May 1984 - June 1984

American Flagg! #12.

Edited by Mike Gold. The comic features the story “Solidarity for Now, Conclusion,” by Howard Chaykin. Cover illustration by Howard Chaykin. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. Evanston, IL: First. Cover/indicia date: September 1984 (May 1984). Cover price: $1.00.

Note

The exact publication date is unknown. No copyright registration was filed. First Comics cover-dated their color comics four months ahead of publication.

Cerebus #62.

The comic features the story Church & State (Chapter 11): “Appointments,” by Dave Sim. Cover illustration by Dave Sim. Standard-format comic book. Black-and-white interiors. 36 pages. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada: Aardvark-Vanaheim. Cover/indicia date: May 1984. Cover price: $1.70.

Note

The exact publication date is unknown. This is a Canadian publication. No copyright registration has been filed in the United States.

Love and Rockets #7.

Edited by Gary Groth. The magazine includes the Locas stories “Las Mujeres Perdidas, Part Two” and “Locos,” by Jaime Hernandez, and the Palomar stories “Act of Contrition, Part Three” and “The Whispering Tree,” by Gilbert Hernandez. Cover illustration by Jaime Hernandez. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 36 pages. Stamford, CT: Fantagraphics. Cover/indicia date: July 1984 (May 1984). Cover price: $1.95.

Note

The exact publication date is unknown. No copyright registration was filed.

Heavy Metal, Vol. 8, No. 3 (#99).

Published on May 1, 1984. Edited by Julie Simmons-Lynch. The magazine features both original material and English translations of work that first appeared in the French magazine Métal Hurlant . The stories include The Third Incal (Chapter 5): “The Door of the Transfiguration,” by Alexandro Jodorowsky & Moebius (Jean Giraud), and Salammbô II: Carthage (Chapter 5), by Philippe Druillet. Cover illustration by Esteban Maroto. Magazine format. Color interiors. 100 pages. New York: HM Communications (National Lampoon). Cover/indicia date: June 1984. Cover price: $2.50.

Note

Salammbô II: Carthage is adapted from the novel Salammbô by Gustave Flaubert

The New Mutants #19.

Published on May 1, 1984. Edited by Ann Nocenti. The comic features the story “Siege,” by Chris Claremont & Bill Sienkiewicz. Cover illustration by Bill Sienkiewicz. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Marvel: September 1984. Cover price: 60¢.

The Saga of the Swamp Thing #27.

Published on May 1, 1984. Edited by Karen Berger. The comic features the story “…By Demons Driven!,” by Alan Moore & Stephen R. Bissette, with John Totleben. Cover illustration by Stephen R. Bissette, with John Totleben. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: DC. Cover/indicia date: August 1984. Cover price: 75¢.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1.

Published on May 1, 1984. The comic features the story “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” by Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird. Cover illustration by Kevin Eastman. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 44 pages. Dover, NH: Mirage. Cover/indicia date: May 1984. Cover price: $1.50.

Note

The issue is the first appearance of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. What began as a self-publishing project with a 3000-copy print run became one of the biggest pop-culture phenomena of the 1980s and 1990s. It is the biggest commercial success to emerge from grassroots publishing of any kind.

Ronin #6.

Published on May 8, 1984. Edited by Frank Miller. The comic features Ronin, Book Six, by Frank Miller, with Lynn Varley. Cover illustration by Frank Miller, with Lynn Varley. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 52 pages. New York: DC. Cover/indicia date: August 1984. Cover price: $2.50.

The Transformers #1.

Published on May 8, 1984. Edited by Bob Budiansky. The comic features the story "The Transformers," by Bill Mantlo, Ralph Macchio, and Frank Springer, with Kim DeMulder. Cover illustration by Bill Sienkiewicz. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Marvel. Cover/indicia date: September 1984. Cover price: 75¢.

