1976 in comics

Events

Year overall

• Fantagraphics Books, Inc. founded by Gary Groth and Michael Catron.Bloodstar, based on a short story by Robert E. Howard and illustrated by Richard Corben, published by Morning Star Press. It is possibly the first graphic novel to call itself a "graphic novel" in print.Chandler: Red Tide, an illustrated novel by Jim Steranko, published by Pyramid Books.
• Flying Buttress Publications is founded in Syracuse, New York by Terry Nantier.Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man, the first major intercompany crossover, is co-published by DC Comics and Marvel Comics.
• The final episode of Harry Hanan's comic series Louie is published.
• Jean Graton launches his sports comic series Julie Wood.
• Dwaine B. Tinsley launches Chester the Molester in Hustler.

January

• Jenette Kahn replaces Carmine Infantino as DC Comics' publisher and editorial director.
• DC revives All Star Comics with issue #58, continuing the numbering from the original 1940 series. Written by Gerry Conway, with art by Ric Estrada and Wally Wood.
• With issue #244 — after an eight-year hiatus — DC revives Blackhawk, which began in 1944 under Quality Comics, was acquired by DC in 1957, and stopped publishing in 1968.Marvel Super Action, a Curtis Magazines one-shot, edited by Archie Goodwin, is released.
• The first episode of Lo scimmiotto, by Silverio Pisu and Milo Manara, an adaptation of the Chinese classic Journey to the West, appears in the Italian magazine .
• In France, Adèle and the beast, the first album of The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec by Jacques Tardi, is released by Casterman.
• After a two-year hiatus, DC comics come back on Italian newsstands, with the first issue of Superman and Batman, by Edizioni Cenisio.

March

• March 14 : In Topolino the first episode of The Forgetful Hero by Giorgio Pezzin and Giorgio Cavazzano is serialized.
• March 18: in Spirou, La frontiere de la vie by Roger Leluoup is prepublished.
• March 25 : in Spirou, La fille du canyon by Jijè.
• DC Comics raises the prices of its standard comics from 25 cents to 30 cents, keeping the page-count at 36.
• Gerry Conway succeeds Marv Wolfman as Marvel Comics editor-in-chief in March 1976, but holds the job only briefly, relinquishing the post before the month is out, succeeded in turn by Archie Goodwin.The Warlord, with issue #2, goes on hiatus until October /November
• First issue of the western series Jesus, by Enrico Missaglia, published by Renzo Barbieri.

April

• With issue #45, DC revives Metal Men, which itself was a 1973 revival of a 1963 series which had stopped publishing in 1969.
• In France, The Demon of the Eiffel Tower by Jacques Tardi, the second album of The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec, is released by Casterman.
• In Il mago, the parodic noir series Big Sleeping, by Daniele Panebianco makes its debut.
• April 25: The first episode of the Astérix story Obelix and Co., by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo is serialized in the Nouvel Observateur.

May

• Vince Colletta becomes the art director of DC Comics.
• In Metal hurlant, ''The long tomorrow,'' by Dan O’ Bannon and Moebius.

June

• Diane Noomin and Aline Kominsky release the one-shot comic book, Twisted Sisters, published by Last Gasp.Superman #300: "Superman, 2001!" — an imaginary story featuring a Superman who came to Earth in 1976 — by Cary Bates, Elliot S! Maggin, Curt Swan, and Bob Oksner. Star Spangled War Stories #200, featuring the Unknown Soldier and Enemy Ace, edited by Joe Orlando. The [Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk] #200: "An Intruder in the Mind!" by Len Wein, Sal Buscema, and Joe Staton. Kandrax il mago by Guido Nolitta and Gallieno Ferri; Kandrax, a druid by the extraordinary psychic powers, antagonist of Zagor makes his debut.Specific date in June unknown: The first episode of Roger Fletcher's long-running comic series Torkan appears in print.

July

August

• With issue #90, DC revives the title Green Lantern under the name Green Lantern, co-Starring Green Arrow. The Green Lantern series previously began in 1960 and stopped publishing in 1972.Superman #302: The first issue with the restored credit that Superman was "created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster."
• The first strips of Nilus, by the Origone brothers, appear on the Italian magazine Il mago.

September

• The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, founded by Joe Kubert and Muriel Kubert, begins teaching its first class of students, some of whom include Stephen R. Bissette, Thomas Yeates, and Rick Veitch.
• With issue #9, DC suspends publication of Claw the Unconquered; it picks up again with issue #10 in 1978.
• Following DC's lead, Marvel Comics raises the prices of its standard comic book from 25 cents to 30 cents, keeping the page-count at 36.I promessi paperi, by Edoardo Segantini and Giulio Cherchini, a parody of Alessandro Manzoni's The Bethrothed, with Donald Duck and Daisy as Renzo and Lucia, appears in Topolino.

