1971 in comics

Events

Year overall

• The Comics Code Authority revises the Code a number of times during the year. Initially "liberalized" on January 28, 1971, to allow for the sometimes "sympathetic depiction of criminal behavior... corruption among public officials" as well as permitting some criminal activities to kill law-enforcement officers and the "suggestion but not portrayal of seduction." Also newly allowed were "vampires, ghouls and werewolves... when handled in the classic tradition such as Frankenstein, Dracula, and other high calibre literary works written by Edgar Allan Poe, Saki, Conan Doyle and other respected authors whose works are read in schools around the world." Zombies, lacking the requisite "literary" background, remain taboo.
• Jack Kirby introduces his Fourth World series in a number of new DC titles — The Forever People, New Gods, and Mister Miracle — while continuing his run on Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen. Kirby writes and draws all four titles during the year.
• Early in the year, DC Comics editorial director Carmine Infantino is promoted to publisher.
• Bill Schanes and Steve Schanes co-found Pacific Comics, starting out as a mail-order company selling to consumers via ads in the Comics Buyer's Guide.
• The Air Pirates collective is formed in San Francisco.
• On Italy, the editor Renzo Barbieri launches two new horror-erotic series: Oltretomba and Lucifera.

  January

• January 10: The castle of Nederhorst den Berg in the Netherlands is struck by fire and completely burns out, also destroying the comics studio of Marten Toonder.
• January 12: In Pif Gadget the Corto Maltese story La Conga des Bananes by Hugo Pratt kicks off. The story belongs to a cycle of Corto Maltese’s adventures set in Central and South America and marks the debut of the dark lady Venexiana Stevenson, recurring antagonist of the captain.
• January 30: Al Capp and Raeburn Van Buren's Abbie an' Slats comes to a close after nearly 34 years of syndication.
• Blackmark published by Bantam Books. Conceived and drawn by Gil Kane, and scripted by Archie Goodwin from an outline by Kane, it is one of the first American graphic novels.
• "The Sandman Saga" Superman story-arc, written by Denny O'Neil and drawn by Curt Swan, begins in Superman #233. Among other things, the story arc eliminates all Kryptonite on Earth, makes Clark Kent less wimpy, and essentially reinvents Superman for the Bronze Age.
• Bad Day for Troop A by Carl Barks.
• Empire of a Thousand Planets by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières.

  February

• Alan Light publishes the first issue of The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom.
• World's Finest Comics #200: "Prisoners of the Immortal World!" by Mike Friedrich, Dick Dillin, and Joe Giella.
• New Gods #1 by Jack Kirby
• Chamber of Darkness, with issue #9, changes its name to Monsters on the Prowl.

  Spring

• Classics Illustrated, published under that title since March 1947, canceled by Gilberton after 288 issues.

  March

• March 4: The first episode of The Mansions of the Gods, by Goscinny and Uderzo, is prepublished in Pilote.
• March 11: The final episode of Andries Brandt's Horre, Harm en Hella is published.
• March 14: In the story La resa dei conti, by Claudio Nizzi and Carlo Boscarato, Larry Yuma gets his definitive name.
• March 20: Andries Brandt and Jan Van Haasteren's Aafje Anders makes its debut. After a few stories Robert Hamilton and Richard Klokkers take over the artwork. The series will run until 17 April 1973.
• The Avengers #85
• Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., with issue #18, canceled by Marvel.
• Tower of Shadows, with issue #10, changes its name to Creatures on the Loose.
• Ka-Zar, with issue #3, is canceled by Marvel.
• Bill Tidy's The Fosdyke Saga makes its debut.
• Bill Griffith's Zippy the Pinhead makes it debut.

  April

• April: The final issue of the long-running French satirical cartoons and comics magazine Le Rire is published.
• Mister Miracle #1
• Aquaman, with issue #56, is canceled by DC Comics.

