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1980s Comic Book Series

Comic series that began publishing between 1980 and 1989. The direct market matured across the decade, letting publishers sell to comic shops on a non-returnable basis and print against firm orders rather than gamble on newsstand racks. That changed what was publishable: Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, and Maus all arrived in this window, and independents like First, Eclipse, and Comico built full lines. Browse every 1980s series in the catalog with its issue list, creator credits, covers, and release dates.

6,998 series Page 56 of 234

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Howard Huge (1981)

Lyle Stuart, Inc.

1 issue

Red Ryder Comics (1989)

Daisy Manufacturing Company

2 issues

Embryo (1984)

Per Godin

1 issue

Western Gunfighters Special (1980)

Marvel UK/Panini UK

1 issue

Gas (1987)

Tago Förlag

1 issue

de New Mutants (1985)

JuniorPress BV

21 issues

Sommar-OS genom tiderna (1980)

Semic Press AB

1 issue

Tales of Error (1989)

Edition Moderne

1 issue

Thundercats Collected Comics (1987)

Marvel UK/Panini UK

2 issues

Steel Pulse (1986)

True Fiction Publications

1 issue

Sprocket Man (1981)

Consumer Product Safety Console

1 issue

Droids Special (1989)

Marvel UK/Panini UK

1 issue

Star Wars Summer Special (1983)

Marvel UK/Panini UK

2 issues

Major Grubert (1989)

Carlsen Verlag

2 issues

Secret Wars II (1986)

Marvel UK/Panini UK

10 issues

The Original X-Men (1983)

Marvel UK/Panini UK

17 issues

Zack Pocket (1980)

Koralle Verlag

14 issues

Mickey Mouse And Friends (1989)

London Editions Magazines

2 issues

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1987)

Entertainment Publishing

11 issues

Brainglo (1987)

PSI Comics

1 issue

Karate Kreatures (1989)

MA Comics

2 issues

Brain Sugar (1980)

Lord Larry

1 issue

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Longest runs for 1980s

6,998 series catalogued, published between 1980 and 1989.

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1980s FAQ

What is the direct market?
A non-returnable sales channel that ships straight to comic shops instead of newsstands. Publishers print against firm orders, which made smaller and riskier series viable for the first time.
Why did independent publishers grow in the 1980s?
The direct market gave them shelf access without newsstand distribution. First Comics, Eclipse, Comico, and Fantagraphics all built their lines through comic shops.
Are Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns listed as series?
Yes. Both were limited series in 1986 and have their own entries here, alongside the collected editions that reprint them.

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