1969 in comics

Notable events of 1969 in comics. See also List of years in comics. This is a list of comics-related events in 1969.

Events

Year overall

• Paragon Publications established in Longwood, Florida, by Bill Black.
• Tower Comics goes out of business.
• Kinney National Company, parent of National Periodical Publications, takes over Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, changing its name to just Warner Bros..
• Chuck Rozanski starts selling comics at age 13, from his parents' basement, which is the foundation of Mile High Comics, a comics store in Boulder, Colorado, which he'll open as a professional store at age 19. [1]

January

• Rip Off Press established in San Francisco by Gilbert Shelton, Jaxon, Dave Moriaty, and Fred Todd.
• Sub-Mariner #9: First appearance of the Serpent Crown.
• Marvel Super-Heroes #18: debut of the Guardians of the Galaxy (created by Arnold Drake and Gene Colan, from an idea by Roy Thomas and Stan Lee)

February

• February 1: The first issue of the underground comix magazine Gothic Blimp Works is published. It will last until 1 September. [2]
• February 24: The first issue of the French comics magazine Pif Gadget is published. [3] It marks the debut of Rahan by Roger Lécureux and André Chéret. [4]
• The Golden Age character Phantom Stranger makes his first Silver Age appearance in Showcase #80.
• Flash Gordon (1966 series), with issue #12, is picked up by Charlton Comics, taking over from the defunct King Comics.

March

• March 15: The first episode of Tom Tully and Francisco Solano López's Janus Stark is published. [5][6]
• The final issue of the Italian comics magazine Killing is published.
• Strange Adventures, with issue #217, becomes a reprint title. (DC Comics)
• Renzo Barbieri and Giorgio Cavedon's Jacula makes its debut.

April

• April 19: Nikola Lekić and Lazo Sredanović 's Dikan makes his debut. [7]
• 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. [8]
• House of Mystery #179, "The Man Who Murdered Himself" was the first professional comic work by artist Bernie Wrightson.[9]

May

• May 15: The first episode of Jaroslav Němeček' Čtyřlístek is published. [10]
• The first issue of the Dutch underground magazine Aloha is published. It will run until April 1974.[11]
• The first episode of Max Bunker and Roberto Raviola's Alan Ford is published.
• The final issue of the magazine Not Brand Echh is published.

June

• June 8: Elisa Penna, Guido Martina and Giovan Battista Carpi's introduce Donald Duck's masked crusader alter ego Paperinik in the Italian Disney comics universe.[12]
• June 28: The final episode of Charles Kuhn's Grandma is published. [13]
• In Wonder Woman Volume 1 Mike Sekowsky introduces the character of Drusilla, who is Wonder Woman's younger sister.
• DC Comics raises the price of its typical comic from 12 cents to 15 cents.

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 (in the rebooted version by Greg) is published. [14]
• 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. [15]

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.
• The first issue of the comics magazine Vampirella is published, introducing Forrest J. Ackerman and Trina Robbins's character Vampirella.
• The first issue of the horror comics magazine Tower of Shadows is published.
• The final issue of Strange Suspense Stories is published.
• The Brave and the Bold #85, Artist Neal Adams updated Green Arrow's visual appearance by designing a new costume for the character in The Brave and the Bold #85 (August -September 1969).[16]

October

• October 13: The first episode of the controversial British satirical and erotic comic strip Varoomshka by John Kent is published. [17]
• 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. [18] Another comic strip to make its debut is Terry Bave's Odd Ball.
• October 25: In the second issue of Whizzer and Chips Mike Lacey's Shiner debuts, which will run until 1976. [18]
• The final issue of the first run of Space Family Robinson is published. It will be rebooted in October 1973.
• The Marvel Comics reprint title Marvel Collectors' Item Classics, with issue #23, becomes Marvel's Greatest Comics.
• The first issue of the Italian comics series Vartan by Sandro Angiolini is published.