  May

• May 8: Al Capp is charged with sexual harassment, sodomy, attempted adultery and indecent exposure. The trial on 12 February 1972 will eventually only fine him for attempted adultery in a plea bargain, but damages his public image and the popularity of Li'l Abner beyond repair.
• May 10: The final episode of John M. Burns' The Seekers is published.
• Action Comics #400: "My Son... Is He Man or Beast?", by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson.
• The "Green Goblin Reborn!" story-arc begins in The Amazing Spider-Man #96. Written by Stan Lee, and drawn by Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr., it is recognized as the first mainstream comic publication which portrayed and condemned drug abuse, and was published without the seal of approval of the Comics Code Authority.
• Detective Comics #411
• Forever People #2
• Mister Miracle #2
• With the publication of Savage Tales #1, Marvel creates its black-and-white magazine line, which published material that doesn't carry the seal of the Comics Code Authority.

  June

• June 12: First issue of the British comics magazine Knockout is published.
• June 12: Norman Mansbridge's Fuss Pot makes its debut in Knockout.
• June 26: The final episode of Marten Toonder's Koning Hollewijn is published.
• Batman #232
• The "Kree-Skrull War" story arc, written by Roy Thomas, begins in The Avengers #89.
• Captain America and the Falcon #138: "It Happens in Harlem," drawn by John Romita, Sr.
• Tarzan #200: "The Secret Vaults of Opar," by Gaylord DuBois, Paul Norris, and Mike Royer.
• Hollywood Romances, with issue #59, cancelled by Charlton.
• First issue of the Italian humor series Abelarda, le avventure di una nonna terribile, published by Bianconi.

  July

• 10-16 July: The first episode of Peter de Smet's De Generaal is published. It will run until 1997.
• House of Secrets #92
• The Incredible Hulk #141
• Timmy the Timid Ghost, with issue #23, canceled by Charlton.

  August

• August 22: Henry Formhals quits drawing Freckles and His Friends, bringing the newspaper comic to a close after nearly 55 years of syndication.
• DC Comics raises the price of its typical comic book from 15 cents to 25 cents, and the page-count from 36 to 52 by adding reprints and new backup features.
• The "Snowbirds Don't Fly" story-arc, written by Denny O'Neil and drawn by Neal Adams, begins in Green Lantern #85 .

  September

• September 18: Vic Neill first publishes The McTickles in The Beano.
• September 23: In Pif Gadget, the Corto Maltese story L'ange à la fenetre d'orient, by Hugo Pratt is first published. Set in Venice, it begins a new arc of Corto Maltese’s adventures, with the First World War as background.
• September 25: The final issue of the British comics magazine TV Century 21 is published.
• September 30: The first episode of Asterix and the Laurel Wreath, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, is prepublished in Pilote.
• The Amazing Spider-Man #100: "The Spider or the Man?", by Stan Lee, Gil Kane, and Frank Giacoia. "The Six Arms Saga" story-arc begins.
• With issue #20, Ghost Manor vol. 1 changes its title to Ghostly Haunts.

  October

• October 22: In Copenhagen the comics store Fantask opens its doors, which will become the oldest Danish comics store in the world.
• The Brave and the Bold #98 — Jim Aparo's first issue as artist. Haney and Aparo continue to contribute the majority of issues until the series' finale in July 1983.
• In the Days of the Mob #1 and Spirit World #1, two one-shot black-and-white magazines by Jack Kirby.
• Mister Miracle #4
• The Amazing Spider-Man #101
• Girls' Romances, with issue #160, is cancelled by DC.
• Under the sign of Capricorn, by Hugo Pratt, album reckoning six Corto Maltese's adventures set in the Caribbean and in Brazil.

  November

• Marvel Comics, following rival DC's lead, raises the price of its typical comic book from 15 cents to 25 cents, and the page-count from 36 to 52.
• The Avengers #93: Neal Adams begins his celebrated stint as Avengers artist, continuing the "Kree-Skrull War" story arc begun in issue #89 of the title.
• DC Special, with issue #15, is cancelled by DC.

