1977 in comics

Comics-related events during 1977
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Notable events of 1977 in comics.

Events

Year overall

January

February

Spring

March

  • March 5: Judge Dredd debuts in the second issue of 2000 AD with the story "Judge Whitey", written by Peter Harris and drawn by Mike McMahon.
  • March 13: The final episode of James Childress' Conchy is published.
  • March 15: The first episode of Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosinski's Thorgal is published in Tintin.[5]
  • March 17: The Belgian comics magazine Spirou publishes a supplement with more mature content: Le Trombone Illustré. It will run for seven months, until 20 October 1977, before the conventional editors feel it doesn't really fit within their family friendly public image. In its first issue André Franquin's Idées Noires (Franquin's Last Laugh) and Frédéric Jannin and Thierry Culliford's Germain et nous... make their debut.[6]
  • March 19: The final episode of Phil Collins' Leonardo is published.[7]
  • March 22: In Tintin (Belgian edition), the first chapter of the Thorgal story The sorceress betrayed, by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegor Rosinski is published, which marks the debut of the Thorgal series.
  • House of Mystery #251 and The Superman Family #182 became the first DC Comics series in the 80-page Dollar Comics format, consisting of 64 pages of new stories.[8]
  • With issue #302, DC changes the title of Our Army at War to Sgt. Rock.
  • G.I. Combat #200: "The Tank That Died Twice," by Robert Kanigher and Sam Glanzman.
  • Kobra, with issue #7, is cancelled by DC.
  • Werewolf by Night, with issue #43, is cancelled by Marvel.
  • National Periodical Publications changed its name to DC Comics, Inc.
  • First number of Skorpio’s Italian edition, by Eura publishing house.

April

  • April 12: Marvel publish the first issue of Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin's adaptation of Star Wars.
  • April 18: The first episode of Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas' Sam and Silo is published.[9][10]
  • April 30: The Judge Dredd storyline "The Robot Wars" begins in 2000 AD (running through June 18).
  • The first issue of Heavy Metal is published, the English-language version of Métal Hurlant.
  • G.I. Combat #201 and World's Finest Comics #244 change to the Dollar Comics format.[8] Backup features in World's Finest Comics include Green Arrow, Black Canary,[11] Wonder Woman, and the Vigilante.
  • Two-Gun Kid, with issue #136, is cancelled by Marvel.
  • Marvel Spotlight, with issue #33, is cancelled by Marvel.
  • The first issue of the underground comix magazine Rip Off Comix is published.
  • In Alter alter, the first chapter of Le straordinarie avventure di Penthotal (Penthotal's extraordinary adventure) by the underground cartoonist Andrea Pazienza is published. A surreal diary of a young cartoonist departed between his artistic vocation and the political consciousness, a transparent alter ego of the author. The series will run until 1981[12]

May

June

July

August

  • August 23: The Flemish comics magazine Patskrant, a weekly children's supplement of the newspapers Het Nieuwsblad, De Standaard, Het Handelsblad, De Gentenaar and De Landwacht, changes its name to the Stipkrant. It will run until September 2000.
  • With issue #94 (August /September cover date), DC revives Showcase, continuing the numbering from the 1956 series, which ceased publishing in 1970.
  • With issue #57, DC revives Aquaman, continuing the numbering from the 1962 series, which ceased publishing in 1971.
  • With issue #230, DC cancels Superboy (at this point titled Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes).
  • With issue #29, DC cancels DC Special (1968 series).
  • With issue #12 (August /September cover date), DC cancels Hercules Unbound.
  • With issue #12, Marvel cancels The Inhumans.
  • With issue #12, Marvel cancels the anthology title Marvel Presents.