November

• Warner Bros.-Seven Arts buys National Comics Publications (DC Comics).

December

• December 13: The final issue of the British girls' comics magazine Lady Penelope is published.
• December 25: The first episode of Yvan Delporte, André Franquin, Raymond Macherot and Will's Isabelle is published. [19]
• Metal Men, with issue #41 (December 1969/January 1970 cover-date), suspends publishing. (The title is revived in 1973 as a reprint book, then goes on hiatus until 1976.) (DC Comics).

Specific date unknown

• The first episode of Charles Grigg's Splodge is published.
• Lucho Olivera's Gilgamesh the immortal makes its debut.
• Fat Freddy's Cat makes his debut in Gilbert Shelton's Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers.
• Dino Buzzati's Poem Strip debuts.
• Jo Addams and Luis Roca's Scarth A.D. 2195 debuts as Scarth. [20]
• Edwina Dumm’s Alec the Great comes to an end.
• The final episode of the newspaper comic Little Lulu is published.

Deaths

January

• January 7: Earl Duvall, American animator and comics artist (Bucky Bug, Silly Symphony comic strip), dies at age 70.[21]

February

• February 2: Roger Melliès, French comics artist (Bill Bock et Kay, made comics about Biggles), dies at age 67.[22]
• February 3: Al Taliaferro, American comics artist (Bucky Bug, Silly Symphony comic strip, Three Little Pigs comic strip, Donald Duck newspaper gag comic), dies at age 63.[23]

March

• March 20: Henri van de Velde, Dutch painter, illustrator, graphic artist and comics artist (Het avontuur van Haverstok met den koffer van Verweegen en Kok), dies at the age of 73.[24]

April

• April 16: Nils Larsson, Swedish illustrator and comics artist (Den Illa gör), dies at age 91.[25]

May

• May 10:[26] George Klein, American comics artist (Superman), dies from cirrhosis of the liver at age 53 or 54, six months after getting married.[27]
• May 18: Alfredo Adduard, Chilean comics artist and illustrator (Don Bilz), passes away at age 69 or 70. [28]
• May 25: Boy ten Hove / Barend ten Hove, Dutch caricaturist, advertising artist and comics artist (Kees Kogel, Piet en Puk), dies at age 60.[29]

June

• June 24: Frank King, American comics artist (Gasoline Alley), passes away at age 86.[30]

July

• July 5: Guillermo Divito, Argentine comics artist, illustrator, caricaturist and editor (Bombolo, Pochita Morfoni, El Doctor Merengue, Fulmine, Fallutelli, Divito Girls, founder of the magazine Rico Tipo), dies at age 54 in a car crash.[31]
• July 17: Clayton Knight, American comics artist (Ace Drummond), dies at age 78. [32]
• July 24: Ira Schnapp, Austrian-American graphic designer and comics letterer (designed logos for DC Comics), dies at age 74. [33]

August

• August 2: Russell Stamm, American comics artist (Invisible Scarlet O'Neil), dies from a heart attack at age 53.[34]
• August 20: Dudley D. Watkins, British comics artist (Oor Wullie, Desperate Dan, The Broons, Lord Snooty, Mickey the Monkey, Jack Flash, Biffo the Bear, Jimmy and his Magic Patch, Morgyn the Mighty), dies at age 62.[35]
• August 25: Bjarne Restan, Norwegian illustrator and comics artist (Per og Peik i Sukkerlandet, Paal og Pelles Reise, Sjur Sjursen vil bli Kapitalist), dies at age 70. [36]

September

• September 1: Alex Blum, Hungarian-American comics artist (contributed to Classics Illustrated), dies at age 80.[37]
• September 25: Frans van Lamsweerde, aka Faun, Dutch comics artist, illustrator and animator (Pekky, Marco's Avonturen), dies at age 49.[38]

October

• October 19: Mario Morelli di Popolo, Italian-Egyptian comics artist (Zouzou), dies at age 67 or 68. [39]

