1963 in comics
Notable events of 1963 in comics.
Events
Year overall
- In Italy, Diabolik, started softly the previous year, becomes a growing success and finds its definitive shape. In a series of classic stories Diabolik begins to use the Jaguar E-Type, the rubber masks and the shelters, leaves his cover identity as Walter Dorian, ends dramatically his affair with the nurse Elisabeth Gray and begins a long love-story with Eva Kant.
January
- January 26: The first issue of the British comics magazine Boys' World is published. It will run until 1964.
- The first issue of the Catholic magazine Messaggero dei ragazzi is published in Padua by the Friars Minor of the Basilica of [Saint Anthony of Padua|Basilica of Saint Anthony.] In the next decades, the magazine, in spite of its limited distribution, will host the works of important cartoonists such as Dino Battaglia and Hugo Pratt.
- Sergio Aragones makes his debut in MAD Magazine #76.
- Jack Miller and Joe Certa's Zook makes his debut.
- Fantastic Four #10 – Marvel Comics
- The Incredible Hulk #5 – Marvel Comics
- Journey into Mystery #88 – Marvel Comics
- Kid Colt Outlaw #108 – Marvel Comics
- Strange Tales #104 – Marvel Comics
- Tales of Suspense #37 – Marvel Comics
- Tales to Astonish #39 – Marvel Comics
- Two-Gun Kid #61 – Marvel Comics
- The Purple Smurfs, by Peyo, first album of the Smurfs.
- Oddbal Odissey by Carl Barks, on Uncle Scrooge.
February
- February 16: The final issue of the British comics magazine Knockout is published, after which it merges with Valiant.
- February 4: The first chapter of Jacovitti’s Baby Rocket, about the interstellar adventures of a half-notch gangster, is published in Il giorno dei ragazzi.
- February 7: The first episode of Asterix and the Banquet by Goscinny and Uderzo, is prepublished in Pilote. The story marks the debut of Dogmatix, Obelix' dog.
- Fantastic Four #11 – Marvel Comics
- Journey into Mystery #89 – Marvel Comics
- Magnus, Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. marks the debut of Russ Manning's Magnus Robot Fighter.
- Rawhide Kid #32 – Marvel Comics
- Strange Tales #105 – Marvel Comics
- Tales of Suspense #38 – Marvel Comics
- Tales to Astonish #40 – Marvel Comics
March
- March 2: The final issue of the British comics magazine Swift is published. It merges with Eagle afterwards.
- March 3: In L'arresto di Diabolik, the third issue of Angela Giussani and Luciana Giussani's Diabolik, Eva Kant makes her debut. Because this story, the two sisters endure a proceedings for "incitement to corruption".
- March 10–17: The story Topolino e l’uomo di Altacraz, by Romano Scarpa is first prepublished in Topolino, a story vaguely inspired by Birdman of Alcatraz.
- March 18: Jerry Marcus' Trudy makes its debut. It will run until 2000.
- The Amazing Spider-Man #1 – Marvel Comics
- Fantastic Four #12 – Marvel Comics
- The Incredible Hulk #6 – Marvel Comics
- Journey into Mystery #90 – Marvel Comics
- Kid Colt Outlaw #109 – Marvel Comics
- Strange Tales #106 – Marvel Comics
- Tales of Suspense #39 – Marvel Comics – List of first appearances in [Marvel Comics publications|First appearance] of Iron Man
- Tales to Astonish #41 – Marvel Comics
- Two-Gun Kid #62 – Marvel Comics
- Uncle Scrooge – Dell; "Uncle Scrooge, The Status Seeker" by Carl Barks
April
- April 13: The first issue of the Flemish children's magazine Ohee is published, supplement of the newspaper Het Volk. It will run until 31 December 1977.
- Black Cat, with issue #65, canceled by Harvey Comics
- Fantastic Four #13 – Marvel Comics
- Journey into Mystery #91 – Marvel Comics
- Metal Men #1 – DC Comics
- Rawhide Kid #33 – Marvel Comics
- Strange Tales #107 – Marvel Comics
- Tales of Suspense #40 – Marvel Comics
- Tales to Astonish #42 – Marvel Comics
May
- May 13: The first episode of Peter O'Donnell and Jim Holdaway's Modesty Blaise is published.
