1974 in comics

Events and publications

Year overall

• From May to September, Marvel debuts their Giant-Size series, mostly double- or triple-length comics featuring their most popular characters. Many of the Giant-Size books are one-shots; none of the ongoing titles last more than six issues.
• Marvel Fireside Books debuts with Origins of Marvel Comics.
• Tut le Blanc's comic strip An Altar Boy Named Speck concludes

  January

• January 1: on Le journal de Tintin, first chapter of Des filles et des moteurs, by Jean Graton; the story sees the wedding of Michel Vaillant and Francoise Latour.
• January 25–27: Francis Groux, Jean Mardikian, Claude Moliterni organize the first edition of the Angoulême International Comics Festival in Angoulême, France.
• The Demon, with issue #16, is cancelled by DC.
• Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze, with issue #8, is cancelled by Marvel.
• In Italy, first issue of Alter linus, supplement of Linus, dedicated to the adventure comics; of the erotic series Maghella and of the cartoon for children Pinocchio.
• On the Italian magazine Linus, first chapter of Corto Maltese in Siberia, by Hugo Pratt; the publication of the story, one of the longest and most complex adventures of the hero, is fulfilled only in July 1977.
• Chinook, by Derib, first album of Buddy Longway
• Le prince du Nil, by Jacques Martin

  February

• February 21: The final episode of Machiko Hasegawa's Sazae-san is published.
• February 27: The Flemish comics magazine Pats, a weekly children's supplement of the newspapers Het Nieuwsblad, De Standaard, Het Handelsblad, De Gentenaar and De Landwacht, changes its name to the Patskrant. It will run until 23 August 1977, after which its becomes the Stipkrant.
• Adventure Comics #431: Spectre feature begins by writer Michael Fleisher and artist Jim Aparo. It runs through issue #440.
• Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #200: "The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger" by Cary Bates and Dave Cockrum.
• With issue #18, DC Comics' Mister Miracle goes on hiatus.
• Hero for Hire, with issue #17, changes its name to Power Man.
• Special Marvel Edition, with issue #16, is cancelled by Marvel; its numbering continues with Master of Kung Fu.
• The Punisher makes his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129.

  March

• The first issue of the Lucky Luke monthly magazine is published, which will run until February 1975.
• Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion, with issue #15, cancelled by DC.
• Prez, with issue #4, cancelled by DC.
• The first strips of Trino by Altan, an irreverent and even profane retelling of the Genesis creation narrative, appear on Linus.

  April

• The last issue of the Dutch underground magazine Aloha is published.
• With issue #164, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen changes its name and format to The Superman Family.
• Master of Kung Fu debuts with issue #17, continuing the numbering of Special Marvel Edition.
• With issue #6, Chilling Adventures in Sorcery changes its name to Red Circle Sorcery.

  May

• May 19: Paperino ai mondiali, published by Mondadori for the 1974 FIFA World cup, containing two stories: Paperino ai mondiali di calcio, by Romano Scarpa, and Paperino calciatore, by Gian Giacomo Dalmasso and Marco Rota.
• Marvel Comics raises the price of its typical comic book from 20 cents to 25 cents, keeping the page-count at 36.

  June

• June 16: on Topolino, Mickey Kid and Goofy Six-Shots, by Guido Martina and Giovan Battista Carpi.
• Seaboard Periodicals formed by former Marvel Comics publisher Martin Goodman to publish comics under the Atlas Comics banner.
• On Italy, first issue of Corriere della paura, by Editoriale Corno, anthological magazine of the Marvel horror comics.

  July

• July 11: on Le monde, first chapter of Asterix and Casear’s gift, by Goscinny and Uderzo.
• Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, with issue #120, is cancelled by Marvel.
• The Amazing World of DC Comics #1, DC's in-house fanzine
• On Italy, firs issue of the erotic series Coxeman, lasted only two numbers.

  August

• August 7: on Le journal de Tintin, first chapter of Champion du monde, by Jean Graton.
• Roy Thomas steps down as Marvel Comics' editor-in-chief, succeeded by Len Wein and Marv Wolfman.
• Giant-Size Super-Stars, with issue #2, changes its name to Giant-Size Fantastic Four.
• Worlds Unknown, with issue #8, is cancelled by Marvel.

  September

• Sub-Mariner, with issue #72, is cancelled by Marvel.
• Giant-Size Chillers, with issue #2, changes its name to Giant-Size Dracula.
• Supergirl, with issue #10, is cancelled by DC.
• , with issue #30, is cancelled by Monthly Shōnen Magazine.
• Daim Press begins to publish I protagonisti, a collection of graphic novels, written and drawn by Rino Albertarelli, about the true lives of the American Frontier's heroes; the first is George Armstrong Custer. The series, very appreciated also for its historical accuracy, is interrupted after less than a year by the author’s death.

  October

• Weird Worlds, with issue #10, is cancelled by DC.
• Giant-Size Creatures, with issue #2, changes its name to Giant-Size Werewolf.
• Monsters on the Prowl, with issue #30, is cancelled by Marvel.
• Wolverine makes his first appearance in The Incredible Hulk #180.
• In Batman #258 the psychiatric hospital Arkham Asylum makes its first appearance.
• In the magazine Lucky Luke, first chapter of Le cavalier blanc,, by Goscinny and Morris.

