March 1, 2021
1983 — 75 cent variants continue!

There are two main ways I’ve seen online lists of key comic books presented by year: (1) personalized lists based upon judgment calls of what is “key” (thereby omitting any comic books the particular writer doesn’t happen to consider key — or doesn’t know about), and (2) lists based upon high sales price data (also a flawed method because high prices can just as easily be caused by a non-key book happening to grade a 10 at CGC)
The top 100 key comic books from 1983 list you’re about to see is neither of those other types.
Instead, to briefly repeat the introduction I gave on the main 1980’s page, the list I’m about to present is essentially “crowd-sourced”… by the crowd of collectors sending comics to CGC. All I’ve done here is to rank the universe of comic books published in 1983, according to how many copies of each issue have passed through CGC’s doors to date (as of 1/19/2021) to reveal the comic books with the highest census counts — that’s it!
This exercise should “tease out” a very interesting list of important and/or key comic books from 1983, but this will not necessarily be an all-encompassing list (if very few copies were created for a given key, for example, that restricted supply could keep the count of CGC submissions low even though the comic is very important — this exercise will unfortunately see such comics sort themselves off of the bottom through no fault of their own). So essentially, you should think of this list as just one more tool in your tool-belt of researching key comic books from 1983.
Key Comic Books From 1983:
(Top 100 list based on census data as of January 19, 2021)Rank | CGC Count | Issue | Publisher/ Date |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 7,134 | Amazing Spider-Man #238 | Marvel 3/83 |
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1st appearance of the Hobgoblin. Manufactured with “Tattooz” insert & sample.![]() | ||||
2. | 5,935 | Omega Men #3 | D.C. 6/83 |
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1st appearance of Lobo. | ||||
3. | 5,825 | Thor #337 | Marvel 11/83 |
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1st appearance of Beta Ray Bill. Nick Fury appearance.![]() | ||||
4. | 4,255 | New Mutants #1 | Marvel 3/83 |
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Origin of Karma. 2nd appearance of the New Mutants.![]() | ||||
5. | 2,170 | Amazing Spider-Man #239 | Marvel 4/83 |
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1st Spider-Man vs. Hobgoblin battle. Madame Web appearance.![]() | ||||
6. | 1,866 | Alpha Flight #1 | Marvel 8/83 |
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1st appearance of Puck & Marrina. Origin of Alpha Flight.![]() | ||||
7. | 1,598 | Batman #357 | D.C. 3/83 |
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1st full appearance of Killer Croc (Waylon Jones) & Jason Todd. “Atari” insert included.![]() | ||||
8. | 1,404 | Star Wars #68 | Marvel 2/83 |
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David Michelinie story. Gene Day & Tom Palmer art. Gene Day cover.![]() | ||||
9. | 1,147 | Uncanny X-Men #171 | Marvel 7/83 |
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Rogue joins the X-Men. Binary (Carol Danvers) appearance.![]() | ||||
10. | 1,096 | Thor #338 | Marvel 12/83 |
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2nd appearance of Beta Ray Bill. Nick Fury appearance. Thor #126 cover homage.![]() | ||||
11. | 881 | Marvel Tails #1 | Marvel 11/83 |
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1st appearance of Peter Porker the Spectacular Spider-Ham.![]() | ||||
12. | 699 | Brave and the Bold #200 | D.C. 7/83 |
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Last issue. 16 page preview featuring 1st appearance Batman & the Outsiders (Halo, Geoforce & Katana).![]() | ||||
13. | 674 | Thing #1 | Marvel 7/83 |
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John Byrne story & cover. Ron Wilson & Joe Sinnott art.![]() | ||||
14. | 657 | Daredevil #190 | Marvel 1/83 |
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Black Widow, Kingpin & Stick appearance. Letter from Fabian Nicieza.![]() | ||||
15. | 654 | Uncanny X-Men #166 | Marvel 2/83 |
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1st appearance of Lockheed. Binary & Brood appearance. Origin of Acanti.![]() | ||||
16. | 643 | Judge Dredd #1 | Eagle 11/83 |
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1st U.S. appearance of Judge Joseph Dredd. | ||||
17. | 627 | Uncanny X-Men #168 | Marvel 4/83 |
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1st appearance of adult Madelyne Pryor. Lockheed appearance.![]() | ||||
