Scott and Dan hit up the comics racks from 41 years ago…
This week for RETRO HOT PICKS, Scott Tipton and I are selecting comics that came out the week of June 28, 1982.
Last time for RETRO HOT PICKS, it was the week of June 21, 1974. Click here to check it out.
(Keep in mind that comics came out on multiple days, so these are technically the comics that went on sale between June 25 and July 1.)
So, let’s set the scene: Ronald Reagan was in his first presidential term. John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate Reagan in 1981, had been found not guilty in the shooting by reason of insanity the week before. He would remain institutionalized for more than 30 years and now lives free.
That same week, across the Atlantic, William, the future king of England was born. (Harry wouldn’t come along for another two years.)
E.T. phone home! 1982 is considered among the greatest summers in genre film entertainment and with good reason: The top movie at the box office this week was E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which makes me want to go out and buy a bag of Reese’s Pieces. Also in theaters? The greatest Star Trek story of all time — Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; Conan the Barbarian; and Rocky III. Oh, and debuting June 25 was Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford.
Yep, it was rerun season, but these were among the most popular TV shows in the country: MASH, Too Close for Comfort, House Calls, Hart to Hart, Three’s Company and WKRP in Cincinnati.
If you were under 21, though, MTV was where it was at and the Billboard 100 leaders reflected their videos’ popularity: The Human League’s Don’t You Want Me topped the table, followed by Rosanna by Toto, Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, Heat of the Moment by Asia, and Hurts So Good, by the artist then known as John Cougar.
The albums chart, meanwhile, had a similar look: Asia’s eponymous debut LP was at the top, with Paul McCartney’s Tug of War in second. Others included Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson (No. 3), Dare by The Human League (No. 4) and Toto IV (No. 5.) My fave, though, was the No. 6 album — the Rolling Stones’ underrated live disc Still Life, featuring rollicking covers of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ Going to a Go-Go and Eddie Cochran’s Twenty Flight Rock.
Going to a go-go, every BOT-teh…
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Dan Greenfield, editor, 13th Dimension
Wolverine #2, Marvel. The X-Men’s grouchiest mutant gets his first solo adventure, by Chris Claremont, Frank Miller and Joe Rubinstein — launching Logan’s popularity into the stratosphere. A comics landmark.
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Conan the Barbarian Movie Special #1, Marvel. What is best in life? This rad REEL RETRO CINEMA column by Rob Kelly on the movie and the comics adaptation!
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Crazy #90, Marvel. Plus, don’t forget this satire — written by our pal Paul Kupperberg, Bob Camp and Marie Severin!
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Moon Knight #24, Marvel. I used to get comics at the late, lamented U.S. #1 Flea Market in New Brunswick, N.J. All I wanted to talk about was Batman but the older fellas kept telling me I had to read Moench and Sienkiewicz’s Moon Knight. They were on to something.
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Ms. Mystic #1, Pacific. I just remember being so pleased to get a new Neal Adams comic. Too bad Ms. Mystic didn’t last.
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Archie #319, Archie. Summertime in Riverdale, with a dish of cheesecake, courtesy of the great Dan DeCarlo.
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Scott Tipton, contributor-at-large, 13th Dimension
Atari Force #3, DC. I don’t care what anyone says, Atari Force was good comics. And you can’t say DC wasn’t putting their A-List creators on it, with Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas, Gil Kane and Dick Giordano in the credits.
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The Amazing Spider-Man #233, Marvel. Want me to buy a Spidey comic? Put Tarantula on the cover.
Dan adds: Same!
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Justice League of America #207, DC. I recently found a t-shirt with this cover art. I was delighted.
Dan adds: One of the biggest Crises before Crisis on Infinite Earths — a five-issue banger that ran in JLA and All-Star Squadron. Dig the classic Perez cover featuring the Crime Syndicate. Love to hate those guys!
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Pacific Presents #1, Pacific Comics. The third chapter of Dave Stevens’ classic The Rocketeer and new work from Steve Ditko! Comics fans didn’t know how good they had it back in the day.
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MORE
— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of June 21 — in 1974! Click here.
— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of June 14 — in 1990! Click here.
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Primary comics sources: Mike’s Amazing World of Comics, the Grand Comics Database.
June 28, 2023
Also released in 1982 was John Carpenter’s “The Thing.” Ripped by the critics when first released, it’s now considered one of the greatest horror films ever made.
June 28, 2023
1982 was a great year for comics and movies. Good memories that summer.
June 28, 2023
The early ’80s…..ah, what sweet memories.
June 30, 2023
Entertainment was pretty strong back in 1982.
July 1, 2023
That Moon Knight cover is just stunning.
July 3, 2023
Atari Force was better than most might expect! Licensing might make it hard for DC to reprint it, though.
That year’s JLA/JSA team-up was epic! One of the best and one of my favorites. And Dan, where did you find that T-shirt??