1979 in comics

Year overall

 * The "Demon in a Bottle" storyline, by David Michelinie, Bob Layton, and John Romita, Jr., runs through Iron Man (issues #120–128, March–November).
 * Alien: The Illustrated Story, a comics adaptation of Alien, by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson, published by Heavy Metal.

January

 * January 24: The Mighty World of Marvel, with issue #330, changes its name to Marvel Comic. (Marvel UK)

March

 * IPC Magazines launches Tornado, a short-lived weekly British comic published for 22 issues.
 * The Human Fly, with issue #19, is cancelled by Marvel.

April

 * Kid Colt Outlaw (1949 series), with issue #225, canceled by Marvel.
 * The reprint title Marvel Triple Action, with issue #47, is cancelled by Marvel.

May

 * Frank Miller takes over from Gene Colan as regular penciler on Daredevil with issue #158.
 * Vince Colletta resigns as art director of DC Comics.
 * Rawhide Kid, with issue #151, canceled by Marvel.
 * Captain Marvel, with issue #62, cancelled by Marvel.
 * Howard the Duck (vol. 1), with issue #31, canceled by Marvel.
 * Black Panther, with issue #15, cancelled by Marvel.

June

 * June 13: Alan Moore's first mainstream comic work appears in the Marvel UK title Hulk Comic #15, with the five-part "The Incredible Hulk" story featuring Dr. Scarabeus (with penciller Paul Neary and inker David Lloyd).

Summer

 * DC Special Series #17 &mdash; DC Special Series returns after it had gone on hiatus in Fall 1978.

July

 * World of Krypton – #1 of 3, by DC Comics. The first official limited series, this three-issue "mini-series" was originally slated for Showcase #104-106 to coincide with the premiere of Superman: The Movie. The storyline was rescheduled for Showcase #110-112 when the film's release date was delayed; but ultimately, Showcase was cancelled after issue #104. Finally, the material is revised and released as a limited series by Paul Kupperberg and Howard Chaykin.
 * With issue #24, Marvel cancels Godzilla, King of the Monsters.
 * July 25: Marvel UK publishes the final weekly issue (#352) of Marvel Comic.

August

 * With issue #70, Marvel publishes the final issue of The Tomb of Dracula, ending writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gene Colan's uninterrupted six-year run on the title.

September

 * All Out War #1: a new war title in the Dollar Comics format is launched by DC Comics with a September/October cover date.
 * The Best of DC #1: a reprint anthology title in the digest format is launched by DC Comics with a September/October cover date.
 * "The Proteus Saga", by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, begins in Uncanny X-Men #125 (running through issue #128).
 * Marvel Comic, with issue #353, becomes a monthly title and is renamed Marvel Superheroes. (Marvel UK)
 * The Invaders, with issue #41, is cancelled by Marvel.

October

 * Action Comics #500: 68-pages, "The Life Story of Superman," by Martin Pasko, Curt Swan, and Frank Chiaramonte.
 * Star*Reach, with issue #18, publishes its final issue.
 * Time Warp #1: a new science-fiction anthology in the Dollar Comics format is launched by DC Comics with an October/November cover date.
 * With issue #28, Marvel cancels John Carter, Warlord of Mars.

December

 * Rom, #1 by Marvel Comics.

Conventions

 * June: Houstoncon (Houston, Texas) — guests include George Pérez and Walter Koenig
 * June 7–10: D-Con '79 (Dallas, Texas) — Larry Lankford's revival of D-Con after a hiatus; antecedent to Lankford's later Dallas Fantasy Fair
 * June 30–July 1: Comic Art Convention I (Statler Hilton Hotel, New York City)
 * July 14–15: Comic Art Convention II (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
 * July 20–22: Chicago Comicon (Pick-Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois) — special guests: Mike W. Barr and John Byrne; first year that Joe Sarno is not one of the show’s organizers, leaving the duties to Larry Charet and Bob Weinberg
 * August: FantaCon (The Egg convention center, Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York) — first annual Albany-area horror and comic book convention hosted by FantaCo Enterprises publisher Thomas Skulan
 * August 1–5: San Diego Comic-Con (Convention and Performing Arts Center and U.S. Grant Hotel, San Diego, California) — 6,000 attendees; official guests: Kelly Freas, Mike Jittlov, Harvey Kurtzman, Victor Moscoso, Nestor Redondo, Marshall Rogers, John Romita Sr., Mort Walker, Len Wein, and Marv Wolfman
 * August 31–September 2: Comicon '79 (British Comic Art Convention 11) (Hotel Metropole, National Exhibition Centre; Birmingham, England) — eleventh annual "U.K. Comic Art & Fantasy Convention;" guest of honor: Jim Steranko; other guests include Dez Skinn and Dave Gibbons; presentation of the Eagle Awards
 * September: OrlandoCon (Orlando, Florida) — guests include Will Eisner, C. C. Beck, Bob Cummings, Kirby Grant, and Jack Rosen
 * November 24–26: Creation '79 (Statler Hilton Hotel, New York City) — guests include Tom Savini; admission: $6/day

