1958 in comics

Publications and events

January

• January 20: The first episode of Francisco Ibáñez Talavera's Mortadelo y Filemón (Mort and Phil) is published.

February

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

March

• 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 253rd issue of Detective Comics the recurring villains Terrible Trio make their debut.
• The Mickey Mouse adventure Kali's Nail by Romano Scarpa is first published in the Italian Disney comics magazine Topolino.

April

• In the 247th issue of Adventure Comics the Legion of Super-Heroes make their debut.

May

• May 13: In Charles M. Schulz' Peanuts Snoopy is first seen imitating a vulture. This will become a running gag in the series.
• May 15: In the magazine Spirou, the first episode of the Spirou et Fantasio story Le Prisonnier du Bouddha, by Franquin and Greg is published.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

• Dottor Paperus by Luciano Bottaro – Donald Duck in a parody of Goethe’s Doctor Faust.

July

• 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

• In the 123rd issue of Superman Supergirl makes her debut.

September

• September 17: in Tintin, the first chapter of Tintin in Tibet, by Hergè, is published.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: Wallace 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

• 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.
• First issue of Tex Gigante. The magazine inaugurated the so-called Bonelli format, which gradually supplanted the traditional strip format of the publishing house.
• The Donald Duck comics story Paperin Meschino is published, a parody of Andrea Da Barberino’s Il Guerin Meschino.

November

• November 27: in Spirou, the first chapter of L'evasion des Dalton, by Goscinny and Morris, 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

• 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.
• In Le parisien liberè, Spirou et les Hommes-bulles, by Andrè Franquin and Jean Roba, is prepublished.

Births

December

Specific date unknown

• Esegé, Spanish comics artist,.

Deaths

January

February

• * Robert Moore Brinkerhoff, American comics artist, dies at age 77.
• * Hugh McCrea, Australian poet, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 81.
• * Bob Satterfield, aka Sat, American comics artist, dies at age 82.February 20: Jim Wilcox, American illustrator and comic artist, dies at age 62.

March

April

April

May

June

August

September

October

December

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

• 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 GirlMister 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 ComicsTerrible Trio in Detective Comics #253, created by Dave Wood and Sheldon Moldoff - DC Comics

Other publishers

• Mort & Phil in Pulgarcito #1394, JanuaryHerbie 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.