1968 in comics
Notable events of 1968 in comics.
Publications and events
January
January 6: The first issue of the Dutch children's magazine Bobo is published, which introduces the title comic Bobo the Rabbit, drawn by Sergio Cavina.January 11: The first episode of Marcel Gotlib's Rubrique-à-Brac is printed in Pilote.January 20: Lo Hartog van Banda and Dick Matena' De Argonautjes debuts in Pep. It will run until 1973.Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #80, Lois Lane's fashions were updated to a then-more contemporary lookFebruary
February 10: The British comics magazines Fantastic and Terrific merge into Smash!.February 10: In Tintin, the first chapter of the Ric Hochet story Alias Ric Hochet, by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet is printed.February 15: In Pilote, the first chapter of Asterix at the Olympic Games by Goscinny and Uderzo is serialized.Tales of the Unexpected, with issue #105, changes its name to The Unexpected Zap Comix #1 by R. Crumb: published by Charles Plymell and Don Donahue/Apex Novelties; begins the underground comix movement. In the first issue Crumb's iconic Keep on Truckin' makes its debut.March
March 11: The first episode of Mort Walker's Boner's Ark is published. It will run until 2000.March 12: In Tintin, the first chapter of the Bruno Brazil story Le Requin qui mourut deux fois by Greg and William Vance is published.March 21: In Quino's Mafalda her brother Guille is born.March 23: In Corriere dei Piccoli, Zorry Kid by Benito Jacovitti makes its debut.Showcase #73, Writer-artist Steve Ditko arrives at DC and creates the Creeper with scripter Don Segall- Max Bunker and Magnus' Maxmagnus makes its debut.
April
April 4: In Pilote, the first chapter of the Lucky Luke story Dalton City, by Goscinny and Morris appears in print.April 14: John Miles starts publishing his comic strip Perkins, which will run until 1980.April 16: Dupa's Cubitus makes his debut in Tintin.- The Miracle Machine introduced in Adventure Comics #367 Tales of Suspense, with issue #100, changes its name to Captain America. Tales to Astonish, with issue #102, changes its name to The Incredible Hulk.
- Dick Giordano hired as an editor at DC Comics ; Giordano brings with him some of the creators he had nurtured at Charlton, including writer Dennis O'Neil.
May
May 14: In Le journal de Tintin, the first chapter of the Michel Vaillant story Le Fantôme des 24 heures by Jean Graton appears in print.May 17: A theme park built around the comic strip Li'l Abner opens, Dogpatch USA. It's located in Arkansas between the cities of Harrison and Jasper and will last until 1993.- Gilbert Shelton's Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers makes its debut in the underground newspaper Rag.
- The first issue of the underground comics magazine Yellow Dog is published. It will run until 1973.
- The storyline "Mordru the Merciless", by Jim Shooter, Curt Swan, and Jack Abel, begins in Adventure Comics #369. House of Mystery, with issue #174, returns to its overt horror comics roots. New editor Joe Orlando challenges the Comics Code Authority with a reprint issue of old horror/suspense stories.World's Finest Comics #175, "The Superman-Batman Revenge Squads" marks Neal Adams's first work on a Batman story.
- The first run of Strange Tales ends. It will be revived in September 1973.
- Jean Van Hamme and Paul Cuvelier release their erotic graphic novel Epoxy.
June
June 18: The last issue of Byron Aptosoglou's Mikrós Íros is published.- Wally Wood's Sally Forth makes her debut in Military News.Strange Tales, with issue #169, changes its name to Doctor Strange..
- Steve Ditko and Steve Skeates' Hawk and Dove make their debut.
- The American comics magazine Four Color is terminated.His Name Is... Savage by Gil Kane and Robert Franklin, one of the first American graphic novels.
July
July 11 : In the magazine Pilote, the first chapter of the Blueberry story General Tête jaune by Jean-Michel Charlier and Jean Giraud is printed. It ends the narrative saga about the "iron horse".July 25 : In Pilote, the first chapter of the Valérian and Laureline story The City of Shifting Waters, by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mezieres is published.July 31: Franklin makes his debut in Charles M. Schulz' Peanuts.- Spain Rodriguez's Trashman makes its debut.
- Canadian comics store owner George Henderson of Memory Lane in Toronto organizes the first Canadian comic book convention the Triple Fan Fair, which also celebrates science fiction and classic cinema.
Summer
- In the summer, the first issue of the influential underground comix magazine Bijou Funnies is published, which marks the debut of Jay Lynch's Nard 'n' Pat and Skip Williamson's Snappy Sammy Smoot.
