1968 in comics

Publications and events

Year overall

• With Kinney National Company's acquisition of Warner Bros., DC Comics becomes part of what eventually will be known as Warner Communications.
• DC Comics art director Carmine Infantino is given the mandate to revitalize DC in the wake of rival Marvel Comics' pop-culture success. Eased out are long-time DC artists Wayne Boring, Jim Mooney, George Klein, and George Papp; and writers Otto Binder, Edmond Hamilton, and Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel. In exchange, Infantino hires new talent and promotes artists like Joe Orlando, Joe Kubert, and Mike Sekowsky to editorial positions. Orlando is put in charge of DC's horror and suspense titles.
• The final episode of Peter O'Donnell and Alfred Sindall's Tug Transom ends in 1968.
• Tom Wilson's Ziggy makes its debut.
• Benito Jacovitti's Zorry Kid makes its debut.
• Brumsic Brandon Jr.'s Luther makes its debut.
• Marcel Gotlib's Rubrique-à-Brac makes its debut.
• The first issue of Lance Spearman is published.
• Robert Maynar Hutchins and John Hubley's Zuckerkandl! is first published.
• The final episode of William St. John Glenn's Ballyscunnion is published.

  January

• Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #80, The character's fashions were updated to a then-more contemporary look

  February

• February 10: The British comics magazines Fantastic and Terrific merge into Smash!.
• Tales of the Unexpected, with issue #105, changes its name to The Unexpected
• Zap Comix #1 by R. Crumb: published by Charles Plymell and Don Donahue/Apex Novelties; begins the underground comix movement. In the first issue Crumb's iconic Keep on Truckin' makes its debut.

  March

• March 11: The first episode of Mort Walker's Boner's Ark is published. It will run until 2000.
• March 21: In Quino's Mafalda her brother Guille is born.
• Showcase #73, Writer-artist Steve Ditko arrives at DC and creates the Creeper with scripter Don Segall
• Max Bunker and Magnus' Maxmagnus makes its debut.
• In Diabolik, chi sei?, by the Giussani sisters, the origins of the super-criminal are revealed.

  April

• April 14: John Miles starts publishing his comic strip Perkins, which will run until 1980.
• April 16: Dupa's Cubitus makes his debut.
• The Miracle Machine introduced in Adventure Comics #367
• Tales of Suspense, with issue #100, changes its name to Captain America.
• Tales to Astonish, with issue #102, changes its name to The Incredible Hulk.
• Dick Giordano hired as an editor at DC Comics ; Giordano brings with him some of the creators he had nurtured at Charlton, including writer Dennis O'Neil.
• The Italian serie Milord, makes its debut. Set in the Edwardian London, it has a gentleman thief as protagonist and last just seven months.

  May

• Gilbert Shelton's Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers makes its debut in the underground newspaper Rag.
• The storyline Mordru the Merciless, by Jim Shooter, Curt Swan, and Jack Abel, begins in Adventure Comics #369.
• House of Mystery, with issue #174, returns to its overt horror comics roots. New editor Joe Orlando challenges the Comics Code Authority with a reprint issue of old horror/suspense stories.
• World's Finest Comics #175, "The Superman-Batman Revenge Squads" marks Neal Adams's first work on a Batman story.
• The first run of Strange Tales ends. It will be revived in September 1973.

  June

• Wally Wood's Sally Forth makes her debut in Military News.
• Strange Tales, with issue #169, changes its name to Doctor Strange..
• Steve Ditko and Steve Skeates' Hawk and Dove make their debut.
• The American comics magazine Four Color is terminated.

  July

• July 31: Franklin makes his debut in Peanuts.
• Spain Rodriguez's Trashman makes its debut.
• Canadian comics store owner George Henderson of Memory Lane in Toronto organizes the first Canadian comic book convention the Triple Fan Fair, which also celebrates science fiction and classic cinema.

  Summer

• In the summer the first issue of the influential underground comix magazine Bijou Funnies is published, which marks the debut of Jay Lynch's Nard 'n' Pat and Skip Williamson's Snappy Sammy Smoot.

  August

• August 29: Raoul Cauvin and Louis Salvérius's comic strip Les Tuniques Bleues makes its debut in Spirou.
• The Legion Academy introduced in Adventure Comics #371
• Robert Crumb's Angelfood McSpade and S. Clay Wilson's The Checkered Demon makes their debut in Zap Comix #2.
• Debut of Dave Wood and Jack Sparling's The Mad Mod Witch in The Unexpected.
• Joe Orlando, Carmine Infantino, Sheldon Mayer and Sergio Aragonés's Bat Lash makes its debut.

  Fall

• Gary Arlington's San Francisco Comic Book Company debuts as a retailer and a publisher, putting out Rory Hayes' Bogeyman Comics #1

  September

• September 7: The final issue of the British comics magazine Pow! is published and merges with Smash!.
• September 9: Bunny Hoest and John Reiner's The Lockhorns makes its debut.
• September 30: B.D. makes his debut in Garry Trudeau's Bull Tales and later become part of Doonesbury.
• Doom Patrol, with issue #121 suspends publication.

