1969 in comics


Notable events of 1969 in comics.

Events

Year overall

January

January 2: In the magazine Pilote, the first episode of the Lucky Luke story Jesse James, by René Goscinny and Morris is serialized.

February

February 1: The first issue of the underground comix magazine Gothic Blimp Works is published. It will last until 1 September.February 18: In Tintin, the first chapters of the Ric Hochet story Cauchemar pour Ric Hochet by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet are serialized. In the same issue the Bruno Brazil story Commando Caiman by Greg and William Vance takes off.February 24: The first issue of the French comics magazine Pif Gadget is published. It marks the debut of Rahan by Roger Lécureux and André Chéret, as well as Henri Crespi and Marc Moallic's Ludovic.February 27: The first episode of Bob De Groot and Turk's gag comic Robin Dubois is published in Tintin.

March

March 15: The first episode of Tom Tully and Francisco Solano López's Janus Stark is published.

April

April 10: The first issue of the erotic series Lucrezia by Renzo Barbieri is launched, inspired by the life of Lucrezia Borgia.April 19: Nikola Lekić and Lazo Sredanović 's Dikan makes its debut.April 26: The final issue of the British comics magazine Eagle is published.April 26: The final episode of Ted Cowan and Reg Bunn's The Spider is published.April 28: Charles M. Schulz opens his own ice arena, Redwood Empire in Santa Rosa, California.House of Mystery #179, "The Man Who Murdered Himself" was the first professional comic work by artist Bernie Wrightson.

May

May 10 : In Tintin, The Adventures of Alix story Le Dieu Sauvage by Jacques Martin starts its serialisation.May 15: The first episode of Jaroslav Němeček' Čtyřlístek is published.May 15: In Pilote, the Blueberry story La Mine de l’Allemand Perdu by Jean-Michel Charlier and Jean Giraud is first serialized, the first chapter of the diptych Superstition mountains.May 18: The command and lunar module for the Apollo 10 are named after Charlie Brown and Snoopy.May 22: In Pilote, the first chapter of Asterix in Spain, by Goscinny and Uderzo is serialized.May 29 : In Spirou, the first Spirou and Fantasio story drawn by Jean-Claude Fournier, Le Faiseur d'Or is serialized.

June

June 8: In the Disney magazine Topolino, the Donald Duck story Paperinik il Diabolico Vendicatore by Guido Martina and Giovan Battista Carpi is first serialized. This marks the debut of Donald Duck's masked crusader alter ego Paperinik, created by Elisa Penna. Paperinik will remain a staple of the Italian Disney comics universe.

July

July 10: The first chapter of the story Zagor Racconta by Guido Nolitta and Gallieno Ferri, is published and reveals the origins of the hero.July 15: In Tintin, the first chapter of Michel Vaillant 's story 5 Filles dans la Course ! by Jean Graton is serialized.July 29 : In Tintin, the first chapter of the Ric Hochet story Les Spectres de la Nuit by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet is serialized.

August

August 8: The first episode of Fujiko F. Fujio's Doraemon is published.August 12: The final episode of Alain Saint-Ogan's Zig et Puce is published.
  • Marvel Comics follows DC's lead and raises the price of its typical comic from 12 cents to 15 cents.
  • The first issue of the Italian comics magazine Re di Picche is published in which Luciano Bottaro's Re di Picche makes his debut.
  • In the 4th issue of Zap Comix Robert Crumb's controversial comic strip Joe Blow causes scandal over its tale of incest within the all-American family. The magazine is banned from many stores afterwards.

September

September 6: The final issue of the British comics magazine TV Century 21 is published. It merges with Joe 90 on 27 September and will continue in this format until 25 September 1971.September 11: The first episode of Maurice Tillieux and Arthur Piroton's detective series Jess Long debuts in Spirou.

