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Year: 1989

Major Events:

  • Acts of Vengeance and Inferno, of course, which collectively affect every series published this year
  • Atlantis Attacks runs across the 1989 Annuals
  • Eric Masterson becomes Thor
  • Walt Simonson takes on Fantastic Four and Byrne leaves Sensational She-Hulk; Steve Englehart’s terrific Silver Surfer run, and his not-as-terrific F4 run, both end.
  • Rob Liefeld starts on Uncanny X-men and X-Factor.  For many, this the beginning of a creative nadir at Marvel that consists of overmuscled, hyperactive characters with huge guns starring in comics with little-to-no story
  • Storm and Magik becomes little kids
  • Sue and Reed Richards join The Avengers
  • Doctor Strange marries Clea
  • Konshu and Moon Knight break up, and Moon Knight leaves the West Coast Avengers
  • Marvel begins publishing hardcover “Masterworks” of important early runs on series like Fantastic Four and Amazing Spider-Man
  • Punisher gets a movie and…It’s bad.

Important Deaths: I guess Mantis’ death is “important.”  The rest of the deaths were either of trivial characters or of characters whose deaths were undone later, like N’astirh, Mister Sinister, Flag Smasher, Destiny of Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Scarlet Witch and Vision’s twins, and Overmind.

Best New Series: Probably Wolverine.  Some other series that launched in ’89 had good moments, but overall were not better or more impactful than Wolverine’s solo book.  Sensational She-Hulk is a strong runner up, but that series got pretty bad pretty quickly when Byrne left.

Top 10 New Characters:

  1. New Warriors (team) and Night Thrasher (character)
  2. Jubilee
  3. Mephisto’s son Blackheart (see also: Mephista–the daughter!)
  4. Crossbones
  5. The Great Lakes Avengers
  6. Victor “Baron Blood” Strange
  7. Midnight (Moon Knight sidekick)
  8. SODAM
  9. Shotgun
  10. Demigoblin

Top 10 Stories: Quite a good year for Hulk and Daredevil…

  1. Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: The Triumph and Torment
  2. Daredevil #266 (a beer with Mephisto)
  3. Hulk #364-367
  4. Classic X-Men #34 (backup story only)
  5. Marvel Comics Presents #18 (She-Hulk story only)
  6. Hulk #362
  7. Daredevil #268
  8. Daredevil #265
  9. Hulk #357-359
  10. Daredevil #270

 

ATLANTIS ATTACKS HOUSE AD (1989)

D.P.7 (New Universe) (1986-1989)

Marvel Comics Presents #24 (1989): Shamrock

PUNISHER #28-29 (1989-1990): Acts of Vengeance

X-Factor #43-50 (1989-1990): Judgement War

Marvel Comics Presents #38-47 (Wolverine) (1989-1990)

JUSTICE #1-32 (New Universe) (1986-1989)

Marvel Comics Presents #1-10 (Wolverine’s story) (1988-1989)

Marvel Comics Presents #1-12 (Man-Thing story) (1988-1989)

Marvel Comics Presents #1-8 (1988) (Shang-Chi story)

Punisher War Journal #1-3 (1988-1989)

Wolverine #1-3 (1988-1989)


Power Pack #42-43 (1988-1989)

ACTS OF VENGEANCE HOUSE AD (1989)

ACTS OF VENGEANCE HOUSE AD (1989)

ADDING COMICS TO LIBRARIES

ALPHA FLIGHT #67-70 (1989):Wrath of the Dream Queen

Alpha Flight #71-75 (1989): Purple Girl, Goblyn, and Pathway quit

Alpha Flight #76 (1989): 1st Gamma Flight

Alpha Flight #77 (1989)

Alpha Flight #78 (1989): 1st Zeitgeist

ALPHA FLIGHT #79-80 (1989-1990): Acts of Vengeance

Amazing Spider-Man #311 (1989): Inferno

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #312-313 (1989)

Amazing Spider-Man #314 (1989): Christmas Issue!

Amazing Spider-Man #315 (1989)

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #316-317 (1989)

Amazing Spider-Man #318-319 (1989)

Amazing Spider-Man #320-325 (1989): Assassination Nation

ATLANTIS ATTACKS!  (1989 Annuals)

Avengers #299-300 (1989): Reed and Sue, Gilgamesh join

Avengers #301-303 and Annual #18 (1989): 1st Super Nova; Quasar joins

AVENGERS #304 (1989): 1st Portal

AVENGERS #305-310 (1989): John Byrne

Avengers #311 (1989): Acts of Vengeance; Hydrobase destroyed

Avengers Spotlight #21 and Marvel Comics Presents #22: Starfox (1989)

Avengers Spotlight #22-25 (1989): Hawkeye

Avengers Spotlight #22: Swordsman (1989)

Avengers Spotlight #23: Vision (1989)