August
August 13 : In Le journal de Tintin, the first chapter of the Ric Hochet storyLes Cinq Revenants, by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet is printed.August 29: Raoul Cauvin and Louis Salvérius's comic strip Les Tuniques Bleues makes its debut in Spirou.August 31: In David Law's Dennis the Menace and Gnasher Dennis' dog Gnasher makes his debut.- The Legion Academy introduced in Adventure Comics #371
- Robert Crumb's Angelfood McSpade and S. Clay Wilson's The Checkered Demon makes their debut in Zap Comix #2.
- Debut of Dave Wood and Jack Sparling's The Mad Mod Witch in The Unexpected.
- Joe Orlando, Carmine Infantino, Sheldon Mayer and Sergio Aragonés's Bat Lash makes its debut.
Fall
- Gary Arlington's San Francisco Comic Book Company debuts as a retailer and a publisher, putting out Rory Hayes' Bogeyman Comics #1
September
September 7: The final issue of the British comics magazine Pow! is published and merges with Smash!.September 9: Bunny Hoest and John Reiner's The Lockhorns makes its debut.September 26: The first episode of Paul Deliège and Arthur Piroton's series Les Krostons debuts in Spirou.September 30: B.D. makes his debut in Garry Trudeau's Bull Tales and later become part of Doonesbury.Doom Patrol, with issue #121 suspends publication. Lo spettro del passato, by Guido Nolitta and Franco Donatelli; the whaler Captain Fishleg, recurring character in the Zagor series, makes his debut.October
October 1: In Pilote, namely their pocket edition Super Pocket Pilote, the first episode of the Blueberry series Le Secret de Blueberry, by Jean Michel Charlier and Jean Giraud, inaugurates the saga The Blueberry’s youth.October 6: The final episode of Boots and Her Buddies is published.October 11: The Dutch comics appreciation society Het Stripschap is founded.October 31 : In the French comic magazine Pilote, the first chapter of the Asterix story Asterix and the Cauldron, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, is published.Blackhawk, with issue #243 suspends publication.. The series is put on hiatus until 1976.Captain Action #1: 17-year-old Jim Shooter writes the first issue of DC's first toy tie-in.Wonder Woman #178: Dennis O'Neil and Mike Sekowsky become the new creative team on the title.Mysterious Suspense #1 by Charlton Comics presents the first appearance of Steve Ditko's The Question in his own title.- The first volume of the long-running manga series Golgo 13 is published by creator Takao Saito.
November
November 7: The Beatles member John Lennon draws a comic for the macrobiotic magazine Harmony, later printed in its pages.November 8: In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the oldest comics store in Europe, Lambiek, is opened by Kees Kousemaker.November 12: Peter van Straaten's Vader & Zoon makes its debut and will run until 1987.November 12: In the Belgian comic magazine Le journal de Tintin the first episode of the Michel Vaillant story De l’huille sur la piste! by Jean Graton is published.November 23: Bonvi's Sturmtruppen makes its debut.Blue Beetle: the third run of this series is cancelled. The series will not be revived until June 1986.Brother Power the Geek, with issue #2, cancelled by DC.Marvel's Space-Born Superhero: Captain Marvel, with issue #7, changes its title to Captain Marvel. Summer Love, with issue #48, cancelled by Charlton.December
December 6: The Spanish comics magazine En Patufet, which was disestablished 30 years ago, is revived and will run until 29 June 1973.December 18: Andries Brandt's Horre, Harm en Hella makes its debut. It will run until 11 March 1971.- With issue #9, Captain Savage and His Leatherneck Raiders is retitled Captain Savage and His Battlefield Raiders.
- In the story Tycoonraker! or From Zantaf with Lumps!, by Luciano Bottaro and Carlo Chendi, Dr. Zantaf makes his debut.
Specific date unknown
- With Kinney National Company's acquisition of Warner Bros., DC Comics becomes part of what eventually will be known as Warner Communications.
- DC Comics art director Carmine Infantino is given the mandate to revitalize DC in the wake of rival Marvel Comics' pop-culture success. Eased out are long-time DC artists Wayne Boring, Jim Mooney, George Klein, and George Papp; and writers Otto Binder, Edmond Hamilton, and Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel. In exchange, Infantino hires new talent and promotes artists like Joe Orlando, Joe Kubert, and Mike Sekowsky to editorial positions. Orlando is put in charge of DC's horror and suspense titles.
- The final episode of Peter O'Donnell and Alfred Sindall's Tug Transom ends in 1968.
- Tom Wilson's Ziggy makes its debut.