October

October 12: in Corriere dei Piccoli, the story Valentina Mela Verde by Grazia Nidasio is first serialized, a coming-of-age story about a girl from the Milan middle-class.October 13: The first episode of the controversial British satirical and erotic comic strip Varoomshka by John Kent is published.October 18: The first issue of the British comics magazine Whizzer and Chips is published. In its first issue Mike Lacey's Sid's Snake debuts, which will run until 2000. Another comic strip to make its debut is Terry Bave's Odd Ball.October 20: John Lennon releases his solo album Wedding Album, which features a self-drawn three-page comic strip inside the sleeve. October 25: In the second issue of Whizzer and Chips Mike Lacey's Shiner debuts, which will run until 1976.October 25 : In Pilote, the first chapter of the Valérian and Laureline story Empire of a Thousand Planets, by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières is serialized, marking the first apparition of XB982, Valerian’s spaceship. In the same issue, the Lucky Luke story Western circus by Goscinny and Morris takes off.

November

December

December 13: The final issue of the British girls' comics magazine Lady Penelope is published.December 16: In Tintin, the first chapter of the Bruno Brazil story Les Yeux sans Visage by Greg and William Vance is serialized.December 25: The first episode of Yvan Delporte, André Franquin, Raymond Macherot and Will's Isabelle is published.Metal Men, with issue #41, suspends publishing. .
  • First issue of the magazine Horror, dedicated to the Italian author comics of fantastic genre.

Specific date unknown

Births

November

November 29: Greg Rucka, American comic book writer.

Deaths

January

January 7: Earl Duvall, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 70.

February

February 2: Roger Melliès, French comics artist, dies at age 67.February 3: Al Taliaferro, American comics artist, dies at age 63.

March

March 3: Bill Freyse, American comic artist, dies at age 70.March 20: Henri van de Velde, Dutch painter, illustrator, graphic artist and comics artist, dies at age 73.

April

April 16: Nils Larsson, Swedish illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 91.

May

May 10: George Klein, American comics artist, dies from cirrhosis at age 53 or 54.May 18: Alfredo Adduard, Chilean comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 69 or 70.May 25: Boy ten Hove / Barend ten Hove, Dutch caricaturist, advertising artist and comics artist, dies at age 60.

June

June 3: Buriko, Italian comic artist, dies at an unknown age.June 24: Frank King, American comics writer and artist, dies at age 86.

July

July 5: Guillermo Divito, Argentine comics artist, illustrator, caricaturist and editor, dies at age 54 in a car crash.July 17: Clayton Knight, American comics artist, dies at age 78.July 24: Ira Schnapp, Austrian-American graphic designer and comics letterer, dies at age 74.

August

August 2: Russell Stamm, American comics artist, dies from a heart attack at age 53.August 20: Dudley D. Watkins, British comics artist, dies at age 62.August 25: Bjarne Restan, Norwegian illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 70.

September

September 1:
  • * Alex Blum, Hungarian-American comics artist, dies at age 80.
  • * Auguste Liquois, French comic artist, dies at age 67.September 25: Frans van Lamsweerde, aka Faun, Dutch comics artist, illustrator and animator, dies at age 49.

October

October 19: Mario Morelli di Popolo, Italian-Egyptian comics artist, dies at age 67 or 68.

November

November 27: Cecilia May Gibbs, Australian children's book illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 92.

Specific date unknown

  • Ernst Akerbladh, Swedish illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 78 or 79.
  • Javier Puerto Bagüeña, Spanish comics artist, dies at an unknown age.
  • Tom Cottrell, aka S. Seymour, aka Jolly, British editorial cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 78 or 79.
  • Dan Gordon, American animator, storyboard artist and comics artist, dies at an unknown age.
  • Barye Phillips, American illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 44 or 45.
  • Harris Steinbrook, aka Harris Steinberg, American comics artist, dies at age 56 or 57.

