1966 in comics
Notable events of 1966 in comics.
Events and publications
Year overall
- Myron Fass founds Eerie Publications and M. F. Enterprises
- In Italy, while the success of Satanik generates several black comics with female protagonists, all short lived, the writer and publisher Renzo Barbieri launches the first explicitly erotic comics.
January
January 1: The final episode of Theo Fünke Kupper's De Verstrooide Professor is published.January 4: Greg and Hermann's Bernard Prince makes his debut.January 8: The final issue of the Italian comics magazine Il Vittorioso is published.January 9: For the first time since 1952 a new episode of Will Eisner's The Spirit is published.January 9: in the French magazine Vaillant, debut of the series Le Grêlé 7/13, by Lucien Nortier and Roger Lécureux, with a young maquisard as protagonist.January 18: in Le journal de Tintin, Concerto pour pilotes by Jean Graton.January 21: The final episode of Pieter Kuhn's Kapitein Rob is published. The artist died one day earlier.January 22: The first issue of the British comics magazine Lady Penelope is published. It will run until 13 December 1969.- Adventure Comics #340 – DC Comics – The first appearance of Computo by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Curt Swan.
- Hawkman #11 – DC Comics – The first appearance of the Shrike by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson
- House of Mystery #156 – DC Comics – First Dial H for Hero by writer Dave Wood and artist Jim Mooney
- Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt #1 – Charlton Comics – The first appearance of Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt by creator Pete Morisi
February
February 5: The first issue of the British comics magazine Smash is published. It will run until April 1971.February 6: Bob West's Theophilus makes its debut. It will run until 19 April 2002.February 10: Francis' Marc Lebut et son Voisin debuts in Spirou, where it will run for 20 years.February 27: Dick Cavalli's Winthrop makes its debut, after debuting under the different name Morty Meekle on 9 January 1956. The series will run until 1994.- In Quino's Mafalda Miguelito makes his debut.
- The first episode of Max Bunker and Roberto Raviola 's Gesebel is published. It will run until October 1967.
- Vibranium makes its first Marvel Universe appearance, in Daredevil #13
- Adventure Comics #341 – DC Comics – Triplicate Girl becomes Duo Damsel after Computo destroys one of her selves.
- Journey into Mystery #125 – Marvel Comics – Final issue of the series. Becomes Thor with next issue
- Justice League of America #42 – DC Comics – Metamorpho refuses membership in the Justice League
- Showcase #60 – DC Comics – The first Silver-Age appearance of the Spectre by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy AndersonFightin' Air Force, with issue #53, is canceled by Charlton.
March
March 1: The first episode of José Miguel Heredia's Perro Mundo is published.- Adventure Comics #342 – DC Comics – Star Boy is expelled from the Legion of Super-Heroes.
- Challengers of the Unknown #48 – DC Comics – Doom Patrol cross-over
- Doom Patrol #102 – DC Comics – Challengers of the Unknown cross-over
- Fantastic Four #48 – Marvel Comics – First appearance of the Silver Surfer and Galactus by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby
- Green Lantern #43 – DC Comics – First appearance of Major Disaster by writer Gardner Fox and artist Gil Kane
- Justice League of America #43 – DC Comics – First appearance of the Royal Flush Gang by writer Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky
- Tales of Suspense #75 – Marvel Comics – first appearance of Sharon Carter and Batroc the Leaper by writer Stan Lee and artists Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers
- Thor #126 – Marvel Comics – Title becomes Thor. Previously Journey into Mystery
- First issue of the photo comics Killing, written by Luigi Naviglio, that fits into the genre of Italian black comics, but with higher doses of sex and violence.
April
April 3 in France, first issue of Mickey parade, magazine of Disney comics.April 7: In Peyo's The Smurfs the characters Smurfette and Poetry Smurf makes their debut in the story La Schtroumpfette.April 7: In Pilote, first chapter of L’homme a l’etoile d’argent, by Jean-Michel Charlier and Jean Giraud.April 16: The final episode of Little Annie Rooney is published.April 28: In Pilote, first chapter of Asterix and the normans, by Goscinny and Uderzo.Lenny of Laredo — the underground printing and distribution business publishes its first comic, a reprint of Joel Beck's self-published titleThe adventures of Jodelle, by Guy Peelaert.- First issue of Nuova collana Araldo ; after two short miniseries, from September the magazine hosts Comandante Mark.