18. | 608 | Daredevil #196 | Marvel 7/83 |
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Wolverine, Bullseye & Kingpin appearance.![]() | ||||
19. | 605 | Batman #366 | D.C. 12/83 |
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1st Jason Todd in Robin costume. Joker appearance.![]() | ||||
20. | 604 | Uncanny X-Men #172 | Marvel 8/83 |
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Wolverine & Mariko engaged. Silver Samurai, Yukio & Viper appearance.![]() | ||||
21. | 569 | Ronin #1 | D.C. 7/83 |
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Wraparound cover. | ||||
22. | 563 | Uncanny X-Men #173 | Marvel 9/83 |
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1st new look for Storm. Silver Samurai, Yukio, Mariko & Viper appearance.![]() | ||||
23. | 538 | Amazing Spider-Man #245 | Marvel 10/83 |
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Hobgoblin appearance.![]() | ||||
24. | 524 | Uncanny X-Men #169 | Marvel 5/83 |
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1st appearance of Callisto & the Morlocks. Sebastian Shaw, Tessa & Emma Frost appearance.![]() | ||||
25. | 520 | New Teen Titans Annual #2 | D.C. 1983 |
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1st app. of Vigilante (Adrian Chase), Chesire, Scorcher, Slasher, Spear, Bazooka & Tanker.![]() | ||||
26. | 513 | Uncanny X-Men #175 | Marvel 11/83 |
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Scott Summers weds Madelyne Pryor. Mastermind appearance.![]() | ||||
27. | 485 | Uncanny X-Men #167 | Marvel 3/83 |
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New Mutants, Starjammers, Lilandra & Gladiator appearance. Fantastic Four cameo.![]() | ||||
28. | 480 | Uncanny X-Men #165 | Marvel 1/83 |
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Paul Smith art begins.![]() | ||||
29. | 446 | Star Wars: Return of the Jedi #1 | Marvel 10/83 |
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Movie adaptation.![]() | ||||
30. | 431 | Uncanny X-Men #176 | Marvel 12/83 |
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Chris Claremont story. John Romita Jr. & Bob Wiacek art. John Romita Jr. cover.![]() | ||||
31. | 426 | Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #1 | Marvel 1/83 |
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John Byrne story & art. Terry Austin cover.![]() | ||||
32. | 406 | Amazing Spider-Man #244 | Marvel 9/83 |
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Hobgoblin cameo.![]() | ||||
33. | 371 | Daredevil #191 | Marvel 2/83 |
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Bullseye appearance.![]() | ||||
34. | 360 | Marvel Fanfare #11 | Marvel 11/83 |
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Pin-ups by Terry Austin, Bob Wiacek, Jim Shooter & Craig Russell. | ||||
35. | 358 | Thor 337 Canadian Price Variant | Marvel 11/83 |
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1st appearance of Beta Ray Bill. Nick Fury appearance. 75¢ cover price. | ||||
36. | 345 | Grendel #1 | Comico 3/83 |
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Origin of Hunter Rose. Indicia indicates title is “Skrog v1 #1” | ||||
37. | 342 | Moon Knight #29 | Marvel 3/83 |
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Werewolf (Jack Russell) appearance. | ||||
38. | 327 | Amazing Spider-Man #236 | Marvel 1/83 |
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“Death” of the Tarantula. Will O’ the Wisp appearance.![]() | ||||
39. | 325 | Iron Man #170 | Marvel 5/83 |
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1st full James Rhodes as Iron Man. Magma appearance.![]() | ||||
40. | 309 | Uncanny X-Men #174 | Marvel 10/83 |
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Mastermind, Starjammers, Lilandra, Binary & Mariko Yashida appearance.![]() | ||||
41. | 299 | Amazing Spider-Man #240 | Marvel 5/83 |
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Vulture appearance.![]() | ||||
42. | 293 | Uncanny X-Men #170 | Marvel 6/83 |
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Mystique, Rogue, Callisto & Morlocks appearance.![]() | ||||
43. | 293 | Hawkeye Limited Series #1 | Marvel 9/83 |
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1st meeting of Hawkeye & Mockingbird. Origin of Hawkeye retold.![]() | ||||
44. | 290 | Batman #359 | D.C. 5/83 |
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1st comic book work by Dan Jurgens. 1st Killer Croc cover (face revealed).![]() | ||||
45. | 289 | Amazing Spider-Man #241 | Marvel 6/83 |
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Origin of the Vulture.![]() | ||||
46. | 287 | Cloak and Dagger #1 | Marvel 10/83 |
