1958 in comics

Publications and events

January

• January 20': The first episode of Francisco Ibáñez Talavera's Mortadelo y Filemón is published.

  February

• February 17: Johnny Hart's B.C. makes its debut.

  March

• March 2: The final episode of Stanley Link's Tiny Tim is published.
• March 13: The first episode of Marcel Remacle's Le Vieux Nick et Barbe-Noire is published in Spirou.
• March 15: The first episode of Ken Reid's Jonah is published in The Beano.
• The first issue of the American satirical magazine Cracked is published. Mascot Sylvester P. Smythe appears on the front cover of its first issue. The magazine will run until February 2007.
• Uncle Scrooge #21 — "The Money Well," by Carl Barks
• In the 253th issue of Detective Comics the recurring villains Terrible Trio make their debut.
• 'Kali's Nail' by Romano Scarpa – detective story with Mickey Mouse, a masterpiece of the Italian Disney comics.

  April

• April 2: René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo's Oumpah-pah makes its debut in Tintin.
• April 27: Stan Lynde's Rick O'Shay makes its debut. It runs until 8 March 1981.
• In the 247th issue of Adventure Comics the Legion of Super-Heroes make their debut.

  May

• May 26: The first episode of Jack Cole's Betsy and Me is published. After Cole's suicide on 13 August the series will be continued by Dwight Parks until 27 December.
• The final issue of Justice Traps the Guilty is published.
• The final issue of This Magazine is Haunted is published.

  June

• June 15: The final episode of Cliff Sterrett's Polly and Her Pals appears in the papers.
• Action Comics #241 — "The Super-Key to Fort Superman", first appearance of Superman's Fortress of Solitude
• Uncle Scrooge #22 — "The Golden River," by Carl Barks
• Dottor Paperus by Luciano Bottaro – Donald Duck in a parody of Goethe’s Doctor Faust.

  July

• July 7: The first episode of Francisco Ibáñez Talavera's La familia Trapisonda is published.
• In issue #242 of Action Comics one of Superman's arch enemies Brainiac makes his debut.
• 'Walt Disney's Comics and Stories' # 214 - "Fearsome flowers" by Carl Barks.
• The Red Sea Sharks by Hergè

  August

• August 22: Belgian comics artist Pom suffers a nervous breakdown, which lets his latest Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber story to be interrupted in the papers. Gaston Ebinger therefore makes a filler comic titled Intermezzo voor Detectives, which will run until 6 September, after which Pom continues his Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber story again.
• August 27: Comics artist Bob Wood is arrested for manslaughter of his girlfriend.
• Four Color Comics #946 — The Big Country, by Paul S. Newman and Bob Correa
• In the 123th issue of Superman Supergirl makes her debut.

  September

• September 8: Jack Berill, Neal Rubin and Rod Whigham's Gil Thorp makes its debut.
• September 26: The first episode of Jan-Dirk van Exter's Brommy & Tommy is published. This comics series will run in newspapers until 1978.
• September: Dave Wood and Jack Kirby's Sky Masters makes their debut.
• Superman #124 — the first DC title with a letters column as a regular feature beginning with this issue.
• Uncle Scrooge #27 — "The Money Champ," by Carl Barks
• Bob White's Cosmo the Merry Martian makes its debut and will run until October 1959.
• The first issue of the British comics magazine War Picture Library is published. It will run until December 1984.

  October

• October 12: The final episode of Honey and Hank, aka Elsworth by Bernard Segal, aka Seeg, is published.
• October 20: Víctor Mora's El Jabato makes its debut.
• October 23: In the Johan and Peewit story The Flute with Six Holes by Peyo The Smurfs make their debut, as well as their leader Papa Smurf. They eventually become a successful spin-off comic.
• The final issue of Harvey Kurtzman's satirical magazine Humbug is published.
• The Cisco Kid, with issue #41, cancelled by Dell.
• In the 101st issue of Wonder Woman the Time Trapper makes his debut.
• Paperin Meschino – Donald Duck in a parody of Andrea Da Barberino’s Il Guerin Meschino.

  November

• November 17: The first episode of Frank O'Neal's Short Ribs is published.
• In the British comics magazine The Beezer Tom Bannister's Colonel Blink makes his debut.
• Adam Strange makes his debut in the 17th issue of Showcase.

  December

• December 2: Comics artist Bob Wood is convicted to three years in prison for manslaughter of his girlfriend.
• In the 73rd issue of Forbidden Worlds Richard E. Hughes and Ogden Whitney's Herbie Popnecker makes his debut.
• The first issue of Strange Worlds is published and will run until August 1959.
• The first issue of the British comics magazine Bunty is published, which will run until 2001.