May
May 1: The first issue of the American comics magazine Ghostly Tales is published. It will run until October 1984.May 2:- * Francisco Ibáñez Talavera's Pepe Gotera y Otilio makes its debut.
- * John M. Burns' The Seekers makes its debut in The Daily Sketch. It will run until 1971.May 9: Il passato di Tex by Gian Luigi Bonelli and Galep; the origins of Tex Willer and his life before his first appearance in comics are revealed.May 19: in Spirou, first chapter of Tortillas pour les Dalton, by Goscinny and Morris.May 21: Martin Lodewijk's Agent 327 makes its debut in the Dutch comics magazine Pep.
- The final episode of the Superman comic strip is published.
- The Ultimate Nullifier makes its Marvel Universe debut, in Fantastic Four #50Ghostly Tales debuts with issue #55, taking over the numbering of Unusual Tales. Judomaster debuts with issue #89, taking over the numbering of Gunmaster. Fightin' Navy, with issue #125, ceases publication.
- Emil Eagle makes his debut in The evil inventor, by Vic Lockman and Jack Bradbury.
June
June 1: In the 103th issue of Mad Paul Coker's Horrifying Clichés series makes its debut.June 18: The final issue of the British comics magazine Ranger is published. It merges with Look and Learn on 25 June.June 28: In Le journal de Tintin, Rapt sur le France by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet.Fantastic Four #51, "This Man... This Monster!" by Stan Lee and Jack KirbySummer
- The first issue of Wally Wood's underground comics magazine Witzend is published.
July
July 25: Il misterioso mister P. by Gian Luigi Bonelli and Guglielmo Letteri; debut of Proteus, thief and master of disguises, antagonist of Tex Willer.- The Cosmic Cube makes its first Marvel Universe appearance, in Tales of Suspense #79
- Adventure Comics #346 — Jim Shooter makes his debut as a comics writer with the Legion of Super-Heroes story One of Us Is a Traitor.
- Marvel Tales #3, becomes an ongoing title Fantastic Four #52 introduces Black Panther The Brave and the Bold #54 introduces Teen Titans, by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani.
- Treasure of Marco Polo, by Carl Barks, on Uncle Scrooge 66.
- First issue of Teddy Bob by Pier Carpi; the series is inspired to the youth culture of the Sixties and has a teen-ager beatnik as protagonist.
- In France, debut of Comandante Mark by EsseGEsse, for Aventures & Voyages editions, with the name of Captain Swing.
August
August 22: In Charles M. Schulz' Peanuts Peppermint Patty makes her debut.Adventure Comics #347: It marks the conclusion of the Legion of Super-Heroes story arc, "One of Us Is a Traitor".- The Amazing Spider-Man #39 : "How Green Was My Goblin".
September
September 3: The final episode of Edwina Dumm's Cap Stubbs and Tippie is published. It will run until February 1983.September 26: In Tintin, first chapter of Flight 714 to Sydney, by Hergè.- The first issue of the American comics magazine Eerie is published.
- The first issue of the Provo magazine God, Nederland en Oranje is published. Two cartoons by Willem lead to a court case for insulting public authority and lèse-majesté. He will in 1968 eventually only be sentenced for the first account, not the second.
- The Amazing Spider-Man #40 : "Spidey Saves The Day"
- Thor Annual #2 renamed from Journey into Mystery Annual
- With issue #110, DC Comics suspends publication of Mystery in Space ; the title is temporarily revived in 1980.
October
October 22: The first gag of Stefan Verwey's comic Broeder Gosewiijn is published in Katholieke Illustratie.- After the first edition was held in Bordighera, Italy, the year before the Lucca Comics festival is now held in Lucca, Italy, where it is still held to this day as one of the oldest comics festivals in the world.
- At the University of Strasbourg André Bertrand creates the four-page comic strip La Retour de la Colonne Durutti, which is distributed as a pamphlet during student protests.