- Brumsic Brandon Jr.'s Luther makes its debut.
- The first issue of Lance Spearman is published.
- Robert Maynar Hutchins and John Hubley's Zuckerkandl! is first published.
- The final episode of William St. John Glenn's Ballyscunnion is published.
- Salsa musician Izzy Sanabria illustrates the cover of the album The Alegere All-Stars in Lost & Found, Volume III in comic strip style.
- The first episode of Angus McGill and Dominic Poelsma's Clive is published.
Deaths
January
January 1: Käthe Olshausen-Schönberger, Austrian illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 86.January 8: Don Flowers, American comics artist, dies at age 59.January 16: Vladmir Delac, Yugoslavian comics artist and animator, dies at age 60 from cancer.January 18: Emmérico Nunes, Portuguese comics artist, dies at age 80.January 22: Chaval, French cartoonist, commits suicide at age 52, after his wife's death.Specific date unknown: Steve Muffati, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 57.February
February 22: Peter Arno, American cartoonist, dies at age 64 from emphysema.March
March 4: Rocke Mastroserio, Italian-American comics artist, dies at age 40 of a heart attack.March 12: Ted Osborne, American comics writer, dies at age 68.April
April 4: Roland J. Scott, aka R.J. Scott, American comic artist, dies at age 81.April 20: Rudolph Dirks, German-American comics artist, dies at age 91.April 22: Jan Waterschoot, Belgian comics artist, dies at age 85.May
May 9: Harold Gray, American comics artist, dies at age 74.June
June 7: Arie Emens, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 72.July
July 16: Enver Bongrani, Italian comics artist, dies at age 54.July 25: Hallvard Sandnes, Norwegian schoolteacher and comic writer, dies at age 75.August
August 3: Neil O'Keeffe, American comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 77.August 17: Bruno Paul, German comics illustrator, architect and comics artist, dies at age 94.August 21: Ernie Bache, American comics artist, dies at age 45 years.September
September 1: Gus Bofa, French comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 85.September 30: Alexander Bojinov, Bulgarian comics artist, dies at age 90.October
October 1: Quin Hall, American comics artist, dies at age 84.October 18: Mary A. Hays, American comics artist, dies at age 70.November
November 3: Étienne Le Rallic, aka Smile or Levesque, French illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 78.November 15: Bob Grant, American comics artist, dies at age 62.November 29: Mo Leff, American comics artist, dies at age 56.Specific date in November unknown: Al Zere, American comic artist, dies at age 79.December
December 13: Ken Hultgren, American animator and comics artist, dies from a heart attack at age 63.December 23: Henry Meyer Brockmann, German editorial cartoonist, dies at age 55.December 30: Bill Tytla, Ukrainian-American animator, dies at age 64.Specific date unknown
- Edgar Henry Banger, aka, Harry Banger, British comics artist, dies at age 71.
- Bob Forrest, British illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 60 or 61.
- Bernard Jeanson, French comics artist commits suicide at age 33 or 34.
- Barye Phillips, American illustrator and comic artist, dies at age 62 or 63.
- Frank Thomas, American comics artist, dies at age 53 or 54.
Conventions
June 15–16: Detroit Triple Fan Fair — Guest of Honor Harlan Ellison; c. 175 attendeesJune 21–23: Southwesterncon III — 160 attendees; produced by Larry Herndon & Tom Reamy; official guests include Fritz Leiber, Harold LeDoux, and H. H. HollisJune 28–30: Gateway Con 2 — produced by Bob Schoenfeld; guest of honor Roy ThomasJune 29–30: Toronto Triple Fan Fair — also known as "Fan Fair I;" organized and managed by George Henderson ; Guests of Honor Roger Zelazny and Stan Lee; admission $1 for "passport" to all venuesJuly 4–7: International Convention of Comic Book Art — Phil Seuling hosts his first comic book convention under the aegis of SCARP ; guests of honor: Will Eisner and Burne Hogarth. Featured speakers include Stan Lee, Milton Caniff, Lee Falk, and Charles Biro. Professional guests include Neal Adams, Dan Adkins, Murphy Anderson, Dick Ayers, Vaughn Bodē, E. Nelson Bridwell, Nick Cardy, Gene Colan, Leonard Darvin, Sol Davidson, Arnold Drake, Creig Flessel, Woody Gelman, Dick Giordano, Archie Goodwin, Bill Harris, Larry Ivie, Jeff Jones, Gil Kane, Gray Morrow, Joe Orlando, Jerry Robinson, John Romita, Richard Sherry, Jerry Siegel, Leonard Starr, Jim Steranko, Roy Thomas, Sal Trapani, John Verpoorten, Al Williamson, and Wally Wood. August 30 – September 2: Comicon '68 (British Comic Art Convention) — first annual event, organized by Phil Clarke; "member"-guests include Alan Moore, Paul Neary, Jim Baikie, Steve Moore, and Nick Landau; 70 attendeesNovember 16–17: Salone Internazionale dei Comics — 4th edition of this festivalAwards
