1980s Black-and-White Comic Book Boom

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 19:44 -0700

UYD Members,

I am interested in starting a page on the black-and-white comic explosion of the 1980s, to be a special sub-page of the History of UY. I've tried searching for features/articles of this on the web, but to no avail. I've got several print resources where I can pull info from, but am looking for UYD members to provide additional comprehensive info that I may not have access to. Let me know what you have and if you'd be willing to contribute transcriptions of such articles towards this effort. Also let me know if you are aware of anything that has already been done on the web somewhere that I may have missed.

Arigato,

Todd Shogun

Sebastian · Post by **Sebastian** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 7:01 -0700

I don't think this'll be much help, but recentlly I've gone through some stuff in my cellar and found colour TMNT books. Sorry if it isn't that what you're looking for.

miyamoto musashi · Post by **miyamoto musashi** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 8:09 -0700

uh, i found a black and white spawn in my basement.

Dranatha · Post by **Dranatha** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 1:12 -0700

Todd,

Your planned page on this comic era sounds interesting. Kim Thompson gives a good history on how this boom and bust affected Critters. His article was in the letters section of one of the books (I can't remember which issue, but Usagi's in it). Kim goes into detail about his circulation numbers, where his break even point is and expresses his opinion on how and why the boom caused the bust. Even Stan went color.

My comic book collection was started during this period. I have a lot of gimmicky, poorly conceived b & w books. Your welcome to check them out if you want.

Dranatha

Post by **Mayhem** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 5:23 -0700

I've got every single individual TMNT and Usagi comic at home, so if you need anything from that, let me know.

(and that also includes a signed first edition TMNT #1 which is now worth many hundreds I'm guessing)

Usagi · Post by **Usagi** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 5:50 -0700

Wow.......

Man...it suckes being born just when the comics get good.....
To say the truth, a comic to me is just a comic, regardless of worth, I guss, because I am to to smart when it comes to this, But my sister has some Star Wars Comics ( color)

Ohhhh My Unkle had a lot of Comics! he mostly likes X men I tihnk...He has some of the rare.....I think....#4....I think....Ifthats evin Rare, the tape recorder ni my head skips a sceen now and then....

I only have well..Manga..and 2 UY comics from Dark hourse...they are in the 60s though, I guss a commen

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 10:25 -0700

Thanks, I am not sure when I'll start the feature up, as I need to collect a lot of info. The early TMNT, Critters, Albedo, Cutey Bunny, I have. I think I may also have some stuff in Amazing Heroes and Comics Journal that may be of use. Thing is I haven't gone through a lot of the stuff since I was about 13-14 years old! It's time to start digging through my garage again....

On a more positive note, I did recently come across a few mid-80s comics catalogs, which show the price jumps on a lot of the B&W Boom comics at the time. I can't believe the appreciation rate those comics went through!

takematsu · Post by **takematsu** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 15:12 -0700

I've had a look around, but it just confirmed what I thought-- I got nothing but a smattering of TMNT, two issues of Boris the Bear and absolutely nothing in the line of commentary. I was reading these guys a while ago, and they seem a font of comic lore. Perhaps if approached deferentially, they might assist or point directions.

4NT · Post by **4NT** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 22:05 -0700

Hey Todd.

I will be more than happy to contribute to the cause.
Now being 30, I was entering my prime of comic book purchasing/collecting back in 1984 - 1989. I collected everything from TMNT, Critters, Usagi, Hamster Vice, Preteen Dirty Jean Kung Fu Kangaroos (whew), as well as other B&W non anthropomorphic comics and so on.

I no longer have some of these comics, but would be willing to research for what I don't have and submit what I do. I also have some old Comics Journal mags and so forth. Just let me know how much or how little you would like for me to help out.

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 0:24 -0700

Thanks, 4NT. I need as much help as possible. If you even wanted to "take over" and do the feature on your own, I'll dub you Hatamoto and give you whatever resources you need to create the feature on the UYD. If you're not well-versed in HTML, you can just create the feature and send it to me as a text document. I'll convert it to HTML and publish it on the UYD. I'd like to include scanned covers of some of the more notable comics from that era as well. Let me know if you're interested!

4NT · Post by **4NT** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 15:28 -0700

Hmmm. Let me think a bit on this. Definitely don't want to overextend myself.

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

miyamoto musashi · Sun Nov 14, 2004 19:09 -0700

To say the truth, a comic to me is just a comic, regardless of worth

well said. I also think people who spend hundreds of dollars on comics are a little bit too impulsive. though Im not one to judge people on thier impulsiveness, i probably am not that eager to spend my money.

4NT · Post by **4NT** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 19:40 -0700

That's true. With anything, a perceived value is only what someone is willing to attach to it.

Almost all of my comics (1000+) mean little to me except a select few. I have enjoyed the stories and will enjoy them again and again. If I were to loose them I would be able to enjoy the pleasure that makes up a good percentage of why we love comics. Collecting!

miyamoto musashi · Sun Nov 14, 2004 19:42 -0700

With anything, a perceived value is only what someone is willing to attach to it.

a statment worthy of budda himself.

4NT · Post by **4NT** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 19:58 -0700

It's my form of elegantly stating the obvious.

Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

1980s Black-and-White Comic Book Boom

1980s Black-and-White Comic Book Boom

1980's black & white comic boom