Avengers Spotlight #24 (1989): Firebird

Avengers Spotlight #25 (1989): Rick Jones

Avengers West Coast #47-49 (1989)

Avengers West Coast #50-52 (1989): Twins “die;” new Vision origin; original Torch, Iron Man join

BROTHERHOOD OF EVIL MUTANTS/CELESTIALS

BULLPEN BULLETINS PRO-FILE ON MARC MCLAURIN (1989)

Captain America #345-350 (1988-1989): Steve Rogers returns as Cap; D-Man “dies”

CAPTAIN AMERICA #351 (1989)

Captain America #352-353 (1989): 1st Supreme Soviets

Captain America #354 (1989)

Captain America #355-357 (1989): Teen Cap; 1st Iron Monger

CAPTAIN AMERICA #357-362 (1989): Bloodstone Hunt; 1st Crossbones; original Zemo lives again (not!)

CAPTAIN MARVEL #1 (1989): 1st Powderkeg; new power set

CLASSIC X-MEN #29 (1989)

CLASSIC X-MEN #30-31 (1989)

CLASSIC X-MEN #32-33 (1989)

CLASSIC X-MEN #34 (1989)

CLASSIC X-MEN #38 (1989)

Cloak and Dagger #4-8 (1989)

Cloak and Dagger #9 (1989): Acts of Vengeance

Damage Control #1 (1989)

Damage Control #2 (1989)

Damage Control #3 (1989)

Damage Control #4 (1989)

DAMAGE CONTROL HOUSE AD (1989)

DAREDEVIL #262-263 (1989): Inferno

Daredevil #264 (1989)

Daredevil #265 (1989): Inferno

DAREDEVIL #266 (1989): Beer with Mephisto

DAREDEVIL #267 (1989)

Daredevil #268 (1989)

Daredevil #269 (1989): vs Freedom Force

Daredevil #270 (1989): 1st Blackheart

DAREDEVIL #271-274 (1989): 1st Shotgun, Number 9

Doctor Strange #10 (1989): 1st Victor Strange

DOCTOR STRANGE #11 (1989): Acts of Vengeance

Doctor Strange #12-13 (1989-1990): Acts of Vengeance; Dracula’s origin

Doctor Strange #5-8 (1989): 1st Mephista; Roy/Dann Thomas run begins

Doctor Strange #9 (1989): All text issue

DOCTOR STRANGE AND DOCTOR DOOM: TRIUMPH AND TORMENT (1989)

DOCTOR STRANGE SORCERER SUPREME #1-2 (1988-1989)

DOCTOR STRANGE SORCERER SUPREME #3-4 (1989): marries Clea, reforms Defenders

Excalibur #4-5 (1989)

Excalibur #6-7 (1989): Inferno; 1st Brigadier Alysande Stuart

Excalibur #8 (1989)

Excalibur #9-11 (1989)

EXCALIBUR: MOJO MAYHEM (1989)

Fantastic Four #322 (1989): Inferno

FANTASTIC FOUR #323-325 (1989): Mantis dies

Fantastic Four #326-329 (1989): Team re-forms

Fantastic Four #330-333 (1989): Englehart’s run ends

HOUSE AD FOR WHAT IF? VOLUME 2 (1989)

Incredible Hulk #351-352 (1989)

Incredible Hulk #353-355 (1989)

Incredible Hulk #356 (1989)

Incredible Hulk #357-359 (1989)

Incredible Hulk #360 (1989)

INCREDIBLE HULK #361 (1989)

INCREDIBLE HULK #362 (1989): 1st Phil Sterns; vs Werewolf By Night

Incredible Hulk #363 (1989): Acts of Vengeance

Iron Man #239-240 (1989)

Iron Man #241-242 (1989): Tony Stark shot

Iron Man #243 (1989): Tony will never walk again

Iron Man #244 (1989)

Iron Man #245 (1989): Madame Masque dead?

Iron Man #246-248 (1989): Tony can walk again

Iron Man #249-250 (1989): Dr. Doom; Michelinie/Layton run ends

Marc Spector: Moon Knight #1-3 (1989)

Marc Spector: Moon Knight #4-5 (1989): 1st Midnight

Marc Spector: Moon Knight #6-7 (1989)

Marc Spector: Moon Knight #8-9 (1989): Acts of Vengeance; Flag-Smasher dies

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #10 (1989): Machine Man!