November

• November 27: Cecilia May Gibbs, Australian children's book illustrator and comics artist (Bib and Bub, Tiggy Touchwood), passes away at age 92. [40]

Specific date unknown

• Ernst Akerbladh, Swedish illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 78 or 79. [41]
• Javier Puerto Bagüeña, Spanish comics artist, dies at an unknown age. [42]
• Dan Gordon, American animator, storyboard artist and comics artist (Real Life Comics, Better Publications, Western Publishing), dies at an unknown age. [43]
• Barye Phillips, American illustrator and comics artist (comic strip of Huckleberry Finn), passes away at age 44 or 45. [44]

Exhibitions and shows

• May 20-June 15: Corcoran Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.) — 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 others[45][46]
• October 28–November 22: Phoenix Gallery (Berkeley, California) — The New Comix, curated by gallery owner Si Lowinsky, featuring the Zap Comix collective (Robert Crumb, Gilbert Shelton, S. Clay Wilson, Victor Moscoso, and Rick Griffin); the gallery was brought up on obscenity charges because of the show[47]

Conventions

• Comicon '69 (British Comic Art Convention 2) (Waverley Hotel, London, England) — organized by Bram Stokes, Frank Dobson, and Steve Moore; guests include Steve Parkhouse and Barry Smith[48]
• June 7-8: Triple Fan Fair (Howard Johnson's Downtown Motor Lodge, Detroit, Michigan) — guests include Edmond Hamilton, Leigh Brackett, Stan Lee, and Al Williamson
• June 20-22: Southwesterncon/[49]Houstoncon (Ramada Inn, Houston, Texas)
• July 4–6: Comic Art Convention (Statler Hilton Hotel, New York City) — 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;[50] 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.[51]
• December 27: Miamicon December 1969[52]

Awards

Alley Awards

Presented July 1969 at the Comic Art Convention

Best Comic Magazine Section

• Best Adventure Title — Fantastic Four  (Marvel Comics)
• Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title - Doctor Strange  (Marvel Comics)
• Best Western Title - Bat Lash  (DC Comics)
• Best War Title - Star Spangled War Stories  (DC Comics)
• Best Humor Title - Archie  (Archie Comics)
• Best Romance Title - Young Love  (DC Comics)
• Best Reprint Title - Marvel Super-Heroes  (Marvel Comics)

Professional Work

• Best Editor - Dick Giordano (DC Comics)
• Best Writer - Roy Thomas
• Best Pencil Artist - Neal Adams
• Best Inking Artist - Tom Palmer
• Best Cover - Captain America #113, by Jim Steranko
• Best Full-Length Story - "...And Who Shall Mourn for Him?," by Stan Lee, John Buscema & Sal Buscema, The Silver Surfer #5  (Marvel Comics)
• Best Feature Story - "At the Stroke of Midnight," by Jim Steranko, Tower of Shadows #1 (Marvel Comics)
• Hall of Fame - "Deadman", by Neal Adams (DC Comics)

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

• Best Adventure Hero Strip - The Amazing Spider-Man  (Marvel Comics)
• Best Adventure Group Strip - Fantastic Four  (Marvel Comics)
• Best Supporting Character - Rick Jones (The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, and Captain America)  (Marvel Comics)
• Best Villain - Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four)  (Marvel Comics)
• Strip Most Needing Improvement - Superman  (DC Comics)

Newspaper Strip Section

• Best Adventure or Human Interest Strip - Prince Valiant, by Hal Foster
• Best Humor Strip or Panel - Peanuts, by Charles Schulz
• Hall of Fame - Tarzan, by Burne Hogarth

Fan Activity Section

• Best Limited Reproduction Fanzine - Newfangles by Don & Maggie Thompson
• Best Unlimited Reproduction Fanzine - The Comic Reader
• Best Fan Artist - John Fantucchio
• Best Comic Strip Writer - Mark Hanerfeld
• Best Fan Project - 1969 New York ComiCon

National Cartoonist Society

• Advertising and Illustration Award — Ronald Michaud

First issues by title

DC Comics

Date with Debbi

Release: January /February Editor: Dick Giordano.