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Bill Mantlo & Ed Hannigan story. Rick Leonardi & Terry Austin cover & art.![]() | ||||
47. | 278 | Amazing Spider-Man #246 | Marvel 11/83 |
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“The Daydreamers!” story featuring cameos by Cary Grant, John Travolta, Meryl Streep & Woody Allen.![]() | ||||
48. | 266 | Daredevil #200 | Marvel 11/83 |
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Black Widow, Bullseye & Kingpin appearance.![]() | ||||
49. | 259 | Batman and the Outsiders #1 | D.C. 8/83 |
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2nd appearance of the Outsiders. Justice League appearance.![]() | ||||
50. | 257 | Amazing Spider-Man #243 | Marvel 8/83 |
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Roger Stern story. John Romita Jr. & Dave Simons art. John Romita Jr. & John Beatty cover.![]() | ||||
51. | 256 | Magik #1 | Marvel 12/83 |
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Storm & Belasco appearance.![]() | ||||
52. | 255 | Fantastic Four #250 | Marvel 1/83 |
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Captain America, Spider-Man, Gladiator & Skrulls appearance. Fantastic Four pin-up by John Byrne.![]() | ||||
53. | 251 | Special Edition X-Men #1 | Marvel 2/83 |
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Wraparound cover.![]() | ||||
54. | 251 | Daredevil #197 | Marvel 8/83 |
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1st appearance of Yuriko Oyama who later becomes Lady Deathstrike.![]() | ||||
55. | 251 | Super-Villain Classics #1 | Marvel 5/83 |
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Origin of Galactus.![]() | ||||
56. | 250 | Detective Comics #526 | D.C. 5/83 |
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“Death” of Jason Todd’s parents. Pin-up by Bob Kane. Anniversary issue.![]() | ||||
57. | 235 | Amazing Spider-Man #237 | Marvel 2/83 |
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Stilt-Man appearance.![]() | ||||
58. | 232 | Green Arrow #1 | D.C. 5/83 |
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1st comic book devoted to Green Arrow.![]() | ||||
59. | 206 | Moon Knight #30 | Marvel 4/83 |
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Werewolf (Jack Russell) appearance. | ||||
60. | 201 | Omega Men #1 | D.C. 4/83 |
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Text origin of Omega Men written by Roger Slifer. | ||||
61. | 198 | Star Wars: Return of the Jedi #2 | Marvel 11/83 |
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Movie adaptation.![]() | ||||
62. | 198 | New Mutants #9 | Marvel 11/83 |
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1st appearance of Selene.![]() | ||||
63. | 196 | Amazing Spider-Man #242 | Marvel 7/83 |
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Mad Thinker appearance. Letter from Evan Dorkin.![]() | ||||
64. | 194 | Amazing Spider-Man #247 | Marvel 12/83 |
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Thunderball & Frog-Man appearance.![]() | ||||
65. | 192 | Amazing Spider-Man 238 Canadian Price Variant | Marvel 3/83 |
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1st appearance of the Hobgoblin. Manufactured with “Tattooz” insert & sample. 75¢ cover price. | ||||
66. | 192 | Detective Comics #532 | D.C. 11/83 |
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Joker appearance. Green Arrow backup story written by Joey Cavalieri with art by Jerome Moore.![]() | ||||
67. | 191 | Ghost Rider #81 | Marvel 6/83 |
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“Death” of Ghost Rider & Centurious. Last issue.![]() | ||||
68. | 190 | Iron Man #169 | Marvel 4/83 |
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Jim Rhodes replaces Tony Stark as Iron Man. Magma appearance. Daredevil cameo.![]() | ||||
69. | 186 | Star Wars: Return of the Jedi #3 | Marvel 12/83 |
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Movie adaptation.![]() | ||||
70. | 182 | Flash #324 | D.C. 8/83 |
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“Death” of Reverse Flash.![]() | ||||
71. | 176 | Detective Comics #523 | D.C. 2/83 |
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Ed Hannigan & Dick Giordano cover. 1st appearance of Killer Croc in cameo. Solomon Grundy appearance.![]() | ||||
72. | 174 | Batman #358 | D.C. 4/83 |
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1st Killer Croc cover (face hidden). Killer Croc appearance.![]() | ||||
73. | 173 | Captain America #286 | Marvel 10/83 |
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Deathlok appearance.![]() | ||||
74. | 169 | Vigilante #1 | D.C. 11/83 |
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Origin of the Vigilante (Adrian Chase). | ||||
