1971 in comics


Notable events of 1971 in comics.

Events

January

August

January

  • January 17: Oscar Knudsen, Danish illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 72.
  • January 27: E. Simms Campbell, American comics artist, dies at age 65.

    February

  • February 18: Walter Booth, British comics artist, dies at age 81.
  • February 24: Jan Bouman, Dutch comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 56.
  • February 21: Ercüment Kalmik, Turkish painter and comics artist, dies at age 61 or 62.

    March

  • March 10: Ladislaus Kmoch, aka Ludwig Kmoch, Austrian illustrator, cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 73.

    April

  • April 23: Marius J.G. Thomassen, aka Mathos, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 81.
  • April: David Law, Scottish comics artist, dies at age 63.

    May

  • May 10: Ted Mathijsen, aka Roberic, Dutch comics artist, dies at age 44.

    June

  • June 5: Otto Waffenschmied, German comics artist, dies at age 69.
  • June 9: Russell R. Winterbotham, American novelist and comics writer, dies at age 66.
  • June 27: Catrinus Tas, Dutch cartoonist, dies at age 42.
  • June: Henri Dimpre, French illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 64.
  • June: Carl Rose, aka Earl Cros, American cartoonist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 68.

    July

  • July 2: Art Helfant, American comics artist, dies at age 72 or 73.
  • July 7: Ub Iwerks, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 70.
  • July 19: Garry Cleveland Myers Sr., American psychologist and comics writer and publisher, dies at age 87.
  • July 24: Lou Fine, American comics artist, dies at age 56.

    August

  • Specific date unknown: Julius Svendsen, Norwegian-American comics artist and animator , dies at age 51 or 52.

    October

  • October 22: Cois Cassiers, Belgian comedian, cameraman and comic artist, dies at age
  • October 25: Paul Terry, American animator, film director, film producer and comics artist, dies at age 84.

    November

  • November: Hy Gage, American comics artist, dies at age 93.
  • November 28: Vasil Zahariev, Bulgarian painter and comics artist, dies at age 76.

    December

  • December 20: Roy Disney, American film producer and brother of Walt Disney, dies at age 78 from an intracranial hemorrhage.
  • December 22: Godfried Bomans, Dutch novelist, columnist and comics writer, dies at age 58 from a heart attack.
  • December 23: Gray Croucher, aka Gray, British-Belgian comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 51.
  • December 28: Burt Gillett, American animator and film director, dies at age 80 from a heart attack.
  • Specific date unknown: Joe Easley, American comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 87.

    Specific date unknown

  • Georges Bourdin, French illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 83 or 84.
  • Reg Bunn, British comics artist, dies at age 65 or 66.
  • Lev Gleason, American comics publisher, dies at age 62 or 63.
  • James Jewell, Scottish comics artist, dies at age 73.
  • Noé Solano Vargas, Costa Rican comics artist, dies at age 71 or 72.

    Exhibitions

  • April 18–May 2: New York City — first exhibition of comic books
  • September 8–November 7: 75 Years of the Comics, New York Cultural Center, New York — curated by Maurice Horn

    Conventions

  • January 2: Miamicon '71
  • February 27–28: Comicon '71 — organized by Bram Stokes and Dez Skinn; guest of honor: Frank Bellamy; other guests include Frank Dickens, Mick Farren, and Edward Barker
  • Summer: Name TK
  • June 17–20: Houstoncon '71 — official guests include Kirk Alyn at his first fan convention
  • July 2–4: Comic Art Convention — presentation of the Goethe Awards, emceed by Tony Isabella and Carl Gafford. Convention credited by Will Eisner for his return to comics:
  • July 8–11: D-Con '71 — 6th annual Southwesterncon; guest of honor: Robert Bloch
  • August 6–8: Golden State Comic Con — official guests: Kirk Alyn, Leigh Brackett, Ray Bradbury, Edmund Hamilton, Jack Kirby
  • August 14–15: Metro Con — second annual show organized by 16-year-old Gary Groth; attendees include guest of honor Frank Frazetta, Phil Seuling, Bud Plant, Dave Cockrum, Dennis O'Neil, Ted White, Len Wein, Mark Hanerfeld, Marv Wolfman, and Gerry Conway
  • August 20-21: Miamicon II
  • October 29–November 1: Salone Internazionale dei Comics a.k.a. "Lucca 7" — festival expands to four days
  • November 26–28: Creation Con — first iteration of this trade show, produced by two 14-year-old Queens schoolboys, Adam Malin and Gary Berman; guest: Jim Steranko

    Awards

[Goethe Awards]

Presented July 3, 1972, at the Comic Art Convention, New York City in a ceremony emceed by Tony Isabella and Carl Gafford. The Goethe Award ballot was initially published in The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom, The Monster Times, and Graphic Story World. Nominations were sent in from 335 readers. Ultimately, there were 7 categories with 4-7 nominees in each category. 700 fans voted for the final nominees. The award results were also published in Comic Art News & Reviews.
Presented in 1972 for comics published in 1971:

Charlton Comics

Ghost Manor vol. 2'
Ghostly Haunts
Haunted'''''

DC Comics

Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love
DC 100 Page Super Spectacular: debuts with issue #4
Forever People
Ghosts
Mister Miracle
New Gods
'Weird War Tales'''''

Marvel Comics

Kull the Conqueror
Marvel Feature
Marvel Spotlight
'Savage Tales'''''

Independent titles

Air Pirates Funnies
Countdown
The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers
Mickey Rat
'Tammy'''''

Initial appearance by character name

DC Comics