Posted By Dan Greenfield on Dec 3, 2025 | 6 comments

Scott and Dan hit up the comics racks from 36 years ago…

This week for RETRO HOT PICKS, Scott and I are selecting comics that came out the week of Dec. 3, 1989.

Last time for RETRO HOT PICKS, it was the week of Nov. 26, 1981. Click here to check it out.

(Keep in mind that comics came out on multiple days, so these are the comics that went on sale between Nov. 30. and Dec. 6.)

So, let’s set the scene: It had dominated the geopolitical landscape since shortly after World War II, but this week, for all intents and purposes, the Cold War came to an end.

Just weeks after the fall of the Berlin Wall — the climax of the collapse of communism in the Eastern Bloc — President Bush (the first) and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev met for a two-day summit in Malta.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Gorbachev essentially declared an end to the long-simmering tensions:

“The world is leaving one epoch and entering another,” he said. “We are at the beginning of a long road to a lasting, peaceful era. The threat of force, mistrust, psychological and ideological struggle should all be things of the past.

“I assured the president of the United States that I will never start a hot war against the USA,” he added.

Bush responded, “We can realize a lasting peace and transform the East-West relationship to one of enduring co-operation. That is the future that Chairman Gorbachev and I began right here in Malta.”

The Berlin Wall fell in November

There were no agreements signed and there was much work to be done, but given the leaders’ statements, Dec. 3 is often seen as the date the Cold War came to a close. Bush even gave all the conference participants a piece of the Berlin Wall. Nevertheless, the Soviet Union did not dissolve for another two years.

IN OTHER NEWS

— While things were looking brighter between the East and the West, Canada suffered one of its darkest days Dec. 6, with the Montreal Massacre. Fourteen women were murdered in an anti-feminist attack by 25-year-old misogynistic terrorist Marc Lépine.

Lépine began his siege at a mechanical engineering class at the École Polytechnique, where he separated the men and the women, and ordered the roughly 50 men to leave. He shot all nine women, killing six and injuring three, then for approximately the next 20 minutes, walked through hallways, went to the cafeteria and another classroom, targeting women as he went. He killed eight more women, wounded another seven, plus hurt four men, before fatally shooting himself.

— On Dec. 1, one of the world’s most foremost and influential choreographers, Alvin Ailey, died at the far-too-young age of 58, of AIDS-related illness. The following week, more than 4,000 mourners attended his funeral at Manhattan’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine, featuring dance performances, a reading of a statement by President Bush, as well as multiple eulogies, including one by Mayor David Dinkins. Among those attending included poet Maya Angelou and drummer Max Roach.

— Also on Dec. 1, Romanian five-time Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Nadia Comaneci arrived in New York City, seeking political asylum, causing a media sensation. Her request was granted.

Back to the Future Part II, which is not nearly as charming as the original, was the top movie at the box office. Other hits included the comedy Look Who’s Talking, starring John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and the voice of Bruce Willis; Harlem Nights, starring Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor; Kenneth Branagh’s breakthrough Henry V; the Daniel Day-Lewis drama My Left Foot; the star-studded Steel Magnolias; Walt Disney’s incredibly enduring The Little Mermaid; Jim Jarmusch’s riotously bizarre Mystery Train; and the newly released National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

If Batman was playing anywhere, it was on its last legs on small screens, but it was by far the year’s most dominant film. It also provided a bounty of merchandise for obsessed fans like Chris Franklin and me that season.

The Cosby Show was naturally atop the Nielsens, followed by series including Cheers (No. 2); Roseanne (No. 4); The Golden Girls (No. 6); Murder, She Wrote (No. 7); and, L.A. Law (No. 8).

Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire was the No. 1 single, and I mention it only because I’m obliged to. Far more entertaining was Love Shack by the B-52’s (No. 9). Also worth noting is that Milli Vanilli had the No. 3 song, Blame It on the Rain, off their best-selling album Girl You Know It’s True. Sigh.

Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 was also a top LP, along with Joel’s Storm Front and Phil Collins’ …But Seriously. Prince’s Batman was still moving units, but I was fixated on Danny Elfman’s score (as well as the Rolling Stones’ Steel Wheels, which came out in the summer.)

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Dan Greenfield, editor, 13th Dimension

The Complete Frank Miller Batman, Longmeadow Press. I already had The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One in multiple formats (plus this also included 1979’s “Wanted: Santa Claus — Dead or Alive”) but at the impressionable age of 22, the completist in me would not let me pass up this fancy leather-bound volume. It appealed to my need for Batman to be considered not just legitimate or popular, but art.

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Legends of the Dark Knight #3, DC. The first new Batman solo ongoing since 1940, DC proclaimed at the time. The idea was that the stories — like the kickoff Shaman, by Denny O’Neil, Ed Hannigan and John Beatty — were supposed to explore Batman’s early days, expanding upon what Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli had done with Batman: Year One. Part of this arc, in fact, re-creates scenes from that story, complete with Mazzucchelli-style art. The title eventually evolved into something else, but is remembered fondly either way.

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Action Comics #649, DC. Roger Stern, George Perez, Kerry Gammill and Brett Breeding give us post-Crisis Brainiac’s back story. Man, dig that Perez cover.

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Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure #1, Marvel. Logan goes to the Savage Land, fights dinosaurs, encounters Apocalypse, has a son. By Walter Simonson (writer), Mike Mignola (penciller), Bob Wiacek (inker), Mark Chiarello (colorist) and Ken Bruzenak (letterer). Daaaaaaaamn!

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Mad Summer ’90 Super Special #71, EC. Ever the opportunists, Mad reminds us that they tackled the original Batmania 23 years earlier.

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Badger #58, First. Requisite reminder that the ’80s were much more than the Big Two.

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The Terminator: The Burning Earth #1, Now Comics. Hey, get this! Alex Ross’ first published comics art! He was all of 19.

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Scott Tipton, contributor-at-large, 13th Dimension

Avengers West Coast #55, Marvel. I remember Acts of Vengeance being a particularly good crossover event.

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Justice League Europe #10, DC. One of my favorite things about JLE was the increased focus on Dmitri, the friendly family-man Rocket Red.

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The Question #34, DC. Beautiful cover from Denys Cowan.

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Doctor Fate #13, DC. The Doctor Fate run by J.M. DeMatteis and Shawn McManus is crying out for a fancy hardcover collection. But I’ll settle for the trade paperback that came out this year.

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MORE

— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of November 26 — in 1981! Click here.

— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of November 19 — in 1978! Click here.

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Comics sources: Mike’s Amazing World of Comics and the Grand Comics Database.