Eagle Awards
Presented in 1980 for comics published in 1979:
 * Roll of Honor: Jack Kirby
 * Favourite Writer: Chris Claremont
 * Favourite Comicbook Artist: John Byrne
 * Favourite Inker: Terry Austin
 * Favourite Comic Book (Drama): Uncanny X-Men
 * Favourite Comic Book (Humor): Howard the Duck, by Steve Gerber and Gene Colan
 * Favourite New Comic Title: Howard the Duck
 * Favorite Single Comic Book Story: "Demon in a Bottle," Iron Man #s 120-128, by David Michelinie, John Romita, Jr., and Bob Layton
 * Favourite Continued Comic Story: X-Men #125-128, by Chris Claremont and John Byrne
 * Best Comicbook Cover: The Avengers #185, by George Pérez
 * Favourite Team: X-Men
 * Favourite Character: Wolverine
 * Favourite Supporting Character: Wolverine
 * Favourite Villain: Magneto
 * Character Most Worthy of Own Title: Warlock
 * Favourite Title (UK): Starburst, edited by Dez Skinn

DC Comics
The Best of DC — Digest size title
 * Release: September /October

All Out War — Dollar Comics title
 * Release: September /October Editor: Murray Boltinoff

Time Warp — Dollar Comics title
 * Release: October /November Editor: Jack C. Harris

Marvel Comics
Amazing Adventures vol. 3
 * Release: December. Reprinting the original X-Men title.

Doctor Who Magazine
 * Release: October 11 by Marvel UK.

Hulk Comic
 * Release: March 7 by Marvel UK. Editor: Dez Skinn.

Man-Thing vol. 2
 * Release: November. Writer: Michael Fleisher. Artists: Jim Mooney and Bob Wiacek.

Marvel Spotlight vol. 2
 * Release: July. Editor: Roger Stern.

Micronauts
 * Release: January. Writer: Bill Mantlo. Artist: Michael Golden.

Rom: Spaceknight
 * Release: December. Writer: Bill Mantlo. Artist: Sal Buscema.

Shogun Warriors
 * Release: February. Writer: Doug Moench. Artist: Herb Trimpe.

Tales to Astonish vol. 2
 * Release: December. Reprinting edited versions of the 1968 Sub-Mariner title.

Independent titles

 * Battle of the Planets
 * Release: June by Gold Key Comics. Writer: Gary Poole. Artist: Win Mortimer.


 * Best Buy Comics
 * Release February by Apex Novelties. Writers and Artists: Robert Crumb and Aline Kominsky


 * Starblazer
 * Release: April by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd..

DC Comics

 * Blok, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #253
 * Carl Draper, in Superman #331
 * Fire, in Super Friends #25
 * Firebug, in Batman #318
 * Lucius Fox, in Batman #307
 * Maxie Zeus, in Detective Comics #483

Marvel Comics

 * El Aguila, in Power Man and Iron Fist #58
 * Alpha Flight, in Uncanny X-Men #120
 * Aurora
 * Northstar
 * Sasquatch
 * Shaman
 * Snowbird
 * Black Cat, in The Amazing Spider-Man #194
 * Dire Wraith, in Rom #1
 * Followers of the Light, in Shogun Warriors #1
 * Justin Hammer, in Iron Man #120
 * H.E.R.B.I.E., in Fantastic Four #209
 * Kroton (Cyberman), in Doctor Who Weekly #5 (Marvel UK)
 * Cassandra Lang (as "Cassie Lang"), in Marvel Premiere #47
 * Scott Lang, in The Avengers #181; as Ant-Man II in Marvel Premiere #47
 * Lady Lotus, in Invaders #37
 * Night Raven, in Hulk Comic #1 (Marvel UK)
 * Quasar, in Incredible Hulk #234
 * Proteus, in Uncanny X-Men #125
 * Rom, in Rom: Spaceknight #1
 * Schizoid Man, in Spectacular Spider-Man #36
 * Shadow King, in Uncanny X-Men #117 (January)
 * Screaming Mimi, in Marvel Two-in-One #54
 * Vampiro, in The Mighty Thor #290 (December)
 * War Machine, in Iron Man #118
 * Debra Whitman, in The Amazing Spider-Man #196
 * Mariko Yashida, in Uncanny X-Men #118