- May 23: Mars Ravelo and Jim Fernandez's Captain Barbell makes his debut.
- May 25: The final episode of Oskar Lebeck and Alden McWilliams' newspaper comic Twin Earths is published.
- May 27: The first episode of El botones Sacarino by Francisco Ibáñez Talavera is published in the magazine El DDT. The series will run until 1982.
- The Amazing Spider-Man #2 – Marvel Comics
- Fantastic Four #14 – Marvel Comics
- Journey into Mystery #92 – Marvel Comics
- Kid Colt Outlaw #110 – Marvel Comics
- Sgt. Fury #1 – Marvel Comics. First appearance of Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos.
- Strange Tales #108 – Marvel Comics
- Tales of Suspense #41 – Marvel Comics
- Tales to Astonish #43 – Marvel Comics
- Two-Gun Kid #63 – Marvel Comics
June
- June 1: The final episode of Mort Walker and Jerry Dumas' Sam's Strip is published.
- June 8: The final episode of Ken Reid's Jonah is published in The Beano.
- June 11: The final episode of Andries Brandt's Holle Pinkel is published.
- June 13: The first issue of Il pioniere dell’Unità, is published; it takes the place of the magazine Il pioniere.
- June 16: The first issue of ABC dei ragazzi, is published in Milan.
- June 25: The first episode of Rik Clément's detective comic Jan Knap appears in 't Kapoentje.
- Fantastic Four #15 – Marvel Comics
- Journey into Mystery #93 – Marvel Comics
- My Greatest Adventure #80 – DC Comics – first appearance of the Doom Patrol, created by Arnold Drake, Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani.
- Rawhide Kid #34 – Marvel Comics
- Strange Tales #109 – Marvel Comics
- Strange Tales Annual #2 – Marvel Comics
- Tales of Suspense #42 – Marvel Comics
- Tales to Astonish #44 – Marvel Comics
- * First appearance of the Wasp
- Young Love #38 – final issue published by Prize Comics; title sold to and continued by DC Comics
- Young Romance #124 – final issue published by Prize Comics; title sold to and continued by DC Comics
- A Duck's-eye View of Europe, by Carl Barks, on Walt Disney's Comics and Stories..
July
- July 8: Alex Graham's Fred Basset makes its debut.
- July 21: in L’isola della Paura by Guido Nolitta and Gallieno Ferri two important recurring characters of Zagor universe, the mad doctor Hellinger and the nice cheater Trampy, make their debut.
- The Amazing Spider-Man #3 – Marvel Comics
- * First appearance of Doctor Octopus
- Fantastic Four #16 – Marvel Comics
- Gunsmoke Western, with issue #77, canceled by Marvel Comics
- Journey into Mystery #94 – Marvel Comics
- Kid Colt Outlaw #111 – Marvel Comics
- Sgt. Fury #2 – Marvel Comics
- Strange Tales #110 – Marvel Comics
- * First appearance of Doctor Strange, Ancient One & Nightmare (Marvel Comics)
- Tales of Suspense #43 – Marvel Comics
- Tales to Astonish #45 – Marvel Comics
- Two-Gun Kid #64 – Marvel Comics
August
- August 8: The first episode of Jacques Devos' Génial Olivier is published in Spirou.
- Fantastic Four #17 – Marvel Comics
- House of Secrets #61 – DC Comics. First appearance of Eclipso by writer Bob Haney and artist Lee Elias
- Journey into Mystery #95 – Marvel Comics
- Justice League of America #21 – the first team-up of the Justice League and the Justice Society of America as well as the first use of the term "Crisis" in reference to a crossover between Golden Age and Silver Age characters.
- Rawhide Kid #35 – Marvel Comics
- Strange Tales #111 – Marvel Comics
- * First appearance of Baron Mordo and Asbestos Man.
- Tales of Suspense #44 – Marvel Comics
- Tales to Astonish #46 – Marvel Comics
- Young Romance #125 – DC Comics, continuing numbering from Prize Comics series
September
- The Amazing Spider-Man #4 – Marvel Comics
- * First appearance of Sandman
- Avengers #1 – Marvel Comics
- * First appearance of Avengers
- Fantastic Four #18 – Marvel Comics
- * First appearance of Super-Skrull
- Fantastic Four Annual #1 – Marvel Comics
- * Reintroduction of Atlantis into Marvel Comics continuity.