  October

• October 6: The final episode of Boots and Her Buddies is published.
• October 11: The Dutch comics appreciation society Het Stripschap is founded.
• Blackhawk, with issue #243 suspends publication.. The series is put on hiatus until 1976.
• Captain Action #1: 17-year-old Jim Shooter writes the first issue of DC's first toy tie-in.
• Wonder Woman #178: Dennis O'Neil and Mike Sekowsky become the new creative team on the title.
• Mysterious Suspense #1 by Charlton Comics presents the first appearance of Steve Ditko's The Question in his own title.

  November

• November 8: In Amsterdam the oldest comics store in Europe, Lambiek, is opened by Kees Kousemaker.
• November 12: Peter van Straaten's Vader & Zoon makes its debut and will run until 1987.
• November 23: Bonvi's Sturmtruppen makes its debut.
• Blue Beetle: the third run of this series is cancelled. The series will not be revived until June 1986.
• Brother Power the Geek, with issue #2, cancelled by DC.
• Marvel's Space-Born Superhero: Captain Marvel, with issue #7, changes its title to Captain Marvel.
• Summer Love, with issue #48, cancelled by Charlton.

  December

• December 6: The Spanish comics magazine En Patufet, which was disestablished 30 years ago, is revived and will run until 29 June 1973.
• December 18: Andries Brandt's Horre, Harm en Hella makes its debut. It will run until 11 March 1971.
• With issue #9, Captain Savage and His Leatherneck Raiders is retitled Captain Savage and His Battlefield Raiders.
• In the story Tycoonraker! or From Zantaf with Lumps!, by Luciano Bottaro and Carlo Chendi, Dr. Zantaf makes his debut.

  Deaths

January

• January 1: Käthe Olshausen-Schönberger, Austrian illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 86.
• January 16: Vladmir Delac, Yugoslavian comics artist and animator, dies at age 60 from cancer.
• January 22: Chaval, French cartoonist, commits suicide at age 52, after his wife's death.
• Specific date unknown: Steve Muffati, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 57.

  February

• February 22: Peter Arno, American cartoonist, passes away at age 64 from emphysema.

  March

• March 4: Rocke Mastroserio, Italian-American comics artist, dies at age 40 of a heart attack.
• March 12: Ted Osborne, American comics writer, dies at age 68.

  April

• April 20: Rudolph Dirks, German-American comics artist, dies at age 91.
• April 22: Jan Waterschoot, Belgian comics artist, dies at age 85.

  May

• May 9: Harold Gray, American comics artist, passes away at age 74.

  June

• June 7: Arie Emens, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 72.

  July

• July 16: Enver Bongrani, Italian comics artist, dies at age 54.

  August

• August 3: Neil O'Keeffe, American comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 77.
• August 17: Bruno Paul, German comics illustrator, architect and comics artist, dies at age 94.

  September

• September 1: Gus Bofa, French comics artist and illustrator, passes away at age 85.
• September 30: Alexander Bojinov, Bulgarian comics artist, dies at age 90.

  October

• October 1: Quin Hall, American comics artist, dies at age 84.
• October 18: Mary A. Hays, American comics artist, dies at age 70.

  November

• November 3: Étienne Le Rallic, aka Smile or Levesque, French illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 78.
• November 15: Bob Grant, American comics artist, dies at age 62.
• November 29: Mo Leff, American comics artist, dies at age 56.

  December

• December 13: Ken Hultgren, American animator and comics artist, dies from a heart attack at age 63.
• December 30: Bill Tytla, Ukrainian-American animator, passes away at age 64.

  Specific date unknown

• Edgar Henry Banger, aka, Harry Banger, British comics artist, passes away at age 71.
• Don Flowers, American comics artist, dies at age 59 or 60.
• Bernard Jeanson, French comics artist commits suicide at age 33 or 34.
• Frank Thomas, American comics artist, dies at age 53 or 54.

  Conventions

• June 15–16: Detroit Triple Fan Fair — Guest of Honor Harlan Ellison; c. 175 attendees
• June 21–23: Southwesterncon — 160 attendees; produced by Larry Herndon & Tom Reamy; official guests include Fritz Leiber, Harold LeDoux, and H. H. Hollis
• June 28–30: Gateway Con 2 — produced by Bob Schoenfeld; guest of honor Roy Thomas
• June 29–30: Toronto Triple Fan Fair — also known as "Fan Fair I;" organized and managed by George Henderson ; Guests of Honor Roger Zelazny and Stan Lee; admission $1 for "passport" to all venues
• July 4–7: International Convention of Comic Book Art — Phil Seuling hosts his first comic book convention under the aegis of SCARP ; guests of honor: Stan Lee and Burne Hogarth
• August 30–September 2: Comicon '68 — first annual event, organized by Phil Clarke; "member"-guests include Alan Moore, Paul Neary, Jim Baikie, Steve Moore, and Nick Landau; 70 attendees

  Awards

[Alley Awards]

