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 anniversary
• ​The New Universe
• ​X-Men as franchise
• ​Classic X-Men debuts
• ​Grim ‘n’ gritty and the dawn of “the Dark Age”
• ​Daredevil and Elektra by Frank Miller
• ​The Punisher gets his own series
• ​Licensed comics and other cancellations at Marvel
• ​The rise of the post-Crisis DCU
• ​Legends
• ​Many fine comics written by Alan Moore
• ​The founding of Dark Horse Comics
• ​Maus
• ​Creator’s rights, starring Jack Kirby, Frank Miller, and Jim Shooter

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