1989: Now that was a good time. It was the year, after all, that brought music sensation Taylor Swift into the world. As Swift revisits the era of hair spray, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Alf in her new album, 1989, it made us wonder which treasures 1989 brought to the world of comics. As it turns out, it was quite the busy year for the Big Two publisher, DC and Marvel. After digging through 52 week’s worth of content, we’ve compiled 1989’s biggest additions and developments to the comics industry. Crack open that New Coke and enjoy.
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Memorable Launches
January
Neil Gaiman launches his critically-lauded run on The Sandman with “The Sandman #1,” which introduced readers to Morpheus, the king of dreams. Gaiman’s run would last until 1996, when the series ended with “The Sandman #75.”
February
DC Comics publishes one of its most recognized Elseworlds graphic novels, “Gotham By Gaslight.” In the story Brian Augustyn and future Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, Batman is re-imagined as a Victorian-era crimefighter who must battle Jack the Ripper.
Grant Morrison’s iconic run on “Doom Patrol” launches with “Doom Patrol #19.” His run would last for four years, ending in “Doom Patrol #63.”
July
Marvel debuts the Great Lakes Avengers in “West Coast Avengers #46.” The initial roster, as one might expect for a Great Lakes-based team, included Mr. Immortal, Dinah Soar, Big Bertha, Flatman, and Doorman.
October
DC Comics publishes one of its most critically acclaimed graphic novels, “Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth.” Written by Grant Morrison, the graphic novel becomes an overnight success that launches the writer’s career as a household name.
Crossover Events
January
DC Comics launches its “Invasion” crossover event, which runs through its Justice League family titles and cosmic books. In the storyline, an alien race deploys a weapon known as the “gene bomb,” which caused all super-powered beings to lose control of their powers and eventually die. Though a cure was developed, the bomb ironically gave Maxwell Lord his mind-controlling powers. The crossover also introduced DC’c concept of the “meta-gene,” the company’s explanation for people who were seemingly born with powers. Essentially, it was DC’s response to Marvel’s “X-Gene” found in mutants.
December
Marvel launches its “Acts of Vengeance” crossover, featuring the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. In the storyline, a disguised Loki bands the Marvel Universe’s greatest villains together to destroy the Avengers once and for all. The true hero of the story, however, was the Captain Universe-powered Spider-Man.
Character Debuts
February
The second Mirror Master, Evan McCulloch, debuts in “Animal Man #8.”
April
The modern incarnation of The Huntress, Helena Bertinelli, debuts in “The Huntress #1.”
Henri Ducard, Bruce Wayne’s teacher from his travels abroad, is introduced in “Detective Comics #599.”
May
X-Men member Jubilee debuts in “Uncanny X-Men #244.
July
Linda Park, the eventual wife of Wally West’s Flash (and upcoming character on The CW’s The Flash) debuts in “The Flash #28.”
August
Tim Drake, who would eventually become the third Robin, debuts in “Batman #436.”
Morpheus’s sister, Death, is introduced in “The Sandman #8.”
October
Crossbones, long-considered Captain America’s #2 rival (and rumored villain in Captain America 3) debuts in Captain America #359 as a shadowy figure. He is shown in full costume in “Captain America #360.”