- Green Lantern #23 – DC Comics
- Journey into Mystery #96 – Marvel Comics
- Kid Colt Outlaw #112 – Marvel Comics
- Sgt. Fury #3 – Marvel Comics
- Strange Tales #112 – Marvel Comics
- Tales of Suspense #45 – Marvel Comics
- * First appearance of Jack Frost, Happy Hogan, and Pepper Potts
- Tales to Astonish #47 – Marvel Comics
- Two-Gun Kid #65 – Marvel Comics
- Uncanny X-Men #1 – Marvel Comics
- * First appearance of the X-Men and Magneto
- Young Love #39 – DC Comics, continuing numbering from Prize Comics series
October
- October 17: The first episode of the Lucky Luke story Les Dalton se rachètent, by Goscinny and Morris, is prepublished in [Spirou (magazine)|Spirou].
- October 20: An episode of Charles M. Schulz' Peanuts which pokes fun at school prayer causes controversy and angry readers' letters.
- October 31: Jean Giraud and Jean-Michel Charlier's Blueberry is first published in Pilote.
- The Amazing Spider-Man #5 – Marvel Comics
- Fantastic Four #19 – Marvel Comics
- *First appearance of Rama-Tut
- Journey into Mystery #97 – Marvel Comics
- Rawhide Kid #36 – Marvel Comics
- Strange Tales #113 – Marvel Comics
- Tales of Suspense #46 – Marvel Comics
- Tales to Astonish #48 – Marvel Comics
November
- November 4: The comic strip Miss Caroline: The Little Girl in the Big White House by Gerald Gardner and Frank B. Johnson is launched. It depicts the life of Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of US President John F. Kennedy.
- November 7: Greg's Achille Talon makes its debut.
- November 16: The British comics magazine The Wizard merges with The Rover and becomes Rover and Wizard, under which title it will continue until August 1969.
- November 22: Miss Caroline: The Little Girl in the Big White House is cancelled after John F. Kennedy is assassinated.
- The Amazing Spider-Man #6 – Marvel Comics
- *First appearance of Lizard and Billy Connors.
- Avengers #2 – Marvel Comics
- Fantastic Four #20 – Marvel Comics
- Journey into Mystery #98 – Marvel Comics
- *First appearance of Cobra
- Kid Colt Outlaw #113 – Marvel Comics
- Sgt. Fury #4 – Marvel Comics
- Strange Tales #114 – Marvel Comics
- *Begins monthly Doctor Strange back-up story
- Tales of Suspense #47 – Marvel Comics
- Tales to Astonish #49 – Marvel Comics
- *First appearance of Hank Pym as Giant-Man
- Two-Gun Kid #66 – Marvel Comics
- Uncanny X-Men #2 – Marvel Comics
December
- December 5: The first episode of Asterix and Cleopatra, by Goscinny and Uderzo, is prepublished in Pilote..
- December 12: A tiny dog, introduced in René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo's Astérix album Asterix and the Banquet earlier this year, receives a name through a readers' contest: Dogmatix, which is first revealed to the public in an issue of Pilote.
- December 12: The final episode of Clarence D. Russell's Pete the Tramp is published.
- December 18: The final issue of the Flemish comics magazine, De Kleine Zondagsvriend is published.
- The Amazing Spider-Man #7 – Marvel Comics
- Fantastic Four #21 – Marvel Comics
- * First appearance of Hate-Monger, First Nick Fury in present-day
- Journey into Mystery #99 – Marvel Comics
- Rawhide Kid #37 – Marvel Comics
- Strange Tales #115 – Marvel Comics
- Tales of Suspense #48 – Marvel Comics
- * First appearance of Iron Man's red & gold armor
- Tales to Astonish #50 – Marvel Comics
- In Italy, the first issue of Braccio di Ferro, containing Popeye’s adventures written by Italian authors, produced by Classici Audacia is published.
- The first issue of the Italian monthly Il Piccolo Ranger is published.
Specific date unknown
- DC Comics purchases two Prize Comics romance titles, Young Love and Young Romance, continuing their numbering.
