1973 in comics

Events and publications

Year overall

• Dell Comics, after 44 years in the comics business, ceases publication; a few of the company's former titles moving to Gold Key Comics.
• Archie Comics publisher John L. Goldwater licenses Archie for evangelical Christian messages; the comics are written and illustrated by Archie regular Al Hartley and published by Spire Christian Comics.
• Cartoonists Co-Op Press is founded by underground cartoonists Kim Deitch, Bill Griffith, Jerry Lane, Jay Lynch, Willy Murphy, Diane Noomin, and Art Spiegelman in San Francisco.
• Irjax Enterprises, comic book distributor based in Rockville, Maryland, formed. Under the name New Media/Irjax, the company later expanded its distribution business and moved into publishing as well.

  January

• January 11: F'Murr publishes the first episode of Le Génie des Alpages in Pilote.
• Amazing Adventures #16 and Thor #207 present the Marvel portion of a metafictional unofficial crossover spanning titles from both major comics companies. The DC chapter appeared with a 1972 cover date. Each comic featured writers Steve Englehart, Gerry Conway, and Len Wein, as well as Wein's first wife Glynis, interacting with Marvel or DC characters at the Rutland Halloween Parade in Rutland, Vermont. Beginning in Amazing Adventures #16, the story continued in Justice League of America #103, and concluded in Thor #207.
• Teen Titans, with issue #43, suspends publication.

  February

• February 4: The first episode of Dik Browne's Hägar the Horrible is published.
• February 24: The final episode of the biblical text comic Illustrated Sunday School Lesson is published, which ran since 1931.
• Action Comics, with #421, Green Arrow became a backup feature, initially rotating with the Human Target and the Atom.
• Doom Patrol vol. 1, with issue #122, is revived by DC after being cancelled in 1968.
• Metal Men, with issue #42, is revived by DC after being cancelled in 1970.
• FOOM #1, Marvel's in-house fanzine

  March

• March 19: The first episode of Toon van Driel's long-running comic strip F.C. Knudde is published.

  April

• April 5: on Pilote, Le hors-la-loi , by Jean-Michel Charlier and Jean Giraud, Blueberry is involved in a Conspiracy against president Grant
• April 17: The final episode of Andries Brandt, Robert Hamilton and Richard Klokkers's Aafje Anders is published.

  May

• May 23: Oğuz Aral's Avanak Avni makes its debut.
• Night Nurse, with issue #4, is cancelled by Marvel.

  June

• June 11: The first episode of Glupy by Juan Díaz Rodriguez is published.
• June 25: The final episode of Quino's Mafalda is published.
• June 29: The final issue of the Spanish comics magazine En Patufet is published.
• Detective Comics, with issue #435 begins a bimonthly schedule.
• Doom Patrol vol 1., with issue #125, canceled by DC.
• "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" story arc begins in The Amazing Spider-Man #121, written by Gerry Conway, with art by Gil Kane.
• Crazy, with issue #3, canceled by Marvel.

  July

• World's Finest Comics #218: Metamorpho becomes the backup feature after a brief run in Action Comics

  August

• Metal Men, with issue #44 goes on hiatus, to be revived in 1976.
• Shanna the She-Devil, with issue #5, is cancelled by Marvel.

  October

• Detective Comics, with issue #437, is edited by Archie Goodwin, who in a back-up feature introduces a revival of the "Manhunter" feature with artist Walt Simonson.
• Strange Adventures, with issue #244, canceled by DC Comics.
• Archie Comics revives its Red Circle Comics superhero imprint, as Red Circle takes over Chilling Adventures in Sorcery as told by Sabrina with issue #3, changing its name to Chilling Adventures in Sorcery.
• Savage Tales, after a 17-month hiatus, resumes publishing with issue #2.
• Vampire Tales #2: The first appearance of Satana, drawn by John Romita

  November

• Kull the Conqueror, with issue #11, changes its name to Kull the Destroyer.
• Marvel Feature, with issue #12, is canceled by Marvel.

  December

• Millie the Model, with issue #207, canceled by Marvel.
• From Beyond the Unknown, with issue #25, canceled by DC.

  Deaths

January

• January 10: Charles Flanders, American comics artist, passes away at age 65.

  February

• February 27: Bill Everett, American comics artist, dies at age 55.

  March

• March 1: Elpidio Torres, Filipino comics artist, passes away at age 47.
• March 4: Walt Ditzen, American comics artist, passes away at age 58.
• March 14: Chic Young, American comics artist, passes away at age 72.

  April

• April 10: Robert Collard, aka Lortac, French writer, caricaturist, comics writer and artist, illustrator, novelist, painter, art critic, animator, animated film director, dies at age 88.

