1977 in comics

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Notable events of 1977 in comics. See also List of years in comics.

Events

Year overall

• Wendy and Richard Pini establish WaRP Graphics.
• Jan and Dean Mullaney establish Eclipse Comics.
• The United Kingdom's Eagle Awards are established.
• Ciao magazine is launched.

January

• Our Army at War #300: "300th Hill," by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert. (DC Comics)
• With issue #6 (January//February issue), DC cancels Four Star Spectacular.
• Toward the Terra by Keiko Takemiya debuts in Asahi Sonorama's Gekkan Manga Shōnen magazine.
• January 3: The Spider-Man newspaper comic strip makes its debut.^[1] The storyline of the first strip is that Doctor Doom is coming to address the United Nations.^[2]
• January 24: John Rosenberger passes away at the age of 58.

February

• With issue #258, DC cancels Tarzan, a title it acquired from Gold Key Comics in 1972 (and continued the Gold Key numbering).
• With issue #250, DC suspends publishing Blackhawk, which ran from 1944 to 1968, and was revived in 1976.
• Star Spangled War Stories, with issue #204 (February/March ), canceled by DC.
• With issue #33, Marvel cancels the black-and-white magazine Deadly Hands of Kung Fu.
• Planet of the Apes, with issue #29, is cancelled by Marvel.
• Ka-Zar vol. 2, with issue #20, is cancelled by Marvel.
• The Occult Files of Dr. Spektor, with issue #24, canceled by Gold Key.
• February 26: 2000 AD is launched.

Spring

• Doc Savage: Man of Bronze, with issue #8, is cancelled by Curtis Magazines (Marvel Comics).

March

• House of Mystery #251 and The Superman Family #182 became the first DC Comics series in the 80-page Dollar Comics format, consisting of 64 pages of new stories.^[3]
• With issue #302, DC changes the title of Our Army at War to Sgt. Rock.
• G.I. Combat #200: "The Tank That Died Twice," by Robert Kanigher and Sam Glanzman.
• Kobra, with issue #7, is cancelled by DC.
• Werewolf by Night, with issue #43, is cancelled by Marvel.
• March 5: Judge Dredd debuts in the second issue of 2000 AD with the story "Judge Whitey", written by Peter Harris and drawn by Mike McMahon.
• National Periodical Publications changed its name to DC Comics, Inc.

April

• G.I. Combat #201 and World's Finest Comics #244 change to the Dollar Comics format.^[3] Backup features in World's Finest Comics include Green Arrow, Black Canary,^[4] Wonder Woman, and the Vigilante.
• Two-Gun Kid, with issue #136, is cancelled by Marvel.
• Marvel Spotlight, with issue #33, is cancelled by Marvel.
• April 30: The Judge Dredd storyline "The Robot Wars" begins in 2000 AD (running through June 18).

May

• With issue #205, DC changes the title of Star Spangled War Stories to The Unknown Soldier.

June

• DC Comics raises the price of its standard comic book from 30 to 35 cents.
• Challengers of the Unknown is revived by DC Comics with issue #81 (June/July cover date; continued from 1958 series); storyline picks up from Super-Team Family issues #8–10.
• Secrets of Haunted House revived with issue #6 (June/July issue) after a 17-month hiatus (DC Comics).
• With issue #5, DC cancels Ragman.

July

• With issue #231, Marvel UK changes the title of the weekly magazine Super Spider-Man and the Titans to Super Spider-Man & Captain Britain, now featuring new Captain Britain stories (as well as The Amazing Spider-Man reprints).
• Iron Man #100: "Ten Rings To Rule the World!" by Bill Mantlo, George Tuska, and Mike Esposito.
• With issue #12, DC revives The New Gods (now called Return of the New Gods), continuing the numbering from the 1971 series.
• With issue #126, DC cancels Young Love (1960 series), picked up from Prize Comics in 1963.
• With issue #7, Marvel publishes the final issue of Logan's Run.

August

• With issue #94 (August /September cover date), DC revives Showcase, continuing the numbering from the 1956 series, which ceased publishing in 1970.
• With issue #57, DC revives Aquaman, continuing the numbering from the 1962 series, which ceased publishing in 1971.
• With issue #230, DC cancels Superboy (at this point titled Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes).
• With issue #29, DC cancels DC Special (1968 series).
• With issue #12 (August /September cover date), DC cancels Hercules Unbound.
• With issue #12, Marvel cancels The Inhumans.
• With issue #12, Marvel cancels the anthology title Marvel Presents.

September

• With issue #19, DC revives Mister Miracle (1971 series), which had gone on hiatus in 1974.
• With issue #10, Marvel publishes the final issue of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

October

• With issue #10, Marvel cancels Omega the Unknown.
• With issue #8, DC cancels Starfire.