- Shueisha publishes Margaret.
- Alfredo Alcala's Voltar makes its debut.
- Jim Berry's Berry's World debuts.
- Mauricio de Sousa's The Funnies (Monica's Gang) and The Tribe (Monica's Gang) and Horacio's World debut.
- The final issue of the Argentine comics magazine Hora Cero is published.
- The final episode of Malcolm Judge's Colonel Crackpot's Circus is published.
- The final episode of Horace Boyten, Stewart Pride and Evelyn Flinders' The Silent Three is published.
- The final episode of Birgitta Lilliehöök's Spara och Slösa is published.
- The final episode of Brian Lewis' The Suicide Six is published.
- The final episode of Al Jaffee's Tall Tales is published.
Births
Deaths
January
- January 2: Joaquín Buigas, Spanish comics writer, dies at age 76.
- January 18: Francisco Valença, Portuguese comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 80.
February
- February 18: Vadim Lazarkevich, Russian-Bulgarian illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 67.
- February 26: Charles Folkard, British illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 84.
March
- March 23: Maurice Boyer, aka Moriss, French actor, comedian, illustrator, caricaturist and cartoonist, dies at age 88.
- Specific date in March unknown: Koos Schadée, Dutch comics artist and illustrator, dies at an unknown age.
May
- May 3: Alejandro Del Prado, aka Calé, Argentine cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 37.
July
- July 2: Alicia Patterson, American publisher and comics writer, dies at age 56 of complications following stomach surgery for an ulcer.
- July 7: François-Joseph Herman, Belgian comics artist, dies at age 31.
August
- August 16: Ralph Fuller, American comics artist, dies at age 73.
- August 30: Jan Lunde, Norwegian comics artist, dies at age 74.
- August 31: Willem Gerrit van de Hulst Sr., Dutch novelist and comics writer, dies at age 83.
September
- September 19: David Low, New Zealand-British cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 62.
- September 20: Jan Wiegman, Dutch comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 79.
October
- October 9: Leonard Sansone, American comics artist, dies in a traffic accident at age 46.
- October 23: Clarence D. Russell, American comics artist, dies at age 68.
- October 25: Lewis Baumer, British caricaturist, cartoonist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 93.
December
- December 1: Jimmy Hatlo, American comics artist, dies at age 65.
- December 12: Wynne W. Davies, Australian illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 71.
- December 18: Bruce Russell, aka Bruce Barr, American sports cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 60.
Specific date unknown
- Shaka Bontaro, Japanese comic artist, dies at age 71 or 72.
- Gilbert Lawford Dalton, British comics writer, dies at age 48 or 49.
- Andrés Guevara, Paraguayan illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 58 or 59.
- Katsuishi Kabashima, Japanese illustrator and comic artist, dies at age 74 or 75.
- Harry Mace, American comics artist, dies at age 40.
- Arthur Mansbridge, British illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 85.
- Norman McMurray, Australian comic artist, dies at age 72 or 73.
- Pierre Saint-Loup, French comic artist, dies at age 68 or 69.
- Les Such, Australian comics artist, dies at age 62 or 63.
- Arnold Warden, British comics artist, dies at age 70 or 71.