• Best Adventure Title - Fantastic Four
• Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title - Doctor Strange
• Best Western Title - Bat Lash
• Best War Title - Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
• Best Humor Title - Not Brand Echh
• Best Romance Title - Millie the Model
• Best Reprint Title - Marvel Super-Heroes

• Best Editor - Stan Lee
• Best Writer - Stan Lee
• Best Pencil Artist - Jim Steranko
• Best Inking Artist - Joe Sinnott
• Best Cover - Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #6, by Jim Steranko
• Best Full-Length Story - "Track of the Hook", by Bob Haney & Neal Adams, The Brave and the Bold #79 ; "Origin of the Silver Surfer", by Stan Lee & John Buscema, The Silver Surfer #1
• Best Feature Story - "Today Earth Died", by Jim Steranko, Strange Tales #168
• Best Regular Short Feature - "Tales of the Inhumans", by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, in The Mighty Thor
• Hall of Fame - Fantastic Four, by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby; Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., by Jim Steranko

• Best Adventure Hero Strip - The Amazing Spider-Man
• Best Adventure Group Strip - Fantastic Four
• Best Supporting Character - J. Jonah Jameson
• Best Villain - Doctor Doom
• Best New Strip - The Silver Surfer by Stan Lee & John Buscema
• Strip Most Needing Improvement - X-Men
• Strip Most Desired for Revival - Adam Strange

• Best Adventure Strip - Prince Valiant, by Hal Foster
• 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 - Peanuts, by Charles Schulz

• Best Limited Reproduction Fanzine - Concussion
• Best Unlimited Reproduction Fanzine - Graphic Story Magazine
• Best Fan Artist - John Fantucchio
• Best Comic Strip Writer - Larry Herndon
• Best Fan Project - The Alley Awards

  First issues by title

Charlton Comics

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

Independent titles

Japan

Initial appearance by character name

DC Comics

• Sam Simeon, in Showcase #77
• Angel O'Day, in Showcase #77
• Anthro, in Showcase #74
• Bat Lash, in Showcase #76
• Brother Power the Geek, in Brother Power the Geek #1
• Cain, in House of Mystery #175
• Chemical King, in Adventure Comics #371
• Copperhead, in The Brave and the Bold #78
• Creeper, in Showcase #73
• Doctor Cyber, in Wonder Woman #179
• Dolphin, in Showcase #79
• Jonny Double, in Showcase #78
• Guy Gardner, in Green Lantern #59
• Hank Hall, in Showcase #75
• Don Hall, in Showcase #75
• I Ching, in Wonder Woman #179
• Crimson Dawn, in Secret Six #01
• King Savage, in Secret Six #01
• Lili de Neuve, in Secret Six #01
• Mike Tempest, in Secret Six #01
• Jonny Double, in Showcase #78
• League of Assassins, in Strange Adventures #215
• Legion of Super-Villains, in Adventure Comics #372
• Leland McCauley, in Adventure Comics #374
• Mordru, in Adventure Comics #369
• Red Star, in Teen Titans #18
• Red Tornado, in Justice League of America #64
• Scavenger, in Aquaman #37
• Sensei, in Strange Adventures #215
• Shadow Lass, in Adventure Comics #365
• Tim Trench, in Wonder Woman #179
• Tornado Twins, in Adventure Comics #373
• Wanderers, in Adventure Comics #375
• General Zahl, in Doom Patrol vol. 1, #121

  Marvel Comics

• Annihilus, in Fantastic Four Annual #6
• Aragorn, in The Avengers #48
• Badoon, in Silver Surfer vol. 1, #2
• Blacklash, in Tales of Suspense #97
• Centurius, in Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2
• Carol Danvers, in Marvel Super-Heroes #13
• Death-Stalker, in Daredevil vol. 1, #39
• Doctor Faustus, in Captain America #107
• Lemuel Dorcas, in Sub-Mariner #5
• Falcona, in The Incredible Hulk Annual #1
• Whitney Frost, in Tales of Suspense #98
• Gortokians, in X-Men #41
• Grim Reaper, in The Avengers #52
• Jester , in Daredevil vol. 1, #42
• Leonus, in The Incredible Hulk Annual #1
• Mangog, in Thor #154
• Mephisto, in Silver Surfer #3
• Mesmero, in X-Men #49
• Missing Link, in The Incredible Hulk #105
• Franklin Richards, in Fantastic Four Annual #6
• Randy Robertson, in The Amazing Spider-Man #67
• Satannish, in Doctor Strange #174
• Shalla-Bal, in Silver Surfer #1
• George Stacy, in The Amazing Spider-Man #56
• Stallior, in The Incredible Hulk Annual #1
• Tiger Shark, in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #5
• Typhon, in The Avengers #49
• Ultron, in The Avengers #54
• Vision, in The Avengers #57
• Wrecker, in The Mighty Thor #148

  Independent titles

• B. D. , in "Bull Tales"
• The Checkered Demon, in Zap Comix #2
• The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, in Feds 'n' Heads
• Franklin, in Peanuts
• Marcie, in Peanuts
• Maxmagnus, in Eureka
• Trashman, in the East Village Other
• Snappy Sammy Smoot in Bijou Funnies #1