Year: 1981

Best New Series: Ka-Zar (it was a bad year for new series)

Major Events: Spider-Man teams up with Superman and Batman meets Hulk!; Hank Pym gets courtmartials; Ms. Marvel loses her powers to Rogue and a brand-new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants debuts, all in an Avengers Annual; Moon Knight gets a Moon Copter; Dazzler defeats Galactus (yes, really); Franklin Richards powers finally manifest; JM DeMatteis begins a long run on Captain America, with Mike Zeck as artist; the Defenders fight the Six-Fingered Hand; and Iron Man goes on his time-traveling trip with Doctor Doom.

Top 10 New Characters:

  1. Rogue
  2. Elektra, Stick and The Hand
  3. The new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, including Pyro, Destiny and Avalanche
  4. Gargoyle (Isaac Christians)
  5. Caliban
  6. Madelyn Pryor
  7. Blacklash
  8. Hydro Man
  9. Texas Rangers (team)
  10. Aunt Petunia.  OK not really.  She’s only used one more time.  Let’s go with Belasco.

Top 10 Comics:

  1. Avengers Annual #10
  2. Uncanny X-Men #141-142
  3. Uncanny X-Men #143
  4. Daredevil #169
  5. Daredevil #168
  6. Fantastic Four #236
  7. Iron Man #149-150
  8. Captain America #255
  9. Doctor Strange #49-54
  10. Batman vs. Incredible Hulk (one-shot)

Avengers #207-208 (1981)


The team fights against an encroachment from an ancient magician.  It’s a terrible story.  But a great sound effect.

And a pretty funny panel with them looking in a hole.