  December

• After a month-long experimentation with 25-cent comics, Marvel reduces the price of a typical comic to 20 cents, and returns the page-count from 52 to 36 pages.
• Bill Spicer, Michael Moore and Fred Walker found the Los Angeles Comic Book Company in Los Angeles.
• The Avengers #94: First appearance of the Mandroid power armor.
• Marvel Feature #1
• Green Lantern #87

  Specific date unknown

• The first issue of the Flemish comics magazine/fanzine CISO-Magazine is published by Danny De Laet. It will change its name into Stripgids in 1974 and receive a new chief editor, Jan Smet.
• The Finnish Comics Society is established.
• The final episode of Fuku-Chan by Ryuichi Yokoyama is published.

  Deaths

January

• January 17: Oscar Knudsen, Danish illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 72.
• January 27: E. Simms Campbell, American comics artist, dies at age 65.

  February

• February 18: Walter Booth, British comics artist, passes away at age 81.
• February 24: Jan Bouman, Dutch comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 56.
• February 21: Ercüment Kalmik, Turkish painter and comics artist, passes away at age 61 or 62.

  March

• March 10: Ladislaus Kmoch, aka Ludwig Kmoch, Austrian illustrator, cartoonist and comics artist, passes away at age 73.

  April

• April 23: Marius J.G. Thomassen, aka Mathos, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 81.
• April: David Law, Scottish comics artist, dies at age 63.

  May

• May 10: Ted Mathijsen, aka Roberic, Dutch comics artist, passes away at age 44.

  June

• June 5: Otto Waffenschmied, German comics artist, passes away at age 69.
• June 9: Russell R. Winterbotham, American novelist and comics writer, dies at age 66.
• June: Henri Dimpre, French illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 64.
• June: Carl Rose, aka Earl Cros, American cartoonist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 68.

  July

• July 2: Art Helfant, American comics artist, dies at age 72 or 73.
• July 7: Ub Iwerks, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 70.
• July 19: Garry Cleveland Myers Sr., American psychologist and comics writer and publisher, dies at age 87.
• July 24: Lou Fine, American comics artist, dies at age 56.

  August

• Specific date unknown: Julius Svendsen, Norwegian-American comics artist and animator , dies at age 51 or 52.

  October

• October 25: Paul Terry, American animator, film director, film producer and comics artist, dies at age 84.

  November

• November: Hy Gage, American comics artist, dies at age 93.
• November 28: Vasil Zahariev, Bulgarian painter and comics artist, dies at age 76.

  December

• December 20: Roy Disney, American film producer and brother of Walt Disney, dies at age 78 from an intracranial hemorrhage.
• December 22: Godfried Bomans, Dutch novelist, columnist and comics writer, passes away at age 58 from a heart attack.
• December 23: Gray Croucher, aka Gray, British-Belgian comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 51.
• December 28: Burt Gillett, American animator and film director, dies at age 80 from a heart attack.
• Specific date unknown: Joe Easley, American comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 87.

  Specific date unknown

• Georges Bourdin, French illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 83 or 84.
• Reg Bunn, British comics artist, dies at age 65 or 66.
• Lev Gleason, American comics publisher, passes away at age 62 or 63.
• James Jewell, Scottish comics artist, dies at age 73.
• Noé Solano Vargas, Costa Rican comics artist, dies at age 71 or 72.

  Exhibitions

• April 18–May 2: New York City — first exhibition of comic books
• September 8–November 7: 75 Years of the Comics, New York Cultural Center, New York — curated by Maurice Horn

  Conventions

• January 2: Miamicon '71
• February 27–28: Comicon '71 — organized by Bram Stokes and Dez Skinn; guest of honor: Frank Bellamy; other guests include Frank Dickens, Mick Farren, and Edward Barker
• Summer: Name TK
• June 17–20: Houstoncon '71 — official guests include Kirk Alyn at his first fan convention
• July 2–4: Comic Art Convention — presentation of the Goethe Awards, emceed by Tony Isabella and Carl Gafford. Convention credited by Will Eisner for his return to comics:
• July 8–11: D-Con '71 — 6th annual Southwesterncon
• August 6–8: Golden State Comic Con — official guests: Kirk Alyn, Leigh Brackett, Ray Bradbury, Edmund Hamilton, Jack Kirby
• August 15: Metro Con — second annual show organized by 16-year-old Gary Groth; attendees include guest of honor Frank Frazetta, Phil Seuling, Bud Plant, Dave Cockrum, and Dennis O'Neil
• August 20-21: Miamicon II
• November 26–28: Creation Con — first iteration of this trade show, produced by two 14-year-old Queens schoolboys, Adam Malin and Gary Berman; guest: Jim Steranko