October

• Il Corriere dei ragazzi is renamed Corrier Boy and changes the editorial formula radically, with more articles and fewer comics. The new trend will lead to the qualitative decline and the closure of the magazine.
• The first episode of On the false earths, by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mezieres, appears in Pilote''.

November

• The final issue of the Belgian comics magazine Samedi-Jeunesse is published.
• Marvel cancels 6 ongoing titles: Amazing Adventures, Chamber of Chills, Jungle Action, Marvel Feature, Skull the Slayer, and the Curtis Magazines title Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction.
• With issue #44, DC revives Teen Titans vol. 1, which began in 1966 and stopped publishing in 1973.
• Sergio Bonelli publishes the collection Un uomo un avventura, which introduces the self-contained graphic novel in Italy. The first issue is The man of Khartoum by Sergio Toppi, followed next month by The man of Zululand by Gino d’Antonio. In the subsequent years, all the most important Italian cartoonists give their contribution to the series.
• Sandopaper e la perla di Labuan, by Michele Gazzari and Giovan Battista Carpi, parody of Emilio Salgari's The tigers of Mompracem, with Donald Duck as Sandokan, appears on Topolino.

December

• Marvel Comics launches its third ongoing Spider-Man series, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man.
• The first episode of Colombo, tragedia di un bighellone, by Francesco Tullio Altan, appears on the Italian magazine Linus. The comic mocks Christopher Columbus as a greedy and vulgar adventurer and a pedophile.
• Hans G. Kresse and Lo Hartog van Banda receive the Stripschapprijs.

Births

July

Deaths

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

September

October

November

December

Specific date unknown

• Gérard Dorville, French comics artist, dies at age 42 or 43.
• Clyde Lewis, American comics artist, dies at age 65/75 or 66/76.
• Jack Monk, British comics artist, dies at age 71 or 72.
• Tom Schroeder, American comics artist, dies at age 90 or 91.
• George Storm, American comics artist, dies at age 82 or 83.

Conventions

• Lancaster Comic Art Convention — produced by Chuck Miller and Charlie Roberts
• Pittcon '76 January: Cincinnati Comic Convention — 2nd annual show; guests include Frank Brunner, Steve Gerber, Mary Skrenes, and Martin PaskoJanuary 3: Creation Convention — a highlight of the convention was the availability for purchase of copies of the landmark $2 DC-Marvel collaboration Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man treasury-sized comic February 27–29: Super DC Con '76 — organized by Phil Seuling to celebrate Superman's birthday; guests include Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, and Julius SchwartzMarch 19–21: Comics 101 — organized by Denis Gifford to celebrate the 101st year of British comics; guests include John M. Burns, Ron Embleton, Don Lawrence, Frank Hampson, Alan Class, Mick Anglo, Stanley White, and Steve Dowling; presentation of the Ally Sloper AwardsApril: Mid-America Comic Convention — 2nd annual showApril 23–25: Marvel-Con '76 — 2nd annual show; guests include Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Roy Thomas, and John BuscemaApril 30 – May 2: Underground '76 — another iteration of Berkeleycon, organized by Clay Geerdes/Comix WorldSummer: Atlanta Fantasy Fair — official guests include Frank Brunner, Steve Gerber, Dick Giordano, and Kenneth SmithJune 11–14: D-Con June 17–20: Houstoncon '76/Star Trek '76 — guests include George Takei, Grace Lee Whitney, and Johnny WeissmullerJuly 16–18: Omnicon — produced by Don Rosa and James Van Hise; guests include Frank Brunner, DeForest Kelley, and Michael Kaluta.July 2–6: Comic Art Convention July 2–4: Konvention of Alternative Komix "KAK 76" — underground comix convention produced by the Birmingham Arts Lab ; guests include Chris Welch, Steve Bell, Bryan Talbot, Mike Higgs, and Suzy VartyJuly 21–25: San Diego Comic-Con — 3,000+ attendees, special guests include Sergio Aragonés, Mel Blanc, Milton Caniff, Rick Griffin, Dale Messick, Joe Shuster, Noel Sickles, Don Thompson, Maggie ThompsonAugust 6–8: Chicago Comicon — produced by Joe Sarno and Mike Gold. Special guests: Stan Lee, Jenette Kahn, Harvey Kurtzman, Mike Grell, and Tim ConradAugust 21–22: British [Comic Art Convention|Comicon '76 (British Comic Art Convention)] — organized by Rob Barrow; guests include Paul Neary and Tony Weare; convention booklet features artwork by Dave Gibbons, John Bolton, Kevin O'Neill, Paul Neary, Brian Bolland, Ron Embleton, John M. Burns, Brian Lewis, Martin Asbury, Frank Hampson, John Romita, Sr., Bryan Talbot, and Hunt EmersonSeptember 3–5: Spectrum Con 76 — guests include Jim Steranko and Pat BoyetteSeptember 12: Comic Rama Con — guests include Jerry IgerSeptember 18–19: OrlandoCon '76 — guests include Jack Davis, Harvey Kurtzman, and Floyd GottfredsonOctober: Detroit Triple Fan Fair — 11th edition of the fair; guests include Joe Kubert, John G. Fuller, and Mike NasserOctober 1–3: Fourth Dimension Con — guests include Frederik Pohl, Will Eisner, Val Mayerik, Paul Gulacy, and Harlan EllisonOctober 22–24: Newcon '76 — guests include Jim Steranko, Michael Kaluta, Dick Giordano, Harvey Kurtzman, Gil Kane, Carl Barks, and John StanleyOctober 30–November 4: Salone Internazionale dei Comics a.k.a. "Lucca 12" November 20–21: Sonja-Con — two-day convention dedicated to Red Sonja, produced by Delaware Valley Comic Art Convention; official guests include Frank Thorne, Dave Cockrum, Gene Colan, Joe Staton, Dick Giordano, and Bob LaytonNovember 26–28: Big Comicon Creation Convention — 4,500 attendees; official guests include Ralph Bakshi, Jenette Kahn, Michael Kaluta, Jeff Jones, Gil Kane, Steve Gerber, Nicola Cuti, Bob Smith, Alex Niño, Martin Pasko, Marv Wolfman, Jim Steranko, Howard Chaykin, Joe Staton, Jerry Iger, and Len Wein