Marvel Comics Presents #10-17 (1989): Colossus in “God’s Country”

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #11 (1989): SLAG OF WOLFPACK

Marvel Comics Presents #11 (Ant-Man)

Marvel Comics Presents #12 (1989): Hercules

Marvel Comics Presents #12 (1989): Namorita

Marvel Comics Presents #13 (1989): Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman; Shanna of the Jungle

Marvel Comics Presents #13-37: Black Panther (1989)

Marvel Comics Presents #14: Nomad (1989)

Marvel Comics Presents #15: Jean Grey & Red Wolf (1989)

Marvel Comics Presents #16: Ka-zar (1989)

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #16: LONGSHOT (1989)

Marvel Comics Presents #17 (1989): Watcher X-Mas story

Marvel Comics Presents #17-24: Cyclops (1989)

Marvel Comics Presents #18 (1989): She-Hulk

Marvel Comics Presents #18 (1989): Willie Lumpkin X-Mas story

Marvel Comics Presents #19-20: Dr. Strange and Clea (1989)

Marvel Comics Presents #21 (1989): Thing

Marvel Comics Presents #21: Paladin (1989)

Marvel Comics Presents #24-31 (1989): Havok

Marvel Comics Presents #25 (1989): Ursa Major

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #28-34 (1989): Single-Issue Stories Only

Marvel Comics Presents #31-38: Excalibur (1989)

Marvel Comics Presents #35 (1989): Her

Marvel Comics Presents #36 (1989): Hellcat

Marvel Comics Presents #37 (1989): Devil-Slayer

Marvel Fanfare #42 (1989): Captain Marvel, Spider-Man

Marvel Fanfare #43 (1989)

Marvel Fanfare #44 (1989): Dr. Doom

Marvel Fanfare #45 (1989): Pin Up Issue

Marvel Fanfare #46 (1989): Fantastic Four

Marvel Fanfare #47 (1989): Hulk, Spider-Man, Nick Fury

Marvel Fanfare #48 (1989): She-Hulk, Vision

Marvel Graphic Novel: Cloak and Dagger and Power Pack: Shelter from the Storm (1989)

MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL: PUNISHER: INTRUDER (1989): Punisher=Priest?

MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL: PUNISHER: RETURN TO BIG NOTHING (1989)

MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL: SPIDER-MAN PARALLEL LIVES (1989)

MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL: SQUADRON SUPREME: DEATH OF A UNIVERSE (1989): Overmind dies

MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL: Wolverine and Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection (1989)

MARVEL MASTERPIECES HOUSE AD (1989)

MARVEL MOVIES IN 1989

MEET D.G. CHICHESTER (1989)

NEW MUTANTS #72-73 (1989): Inferno; Illyana becomes a young girl again

New Mutants #74-75 (1989)

New Mutants #76 (1989)

New Mutants #77-85 (1989-1990)

NEW MUTANTS HOUSE AD (1989)

Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD #1-6 (1989): 1st Werner Von Strucker, Network Nina

OBITUARY FOR FRANK GIACOIA

Power Pack #44 (1989): Inferno

Power Pack #45 (1989)

Power Pack #46 (1989): Dakota North

Power Pack #47 (1989)

Power Pack #48-52 (1989)

Punisher #15-18 (1989): X-Men

Punisher #19 (1989) 

Punisher #20 (1989)

Punisher #21 (1989)

Punisher #22-23 (1989): 1st Saracen

Punisher #24-25 (1989)

Punisher #26-27 (1989)

Punisher War Journal #10 (1989)

Punisher War Journal #11 (1989)

Punisher War Journal #4-5 (1989): 1st Sniper

Punisher War Journal #6-7 (1989)

Punisher War Journal #8 (1989): 1st Damage

Punisher War Journal #9 and Shadowmasters #1-4 (1989-1990)

Quasar #1-3 (1989): 1st 616 original Marvel Boy, Angler, Kayla Ballantine

Quasar #4 (1989)

Quasar #5 (1989): Acts of Vengeance

SAGA OF THE SUB-MARINER #4 (1989): 1st meeting w/Human Torch

SAGA OF THE SUB-MARINER #5-12 (1989-1990)

SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK #1 (1989)

Sensational She-Hulk #2-3 (1989)

SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK #4 (1989)

Sensational She-Hulk #5 (1989)

Sensational She-Hulk #6-7 (1989): US 1, Xemnu return

Sensational She-Hulk #8 (1989): Christmas Issue; Byrne run ends

Sensational She-Hulk #9 (1989)

Sensational She-Hulk: Ceremony (1989)

Silver Surfer #19-20 (1989)

Silver Surfer #21 (1989)

SILVER SURFER #22 (1989)

Silver Surfer #23 (1989)

Silver Surfer #24 (1989)

Silver Surfer #25-31 (1989): Kree Skrull War II; Englehart run ends

Silver Surfer #32-33 (1989)

Solo Avengers #14-16 (1989): 1st SODAM

Solo Avengers #16, #18 and 20: Moondragon Trilogy (1989): 1st Sundragon, Dance

Solo Avengers #17 (1989): Hawkeye, Sub-Mariner

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Ekko I got the crazy idea to read and review every single Marvel 616 Universe comic. This is where I do that. Contact me at: [email protected] I also blog about music HERE

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