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Greatest 12 Characters of the 1980's

Who is on this list, what this list is about and how they got on the list!

 Hey, Hey it's the 80's
 Hey, Hey it's the 80's

Synopsis

This is one of a set of lists I made showing a progression of the greatest characters in a heroic style throughout time. Focusing for the most part on one decade at a time. The heroes that we know and love today were inspired by heroes before them. Some are even real people who moved into folklore. Before comics there were pulp magazines. Before that there was dime novels and before that was the penny dreadfuls. There were many others as well like Gothic novels, story papers and yes even a real novel.  

The List

This is a list of the greatest characters to come out between 1980 and 1989.   These would be characters who will go on to be the biggest influences in comics either directly or indirectly.  In other words these will become great inspirations to future comic characters and stories. Right now they are in order of year.

The Fonz lives.
The Fonz lives.

New Stuff

The 1980's was an odd decade for comics.  It was before the boom of the 1990's and things were getting stale.  This is when things got shaped up and changed.  The Watchmen series literally changed how comics were made and ushered in a more violent era in comics.  The Crisis of Infinite Earths also happened in this decade and it was so impact it turned the DC Universe into parts like the Bible.  You had Pre-Crisis, Post Crisis in the comic world becoming just about as important as A.M., P.M., B.C., D.C., A.C, D.C, and New Testament, Old Testament.
Here is the past list 
Greatest 12 Characters of the 1970's

Here is the next list

Greatest 12 Characters of the 1990's

List items

  • Inspired by the 1930's film serials Indiana Jones made his debut in 1981 in the Raiders of the Lost Ark film.

  • Swamp Thing's first issue was in Swamp Thing #1 in 1982. His book was so inspirational it even launched another character on this list John Constantine. Swamp Thing's series lasted longer than most characters and he is still going strong. John's series is still going without being broken.

  • It don't matter if Savage Dragon's first appearance was in Graphic Fantasy #1 in 1982 or Megaton #3 in 1986. The fact is he is one of the greatest heroes who came out of the 1980's. He is a superhero but also a cop. He has all the best elements of both.

  • Badger started in 1983 in the first issue of his own self titled series. Not widely known to common fans Badger has made the comic world a broader place.

  • In 1983 Grimjack made comic history in Starslayer #10. He has gone on to be one of the more unique characters of his decade.

  • Not able to pick one from this team and feeling that picking four of them would be unfair, I decided to count the turtles Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo and Michelangelo as one spot on this list they made their first appearance in 1984 in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 Their first television show is widely considered one of the best Saturday Morning Cartoon of all times.

  • Is Constantine a hero? I don't know but I do know he has done more for and in comics than most characters that came out of this decade and if you have a problem with that you will have to take it up with SILKCUTS! =] John got his first appearance in Swamp Thing 37 in 1985.

  • Booster Gold is a huge character from the 1980's and the money making attitude that made the decade. Trickle down economics really never worked did it. Always, the number two Booster Gold never gets the respect he deserves but he is getting it here. He is even dogged as a character. His first appearance in Booster Gold #1 in 1986.

  • In 1986 Cable made his first appearance in Uncanny X-Men #201. He became huge in the 1990's but has weened a bit in recent years. Only history will tell if he remains one of the biggest heroes of his time.

  • The Tick got his start in his own series with the first issue of the Tick #1 in 1988. He quickly got his own cartoon show and later a short lived television show.

  • Sandman has been huge for comics even winning prestigious awards. His first appearance was in Sandman #1 in 1989.

  • Not even making his first appearance until 1989 in Batman #436 and being the third Robin you wouldn't think he would be as big as he is but Tim Drake is one of the greatest comic characters of his time. He has had several of his own series one lasting nearly 200 issues. He even supported other books like Batman, Teen Titans and Young Justice.
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