  December

• The first issue of the French adult comics magazine Métal Hurlant is published by Les Humanoïdes Associés. It will run until 1987.

  Specific date unknown

• The Dutch comics appreciation society Het Stripschap establishes their annual Stripschapprijs, the most important Dutch comics award. The first winner is publishing company Skarabee.
• The final issue of the Flemish comics magazine/fanzine CISO-Magazine is published by Danny De Laet. It changes its name into Stripgids and receive a new chief editor, Jan Smet. Under its new name it will continue until 1985.
• Tim Wallace draws an underground comic strip named Ka-Blam, which features a man whose head explodes after smoking a joint.
• The Costa Rican artist Fernando Zeledón Guzmán creates the satirical comic strip La Semana en Serio in the communist magazine Adelante. It will run until 1991.

  Deaths

January

• January 5: Haaken Christensen, Norwegian comics artist, dies at age 87.
• January 15: Richard E. Hughes, American comics writer and editor, passes away at age 74.
• January 17: Arthur Radebaugh, American illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 67.
• January 18: Bill Finger, American comics writer and artist, dies at age 59.

  February

• February 8: Franco Caprioli, Italian comics artist, dies at age 61.
• February 12: José Robledano, Spanish comics artist, dies at age 89.
• February 16: Alfred Mazure, Dutch comics artist and writer, film director and novelist, passes away at the age of 59.

  March

• March 4: Paul Gordeaux, French journalist, historian, playwright, novelist, comedian and comics writer, dies at age 82.
• March 21: Eric Parker, British comics artist and illustrator, passes away at age 76.

  April

• April 22: Tjalie Robinson, Dutch comics artist, dies at age 63.
• April 27: Jean Bernard-Aldebert, French caricaturist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 64.

  May

• May 3: Ray Hoppman, American comics artist, dies at age 87.
• May: Gene Bilbrew, American cartoonist and fetish artist, dies at age 50.

  June

• June 22: Alain Saint-Ogan, French comics artist, passes away at the age of 78.
• Specific date unknown: William St. John Glenn, British comics artist, dies at age 69.

  July

• July 7:
• * Antonio Sciotti, Italian comics artist, dies at age 49.
• * Dave Wood, American comics writer, dies at age 47.
• July 9: Leo Dorfman, American comics writer, dies at age 60.
• July 26: Gene Byrnes, American comics artist, dies of a heart ailment at age 84.

  August

• August 29: Luis Medrano, Argentine journalist and comics artist, dies at age 59.

  September

• September 5: James Swinnerton, American comics artist and painter, dies at age 98.
• September 9: Manuel Urda Marín, Spanish comics artist and animator, passes away at age 86.
• September 18: Gérard Alexandre, French comics artist, dies at age 60.
• September 21: Paul Robinson, American comics artist, dies at age 76.

  October

• October 13: Otto Binder, American comics writer, dies at age 63.

  November

• November 9: Charles W. Winter, American comics artist, dies at age 56.

  December

• December 15: Harry Hershfield, American humorist, radio comedian and comics artist, dies at age 89.
• December 22: Adrian Dingle, Welsh-Canadian painter and comics artist, dies at age 62.
• December 24: Everett M. "Busy" Arnold, American comics publisher, dies at age 75.
• Specific date unknown: D. C. Eyles, British illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 72.

  Specific date unknown

• Bertie Brown, British comics artist, dies at age 86 or 87.
• Germán Butze, Mexican comics artist dies at age 61 or 62.
• Vernon Miller, Canadian comics artist, dies at age 62.
• Herbert Ruschke, German illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 59 or 60.