November

• Following rival DC's lead, Marvel Comics raises the price of its standard comic book from 30 to 35 cents.
• With issue #18, DC cancels Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter.

December

• Dave Sim begins writing and independently publishing Cerebus under the publisher name Aardvark-Vanaheim.
• John Byrne and Terry Austin begin their acclaimed run as X-Men penciller/inker team with issue #108 of the title.
• With issue #8 (December 1977/January 1978 cover date), DC cancels Isis.

Deaths

January

• January: Bob Brown, American comics artist (co-creator of Space Ranger, long-time penciller of Challengers of the Unknown), dies at age 62.^[5]
• January 22: James Childress, American comics artist and cartoonist (Conchy), commits suicide at the age of 35.^[6]

February

• February 1: Edmond Hamilton, American science fiction writer and comics writer (Space Ranger, DC Comics), dies at age 72.
• February 21: John Hubley, American animator, film director and comics artist (Mr. Magoo, Zuckerkandl!) dies at the age of 62.

April

• April: Paul Gustavson, American comics writer and artist (The Human Bomb, The Angel), dies at age 60.^[7]
• April 8: Jean Cézard, French comics artist (Arthur le fantôme justicier), dies at age 53.^[8]

June

• June 3: Syd Nicholls, Australian comics artist (Fatty Finn), falls from his apartment balcony and dies at the age of 80.^[9]
• June 16: Stan Cross, American-Australian comics artist (Wally and the Major, The Potts), dies at age 88.^[10]

July

• July: Milt Stein, American animator and comics artist (Supermouse), commits suicide at age 56.^[11]

August

• August: Louis Cazeneuve, Argentine-American comics artist (co-creator of Red Raven), dies at c. age 69.

July

• July 5: Theo Funke Küpper, Dutch comics artist (De Verstrooide Professor), dies at the age of 72.^[12]
• July 8: Roy Crane, American comics artist (Wash Tubbs, Captain Easy, Buz Sawyer), dies at age 75.^[13]

September

• September 7: Alexis, French comics artist (Al Crane, Cinémastock, Superdupont, Le Transperceneige), dies at age 30 of a ruptured aneurysm.^[14]

November

• November 5: René Goscinny, French comics writer (Astérix, Lucky Luke, Oumpah-pah, Le Petit Nicolas, Iznogoud), dies at age 51.^[15]

December

• December: John Verpoorten, American comics inker and Marvel Comics production manager, dies at age 37.

Specific date unknown

• Robert Baldwin, also known as Rupe, American comics artist and cartoonist (Freddy), dies at age 72 or 73.^[16]
• Héctor Germán Oesterheld, Argentine journalist and comics writer (El Sargento Kirk, Ernie Pike, El Eternauta, Mort Cinder) mysteriously disappears, presumed arrested and murdered by soldiers of President Jorge Rafael Videla's regime.^[17]

Exhibitions and shows

There were many TV shows based on comics in 1977, featuring Spider-Man, Captain America, Doctor Strange, and Wonder Woman.

Conventions

• Columbus Comic Book Convention (Columbus, Ohio) — guests include Jim Steranko, Bob Layton, and Mike Nasser
• Dayton Comic Book Convention (Convention Center, Dayton, Ohio) — produced by Dayton retailer The Dragon's Lair
• May 28–30: Detroit Triple Fan Fair (Troy Hilton, Troy, MI) — dubbed the "Detroit Triple Fan Fair (in Exile)"; guests include Chuck Jones, Ray Harryhausen; d^[18]
• June: Houstoncon (Houston, Texas) — guests include Frank Brunner, Spanky McFarland, Jock Mahoney, George Takei, Forrest J Ackerman, and Roy Rogers
• July 1–5: Comic Art Convention (Hotel Sheraton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — 10th annual show, first time in Philadelphia. Guests of honor: John Stanley and Bernie Wrightson; other guests include Roy Thomas, Wendy Pini, Linda Behrle,^[19] Barry Windsor-Smith, Frank Thorne, Frank Brunner, and Jeff Jones
• July 20–24: San Diego Comic-Con (El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California) — 4,000+ attendees; official guests: Carl Barks, C. C. Beck, Walter Gibson, Robert A. Heinlein, Michael Kaluta, Jack Kirby, B. Kliban, Joe Kubert, Harvey Kurtzman, Stan Lynde, Alex Niño, Trina Robbins, and Bill Scott
• July 29–31: Konvention of Alternative Komix (Air Galleries, London, England, UK) — 2nd annual underground comix event
• July 29–30: Toronto Triple Fan Fair a.k.a. "Fan Fair 4" (Carleton Inn, Toronto, ON, Canada) — Guests of Honour: Philip José Farmer and Andrew I. Porter
• August 5–7: Chicago Comicon (Pick-Congress Hotel, 520 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois) — produced by Joe Sarno, Mike Gold, and Bob Weinberg; guests include Stan Lee, Jenette Kahn,^[20] Chester Gould, and Howard Chaykin^[21]
• August 12–14: Atlanta Comics & Fantasy Fair (Dunfey's Royal Coach, Atlanta, Georgia) — official guests include Jenette Kahn, Dick Giordano, Kenneth Smith, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko
• September: OrlandoCon (Orlando, Florida) — guests include Ralph Dunagin and Scorchy Smith's Edmund Good
• September 3–4: Comicon '77 (British Comic Art Convention) (Bloomsbury Centre Hotel, London, England) — organized by Rob Barrow; presentation of the first annual Eagle Awards^[22]
• September 10–11: Frazetta '77 (Penn Stroud Hilton Inn, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) — guests include Harvey Kurtzman, Will Eisner, Jerry Robinson, Burne Hogarth, Bernie Wrightson, Steve Hickman, Michael Kaluta, Charles Vess, Ian Ballantine, Betty Ballantine, and Ken Kelley
• November 25–27: Creation Comic Book & Pop Culture Convention (Statler Hilton Hotel, New York City) — guests include George Pérez; admission: $5/day^[23]