  May

• May 3: Jean Bosc, aka Bosc, French cartoonist, commits suicide at age 48.
• May 13: Hans Brasch, German painter, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 91.
• May 21: Yuliy Ganf, Ukrainian cartoonist, painter and illustrator, dies at age 74.

  June

• June 3: Syd Shores, American comics artist, dies at age 59 from a heart attack.
• June 17: Peter Lutz, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, passes away at age 73.
• Specific date unknown: Werner Roth, American comics artist dies at age 52.

  July

• July 16: Feg Murray, American athlete, radio presenter and cartoonist, passes away at the age of 79.
• July 23: Eddie Rickenbacker, American military pilot and comics writer, dies at age 82.
• July 25: Marcel Jeanjean, French illustrator and comics artist, passes away at age 80.
• Specific date unknown: Clifton Meek, American comics artist, dies at age 95.

  August

• August 20: Wam Heskes, Dutch painter, comics artist, illustrator and performer, passes away at age 82.

  September

• September 5: Ron Vivian, Australian comics artist, dies at age 59.
• September 7: Gaston Ebinger, aka Mop, Belgian illustrator, greeting card designer, advertising artist and comics artist, dies at age 71.
• Specific date unknown: Joe Doyle, Irish comics artist, dies at age 85.

  October

• October 10: Austin Briggs, American comics artist, dies of leukemia at age 65.
• October 18: Walt Kelly, American comics artist, dies at age 60.
• October 25: Sebastiano Craveri, Italian comics artist, dies at age 84.
• October 28: Sergio Tòfano, Italian actor, playwright and comics artist, dies at age 87.

  November

• November 18: Frank Hutchinson, American comics artist, passes away at age 101.

  December

• December 20: George Debels, aka Joe Stan, Belgian-Dutch animator, illustrator and comics artist, passes away at age 83.

  Specific date unknown

• Ion Deak-Cluj, Romanian comics artist, dies at age 35 or 36.
• Phil DeLara, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 59.
• Jack Glass, Scottish comics artist, dies at an unknown age.
• Philip Mendoza, aka Flam or Flambo, British comics artist, illustrator and political cartoonist, dies at age 74 or 75.
• Gajo Sakamoto, Japanese manga artist, dies at age 77 or 78.
• Bert Vandeput, Dutch comics artist, dies at age 58.

  Exhibitions and shows

Conventions

• January 19–21: Infinity '73 — science fiction/comics convention
• January 25–26: Cosmicon II
• February 24: Comic Mart — second such event organized by "Godfather of British fandom" Frank Dobson
• April 20–22: Berkeleycon 73, — first convention that really highlighted underground comix; guests included Spain Rodriguez, Shary Flenniken, Dennis Kitchen, Jaxon, Guy Colwell, Trina Robbins, Dave Sheridan, Patricia Moodian, George DiCaprio, Michelle Brand, and Bobby London. Bud Plant's retail business Comics & Comix acquires over 4,000 Golden Age comic books owned by Tom Reilly.
• April 21–23: German Comicon — organized by German fan organization INCOS, est. 1970
• May 18–20: Chicago Comic Con — ; produced by Mark Lully of Atlantis Bookstore; guests include Stan Lee, Jim Steranko, and Mike Hinge; admission $5 for all 3 days
• May 25–28 : Detroit Triple Fan Fair I, — guests include Jerry Bails
• June 21–24: Houstoncon '73 — c. 2,000 attendees; guests include Kirk Alyn, Frank Coghlan, Jr., William Benedict, William Witney, Dave Sharpe, Al Williamson, and Don Newton; convention notorious for a major van crash involving Robert Beerbohm, Bud Plant, and others as they were leaving the convention
• June 28–July 1: D-Con '73 — guests include Harlan Ellison, William Gaines, Burne Hogarth, and Jerry Bails; tickets $7.50 at the door
• July 4–8: Comic Art Convention — guests include Dr. Fredric Wertham, John Putnam, Jerry DeFuccio, Paul Gulacy, Bob Brown, Marie Severin, Tony Isabella, Elliot S. Maggin, Julius Schwartz, Guy H. Lillian III, C. C. Beck, Dave Cockrum, Gil Kane, Rick Durell, Gray Morrow, Dwight Decker, and Russell Myers
• July 22: Comicon '73 — Comic Mart organizers Nick Landau and Rob Barrow salvage convention canceled at the last minute by Bram Stokes and John Mansfield and originally scheduled to take place over two days at the Regent Centre Hotel
• August 3–5: Nostalgia '73, 2nd Annual Chicago Comic and Nostalgia Convention — produced by Nancy Warner
• August 16–19 — San Diego Comic-Con — 1,000+ attendees. Official guests: Neal Adams, D.C. Fontana, June Foray, Mike Friedrich, Carmine Infantino
• August 24–26: Cleveland Comic Convention — produced by Vladimir Swyrinsky and sponsored by WMMS; guests include Val Mayerik, Dan Adkins, Paul Gulacy, Tony Isabella, and P. Craig Russell
• October: Buffalo Marvelous Con — guests include Gil Kane and Phil Seuling
• October 18–21: Detroit Triple Fan Fair II, — guests include Barry Windsor-Smith, Michael Kaluta, George A. Romero, and Russ Heath
• October 31–November 3: Lucca Comics & Games — 9th annual festival
• December 2: Oak Con I — produced by Steve Sundahl

