EPISODE · Jan 7, 2026 · 1H 51M
1986: The Year in Review
from The Iron Age of Comics · host Justin Zyduck and Jim Cannon
It was 40 years ago this month that the calendar ticked over to 1986, often heralded as one of the high points of the comic book industry—perhaps even the most important year in the history of the medium. Comics began to find the mainstream acceptance they’d long craved, superheroes got grimmer ‘n’ grittier, and DC Comics reinvented itself for an older and more discerning audience. We walk through the highlights of this annus mirabilis, take a look back at what was left behind in this brave new era, and wonder whether we’ll ever see another year of its like again. Discussed in this episode:Crisis, Dark Knight, and Watchmen (again, but briefly, we promise!)Marvel’s 25th anniversaryThe New UniverseX-Men as franchiseClassic X-Men debutsGrim ‘n’ gritty and the dawn of “the Dark Age”Daredevil and Elektra by Frank MillerThe Punisher gets his own seriesLicensed comics and other cancellations at MarvelThe rise of the post-Crisis DCULegendsMany fine comics written by Alan MooreThe founding of Dark Horse ComicsMausCreator’s rights, starring Jack Kirby, Frank Miller, and Jim Shooterpatreon.com/ironageofcomics
What this episode covers
It was 40 years ago this month that the calendar ticked over to 1986, often heralded as one of the high points of the comic book industry—perhaps even the most important year in the history of the medium. Comics began to find the mainstream acceptance they’d long craved, superheroes got grimmer ‘n’ grittier, and DC Comics reinvented itself for an older and more discerning audience. We walk through the highlights of this annus mirabilis, take a look back at what was left behind in this brave new era, and wonder whether we’ll ever see another year of its like again. Discussed in this episode:Crisis, Dark Knight, and Watchmen (again, but briefly, we promise!)Marvel’s 25th anniversaryThe New UniverseX-Men as franchiseClassic X-Men debutsGrim ‘n’ gritty and the dawn of “the Dark Age”Daredevil and Elektra by Frank MillerThe Punisher gets his own seriesLicensed comics and other cancellations at MarvelThe rise of the post-Crisis DCULegendsMany fine comics written by Alan MooreThe founding of Dark Horse ComicsMausCreator’s rights, starring Jack Kirby, Frank Miller, and Jim Shooterpatreon.com/ironageofcomics
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1986: The Year in Review
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