Note

The Transformers was a tie-in series to the Hasbro toy line, which featured concepts licensed from the Japanese company Takara (now Takara Tomy). Hasbro employed Marvel to develop the various characters and provide them with a back-story. Most of the development work was done by Marvel editor Bob Budiansky. An animated TV series from Marvel Productions began airing in September of 1984. The comic book, originally intended as a four-issue limited series, was an enormous sales success. Demand was such that Marvel took the unusual step of publishing multiple printings of the individual issues. All four issues went to press at least three times. The title continued as an ongoing monthly series in 1985. The property is one of the most successful franchises in the history of pop culture.

Mad #248.

Published on May 10, 1984. Edited by Albert B. Feldstein. The contributors include Sergio Aragonés, Dave Berg, Bob Clarke, Paul Coker, Jr., Jack Davis, Dick DeBartolo, Mort Drucker, Don “Duck” Edwing, Stan Hart, Frank Jacobs, Al Jaffee, Bob Jones, Arnie Kogen, Don Martin, Harry North, Esq., Paul Peter Porges, Antonio Prohias, Beppe Sabatini, Larry Siegel, Lou Silverstone, Mike Snider, Angelo Torres, Richard Williams, and George Woodbridge. Cover illustration by Richard Williams. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 52 pages. New York: E. C. Cover/indicia date: July 1984. Cover price: $1.25.

Raw, Vol. 1, No. 6.

Published on May 10, 1984. Edited by Art Spiegelman & Françoise Mouly. The stories include Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, Chapter Five: "Mouse Holes," by Art Spiegelman, “Tenochtitlan,” by José Muñoz & Carlos Sampayo, “The Polly Seed Expert,” by Ben Katchor, and “Jimbo: “How Can It Be Taking […],” by Gary Panter. The other contributors include Mark Beyer, Charles Burns, Pascal Doury, Mark Fisher, Drew Friedman, Josh Alan Friedman, Justin Green, Jerry Moriarty, Ever Muelen, Mark Newgarden, Jayr Pulga, and Joost Swarte. Cover illustration by Mark Beyer. Tabloid-magazine format. Color and black-and-white interiors. 76 pages. New York: Raw. Cover/indicia date: 1984. Cover price: $5.00.

Goodman Beaver, Harvey Kurtzman & Will Elder.

Published on May 14, 1984. Edited by Denis Kitchen. The book collects the Goodman Beaver stories by Harvey Kurtzman and Will Elder that were originally published in Help! magazine in the early 1960s. Introduction by Dave Schreiner. Cover illustration by Will Elder. Trade-paperback book. Black-and-white interiors. 164 pages. Princeton, WI: Kitchen Sink. Cover/indicia date: 1984. Cover price: $9.95.

Note

The paperback edition was released simultaneously with a limited-print-run hardcover edition that was signed and numbered by the authors.

Mad Variations, Don Edwing.

Published on May 15, 1984. The book features new material by cartoonist Don “Duck” Edwing. Cover illustration by Don “Duck” Edwing. Mass-market paperback book. Black-and-white interiors. 196 pages. New York: Warner. Cover/indicia date: May 1984. Cover price: $1.95.

Steve Canyon #5.

Published on May 18, 1984. Edited by Peter Poplaski. The magazine features the episodes published between May 28 and September 12, 1948 in Milton Caniff’s Steve Canyon daily-newspaper strip. Introduction by Milton Caniff. Cover illustration by Milton Caniff. Magazine-format. Black-and-white interiors. 68 pages. Princeton, WI: Kitchen Sink. Cover/indicia date: March 1984. Cover price: $3.50.

The Saga of the Swamp Thing #28.

Published on May 29, 1984. Edited by Karen Berger. The comic features the story “The Burial,” by Alan Moore & Shawn McManus. Cover illustration by Stephen R. Bissette, with John Totleben. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: DC. Cover/indicia date: September 1984. Cover price: 75¢.

American Flagg! #13.

Edited by Mike Gold. The comic features the story “Mother’s Day,” by Howard Chaykin & Jame Sherman, with Rick Burchett. Cover illustration by Howard Chaykin. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. Evanston, IL: First. Cover/indicia date: October 1984 (June 1984). Cover price: $1.00.