  Awards

Goethe Awards

• Favorite Artist: TK
• Favorite Writer: TK
• Favorite Editor: TK
• Favorite Comic Book: TK
• Favorite Comic-Book Story: TK
• Favorite Comic-Book Character: TK
• Favorite Fanzine: The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom
• Favorite Fan Writer: Tony Isabella

  [Shazam Awards]

• Best Continuing Feature: Conan the Barbarian
• Best Individual Story: "Snowbirds Don't Fly", by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams, Green Lantern/Green Arrow #85
• Best Writer : Roy Thomas
• Best Penciller : Neal Adams
• Best Inker : Dick Giordano
• Best Writer : John Albano
• Best Penciller : Dan DeCarlo
• Best Inker : Henry Scarpelli
• Best Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
• Best Colorist: Tatjana Wood
• Best Foreign Artist: Frank Bellamy
• Outstanding New Talent:
• * Michael Kaluta
• * Richard Corben
• Special Recognition: Gil Kane, "for Blackmark, his paperback comics novel"
• Special Achievement by an Individual: Jack Kirby, "for his Fourth World series in Forever People, New Gods, Mister Miracle, Jimmy Olsen"
• Hall of Fame: Will Eisner

  First issues by title

Charlton Comics

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

Independent titles

Initial appearance by character name

DC Comics

• Ra's al Ghul, in Batman #232
• Talia al Ghul, in Detective Comics #411
• Big Barda, in Mister Miracle #04
• Beautiful Dreamer, in Forever People #01
• Serifan, in Forever People #01
• Vykin, in Forever People #01
• Mark Moonrider, in Forever People #01
• Big Bear, in Forever People #01
• Black Racer, in New Gods #03
• Champions of Angor, in Justice League of America #87
• *Blue Jay
• *Silver Sorceress
• Desaad, in Forever People #02
• Fastbak, in New Gods #05
• Doctor Bedlam, in Mister Miracle #02
• Dubbilex, in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #136
• Mokkari, in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olse #135
• Glorious Godfrey, in Forever People #03
• Gnarrk, in Teen Titans #33
• Granny Goodness, in Mister Miracle #02
• Highfather, in New Gods #01
• Infinity-Man, in Forever People #01
• Kalibak, in New Gods #1
• Lightray, in New Gods #01
• Bruno Mannheim, in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #139
• Mantis, in Forever People #02
• Merlyn, in Justice League of America #94
• Metron, in New Gods #01
• Mister Miracle, in Mister Miracle #01
• Oberon in Mister Miracle #01
• Orion, in New Gods #01
• John Stewart, in Green Lantern #87
• Sonny Sumo, in Forever People #04
• Swamp Thing, in House of Secrets #92
• Virman Vundabar, in Mister Miracle'' #05

  Marvel Comics

• The Defenders, in Marvel Feature #1
• Jarella, in The Incredible Hulk #140
• Man-Thing, in Savage Tales #1
• Mockingbird, in Astonishing Tales #6
• Morbius, the Living Vampire, in The Amazing Spider-Man #101
• Overmind, in Fantastic Four #113
• Doc Samson, in The Incredible Hulk #141
• Serpent Men, in Kull the Conqueror #2
• Spymaster, in Iron Man #33
• Squadron Supreme, in The Avengers #85
• * Blue Eagle
• * Doctor Spectrum
• * Golden Archer
• * Hyperion
• * Lady Lark
• * Nighthawk
• * Tom Thumb
• * Whizzer
• Valkyrie , in The Incredible Hulk #142

  Independent titles

• Dirty Duck, in Air Pirates Funnies #1
• Yama, wizard, Tex Willer's antagonist, in Il figlio di Mefisto
• Zippy the Pinhead, in Real Pulp Comix #1