Awards

Eagle Awards

Presented in 1978 for comics published in 1977:

• Favourite Writer: Steve Englehart
• Favourite Artist: Neal Adams
• Favourite Inker: Terry Austin
• Favourite Comic Book (Dramatic): Uncanny X-Men
• Favorite Comic Book (Humor): Howard the Duck, by Steve Gerber and Gene Colan
• Favourite Black and White Magazine: Savage Sword of Conan
• Favourite Single Story: "The Final Threat," Avengers Annual #7, by Jim Starlin
• Favourite Continued Story: Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2, by Jim Starlin
• Favourite Group or Team: Uncanny X-Men
• Favourite Character: Batman
• Favourite Supporting Character: Pip the Troll
• Favourite Villain: Thanos
• Favourite Comic (UK): 2000 AD (Fleetway)
• Favourite Editor (UK): Dez Skinn, for MAD magazine
• Roll of Honour: Steve Englehart

First issues by title

DC Comics

Black Lightning

Release: April. Writer: Tony Isabella. Artist: Trevor Von Eeden.

DC Special Series: catch-all series primarily for one-shots of different formats, released on an irregular schedule

Release: September. Editor: Paul Levitz.

Jonah Hex

Release: March/April. Writer: Michael Fleisher. Artist: José Luis García-López.

Men of War

Release: August. Editor: Paul Levitz.

Shade, the Changing Man

Release: June/July. Writers: Steve Ditko and Michael Fleisher. Artist: Steve Ditko.

Star Hunters

Release: October /November Writer: David Michelinie. Artists: Don Newton and Bob Layton.

Marvel Comics

Black Panther

Release: January. Writer/Artist: Jack Kirby.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Release: August. Writer: Doug Moench. Artists: Herb Trimpe and Jim Mooney.

John Carter, Warlord of Mars

Release: June. Writer: Marv Wolfman. Artists: Gil Kane and Dave Cockrum.

Human Fly

Release: September. Writer: Bill Mantlo. Artists: Lee Elias.

Logan's Run

Release: January. Writer: Gerry Conway. Artists: George Pérez and Klaus Janson.

Marvel Super Action

Release: May. Reprints classic Captain America stories.

Marvel Super Special

Premiere issues features the rock band Kiss in a 40-page fictional adventure written by Steve Gerber, penciled by Alan Weiss, John Buscema, Rich Buckler, and Sal Buscema.

The Rampaging Hulk

Release: January by Curtis Magazines. Editor: John Warner.

Star Wars

Release: July. Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Howard Chaykin.

What If

Release: February. Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas.

Independent publishers

2000 AD

Release: February 26 by IPC Media. Editor: Tharg the Mighty.

Cerebus the Aardvark

Release: December by Aardvark-Vanaheim. Writer/Artist: Dave Sim.

Heavy Metal

Release: April by HM Communications, Inc.. Editor: Sean Kelly and Valerie Marchant.

La Compagnia della Forca

Writer & Artist: Magnus

Rip Off Comix

Release: April by Rip Off Press.