Note

The exact publication date is unknown. No copyright registration was filed. First Comics cover-dated their color comics four months ahead of publication.

Cerebus #63.

The comic features the story Church & State (Chapter 12): “Mind Game IV,” by Dave Sim. Cover illustration by Dave Sim. Standard-format comic book. Black-and-white interiors. 36 pages. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada: Aardvark-Vanaheim. Cover/indicia date: June 1984. Cover price: $1.70.

Note

The exact publication date is unknown. This is a Canadian publication. No copyright registration has been filed in the United States.

The Complete E. C. Segar Popeye, Vol. 1.

Edited by Rick Marschall & Bill Blackbeard. The book features the Sunday episodes originally published between 1930 and 1932 from E. C. Segar’s Thimble Theatre daily-newspaper strip. Foreword by Jules Feiffer. Introductions by Rick Marschall and Bill Blackbeard. Cover illustration by E. C. Segar. Trade-paperback book. Black-and-white interiors. 128 pages. Stamford, CT: Fantagraphics. Cover/indicia date: June 1984. Cover price: $12.95.

Notes

The exact publication date is unknown. No copyright registration was filed. The June 1984 listing date is extrapolated from the Summer 1984 date given in the indicia.

The trade-paperback edition was published simultaneously with a limited-print-run hardcover edition.

Prince Valiant, Vol. 26: Lithway’s Law, Hal Foster.

Edited by Henning Kure. The book features the episodes published between January 1 and November 15, 1959 from Hal Foster’s Prince Valiant Sunday-newspaper strip. Cover illustration by Hal Foster. Trade-paperback book. Color interiors. 52 pages. Stamford, CT. Cover/indicia date: Summer 1984 (June 1984?). Cover price: $7.95

Note

The exact publication date is unknown. No copyright registration was filed. The June 1984 listing date is extrapolated from the Summer 1984 date given in the indicia.

Weirdo #10.

Edited by Peter Bagge. The magazine includes the story “Mode O’Day: ‘Hey, Mode… It says here they want people […]’,” by R. (Robert) Crumb. The other contributors include Ken Avidor, Peter Bagge, Lynda Barry, David Coulson, Drew Friedman, Kaz (Prapuolenis), J. D. King, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Carol Lay, Savage Pencil (Edwin Pouncey), Ken Struck, and Dennis Worden. Cover illustration by R. Crumb. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 44 pages. Berkeley, CA: Last Gasp. Cover/indicia date: Summer 1984 (June 1984?). Cover price: $2.50.

Note

The exact publication date is unknown. No copyright registration was filed. The June 1984 listing date is extrapolated from the Summer 1984 date given in the indicia.

Heavy Metal, Vol. 8, No. 4 (#100).

Published on June 1, 1984. Edited by Julie Simmons-Lynch. The magazine features both original material and English translations of work that first appeared in the French magazine Métal Hurlant . The stories include Salammbô II: Carthage (Chapter 6), by Philippe Druillet. Cover illustration by Dave Dorman. Magazine format. Color interiors. 100 pages. New York: HM Communications (National Lampoon). Cover/indicia date: July 1984. Cover price: $2.50.

Note

Salammbô II: Carthage is adapted from the novel Salammbô by Gustave Flaubert

The New Mutants #20.

Published on June 5, 1984. Edited by Ann Nocenti. The comic features the story “Badlands,” by Chris Claremont & Bill Sienkiewicz. Cover illustration by Bill Sienkiewicz. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: Marvel: October 1984. Cover price: 60¢.

Elfquest #19.

Published on June 15, 1984. Edited by Richard Pini. The magazine features the story “Quest’s End, Part 1,” by Wendy Pini & Richard Pini. Cover illustration by Wendy Pini. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 44 pages. Poughkeepsie, NY: WaRP Graphics. Cover/indicia date: June 1984. Cover price: $1.50.

Stamp Out Mad.