Exhibitions and shows

May 20-June 15: Corcoran Gallery of Art — White Rain: The Phonus Balonus Show of Some Really Heavy Stuff, curated by Bhob Stewart for museum director Walter Hopps, includes work by R. Crumb, Gilbert Shelton, Vaughn Bodé, Kim Deitch, Jay Lynch and othersOctober 28–November 22: Phoenix Gallery — The New Comix, curated by gallery owner Si Lowinsky, featuring the Zap Comix collective ; the gallery was brought up on obscenity charges because of the show

Conventions

Summer: British [Comic Art Convention|Comicon '69 (British Comic Art Convention 2)] — organized by Bram Stokes, Frank Dobson, and Steve Moore; guests include Steve Parkhouse and Barry SmithJune 7–8: Triple Fan Fair — guests include Edmond Hamilton, Leigh Brackett, Stan Lee, and Al WilliamsonJune 20–22: Southwesterncon IV/ Houston Comic Book Convention July 4–6: Comic Art Convention — first official Comic Art Convention, produced by Phil Seuling; guest of honor: Hal Foster; other guests and attendees include Gil Kane, Roy Thomas, Gray Morrow, John Buscema, Al Williamson, Jeff Jones, Don McGregor, Richard Marschall; Al Milgrom, Alan Weiss, Angelo Torres, Archie Goodwin, Arvell Jones, Bill Devine, Bill Pearson, Bob Lewis, Carole Seuling, Dick Giordano, Gary Brown, Gary Groth, Gary Via, Greg Potter, Hal Foster, Irene Vartanoff, Jerry Bails, Joe Sinnott, John Fantucchio, John Verpoorten, Len Wein, Mark Hanerfeld, Martin Greim, Marv Wolfman, Mary Skrenes, Phil Seuling, Rich Buckler, Richard "Grass" Green, Sal Trapini, Tom Fagan, and Woody Gelman; attendees pay $3.50 for a three-day ticket, with daily passes at $1.50. Admittance free with a hotel room rental, which costs $15-and-up per day.November 1–3: Salone Internazionale dei Comics a.k.a. "Lucca 5" December 27: Miamicon

Awards

[Alley Awards]

Best Comic Magazine Section
Professional Work
Special Awards
  • Carmine Infantino, "who exemplifies the spirit of innovation and inventiveness in the field of comic art".
  • Joe Kubert, "for the cinematic storytelling techniques and the exciting and dramatic style he has brought to the field of comic art".
  • Neal Adams, "for the new perspective and dynamic vibrance he has brought to the field of comic art".
Popularity Poll
Newspaper Strip Section
Fan Activity Section

[National Cartoonist Society Division Awards]

First issues by title

DC Comics

Date with Debbi
From Beyond the Unknown
The Phantom Stranger
'The Witching Hour'''''

Marvel Comics

Chamber of Darkness
'Tower of Shadows'''''

Other publishers

Alan Ford
Archie's TV Laugh-Out
Čtyřlístek
Everything's Archie
Golden Comics Digest
Gothic Blimp Works
'Poem Strip'''''

Canceled titles

DC Comics

Bat Lash, with issue #7 Beware the Creeper, with issue #6 Secret Six, with issue #7

Marvel Comics

Not Brand Echh, with issue #13 Doctor Strange, with issue #183

Other publishers

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, with issue #20

Initial appearance by character name

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

Controller, in Iron Man vol. 1, #12 Digger, in Tower of Shadows #1 Falcon, in Captain America #117 Father Set, in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #9 Vanessa Fisk, in The Amazing Spider-Man #70 Frankenstein's Monster, in Silver Surfer #7 Galaxy Master, in The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #111 Glob, in The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #121 Grandmaster, in The Avengers #69 Guardians of the Galaxy, in Marvel Super-Heroes #18 Havok, in Uncanny X-Men #54 Hyperion, in The Avengers #69 Larry Trask, in Uncanny X-Men #57 Living Monolith, in Uncanny X-Men #54 Machinesmith (Starr Saxon), in Daredevil #49 Man Mountain Marko, in The Amazing Spider-Man #73 Man-Ape, in The Avengers #62 Midas, in Iron Man #17 Naga, in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #9 Nighthawk (Kyle Richmond), in The Avengers #69 Prowler, in The Amazing Spider-Man #78 Sauron, in Uncanny X-Men #60 Savage Land Mutates in Uncanny X-Men #62