September

  • September 13: The first episode of Jeff MacNelly's Shoe is published.
  • September 24: The first issue of the short-lived British comics magazine Plug is published. It will run until 1979.
  • The first episode of David A. Trampier's Wormy is published. It will run until 1988.
  • With issue #19, DC revives Mister Miracle (1971 series), which had gone on hiatus in 1974.
  • With issue #10, Marvel publishes the final issue of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
  • In this month's issue of Pif Gadget André Chéret kills off his character Rahan. The issue sells 1,5 million copies, but two issues later Rahan is already back from the dead.[19]

October

November

December

  • December 31: The final issue of the Flemish children's magazine Ohee is published, supplement of the newspaper Het Volk.[25]
  • Dave Sim's Cerebus the Aardvark makes its debut and is published independently under the name Aardvark-Vanaheim.
  • John Byrne and Terry Austin begin their acclaimed run as X-Men penciller/inker team with issue #108 of the title.
  • With issue #8 (December 1977/January 1978 cover date), DC cancels Isis.
  • In the story The Blackbeard's thaler, by Guido Martina and Massimo De Vita, Jeeves makes his debut.

Specific date unknown

Births

Deaths

January

February

March

  • March 6: Pop Hollinger, American comic book collector and retailer, dies at age 90. [39] [40]
  • March 20: Han Krug, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (Juffrouw Snater, Het Avontuur van Knor-Knor), dies at age 86.[41]
  • March 23: Ed Dobrotka, American comics artist (continued Superboy, Lois Lane, co-creator of the Toyman), dies at age 69.[42]
  • March 31: Alexey Komarov, Russian painter, sculptor, cartoonist, illustrator, poster artist and comics artist (Every Woman Should Know How To Raise A Child Properly), dies at age 97.[43]

April

May

  • May 25:
    • Christian Kittilsen, Norwegian illustrator and comics artist (Grane), dies at age 70.[46]
    • Frans Mandos, Dutch painter, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 67.[47]

June

  • June 3: Syd Nicholls, Australian comics artist (Fatty Finn), falls from his apartment balcony and dies at age 80.[48]
  • June 6: Joseph Musial, American comics writer (Flash Gordon), artist (continued The Katzenjammer Kids, assisted on Barney Google, Blondie, Bringing Up Father,...) and author (The Career Guide for Cartoonists), dies at age 72.[49]
  • June 10: Wood Cowan, American comics artist (worked on Vivian the Vamp, Them Were the Days, Mom 'n' Pop, Oh, Diana, Our Boarding House, Sissy), dies at age 90.[50]
  • June 16: Stan Cross, American-Australian comics artist (Wally and the Major, The Potts), dies at age 88.[51]

July

  • July 5: Theo Funke Küpper, Dutch comics artist (De Verstrooide Professor), dies at age 72.[52]
  • July 8: Roy Crane, American comics artist (Wash Tubbs, Captain Easy, Buz Sawyer), dies at age 75.[53]
  • July 9: Alfred Georges Pavis, French painter, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 91.[54]
  • Specific date unknown: Milt Stein, American animator and comics artist (Supermouse), commits suicide at age 56.[55]

August

  • August 1: Bernard van Vlijmen, Dutch painter, graphic artist, illustrator and comics artist (created occasional comics for Ons Eigen Tijdschrift), dies at age 81.[56]
  • Specific date unknown: August: Louis Cazeneuve, Argentine comics artist (co-creator of Red Raven), dies at age 68 or 69.[57]

September

  • September 5: Tatsuo Yoshida, Japanese manga artist and animator (Speed Racer), dies at age 45 from liver cancer.[58]
  • September 7: Alexis, French comics artist (Al Crane, Cinémastock, Superdupont, Le Transperceneige), dies at age 30 of a ruptured aneurysm.[59]
  • September 16: Rie Cramer, Dutch illustrator, novelist and comics artist (published text comics in Zonneschijn and Doe Mee), dies at age 89.[60]
  • September 29: Bob McKimson, American animator, illustrator and comics artist (Looney Tunes), dies at age 66 from a heart attack.[61]

