister Bones, in Infinity, Inc. #16
• Onyx, in Detective Comics #546 (January)
• Pariah, in Crisis on Infinite Earths #1
• Shadow Thief (Hammer), in Vigilante #14
• Superboy-Prime, in DC Comics Presents #87 (November)
• Rick Tyler, in Infinity, Inc. #20 (November)
• Looker in Batman and the Outsiders #25 (September)
• Mogo in Green Lantern #188 (May)
• Marcie Cooper in Infinity Inc. #14 (May)
• Nightfall in Justice League of America #234 (January)
• Syonide in Batman and the Outsiders #19 (March)
• Jonni Thunder in Jonni Thunder #01 (February)
• Yolanda Montez in Infinity Inc. #12 (March)
• Elizabeth Chapel in Infinity Inc. #19 (October)
• Shrike in Justice League of America #235 (February)
• Bolphunga in Green Lantern #188 (May)
• David Winston in Vigilante #23 (November)
• Chroma in Infinity Inc. #14 (May)
• Mekanique in Infinity Inc. #19 (October)
• Weasel in Firestorm #38 (August)
• Tellus in Legion of Super-Heroes #14 (September)
• Lord Volt in Crisis on Infinite Earths #04 (July)
• Princess Fern in Crisis on Infinite Earths #04 (July)

Marvel Comics

• Brian Banner, in The Incredible Hulk #312
• Bushmaster II, in Captain America #310 (October )
• Guido Carosella (Strong Guy), in New Mutants #29 (July)
• Diamondback (Rachel Leighton), in Captain America #310 (October)
• Dennis Dunphy (Demolition Man), in The Thing #28 (October)
• Erg, in Power Pack #12 (July)
• Eternals
  • Cybele, in The Eternals (vol.2) #1 (October)
  • Interloper, in The Defenders #147 (September)
  • Khoryphos, in The Eternals (vol.2) #1 (October)
  • Phastos, in Eternals (vol. 2) #1 (October)
• Fenris (Andrea & Andreas Von Strucker), in Uncanny X-Men #194 (June)
• Firestar, in Uncanny X-Men #193 (May)
• Flag-Smasher, in Captain America #312 (December)
• Freedom Force, in Uncanny X-Men #199 (November )
• Kofi Whitemane, in Power Pack #16 (November )
• Legion, in New Mutants #25
• Longshot, in Longshot #1 (September )
• Mojo, in Longshot #3 (November )
• Nimrod, in Uncanny X-Men #191 (March)
• Normie Osborn, in The Amazing Spider-Man #263 (April )
• Rattler, in Captain America #310 (October )
• Scourge of the Underworld, in Iron Man #194 (May)
• Silver Sable, in The Amazing Spider-Man #265 (June)
• Sin-Eater, in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #107 (October )
• Skrullian Skymaster, in Squadron Supreme #1 (August)
• Tabitha Smith, in Secret Wars II #5 (November )
• Alistair Smythe, in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #19
• Sharon Ventura, in The Thing #27 (September )

Independent titles

• Casey Jones, in Raphael #1 (Mirage Studios)
• Druuna, in Morbus gravis (Dargaud)
• Krillin, in Dragon Ball chapter #25 (Shueisha)
• Emanuel Santana, in Scout #1 (Eclipse Comics)
• She Cat, in Femforce #1 (AC Comics)