[Alley Awards]
Comic Magazine Section- Best Adventure Title – Fantastic Four
- Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title – Doctor Strange
- Best Western Title – Bat Lash
- Best War Title – Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
- Best Humor Title – Not Brand Echh
- Best Romance Title – Millie the Model
- Best Reprint Title – Marvel Super-Heroes
- Best Editor – Stan Lee
- Best Writer – Stan Lee
- Best Pencil Artist – Jim Steranko
- Best Inking Artist – Joe Sinnott
- Best Cover – Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #6, by Jim Steranko
- Best Full-Length Story – "Track of the Hook", by Bob Haney & Neal Adams, The Brave and the Bold #79 ; "Origin of the Silver Surfer", by Stan Lee & John Buscema, The Silver Surfer #1
- Best Feature Story – "Today Earth Died", by Jim Steranko, Strange Tales #168
- Best Regular Short Feature – "Tales of the Inhumans", by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, in The Mighty Thor
- Hall of Fame – Fantastic Four, by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby; Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., by Jim Steranko
- Best Adventure Hero Strip – The Amazing Spider-Man
- Best Adventure Group Strip – Fantastic Four
- Best Supporting Character – J. Jonah Jameson
- Best Villain – Doctor Doom
- Best New Strip – The Silver Surfer by Stan Lee & John Buscema
- Strip Most Needing Improvement – X-Men
- Strip Most Desired for Revival – Adam Strange
- Best Adventure Strip – Prince Valiant, by Hal Foster
- Best Human Interest Strip – On Stage, by Leonard Starr
- Best Humor Strip – Peanuts, by Charles Schulz
- Best Humor Panel – Dennis the Menace, by Hank Ketcham
- Best Miscellaneous Strip – Feiffer, by Jules Feiffer
- Hall of Fame – Peanuts, by Charles Schulz
- Best Limited Reproduction Fanzine – Concussion
- Best Unlimited Reproduction Fanzine – Graphic Story Magazine
- Best Fan Artist – John Fantucchio
- Best Comic Strip Writer – Larry Herndon
- Best Fan Project – The Alley Awards
First issues by title
Charlton Comics
'Ghost Manor'''''DC Comics
Bat LashBeware the Creeper
Brother Power the Geek
DC Special
'Secret Six'''''
Marvel Comics
Marvel's Space-Born Superhero: Captain MarvelIron Man
Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
'Silver Surfer'''''
Independent titles
Bijou FunniesFeds 'N' Heads
Walt Disney Comics Digest
Yellow Dog
'Zap Comix'''''
Japan
Big ComicShōjo Comic
'Weekly Shōnen Jump'''''
Initial appearance by character name
DC Comics
- Angel O'Day, in Showcase #77
- Anthro, in Showcase #74
- Bat Lash, in Showcase #76
- Brother Power the Geek, in Brother Power the Geek #1
- Cain, in House of Mystery #175
- Chemical King, in Adventure Comics #371
- Copperhead, in The Brave and the Bold #78
- Creeper, in Showcase #73
- Crimson Dawn, in Secret Six #1
- Doctor Cyber, in Wonder Woman #179
- Dolphin, in Showcase #79
- Jonny Double, in Showcase #78
- Guy Gardner, in Green Lantern #59
- Hank Hall, in Showcase #75
- Don Hall, in Showcase #75
- I Ching, in Wonder Woman #179
- King Savage, in Secret Six #1
- Lili de Neuve, in Secret Six #1
- League of Assassins, in Strange Adventures #215
- Legion of Super-Villains, in Adventure Comics #372
- Leland McCauley, in Adventure Comics #374
- Mike Tempest, in Secret Six #1
- Mordru, in Adventure Comics #369
- Red Star, in Teen Titans #18
- Red Tornado, in Justice League of America #64
- Sam Simeon, in Showcase #77
- Scavenger, in Aquaman #37
- Sensei, in Strange Adventures #215
- Shadow Lass, in Adventure Comics #365
- Tim Trench, in Wonder Woman #179
- Tornado Twins, in Adventure Comics #373
- Wanderers, in Adventure Comics #375
- General Zahl, in Doom Patrol #121