  Specific date unknown

• Hui Guan-man's Uncle Choi is first published.
• Philip Mendoza's Gulliver Guinea-Pig debuts and will run until 1965.
• Hugh Morren's The Smasher makes its debut.
• Irving Phillips's The Strange World of Mr. Mum makes its debut. It will run until 1974.
• Jürgen Kieser creates Fix und Fax, which will run until 1987.
• Foundation of publishers Major Publications and I. W. Publications.
• Tibet's Le Club de Peur-de-Rien makes its debut.

  Deaths

January

• January 2: Harry G. Peter, American comics artist, passes away at age 76 or 77.
• January 11: Frank Willard, American comics artist, dies at age 64.
• January 23: Ilia Beshkov, Bulgarian comics artist and painter, dies at age 56.

  February

• February 17:
• * Robert Moore Brinkerhoff, American comics artist, dies at age 77.
• * Bob Satterfield, aka Sat, American comics artist, dies at age 82.

  April

• April 26: Joan Collette, Dutch graphic artist, designer, illustrator, painter and comics artist, dies at age 59.

  May

• May 1: Till Goodan, American comics artist, dies at age 61 or 62 from a heart attack while riding his horse.
• May 12: Frank Minnitt, British comics artist, dies at age 63.
• May 28: Charlie Schmidt, American comics artist, passes away at age 71.

  June

• June 7: Joe Maneely, American comics artist, dies in a railroad accident at age 32.

  August

• August 8: J.P. McEvoy, American comics writer,, dies at age 61.
• August 13: Jack Cole, American comics artist commits suicide at age 43.

  September

• September 18: Olaf Gulbransson, Norwegian-German cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 86.
• September 20: Aleksander Dobrinov, Bulgarian caricaturist, cartoonist and comics artist, passes away at age 60.

  October

• October 4: Jack King, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 72.
• October 26: Clare Victor Dwiggins, also known as Dwig, American comics artist, dies at age 74.

  December

• December 8: Andres C. Audiffred, Mexican comics artist, dies at age 63.

  Specific date unknown

• Alex Akerbladh, Swedish-British comics artist, dies at age 71 or 72.
• Basil Blackaller, British comics artist, dies at age 36 or 37.
• S.J. Cash, British comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 73 or 74.
• Charles Genge, British comics artist, dies at age 83 or 84.

  First issues by title

• Bunty
• Il piccolo Ranger
• Cosmo the Merry Martian
• Life with Archie
• Un ragazzo nel Far West – Sergio Bonelli's debut as writer.
• Tex Gigante
• Strange Worlds
• Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
• Tell It to the Marines Super #1 —
• Uncle Choi

  Initial appearance by character name

DC Comics

• Adam Strange in Showcase #17, created by Julius Schwartz and Murphy Anderson - DC Comics
• *Sardath in Showcase #17, created by Julius Schwartz and Murphy Anderson - DC Comics
• Tlano in Batman #113, created by France Herron and Dick Sprang - DC Comics
• Bizarro in Superboy #68, created by Otto Binder and George Papp - DC Comics
• Brainiac in Action Comics #242, created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino - DC Comics
• Calendar Man in Detective Comics #259, created by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff - DC Comics
• Doctor Alchemy in Showcase #13, created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino - DC Comics
• Doctor Double X in Detective Comics #261
• False-Face in Batman #113 , created by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff - DC Comics
• Legion of Super-Heroes in Adventure Comics #247, created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino - DC Comics
• *Cosmic Boy
• *Lightining Lad
• *Saturn Girl
• Mister Element in Showcase #13
• Orana in Wonder Woman #250, created by Jack C. Harris - DC Comics
• Rainbow Archer in Adventure Comics #246, created by France Herron and George Papp - DC Comics
• Space Ranger in Showcase #15, created by Edmond Hamilton, Gardner Fox and Bob Brown - DC Comics
• Terrible Trio in Detective Comics'' #253, created by Dave Wood and Sheldon Moldoff - DC Comics

  Other publishers

• Cosmo the Merry Martian in Cosmo the Merry Martian #1
• Mort & Phil in Pulgarcito #1394, January
• Herbie Popnecker in Forbidden Worlds #73
• Papa Smurf in Johan and Peewit: "La Flûte à six trous"
• The Smurfs in Johan and Peewit: "La Flûte à six trous"
• Gionni Galassia by Benito Jacovitti in Il giorno dei ragazzi – a boy passionate about astronomy, protagonist of clouse encounters and trips in the space.
• Sherlock Time by Héctor Oesterheld and Alberto Breccia, in 'Hora Cero Extra' – investigator of supernatural and time traveller.