  Conventions

• Creation Con '74
• January: Angoulême International Comics Festival — first iteration of this festival; 10,000 attendees
• January 25–27: Cosmicon III — official guests include James Warren, Carmine Infantino, Stan Lee, P. J. O'Rourke, Michael Eury, Harvey Kurtzman, Sam Gross, Vaughn Bodē, Bernie Wrightson, Jeff Jones, Howard Chaykin, Neal Adams, Steve Skeates, and Steve Englehart
• March 2: Oak Con II — produced by Steve Sundahl
• April 17–20: Berkeleycon 74, — second iteration, organized by local retailer Comics & Comix; guests include Mike Friedrich, Steve Englehart, Frank Brunner, Orvy Jundis, Vaughn Bodē, Jaxon, Rick Griffin, Greg Irons, and Victor Moscoso
• April 27: Comic Mart
• Summer: Nostalgia '74, 3rd Annual Chicago Comic and Nostalgia Convention — produced by Nancy Warner
• June 20–23: Houstoncon '74 — merged with Star Trek '74 and produced by Earl Blair, Jr. and G. B. Love ; guests include Walter Koenig, Al Williamson, Dan Adkins, Don Newton, Kenneth Smith, Fred Fredericks, Jock Mahoney, Kirk Alyn, Tom Steele, William Benedict, and stuntman Dave Sharpe
• July 4–8: Comic Art Convention — guests include Bob Kane and Marie Severin
• July 21–22: Comicon '74 — organized by Rob Barrow; guests include Denis Gifford; subtitled "Comic Mart Summer Special 1974"
• July 31–August 5: San Diego Comic-Con — official guests: Majel Barrett, Milton Caniff, Frank Capra, Chuck Jones, Walter Koenig, Russ Manning, Russell Myers, Charles M. Schulz, Larry "Seymour" Vincent
• September: OrlandoCon — first edition of the show started by regional chairman of the National Cartoonists Society Jim Ivey; guests include C. C. Beck, Roy Crane, Hal Foster, Ron Goulart,, Les Turner, Ralph Dunagin, Bill Crooks, Harold McCauley, Ralph Dunagin, "Scorchy Smith" artist Edmund Good, and Disney artist Ralph Kent
• October 10–13: Detroit Triple Fan Fair — 10th edition of the fair; official guests include Carmine Infantino, Stan Lee, James Warren, Jim Steranko, Michael Kaluta, and Barry Windsor-Smith; other guests include Alan Ormsby, Rich Buckler, Keith Pollard, and Arvell Jones; program cover by Will Eisner
• November: Famous Monsters Convention — first annual show, co-produced by Phil Seuling; guests include Forrest J Ackerman, Verne Langdon, Catherine Lorre, Cal Floyd, and Sam Sherman

  Awards

Comic Fan Art Awards

• Favorite Writer: Roy Thomas
• Favorite Penciller: Jim Starlin
• Favorite Inker: Tom Palmer
• Favorite Editor: Roy Thomas
• Favorite Comic Book: E-Man
• Favorite Fanzine: The Comic Reader

  [Shazam Awards]

• Best Continuing Feature: Conan the Barbarian
• Best Individual Story: "Götterdämmerung", in Detective Comics #443
• Best Individual Short Story : "Cathedral Perilous" by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson, Detective Comics #441
• Best Writer : Archie Goodwin
• Best Penciller : John Buscema
• Best Inker : Dick Giordano
• Best Humor Story: "Kaspar the Dead Baby" Crazy #8
• Best Writer : Steve Skeates
• Best Penciller : Marie Severin
• Best Inker : Ralph Reese
• Best Letterer: John Costanza
• Best Colorist: Tatjana Wood
• Outstanding New Talent: Craig Russell
• Superior Achievement by an Individual: Roy Thomas
• Hall of Fame: Jack Kirby

  First issues by title

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

Independent titles and manga

Initial appearance by character name

DC Comics

• Anthony Lupus, in Batman #255
• Harvey Bullock, in Detective Comics #441
• Global Peace Agency, in OMAC #1
• Inspector William Henderson, in Action Comics #440
• Libra, in Justice League of America #111
• OMAC, in OMAC #1
• Quentin Turnbull, in Weird Western Tales #22
• Rima, in Rima the Jungle Girl #1
• Sandman, in Sandman #1
• Vartox, in Superman #281

  Marvel Comics

• Allatou, in Marvel Spotlight #18
• Alpha the Ultimate Mutant, in Defenders #15
• Aries, in The Avengers #120
• Baron Macabre, in Jungle Action #9
• Abe Brown, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1
• Deathlok, in Astonishing Tales #25
• Bob Diamond, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1
• Doctor Sun, in Tomb of Dracula #16
• Dragon Lord, in Marvel Premiere #15
• Equinox, in Marvel Team-Up #23
• Foolkiller, in Man-Thing #3
• Gabriel the Devil Hunter, in Haunt of Horror #2
• Grizzly, in The Amazing Spider-Man #139
• Hammer and Anvil, in The Incredible Hulk #182
• Iron Fist, in Marvel Premiere #15
• Hannibal King, in The Tomb of Dracula #25
• Lilith, in Giant-Size Chillers featuring Curse of Dracula #1
• Malice, in Jungle Action vol. 2, #8
• Nefarius, in Captain America #169
• Nitro, in Captain Marvel #34
• Punisher, in The Amazing Spider-Man #129
• Roxxon Energy Corporation, in Captain America #180
• Silver Samurai, in Daredevil #111
• Lin Sun, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1
• Colleen Wing, in Marvel Premiere #19
• Wolverine, in The Incredible Hulk #180
• Wrecking Crew, in Defenders #17
• * Bulldozer
• * Piledriver
• * Thunderball
• Y'Garon, in Giant-Size Dracula #2

  Independent titles

• Tara Fremont, in Tara on the Dark Continent
• Yor the hunter, by Juan Zanotto and Ray Collins, on Skorpio.
• Jonathan Cartland, trapper similar to Jeremiah Johnson, by Michel Blanc-Dumont, on Lucky Luke.
• Yves Sanclair, jet pilot, by Claude Moliterni and Patrice Serres, on Phenix.
• Johnny Focus, press photographer and adventurer, by Attillio Micheluzzi, on Corriere dei Ragazzi
• Mickey the Kid and Six-Shoot Goofy, two bounty-hunters in the Far West, ancestors of Mickey and Goofy, by Guido Martina, on Topolino.