75. | 165 | Spectacular Spider-Man #85 | Marvel 12/83 |
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Hobgoblin & Black Cat appearance.![]() | ||||
76. | 164 | Fantastic Four #252 | Marvel 3/83 |
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Annihilus appearance. Manufactured with “Tattooz” insert & sample.![]() | ||||
77. | 164 | New Mutants #2 | Marvel 4/83 |
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Chris Claremont story. Bob McLeod & Mike Gustovich art. Bob McLeod cover. | ||||
78. | 163 | Pacific Presents #2 | Pacific 4/83 |
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Dave Stevens & Steve Ditko stories & art. Dave Stevens cover. | ||||
79. | 162 | Masters of the Universe #2 | D.C. 1/83 |
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Origin of He-Man & Ceril. Based on the Mattel action figures.![]() | ||||
80. | 160 | New Mutants #8 | Marvel 10/83 |
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1st appearance of Magma (Amara Aquilla).![]() | ||||
81. | 159 | Grendel #2 | Comico 1983 |
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Origin of Argent. | ||||
82. | 158 | Star Wars #74 | Marvel 8/83 |
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1st appearance of Mone, Primor, Kendle & Admiral Tower. Letter from Glenn Greenberg.![]() | ||||
83. | 155 | Masters of the Universe #3 | D.C. 2/83 |
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Paul Kupperberg story. George Tuska & Rodin Rodriguez art. George Tuska & Klaus Janson cover.![]() | ||||
84. | 154 | Alien Worlds #4 | Pacific 9/83 |
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Bruce Jones story, Dave Stevens cover. Bruce Jones, Dave Stevens, Jeff Jones,. Al Williamson & Bo Hampton art. | ||||
85. | 153 | Primer #5 | Comico 1983 |
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1st published Sam Kieth art. 1st appearance of Max the Hare. | ||||
86. | 151 | Fantastic Four #258 | Marvel 9/83 |
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Doctor Doom & Terrax appearance. Captain America & Iron Man cameo.![]() | ||||
87. | 151 | G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #14 | Marvel 8/83 |
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1st full appearance of Destro. 1st appearance of Ace.![]() | ||||
88. | 150 | Wonder Woman #300 | D.C. 2/83 |
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1st appearance of Lyta Trevor (Fury). Anniversary issue. Wraparound cover. Frontispiece by George Perez.![]() | ||||
89. | 149 | Red Sonja v2 #1 | Marvel 2/83 |
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Christie Marx & Roy Thomas story. Tony DeZuniga & Ernie Colon art. John Buscema cover.![]() | ||||
90. | 148 | Alien Worlds #2 | Pacific 5/83 |
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Bruce Jones & Dave Stevens stories. Ken Steacy & Bruce Jones art. Dave Stevens cover & art. | ||||
91. | 148 | X-Men Annual #7 | Marvel 1983 |
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Impossible Man, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Ka-Zar, She-Hulk & Nick Fury appearance.![]() | ||||
92. | 144 | Flash #323 | D.C. 7/83 |
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Reverse Flash appearance. Creeper backup story.![]() | ||||
93. | 142 | Falcon Limited Series #1 | Marvel 11/83 |
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Jim Owsley story. Paul Smith & Vince Colletta art. Paul Smith cover.![]() | ||||
94. | 142 | Batman #363 | D.C. 9/83 |
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1st full appearance of Nocturna.![]() | ||||
95. | 136 | Moon Knight #27 | Marvel 1/83 |
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Kingpin appearance. | ||||
96. | 135 | Star Wars #67 | Marvel 1/83 |
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“Death” of the Darker. Plif & the Hoojibs appearance.![]() | ||||
97. | 135 | Avengers #236 | Marvel 10/83 |
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Spider-Man, Blackout, Moonstone & Lava Men appearance. Electro & Rhino cameo on last page.![]() | ||||
98. | 133 | New Mutants #3 | Marvel 5/83 |
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Ties in with Uncanny X-Men #167![]() | ||||
99. | 132 | New Mutants #4 | Marvel 6/83 |
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Ties in with Uncanny X-Men #167 | ||||
100. | 132 | G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero #11 | Marvel 5/83 |
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1st appearance of Airborne, Gung-Ho, Doc, Snow Job & Wild Bill. 1st app. of Destro in cameo (face hidden).![]() | ||||
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