From Beyond the Unknown

Release: October Editor: Julius Schwartz.

The Phantom Stranger

Release: May–June. Editor: Joe Orlando.

The Witching Hour

Release: February /March : Editor: Joe Orlando.

Marvel Comics

Chamber of Darkness

Release: October. Editor: Stan Lee.

Tower of Shadows

Release: September Editor: Stan Lee.

Other publishers

Alan Ford

Release: by Max Bunker Press. Writer: Max Bunker. Artist: Magnus.

Archie's TV Laugh-Out

Release: December by Archie Comics.

Everything's Archie

Release: May by Archie Comics.

Golden Comics Digest

Release: May by Gold Key Comics.

Gothic Blimp Works

Release: February 1 by the East Village Other. Editor: Vaughn Bodē

Čtyřlístek

Release: May 15. Creator: Jaroslav Němeček

Poem Strip

Creator: Dino Buzzati

Canceled titles

DC Comics

• Bat Lash, with issue #7 (October /November )
• Beware the Creeper, with issue #6 (March /April )
• Secret Six, with issue #7 (April /May)

Marvel Comics

• Not Brand Echh, with issue #13 (May)
• Doctor Strange, with issue #183 (November )

Other publishers

• T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, with issue #20 (November )

Initial appearance by character name

DC Comics

• Abel, in DC Special #4 (July)
• Jason Bard, in Detective Comics #392 (October)
• Black Canary (Dinah Lance), in Justice League of America #75 (November) — ret-con
• Mindgrabber Kid, in Justice League of America #70 (March)
• Nightmaster, in Showcase #82 (May)
• Superman (Earth-Two), in Justice League of America #73 (August)
• Tala, in Phantom Stranger #4 (November)
• Tim Trench, in Wonder Woman #179 (November)
• Bork in Brave and the Bold #81 (December)

Marvel Comics

• Controller, in Iron Man vol. 1, #12 (April )
• Digger, in Tower of Shadows #1 (September )
• Falcon, in Captain America #117 (September )
• Father Set, in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #9 (January )
• Vanessa Fisk, in The Amazing Spider-Man #70 (March )
• Frankenstein's Monster, Silver Surfer #7 (August )
• Galaxy Master, in The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #111 (January)
• Glob, in The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #121 (November)
• Grandmaster, in The Avengers #69 (October )
• Guardians of the Galaxy, by Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (January )
• Havok, in Uncanny X-Men #54 (March )
• Hyperion, in The Avengers #69 (October )
• Larry Trask, in Uncanny X-Men #57 (June)
• Living Monolith, in Uncanny X-Men #54 (March )
• Machinesmith (Starr Saxon), in Daredevil #49 (February )
• Man Mountain Marko, in The Amazing Spider-Man #73 (June)
• Man-Ape, in The Avengers #62 (March )
• Midas, in Iron Man #17 (September )
• Naga, in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #9 (January )
• Nighthawk (Kyle Richmond), in The Avengers #69 (October )
• Prowler, in The Amazing Spider-Man #78 (November )
• Sauron, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #60 (September )
• Savage Land Mutates
  • Amphibius, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #62 (November )
  • Barbarus, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #62 (November )
  • Brainchild, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #62 (November )
  • Gaza, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #62 (November )
  • Lorelei, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #63 (December )
  • Lupo, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #62 (November )
  • Piper, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #62 (November )
• Silvermane, in The Amazing Spider-Man #73 (June)
• Doctor Spectrum, in The Avengers #69 (October )
• Stingray, in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #19 (November )
• Super-Patriot, in Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #13 (July)
• Titanium Man, in Tales of Suspense #69 (September )
• Undying Ones, in Doctor Strange vol. 1, #183 (November )
• Viper, in Captain America #110 (February )
• Whizzer II (James Sanders), in The Avengers #69 (October )

