1937 in comics

Events and publications

January

• January 8 and June 7: Pablo Picasso makes the comic The Dream and Lie of Franco, a comic strip satirizing Francisco Franco.
• January 9: The first issue of the Italian catholic comic magazine Il vittorioso is published.
• January 16: The first issue of the Flemish comics magazine Ons Kinderland is published. It will run for about a year and a half.
• The first issue of the Italian comic magazine Albi d'oro, gathering Mickey Mouse's strips, is published by Mondadori.
• Will Eisner and Jerry Iger and Mort Meskin launch Sheena, Queen of the Jungle in the first issue of Wags, a British comics magazine. A year and nine months later, Sheena will make her debut in the U.S. in Jumbo Comics. Detective Picture Stories #2 - Centaur PublicationsFamous Funnies #30 - Eastern ColorThe Funnies #4 - Dell ComicsFunny Picture Stories #3 - Centaur PublicationsKing Comics #10 - David McKay PublicationsMore Fun Comics #17 - National Periodical PublicationsNew Adventure Comics #12 - National Periodical PublicationsPopular Comics #12 - Dell ComicsTip Top Comics #9 - United Features

February

March

April

• April 5: The first episode of Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse in search of jungle treasure is published.
• Ace Comics #1 - David McKay PublicationsThe Comics #2 - Dell ComicsDetective Comics #2 - DC ComicsDetective Picture Stories #5 - Centaur PublicationsFamous Funnies #33 - Eastern ColorThe Funnies #7 - Dell ComicsFunny Pages #10 — Centaur PublicationsFunny Picture Stories #6 - Centaur PublicationsKing Comics #13 - David McKay PublicationsPopular Comics #15 - Dell ComicsStar Comics #2 - Chesler PublicationsStar Ranger Comics #2 - Chesler PublicationsTip Top Comics #12 - United FeaturesWestern Picture Stories #3 - Centaur Publications

May

June

July

August

• August 9: The first episode of Floyd Gottfredson's The monarch of Medioka is published, a parody of The prisoner of Zenda.
• The final issue of the French satirical magazine Le Charivari, which offered room for countless comics artists and cartoonists, is published.
• Watt Dell's Olga Mesmer makes its debut. It will run until October 1938.Ace Comics #5 - David McKay PublicationsDetective Comics #6 - DC ComicsFamous Funnies #37 - Eastern ColorFeature Book #4 - David McKay PublicationsThe Funnies #11 - Dell ComicsKing Comics #17 - David McKay PublicationsMore Fun Comics #23 - National Periodical PublicationsNew Adventure Comics #18 - National Periodical PublicationsPopular Comics #19 - Dell ComicsStar Comics #5 - Chesler PublicationsStar Ranger Comics #5 - Chesler PublicationsTip Top Comics #16 - United Features

September

October

November

December

Specific date unknown

• In Hanover, Germany the Wilhelm Busch Museum opens its doors.
• Hector Torino's Don Nicola makes his debut.

Specials

Births

February

Deaths

January

March

May

July

August

October

November

December

Specific date unknown

• Peter Bacon, British illustrator, dies at an unknown age.
• G. L'Huer, French illustrator, dies at age 63 or 64.
• Joan Llopart, Spanish illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 80.
• Jean Rapsomanikis, Greek-Spanish comics artist, dies at age 52.
• William Ridgewell, British cartoonist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 55 or 56.

First issues by title

• Ace Comics
• Detective Comics
• Feature Funnies
• Star Comics
• Star Ranger Comics
• 'The Dandy'''''

Renamed titles

• New Comics renamed New Adventure Comics as of the January cover date.

Initial appearances by character name

• Slam Bradley in Detective Comics #1 - March. Published by DC Comics
• Speed Saunders in Detective Comics #1 - March. Published by DC Comics