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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 94 of 234

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Comic Shop News Winter Preview (1989)

Comic Shop News Inc.

8 issues

Kurt Persson (1988)

Socialle bizarre prod.

1 issue

Duck & Cover (1988)

Cat-Head Comics

2 issues

Hell Fire (1980)

Gredown

1 issue

Morty the Dog (1987)

Starhead Comix

2 issues

Hell Pit (1984)

Gredown

1 issue

Previews (1988)

Diamond Comic Distributors

347 issues

Rentaghost Annual (1983)

Special

Stafford Pemberton

1 issue

Gen of Hiroshima (1980)

Educomics

2 issues

Wounded Children (1983)

Chick Publications

1 issue

Rust (1989)

Now Comics

7 issues

Energy Comics (1980)

Educomics

1 issue

Goodman Beaver (1984)

Kitchen Sink

1 issue

Progeny (1989)

Caliber Comics

1 issue

Terranauts (1986)

Fantasy General Comics

1 issue

Miss Hulk (1980)

Arédit - Artima

9 issues

Halo Jones (1987)

Quality Communications

12 issues

Necron (1981)

Edifumetto

12 issues

Fandom Confidential (1982)

Kitchen Sink

1 issue

Evangeline (1984)

Comico

2 issues

Flash Gordon (1980)

Western Publishing

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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