 The logo used for the Star Comics label. | |
| Founded | 1984; 41 years ago (1984) |
|---|---|
| Defunct | 1988; 37 years ago (1988) |
| Headquarters location | New York City,New York,United States |
| Key people |
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| Publication types | Comic books |
| Fiction genres | |
| Owner | Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. |
Star Comics was animprint ofMarvel Comics that began in 1984 and featured titles that were aimed at child readers and were often adaptations ofchildren's television series,animated series ortoys.[1] The last comic published under the imprint featured a May 1988cover date, although the Star Comics Magazine continued through December 1988. Some of the titles continued after that, being published directly by Marvel. Several of the original titles consciously emulated the house writing and visual style of then-recently defunctHarvey Comics titles such asRichie Rich.
The imprint's signature titles werePeter Porker, The Spectacular Spider-Ham andHeathcliff, its longest running title. The imprint was also known for itsStar Wars titles,Droids andEwoks (based on the animated television series).[2] Artists who worked on the line include Warren Kremer[3] and Howard Post.[4]
For a number of years, the industry had benefited from an "age stepladder" whereby comics readers could ascend naturally from children's titles byGold Key Comics (Disney and Looney Tunes licensee) and Harvey, upward to theArchie Comics titles for preteens, and finally graduating to the Marvel and DC titles (or to independent comics) for teens and older readers. In 1983, Gold Key ended its licensed kids' lines.[3]
Marvel had never published a successful children's line,[3] although prior to the existence of the Star imprint, they had released a few miniseries based on licensed toy and cartoon properties, such asRom The Spaceknight,The Smurfs, andStarriors. In 1977, Marvel had also published several licensedHanna-Barbera titles includingDynomutt,The Flintstones,Scooby-Doo,Yogi Bear, andLaff-a-Lympics.[5] In 1983, Marvel also published a one-shot,Marvel Tails, in whichSpider-Ham debuted.[6]
By the early 1980s, Marvel Comics was in negotiations withHarvey Comics to assume publication of some of their characters. Harvey editorSid Jacobson, along with the other Harvey staff, were interviewed by Mike Hobson, Marvel's group vice-president of publishing (de facto publisher). As part of the process, Jacobson created several new characters which were well received by Hobson and effectively sealed the deal. Marvel Editor-in-ChiefJim Shooter appointed editorTom DeFalco as Executive Editor to coordinate with the Harvey staff, who were hired by Marvel. On the day Marvel was set to take over the Harvey publications, Harvey Comics pulled out of the deal due to an internal disagreement among the Harvey brothers. Harvey subsequently ceased publishing their comics in 1982.[3] With the loss of the Harvey characters, the Marvel staff re-evaluated their publishing plan and decided that their new line of all-age comics would be published under a different imprint.[3]
Star Comics was the name selected early on in the revamp of the publishing plan. The first comic published was the first issue of a three-issue movie adaptation ofThe Muppets Take Manhattan, in July 1984.[3] Marvel's existing titles, based on licensed toy lines such asG.I. Joe: A Real American Hero andTransformers, remained under the Marvel banner.
The ongoing titles did not appear in stores until five months later and were launched over a two-month period with three original and six licensed titles.Fraggle Rock,Heathcliff,Planet Terry andStrawberry Shortcake were released in the first month whileThe Ewoks,Get Along Gang,Muppet Babies,Royal Roy andPeter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham followed in the second month.Top Dog andWally the Wizard were also early Star comic titles.[3]
In late 1985, Harvey Comics sued Marvel for copyright infringement, claiming thatRoyal Roy was a blatant copy ofRichie Rich.[7] Thus, the title was canceled after six issues due to this similarity.[3]
Millie the Model, who had starred in her own title in 1945, during Marvel'sTimely Comics era, and ran until 1973, appeared in a spin-off mini-series titledMisty starred Millie's niece Misty Collins.[8]Marvel Productions' animated series were sourced for Star Comics titles includingDefenders of the Earth andInhumanoids.[9]
The lines' twoStar Wars titles crossed over inDroids #4 andEwoks #10.[10]
At the end of 1987, Marvel dissolved the Star imprint and absorbed several Star titles under the main Marvel banner and continued to license new properties, such asALF,Captain Planet andPolice Academy.[5] Some of the Marvel-owned original characters (Top Dog, Planet Terry, Royal Roy and Wally Wizard) have since been seen in various Marvel titles such asX-Babies andDrax.[11]
Additionally, three Star Comics series were planned yet never published:
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