  Awards

Comic Fan Art Awards

• Favorite Pro Artist: Bernie Wrightson
• Favorite Pro Writer: Len Wein
• Favorite Pro Editor: Roy Thomas
• Favorite Pro Comic Book: Swamp Thing
• Favorite Comic-Book Story: "Night of the Bat,"” by Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, and Joe Orlando in Swamp Thing #7
• Favorite Comic-Book Character: Conan
• Favorite Fanzine: The Comic Reader
• Favorite Fan Writer: Don & Maggie Thompson
• Favorite Fan Artist: Don Newton
• * Howard Bender

  Shazam Awards

• Best Continuing Feature: Swamp Thing
• Best Individual Story: "Song of Red Sonja", by Roy Thomas and Barry Smith, Conan the Barbarian #24
• Best Individual Short Story : "The Himalayan Incident", by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson, Detective Comics #437
• Best Writer : Archie Goodwin
• Best Penciller : Berni Wrightson
• Best Inker : Dick Giordano
• Best Humor Story: "The Gourmet", Plop! #1
• Best Writer :
• * Stu Schwartzberg
• * Steve Skeates
• Best Penciller : Marie Severin
• Best Inker : Ralph Reese
• Best Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
• Best Colorist: Glynis Wein
• Best Foreign Comic Series: Lieutenant Blueberry
• Outstanding New Talent :
• * Walt Simonson
• * Jim Starlin
• Superior Achievement by an Individual: Richard Corben
• Hall of Fame: Carl Barks

  First issues by title

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

Independent titles

Initial appearances by character name

DC Comics

• Abigail Arcane, in Swamp Thing #3
• Anton Arcane, in Swamp Thing #01
• Black Orchid, in Adventure Comics #428
• Freedom Fighters, in Justice League of America #107
• *Uncle Sam, in Justice League of America #107
• *Phantom Lady, in Justice League of America #107
• *Ray, in Justice League of America #107
• *Human Bomb, in Justice League of America #107
• *Black Condor, in Justice League of America #107
• Hunter, in Superboy #199
• Klarion the Witch Boy, in The Demon #7
• Steve Lombard, in Superman #264
• Mister Miracle , in Mister Miracle #15
• Prez, in Prez #01
• Spook, in Detective Comics #434
• The Shadow, in Shadow #01
• Tyr, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #197
• Wildfire, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #195

  Marvel Comics

• Angar the Screamer, in Daredevil #100
• Bi-Beast, in The Incredible Hulk #169
• Blade, in The Tomb of Dracula #10
• Lucas Brand, in The Tomb of Dracula #9
• Brother Voodoo, in Strange Tales #169
• Drax the Destroyer, in Iron Man #55
• Deacon Frost, in The Tomb of Dracula #13
• Gremlin, in The Incredible Hulk #163
• Quincy Harker, in The Tomb of Dracula #7
• Daimon Hellstrom, in Ghost Rider #1
• Helmut Zemo, in Captain America #168
• Howard the Duck, in Adventure into Fear #19
• The Hydro-Men, in Sub-Mariner #61
• The Infra-Worlders, in The Incredible Hulk #164
• Solomon Kane, in Monsters Unleashed #1
• Erik Killmonger, in Jungle Action #6
• Killraven, in Amazing Adventures #18
• Kronos, in Iron Man #55
• A'lars, in Iron Man #55
• Moondragon, in Iron Man #54
• Nimrod, in Dracula Lives! #3
• Orb, in Marvel Team-Up #15
• Satana, in Vampire Tales #2
• Shang-Chi, in Special Marvel Edition #15
• Sui-San, in Captain Marvel #29
• Starfox, in Iron Man #55
• Thanos, in Iron Man #55
• Ultimus, in The Mighty Thor #209
• Uranos, in Captain Marvel #29
• Venomm, in Jungle Action #6
• Wendigo, in The Incredible Hulk #162
• Wundarr the Aquarian, in Adventure into Fear #17
• Baron Zemo II, in Captain America #168
• Zzzax, in The Incredible Hulk #166

  Independent titles

• Black Jack, in Weekly Shōnen Champion
• Rerun van Pelt, in Peanuts