References

1. "Mile High Comics History". www.milehighcomics.com. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
2. Hignite, Todd (Sep 21, 2007). "In the Studio: Visits with Contemporary Cartoonists". Yale University Press. Retrieved May 15, 2020 – via Google Books.
3. "Vaillant/Pif (1945 - 1992, 2004 - 2009)". www.lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
4. "André Chéret". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
5. "Janus Stark (Character)". Comic Vine. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
6. "Janus Stark". www.internationalhero.co.uk. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
7. "Lazo Sredanovic". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
8. "Reg Bunn". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
9. McAvennie, Michael (2010). "1960s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. "The Man Who Murdered Himself" in House of Mystery was...the first DC story illustrated by Berni Wrightson (who left the "e" off his first name to distinguish himself from a famous diver.
10. "Google Translate". google.com. Retrieved 19 April 2015. the unofficial website dedicated to the legendary Czech magazine and comic Čtyřlístek.
11. "Aloha". www.lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
12. "Giovan Battista Carpi". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
13. "Charles Kuhn". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
14. http://bdoubliees.com/tintinbelge/series6/zigpuce.htm
15. "Robert Crumb". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
16. McAvennie, Michael (2010). "1960s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Artist Neal Adams targeted the Emerald Archer for a radical redesign that ultimately evolved past the surface level...the most significant aspect of this issue was Adams' depiction of Oliver Queen's alter ego. He had rendered a modern-day Robin Hood, complete with goatee and mustache, plus threads that were more befitting an ace archer.
17. "John Kent". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
18. "Mike Lacey". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
19. "Spirou Année 1969". bdoubliees.com. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
20. "Luis Roca". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
21. "Earl Duvall". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
22. "Roger Melliès". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
23. "Al Taliaferro". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
24. "Henri van de Velde". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
25. "Nils Larsson". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
26. Jay, Alex. "Comics: George Klein, Artist," Tenth Letter of the Alphabet (April 11, 2016).
27. Interview with Pat Sekowsky, Alter Ego #33 (Feb 2004), pp. 5-20.
28. "Alfredo Adduard". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
29. "Boy ten Hove". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
30. "Frank O. King". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
31. "Guillermo Divito". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
32. "Clayton Knight". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
33. Klein, Todd. "Ira Schnapp and the early DC logos, new information," Kleinletters.com (May 4, 2012)
34. "Russell Stamm". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
35. "Dudley D. Watkins". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
36. "Bjarne Restan". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
37. "Alex Blum". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
38. "Frans van Lamsweerde". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
39. "Mario Morelli di Popolo". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
40. "Cecilia May Gibbs". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
41. "Ernst Akerbladh". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
42. "Javier Puerto Bagüeña". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
43. "Dan Gordon". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
44. "Barye Phillips". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
45. "Archives: Results for the year 1969". Corcoran Gallery of Art. Archived from the original on 2004-01-03.
46. Richard, Paul (March 22, 2005). "Walter Hopps, Museum Man with a Talent for Talent". Washington Post.
47. Fox, M. Steven. "Snatch Comics," ComixJoint. Accessed Dec. 9, 2016.
48. Skinn, Dez. "Early days of UK comics conventions and marts," Archived 2012-02-01 at the Wayback Machine DezSkinn.com. Accessed Mar. 3, 2013.
49. Hanerfeld, Mark. "On the Drawing Board," The Comic Reader #72 (Mar. 1969).
50. Groth, Gary (Oct 1982). "Editorial: Con Games". The Comics Journal. Vol. #76. pp. 4–6.
51. John Benson (1969). "The 1969 Comic Art Convention Progress Report". Archived from the original on 2007-10-04.
52. Ellis, John (February 1970). "Miamicon, Dec. 1969: A Look At Southern Florida's First Comicon". Rocket's Blast Comicollector (RBCC). Vol. #68. p. 11.