Published on June 18, 1984. The book features select material originally published in Mad #194-201. The contributors include Sergio Aragonés, Dave Berg, Bob Clarke, Paul Coker, Jr., Jack Davis, Mort Drucker, Don “Duck” Edwing, Kelly Freas, Stan Hart, Frank Jacobs, Arnie Kogen, Don Martin, William McCole, Dean Norman, Harry North, Esq., Paul Peter Porges, Antonio Prohias, Jack Rickard, Larry Siegel, Lou Silverstone, and Angelo Torres. Cover illustration by Kelly Freas. Mass-market paperback book. Black-and-white interiors. 196 pages. New York: Warner. Cover/indicia date: June 1984. Cover price: $1.95.

Superman #400.

Published on June 19, 1984. Edited by Julius Schwartz. The comic features the story “The Living Legends of Superman,” by Elliot S! Maggin & Joe Orlando, Al Williamson, Frank Miller, Marshall Rogers, Wendy Pini, Michael Kaluta, and Klaus Janson, with Terry Austin and Kelly Alder. The comic also includes the story “The Exile at the Edge of Eternity,” by (Jim) Steranko. Other contributors include Brian Bolland, John Byrne, Jack Davis, Steve Ditko, Will Eisner, Mike Grell, Jack Kirby, Moebius (Jean Giraud), Jerry Robinson, Bill Sienkiewicz, Walt Simonson, Leonard Starr, and Bernie Wrightson. Foreword by Ray Bradbury. Cover illustration by Howard Chaykin. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 68 pages. New York: DC. Cover/indicia date: October 1984. Cover price: $1.50.

The Spirit #5.

Published on June 25, 1984. Edited by Denis Kitchen. The comic features stories first published in 1946 in Will Eisner’s The Spirit Sunday-newspaper comic-book insert. The stories include “Max Scarr’s Map” (04-14-1946), “Introducing Mr. Carrion” (04-21-1946), “Dig a Hole” (04-28-1946), and “The Head in the Desk” (05-05-1946). Cover illustration by Will Eisner. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. Princeton, WI: Kitchen Sink. Cover/indicia date: June 1984. Cover price: $2.00.

The Saga of the Swamp Thing #29.

Published on June 26, 1984. Edited by Karen Berger. The comic features the story “Love and Death,” by Alan Moore & Stephen R. Bissette, with John Totleben. Cover illustration by Stephen R. Bissette, with John Totleben. Standard-format comic book. Color interiors. 36 pages. New York: DC. Cover/indicia date: October 1984. Cover price: 75¢.

Note

“Love and Death” was rejected for approval by the Comics Code Authority. DC Comics published the comic without the approval seal, and after the subsequent issue (which was approved), they stopped submitting the series for review.

American Splendor #9.

Published on June 27, 1984. The magazine includes the story “Hypothetical Quandary,” by Harvey Pekar & R. (Robert) Crumb. All other stories scripted by Harvey Pekar. The other contributing artists include Sean Carroll, Melissa Jay Craig, Gary Dumm, Philip Fried, Barry Hoffman, Val Mayerik, and Mitchell Sonoda. Cover illustration by Sean Carroll. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 60 pages. Cleveland Heights, OH: Harvey Pekar. Cover/indicia date: 1984. Cover price: $2.75.

Mad #249.

Published on June 28, 1984. Edited by Albert B. Feldstein. The contributors include Sergio Aragonés, Dave Berg, Bob Clarke, Paul Coker, Jr., Jack Davis, Dick DeBartolo, Mark Dressler, Mort Drucker, Don “Duck” Edwing, Clay Graham, Tom Hachtman, Chris Hart, Stan Hart, Frank Jacobs, Al Jaffee, Arnie Kogen, Barry Liebmann, Don Martin, Paul Peter Porges, Antonio Prohias, Angelo Torres, Richard Williams, and George Woodbridge. Cover illustration by Richard Williams. Magazine format. Black-and-white interiors. 52 pages. New York: E. C. Cover/indicia date: September 1984. Cover price: $1.25.

Next: July to August 1984.