November
November 10: In Pilote, the first chapter of the Astérix story Asterix the legionary, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo is published.November 24: in Pilote, first chapter of Le cheval de fer, by Jean-Michel Charier and Jean Giraud, inaugurating the Blueberry’s saga of the “iron horse”.The Flash #165: Barry Allen marries Iris West.The Amazing Spider-Man In issue #42, drawn by John Romita Sr., Mary Jane Watson is first revealed to the readers, after being an invisible character for two years. She hereby utters the now immortal line: Face it, tiger... you just hit the jackpot. Le mystère des abîmes, by Philippe Druillet, first Lone Sloane album.December
December 7::La preda umana, by Guido Nolitta and Gallieno Feri; debut of the likeable outlaw Guitar Jim, both friend and adversary of Zagor.December 18: In the Italian Disney comics magazine Topolino the first episode of The Miner's Granddaughter, by Romano Scarpa is published, in which Dickie Duck makes his debut.- The first episode of Giorgio Cavedon and Sandro Angiolini's Isabella is published.
Births
February
February 16: Martin Perscheid, German comics artist,.July
July 11: Kentaro Miura, Japanese comics/manga artist,.November
November 17: Ed Brubaker, American comic book writer.Deaths
January
January 20: Pieter Kuhn, Dutch comics artist, dies at age 55.January 28: George Van Raemdonck, Belgian painter, cartoonist and comic artist, dies at age 78.February
February 13:- * George Scarbo, American comics artist, dies at age 67.
- * Tony Royle, British comics artist, dies at age 66.
March
March 8: Francisco Darnis, Spanish comics artist, dies at age 56.March 15: Henriette Willebeek le Mair, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 76.April
April 5: Charles Raab, American comics artist, dies at age 57.April 28:- * Jesse Marsh, American comics artist and animator, dies at age 58.
- * Gladys Parker, American comics artist, dies at age 58.
May
May 2: John Forte, American comic book artist, dies at age 47.June
June 8: Clyde Lamb, American comics artist, dies at age 53.July
July 16: Leslie Elton, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 72.August
August 7: Charles Thorson, Canadian editorial cartoonist, animator, illustrator and comic artist, dies at age 75. August 24: Boris Angelushev, Bulgarian caricaturist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 63.September
September 26: Gus Edson, American comics writer and artist, dies at age 65.October
October 13: Henry Louis Diamond, British comics artist, dies at age 62.November
November 7: Bob Wood, American comics artist, dies at age 49 in a traffic accident.November 17: Lóránd Andor, Hungarian painter, graphic artist and cartoonist, dies at age 60.December
December 15: Walt Disney, American animator, film producer, voice actor and businessman, dies at age 65.December 19: Ken Battefield, American comics artist, dies at age 61.Specific date unknown
- Jack Betts, American comics artist, dies at age 61 or 62.
- Jeff Hayes, American comics artist, dies at age 62 or 63.
- S.K. Perkins, British comics artist, dies at age 76 or 77.
- Jon Small, British comics artist, dies at an unknown age.
- Giorgio Scudellari, Chilean-Italian comics artist, dies at age 57 or 58.
- Ed Wheelan, American cartoonist, dies at age 80.