October

  • October 5: Jotie T'Hooft, Belgian poet and comics artist (Jesus Superstar), commits suicide by a drug overdose at age 21.[62]
  • October 12: Antoon Heckenrath, Belgian comics artist (De Wonderlijke Reis van Jan Knap, In de Greep van de Octopus), dies at age 70.[63]
  • October 28:
    • Ratip Tahir Burak, Turkish comics artist and editorial cartoonist, dies at age 72 or 73.[64]
    • Miguel Mihura, Spanish playwright and comics artist, dies at age 72.[65]

November

December

  • December 11:
    • Giovanni Bissietta, A.K.A. Giuseppe Fontanelli, Italian painter, illustrator and comics artist (early unlicensed Italian comics based on Mickey Mouse), dies at age 66 or 67.[69]
    • Victor Weixler, Austrian illustrator and comic artist (Bobby, der Grosse Sportsmann), dies at age 94. [70]
  • December 15: John Verpoorten, American comics inker and Marvel Comics production manager, dies at age 37.[71]

Specific date unknown

  • Robert Baldwin, also known as Rupe, American comics artist and cartoonist (Freddy), dies at age 72 or 73.[72]
  • Alberto Cognigni, Argentine comics artist (Negrazón and Chaveta), dies at age 44 or 45.[73]
  • John Gee, American illustrator and comics artist (The Timbertoes), dies at age 81 or 82.[74]
  • Walter Hofmann, aka Von Waldl, German caricaturist and comics artist (worked for Nazi publications during World War II), dies at age 71 or 72.[75]
  • Moma Markovic, Serbian-Canadian comics artist (Stojadin, Rista Sportista), dies at age 74 or 75.[76]
  • Héctor Germán Oesterheld, Argentine journalist and comics writer (El Sargento Kirk, Ernie Pike, El Eternauta, Mort Cinder) mysteriously disappears, presumed arrested and murdered by soldiers of President Jorge Rafael Videla's regime.[77]
  • Jack Pamby, British comics artist, dies at age 68 or 69.[78]
  • Gottfried Spachholz, German comics artist (propaganda comics for the DDR magazine Berliner Zeitung), dies at age 70 or 71.[79]
  • Peter Sutherland, British comics artist (continued Alf Tupper), dies at age 55 or 56.[80]
  • Wu Yun, Chinese comics artist, dies at age 54 or 55.[81]

Exhibitions and shows

There were many TV shows based on comics in 1977, featuring Spider-Man, Captain America, Doctor Strange, and Wonder Woman.

Conventions

Awards

Eagle Awards

Presented in 1978 for comics published in 1977:

First issues by title

DC Comics

Black Lightning

Release: April. Writer: Tony Isabella. Artist: Trevor Von Eeden.

DC Special Series: catch-all series primarily for one-shots of different formats, released on an irregular schedule

Release: September. Editor: Paul Levitz.

Jonah Hex

Release: March/April. Writer: Michael Fleisher. Artist: José Luis García-López.

Men of War

Release: August. Editor: Paul Levitz.

Shade, the Changing Man

Release: June/July. Writers: Steve Ditko and Michael Fleisher. Artist: Steve Ditko.

Star Hunters

Release: October /November Writer: David Michelinie. Artists: Don Newton and Bob Layton.

Marvel Comics

Black Panther

Release: January. Writer/Artist: Jack Kirby.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Release: August. Writer: Doug Moench. Artists: Herb Trimpe and Jim Mooney.

John Carter, Warlord of Mars

Release: June. Writer: Marv Wolfman. Artists: Gil Kane and Dave Cockrum.

Human Fly

Release: September. Writer: Bill Mantlo. Artists: Lee Elias.

Logan's Run

Release: January. Writer: Gerry Conway. Artists: George Pérez and Klaus Janson.

Marvel Super Action

Release: May. Reprints classic Captain America stories.

Marvel Super Special

Premiere issues features the rock band Kiss in a 40-page fictional adventure written by Steve Gerber, penciled by Alan Weiss, John Buscema, Rich Buckler, and Sal Buscema.