Awards

Eagle Awards

First issues by title

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

Other publishers

Canceled titles

Charlton Comics

DC Comics

Gold Key Comics

Harvey Comics

Marvel Comics

Other publishers

Initial appearance by character name

DC Comics

• Ace of Spades, in The Joker #5
• Atomic Skull (Albert Michael), in Superman #303
• Black Spider, in Detective Comics #463
• Blackrock, in Action Comics #458
• Bumblebee (Karen Beecher), in Teen Titans #45
• Calculator, in Detective Comics #463
• Captain Stingaree, in Detective Comics #460
• Codename: Assassin, in 1st Issue Special #11
• Deborah Camille Darnell, in Secret Society of Super Villains #1
• Duela Dent, in Batman Family #6
• Grimbor the Chainsman, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #221
• Isis, in Isis #1
• Earthman, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #218
• Kobra, in Kobra #1
• Laurel Kent, in Superboy #217
• Machiste, in The Warlord #2
• Paul Kirk III in Secret Society of Super-Villains #1
• Outsiders, in 1st Issue Special #10
• Power Girl, in All Star Comics #58
• Ragman, in Ragman #1
• Revenger, in Karate Kid #3
• Starfire, in Starfire #1
• Starman (Mikaal Tomas), in 1st Issue Special #12
• Skull, in Superman #301
• Leslie Thompkins, in Detective Comics #457
• Tyroc, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #216
• Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog, in Super Friends #1

Marvel Comics

• * Arishem the Judge, in The Eternals #2
• * Exitar the Exterminator, in Thor #387
• * Gammenon the Gatherer, in The Eternals #4 Condor, in Nova #2 Corruptor, in Nova #4 in Darkstar, in Champions #7 Jean DeWolff, in Marvel Team-Up #48 The Eternals, in The Eternals #1
• * Ajak, in The Eternals #2
• * Domo, in The Eternals #5
• * Ikaris, in The Eternals #1
• * Makkari, in The Eternals #1
• * Sersi, in The Eternals #3
• * Thena, in The Eternals #5
• * Zuras, in The Eternals #5 Guardsman (Michael O'Brien), in Iron Man #82 Hellcat, in Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers] #144 Human Fly (Richard Deacon), in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #10Hurricane (Albert Potter), in Captain Britain #3 Jigsaw, in The Amazing Spider-Man #162 Shen Kuei, in Master of Kung Fu #38 Mirage, in The Amazing Spider-Man #156 Lilandra Neramani, in X-Men #97 Nova, in Nova #1 Rampage, in Champions #5 Amanda Sefton, in Uncanny X-Men #98 Star-Lord, in Marvel Preview #4

Other publishers

• Storm (Don Lawrence), in ''Storm''