Conventions
July 23–24: New York Comicon — produced by John Benson — guests include Jack Kirby, Jim Steranko, Otto Binder, Len Brown, Larry Ivie, Jack Binder, Roy Thomas, Gil Kane, Archie Goodwin, bhob Stewart, Klaus Nordling, Sal Trapani, Rocke Mastroserio and Ted White; keynote speech by Kirby, a discussion about censorship between Don Thompson and Comics Code Authority acting administrator Leonard Darvin, a panel about the Golden Age of Comics, and one on the "so-called 'Forgotten ’50s,' particularly EC Comics. Bhob Stewart, on a panel with Archie Goodwin and Ted White, predicts that there will soon be "underground comics" just as there are already "underground films."July 23–24: Southwestern Con — c. 70 attendees; organized by Larry Herndon; official guest is Academy of Comic-Book Fans and Collectors executive secretary/"Academy Con" promoter Dave KalerJuly 29–31: Gateway Con — produced by the Gateway Comic Art Fan Club of St. Louis; guests include Reed Crandall, Ted White, Steve Gerber, and Al Capp. Films shown include the complete 12-chapter serial Adventures of Captain Marvel.August 12–14: Academy Con II — produced by Dave Kaler; official guests include Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Bill Everett, Carmine Infantino, Julius Schwartz, and Bill FingerSeptember 24–25: Salone Internazionale dei Comics — 2nd annual show moves to a small piazza in the center of LuccaAwards
[Alley Award]s
Best Comic Magazine Section- Adventure Book with the Main Character in the Title – The Amazing Spider-Man
- Multi-Feature Title – Tales of Suspense
- Super Hero Group Title – Fantastic Four
- Normal Group Adventure Title – M.A.R.S. Patrol
- Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title – Strange Adventures
- Western Title – Kid Colt, Outlaw
- War Title – Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
- Humor Title: Teenage – Archie
- Humor Title: Costumed – Inferior Five
- Humor Title: Juvenile – Uncle Scrooge
- All-Reprint Title – The Spirit
- Combination New & Reprint Material Title – Fantastic Four Annual
- Editor – Stan Lee
- Writer – Stan Lee
- Pencil Work – Al Williamson
- Inking Work – Wally Wood
- Cover – Flash Gordon #1, by Al Williamson
- Coloring – Flash Gordon
- Best Full-Length Story – "How Green was My Goblin", by Stan Lee & John Romita, Sr., The Amazing Spider-Man #39
- Feature Story – "Return to Mongo", by Al Williamson, Flash Gordon #1
- Regular Short Feature – "Tales of Asgard" by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, in The Mighty Thor
- Hall of Fame – n.a.
- Popularity Poll – n.a.
- Best Adventure Strip – The Phantom, by Lee Falk
- 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 Award – Flash Gordon, by Alex Raymond
- Best All-Time Great Comic Strip – Flash Gordon, by Alex Raymond
- Best All-Article Fanzine – Batmania and TNT/Slam-Bang
- Best All-Comics Fanzine – Odd
- Best All-Fiction Fanzine – Batwing
- Best Article/Comic Fanzine – Fantasy Illustrated
- Best Fiction/Comic Fanzine – Comic Art, by Don & Maggie Thompson
- Best Article/Fiction Fanzine – n.a.
- Best Fannish One-Shot – The Spirit, Ed Aprill
- Best Article on Comic Book Material – "Quality Comics Group"
- Best Article on Newspaper Strips – "Pride of the Navy"
- Best Regular Fan Column – "What's News", by Dave Kaler
- Best Fan Fiction – "White Dragon Strikes"
- Best Fan Comic Strip – "Xal-Kor", by Richard "Grass" Green
- Best Fan Artist – Richard "Grass" Green
- Best Comic Strip Writer – Richard "Grass" Green
- Best Fan Project – Ed Aprill's reprints
- Best Newsletter – ''Dateline: Comicdom''
[National Cartoonists Society Division Awards]
Newspaper Comic Strips : Beetle Bailey, by Mort WalkerNewspaper Comic Strips : Rip Kirby, by John PrenticeNewspaper Panel Cartoons: Berry's World, by Jim BerryGag Cartoons: Jack TippitComic Books: Al WilliamsonAdvertising and Illustration: Dick Hodgins, Jr.Editorial Cartoons: Bill CrawfordSports Cartoons: Bruce StarkSpecial Features: Prince Valiant, by Hal FosterReuben Award: The Little King, by Otto SoglowFirst issues by title
Harvey Comics
;Bunny;Double-Dare Adventures
;'Spyman'''''
Other publishers
;Comandante Mark – Sergio Bonelli editore;Fantasy Masterpieces — Marvel Comics
;Gesebel — Editoriale Corno
;Golden Legacy — Fitzgerald Publishing Co.