The Rampaging Hulk

Release: January by Curtis Magazines. Editor: John Warner.

Star Wars

Release: July. Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Howard Chaykin.

What If

Release: February. Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas.

Independent publishers

2000 AD

Release: February 26 by IPC Media. Editor: Tharg the Mighty.

Cerebus the Aardvark

Release: December by Aardvark-Vanaheim. Writer/Artist: Dave Sim.

Heavy Metal

Release: April by HM Communications, Inc. Editor: Sean Kelly and Valerie Marchant.

La Compagnia della Forca

Writer & Artist: Magnus

Rip Off Comix

Release: April by Rip Off Press.

Hakusensha

Bessatsu Hana to Yume

Release: July

Initial appearance by character name

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

Other titles

References

  1. ^ Saffel, Steve (2007). "An Adventure Each Day". Spider-Man the Icon: The Life and Times of a Pop Culture Phenomenon. Titan Books. p. 116. ISBN 978-1-84576-324-4. On Monday January 3, 1977, The Amazing Spider-Man comic strip made its debut in newspapers nationwide, reuniting writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita.
  2. ^ Spider-Man: Newspaper Strips, Volume 1, Stan Lee and John Romita, Collection Editor Mark D. Beazley, First printing 2009, ISBN 978-0-7851-3793-1, published by Marvel Publishing Inc.
  3. ^ "Kamagurka". lambiek.net. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Merho". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Un peu d'histoire… – Thorgal". Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Spirou, the modern period (1970–present)". www.lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Phil Collins". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Romero, Max (July 2012). "I'll Buy That For a Dollar! DC Comics' Dollar Comics". Back Issue! (57). TwoMorrows Publishing: 39–41.
  9. ^ "Mort Walker". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Jerry Dumas". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  11. ^ Kingman, Jim (May 2013). "The Ballad of Ollie and Dinah". Back Issue! (64). TwoMorrows Publishing: 10–21.
  12. ^ "Le straordinarie avventure di Pentothal di Andrea Pazienza". www.slumberland.it. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
  13. ^ "Gummi/De Balloen". www.lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  14. ^ "David Sutherland". lambiek.net. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  15. ^ 1/2-page ad for the fair, The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom #182 (May 13, 1977).
  16. ^ a b Detroit Free Press (May 26, 1977).
  17. ^ "Hergé rencontre Andy Warhol". SONUMA. Retrieved May 20, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "Peter Pontiac". lambiek.net. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
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  20. ^ "The Features – Mustapha Million". cheekyweekly.blogspot.be. 28 August 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  21. ^ "Don Markstein's Toonopedia: Agatha Crumm". www.toonopedia.com. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  22. ^ "Kamagurka". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  23. ^ "Al Capp". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  24. ^ "Bob de Moor". lambiek.net. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  25. ^ KOUSEMAKER, Kees en Evelien, "Wordt Vervolgd- Stripleksikon der Lage Landen", Uitgeverij Het Spectrum, Utrecht, Antwerpen, 1979, page 183.
  26. ^ "Matt Groening". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  27. ^ "Gary Panter". lambiek.net. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  28. ^ Het Stripschap – De Stripschapprijs
  29. ^ "Alfredo Chiappori". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Chuck Jones". lambiek.net. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  31. ^ Article about Saroukhan in Caripedia Archived February 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ "Art and Culture Articles – Saroukhan – The Art of Cartoons and Caricatures – Amazines.com Article Search Engine". www.amazines.com. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  33. ^ "Bob Brown". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  34. ^ "James Childress". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  35. ^ "John Rosenberger". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  36. ^ "Ben Batsford". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  37. ^ "Frank Engli". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  38. ^ "Irving Spector". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  39. ^ Jean-Paul Gabilliet (2010). Of comics and men: a cultural history of American comic books. University Press of Mississippi. p. 260. ISBN 978-1-60473-267-2. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  40. ^ "The Pop Hollinger Story". Overstreet's Comic Book Price Guide (reprint). Archived from the original on July 20, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  41. ^ "Han Krug". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  42. ^ "Ed Dobrotka". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  43. ^ "Alexey Komarov". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  44. ^ "Paul Gustafson". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  45. ^ "Jean Cézard". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  46. ^ "Christian Kittilsen".