Awards
[National Cartoonists Society Division Awards]
- Newspaper Comic Strips : Barney Google and Snuffy Smith, by Fred Lasswell
- Newspaper Comic Strips : On Stage, by Leonard Starr
- Newspaper Panel Cartoons: Still Life, by Jerry Robinson
- Animation: Walt Disney
- Gag Cartoons: Jack Tippit
- Comic Books: Frank Thorne
- Advertising and Illustration: Harry Devlin
- Editorial Cartoons: John Fischetti
- Sports Cartoons: Lou Darvas
- Reuben Award: Barney Google, by Fred Lasswell
First issues by title
DC Comics
'Metal Men'''''Marvel Comics
The Amazing Spider-ManAvengers (comic book)|The Avengers]
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
'The X-Men'''''
Other publishers
'Das Kampf'''''Initial appearance by character name
DC Comics
- Catman, in Detective Comics #311
- Chief, in My Greatest Adventure #80
- Chlorophyll Kid, in Adventure Comics #306
- Doctor Polaris, in Green Lantern #21
- Eclipso, in House of Secrets #61
- Elasti-Girl, in My Greatest Adventure #80
- Element Lad, in Adventure Comics #307
- Fire Lad, in Adventure Comics #306
- General Immortus, in My Greatest Adventure #80
- Heat Wave, in The Flash #140
- Lightning Lass, in Adventure Comics #308
- Mera, in Aquaman #11
- Negative Man, in My Greatest Adventure #80
- Night Girl, in Adventure Comics #306
- Paul Gambi, in The Flash #141
- Polar Boy, in Adventure Comics #306
- Queen Bee, in Justice League of America #23
- Rainbow Girl, in Adventure Comics #309
- Reverse-Flash, in The Flash #139
- Robotman (Cliff Steele), in My Greatest Adventure #80
- Ron-Karr, in Adventure Comics #314
- Shark, in Green Lantern #24
- Simon Hurt, in Batman #156
- Stone Boy, in Adventure Comics #306
- Tattooed Man, in Green Lantern #23
Marvel Comics
- Ancient One – Strange Tales #110
- Angel – Uncanny X-Men #1
- Avengers – Avengers #1
- Awesome Android – Fantastic Four #15
- Baron Mordo – Strange Tales #111
- Beast – Uncanny X-Men #1
- Chameleon – The Amazing Spider-Man #1
- Cobra – Journey into Mystery #98
- Crimson Dynamo – Tales of Suspense #46
- Cyclops – Uncanny X-Men #1
- Doctor Octopus – The Amazing Spider-Man #3
- Doctor Strange – Strange Tales #110
- Eel in Strange Tales #112
- Nick Fury – Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1
- Giant-Man – Tales to Astonish #49
- Happy Hogan – Tales of Suspense #45
- Hate-Monger – Fantastic Four #21
- Iceman – Uncanny X-Men #1
- Impossible Man – Fantastic Four #11
- Iron Man – Tales of Suspense #39
- Jack Frost – Tales of Suspense #45
- John Jameson – Amazing Spider-Man #1
- Jonah Jameson">Jonah (comics)">Jonah Jameson – Amazing Spider-Man #1
- Kala – Tales of Suspense #43
- Lava Men – Journey into Mystery #97
- Lizard – The Amazing Spider-Man #6
- Willie Lumpkin – Fantastic Four #11
- Mad Thinker – Fantastic Four #15
- Magneto – Uncanny X-Men #1
- Marvel Girl – Uncanny X-Men #1
- Melter – Tales of Suspense #47
- Metal Master – The Incredible Hulk #6
- Mister Doll – Tales of Suspense #48
- Mister Hyde – Journey into Mystery #99
- Molecule Man – Fantastic Four #20
- Nightmare – Strange Tales #110
- Paste Pot Pete – Strange Tales #104
- Pepper Potts – Tales of Suspense #45
- Plantman – Strange Tales #113
- Porcupine – Tales to Astonish #48
- Radioactive Man – Journey into Mystery #93
- Rama-Tut – Fantastic Four #19
- Red Ghost – Fantastic Four #13
- Sandman – The Amazing Spider-Man #4
- Space Phantom – Avengers #2
- Super-Skrull in Fantastic Four #18
- Surtur – Journey into Mystery #97
- Tyrannus – The Incredible Hulk #5
- Uatu – Fantastic Four #13
- Vanisher – Uncanny X-Men #2
- The Voice – Tales to Astonish #42
- Vulture – Amazing Spider-Man #2
- Wasp – Tales to Astonish #44
- Wong-Chu – Tales of Suspense #39
- Human Top – Tales to Astonish #50
- Professor X – Uncanny X-Men #1
- X-Men – Uncanny X-Men #1
- Ho Yinsen – Tales of Suspense #39
Independent publishers
- Dogmatix, by Goscinny and Uderzo, in Asterix and the banquet.
- Eva Kant, Diabolik’s lover and partner, by the Giussani sisters, in Diabolik arrested.
- Madam Mim – Disney
- Hellingen, mad scientist and Zagor's antagonist, by Guido Nolitta and Gallieno Ferri, in On the Titan's footprints
- Blueberry, by Charlier and Giraud, in ''Fort Navajo''