;Henry Brewster — M. F. Enterprises
;Lady Penelope — City Magazines
;Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt — Charlton Comics
;Smash! — International Publishing Corporation
;Teddy Bob – Astorina
;Teen Titans — DC Comics
;Undersea Agent — Tower Comics
;Weird — Eerie Publications
;witzend — Wally Wood
;Zorro — Gold Key Comics
Initial appearances by character name
Charlton Comics
- Blue Beetle , in Captain Atom vol. 2, #83
- Doctor M.T. Graves, in Ghostly Tales #55
- Doctor Spectro, in Captain Atom #79
- Nightshade, in Captain Atom #82
- Peacemaker, in Fightin' 5 #40
- Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt, in Thunderbolt #1
DC Comics
The Ant, in Teen Titans #5 R. J. Brande, in Adventure Comics #350 Cluemaster, in Detective Comics #351 Computo, in Adventure Comics #340 Dial H for Hero, in House of Mystery #156 Ding Dong Daddy, in Teen Titans #3 Luornu Durgo, in Adventure Comics #341 Enchantress, in Strange Adventures #187 Ferro Lad, in Adventure Comics #346 Karate Kid, in Adventure Comics #346 Khund, in Adventure Comics #346 Ocean Master, in Aquaman #29 Chief O'Hara, in World's Finest Comics #159 Nemesis Kid, in Adventure Comics #346 Outsider, in Detective Comics #356 Parasite, in Action Comics #340 Poison Ivy, in Batman #181 Prince Evillo, in Adventure Comics #350 Royal Flush Gang, in Justice League of America #43 Shaggy Man, in Justice League of America #45 Shrike, in Hawkman #11 Spellbinder , in Detective Comics #358 Stanley and His Monster, in The Fox and the Crow #95 Universo, in Adventure Comics #349 Unknown Soldier, in Our Army at War #168 Rond Vidar, in Adventure Comics #349 White Witch, in Adventure Comics #350Harvey Comics
Bee-Man, in Double-Dare Adventures #1 Bunny, in Bunny #1 Jigsaw, in Jigsaw Spyman, in Spyman #1Marvel Comics
Ares, in Thor #129 Batroc the Leaper, in Tales of Suspense #75 Black Panther, in Fantastic Four #52 Boomerang, in Tales to Astonish #81 Peggy Carter, in Tales of Suspense #77 Sharon Carter, in Tales of Suspense #75 Collector, in Avengers #28 Dionysus, in Thor #129 Dredmund the Druid, in Strange Tales vol. 1 #144 Ego the Living Planet, in Thor #132 Elders of the Universe, in Avengers #28 Fafnir, in Thor #134 Fixer, in Strange Tales #141 Bill Foster, in Avengers #32 Freak, in Tales of Suspense #74 Galactus, in Fantastic Four #48 Hera, in Thor #129 High Evolutionary, in Thor #134 Gladiator, in Daredevil #18 Hippolyta, in Thor #127 Kaluu, in Strange Tales #147 Klaw, in Fantastic Four #53 Living Laser, in Avengers #34 Looter, in The Amazing Spider-Man #36 Man-Beast, in Thor #135 Masked Marauder, in Daredevil #16 Maximus, in Fantastic Four #47 Mentallo, in Strange Tales #141 Mimic, in Uncanny X-Men #19 New Men, in Thor #135 Plunderer, in Daredevil #13 Pluto, in Thor #127 Punisher, in Fantastic Four #49 Prester John, in Fantastic Four #54 Quasimodo, in Fantastic Four Annual #4 Rhino, in The Amazing Spider-Man #41 Silver Surfer, in Fantastic Four #48 Jasper Sitwell, in Strange Tales #144 Mendel Stromm, in The Amazing Spider-Man #37 Ultimo, in Tales of Suspense #76 Umar, in Strange Tales #150 Valkyrior, in Thor #133 Mary Jane Watson, in The Amazing Spider-Man #42 Wyatt Wingfoot, in Fantastic Four #50Other publishers
- Emil Eagle – Disney
- Diclie Duck, by Romano Scarpa, in Topolino
- Jodelle, in Hara-Kiri
- Lone Sloane, in Mystère des Abîmes
- Pepe Gotera y Otilio, in Tío Vivo
- Peppermint Patty, in Peanuts
- Sally the Witch, in Ribon
- Smurfette, in ''Spirou''