  47. ^ "Frans Mandos".
  48. ^ "Sydney Wentworth Nicholls". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  49. ^ "Joseph Musial". lambiek.net. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  50. ^ "Wood Cowan". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  51. ^ "Stan Cross". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  52. ^ "Theo Funke Küpper". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  53. ^ "Roy Crane". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  54. ^ "Georges Pavis". lambiek.net. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  55. ^ "Milt Stein". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  56. ^ "Bernard van Vlijmen". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  57. ^ "Luis Cazeneuve". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  58. ^ "Tatsuo Yoshida". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  59. ^ "Alexis". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  60. ^ "Rie Cramer". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  61. ^ "Bob McKimson". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  62. ^ "Jotie T'Hooft". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  63. ^ "Antoon Herckenrath". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  64. ^ "Ratip Tahir Burak". lambiek.net. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  65. ^ "Miguel Mihura". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  66. ^ "Mingo".
  67. ^ "René Goscinny". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  68. ^ "Nikol Dimitriadis". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  69. ^ "Giovanni Bissietta". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  70. ^ "John Verpoorten". lambiek.net. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  71. ^ "John Verpoorten". lambiek.net. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  72. ^ "Rupe". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  73. ^ "Alberto Cognigni". lambiek.net.
  74. ^ "John Gee". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  75. ^ "Walter Hofmann". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  76. ^ "Moma Markovic". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  77. ^ "Hector German Oesterheld". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  78. ^ "Jack Pamby". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  79. ^ "Gottfried Spachholz". lambiek.net. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  80. ^ "Peter Sutherland". lambiek.net. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  81. ^ "Wu Yun". lambiek.net. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
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  83. ^ "Swords and Scrolls," Savage Sword of Conan vol. 1, #27 (Mar. 1978).
  84. ^ Sallis, Ed. "Fan-Things," Bemusing Magazine #13 (May 1977), p. 14.
  85. ^ Comic Mart Liverpool advertisement, Bemusing Magazine #11 (Nov. 1976), p. 15.
  86. ^ Sarno, Joe. "The Captain's Veranda by Joe Sarno," C.B. Weekly (Comic Book Collectors Bulletin), vol. 3, #91 (Sept. 26, 2001). Archived at InterFan.org.
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  88. ^ Burton, Richard "'The Eagles' are launched!" in Burton (ed.) Comic Media News #30 (Mar–Apr 1977), p. 11
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  90. ^ Robert, Charlie. "The Frazetta 1977 Exhibit," FritzFrazetta.com (September 17, 2011).
  91. ^ Comic Mart Liverpool advertisement, BEM #15 (Sept. 1977), p. 6.
  92. ^ "Comic Convention," The Berkshire Eagle (October 13, 1977), p. 8
  93. ^ Cummings, Judith. "Comic Book Collectors Take Funnies Seriously," New York Times (Nov. 26, 1977).
  94. ^ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, eds. (2010). "1970s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. DC Super Stars #17 (November–December 1977) While writer Paul Levitz and artist Joe Staton introduced the Huntress to the JSA in this month's All Star Comics #69, they concurrently shaped her origin in DC Super Stars.
  95. ^ DC Super Stars #17 (November–December 1977) at the Grand Comics Database "Origin and first appearance of the Helena Wayne Huntress, who simultaneously first appears in this issue and All-Star Comics (DC, 1976 series) #69, both released August 24, 1977."
  96. ^ "Micromino, poetico fumetto realizzato da Toni Pagot per Il Giornalino". www.slumberland.it. Retrieved 2019-06-05.