Hakusensha

Bessatsu Hana to Yume

Release: July

Initial appearance by character name

DC Comics

• Baron Blitzkrieg, in World's Finest Comics #246 (August /September )
• Black Lightning, in Black Lightning #1 (April)
• Celsius, in Showcase #94 (August /September )
• Joshua Clay, in Showcase #94 (August /September )
• Dawnstar, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #226 (April)
• Doctor Phosphorus, in Detective Comics #469 (May)
• Cal Durham, in Adventure Comics #452 (July)
• Faora, in Action Comics #471 (May)
• Godiva, in Super Friends #7 (October)
• Golden Glider, in Flash #250 (June)
• Gravedigger, in Men of War #1 (August)
• Huntress, in DC Super Stars # 17 (November /December 1977)^[24][25]
• Icemaiden, in Super Friends #9 (December)
• Impala, in Super Friends #7 (October)
• Jack O'Lantern, in Super Friends #8 (November)
• Owlwoman, in Super Friends #7 (October)
• El Papagayo, in Jonah Hex vol. 1, #2 (May)
• Professor Ojo, in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #16 (July/August )
• Rising Sun, in Super Friends #8 (November)
• Scalphunter in Weird Western Tales #39 (March /April )
• Seraph, in Super Friends #7 (October)
• Shade, the Changing Man, in Shade, the Changing Man #1 (June/July)
• Silver St. Cloud, in Detective Comics #470 (June)
• Sklarian Raiders, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #233 (November, DC Comics)
• Tasmanian Devil, in Super Friends #7 (October)
• Rupert Thorne, in Detective Comics #469 (May)
• Tuatara, in Super Friends #8 (November)
• Valentina Vostok, in Showcase #94 (August)

Marvel Comics

• Aqueduct, in Ghost Rider #23 (April)
• Aries (Life Model Decoy), in The Defenders #49 (July)
• Bereet, in The Rampaging Hulk #1 (January, Curtis Magazines)
• Bushmaster, in Iron Fist #15 (September)
• Constrictor, in The Incredible Hulk #212 (June)
• Deathbird, in Ms. Marvel #9 (September)
• Devil-Slayer, in Marvel Spotlight #33 (April)
• Doctor Bong, in Howard the Duck #15 (August)
• Dreadknight, in Iron Man #102 (August)
• Dyna-Mite / Destroyer, in Invaders #14 (March)
• Celestials
  • Dreaming Celestial, in The Eternals #18 (December)
  • Eson the Searcher, in The Eternals #9 (March)
  • Hargen the Measurer, in The Eternals #9 (March)
  • Jemiah the Analyzer, in The Eternals #7 (January)
  • Nezarr the Calculator, in The Eternals #9 (March)
  • One Above All, in The Eternals #7 (January)
  • Oneg the Prober, in The Eternals #9 (March)
  • Tefral the Surveyor, in The Eternals #7 (January)
  • Ziran the Tester, in The Eternals #18 (December)
• Eternals
  • Aginar, in The Eternals #11 (May)
  • Delphan Brothers, in The Eternals #11 (May)
  • Druig, in The Eternals #11 (May)
  • Forgotten One, in The Eternals #13 (July)
  • Sigmar, in The Eternals #17 (November)
  • Sprite, in The Eternals #9 (March)
  • Kingo Sunen, in The Eternals #11 (May)
  • Uni-Mind, in The Eternals #12 (June)
  • Valkin, in The Eternals #11 (May)
  • Zarin, in The Eternals #11 (May)
• Henry Peter Gyrich, in Avengers #165 (November)
• Human Fly (Rick Rojatt), in Human Fly (Rick Rojatt) #1 (September)
• Imperial Guard, in X-Men #107 (October)
  • Astra
  • Electron
  • Fang
  • Flashfire
  • Guardian
  • Magique
  • Mentor
  • Neutron
  • Nightside
  • Oracle
  • Pulsar
  • Scintilla
  • Smasher
  • Starbolt
  • Titan
• Jocasta, in Avengers #162 (August)
• Killer Shrike, in The Rampaging Hulk #1 (January, Curtis Magazines)
• Lightmaster, in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #3 (February)
• Machine Man, in 2001: A Space Odyssey #8 (July)
• Malice, in Ghost Rider vol. 2, #25 (August)
• Paragon / Kismet, in The Incredible Hulk Annual #6
• Ringer, in Defenders #51 (September)
• Rocket Racer, in The Amazing Spider-Man #172 (September)
• Sabretooth, in Iron Fist #14 (August)
• Nicholas Scratch, in Fantastic Four #185 (August)
• Sphinx, in Nova #6 (February)
• Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), in Marvel Spotlight #32 (February)
• Spirit of '76, in The Invaders #14 (March)
• Starjammers, in X-Men #107 (October)
  • Ch'od, in X-Men #104 (April)
  • Corsair, in X-Men #104 (April)
  • Hepzibah, in X-Men #107 (October)
  • Raza Longknife, in X-Men #107 (October)
• Swarm, in Champions #14 (July)
• Warrior Woman, in Invaders #16 (May)
• Will O' Wisp, in The Amazing Spider-Man #167 (April)
• Arnim Zola, in Captain America #208 (April)

Other titles

• Cerebus the Aardvark, in Cerebus #1 (December, Aardvark-Vanaheim)
• Rico Dredd, in 2000 AD prog 30 (Fleetway)
• Judge Dredd, in 2000 AD #2 (Fleetway)
• Judge Giant, in 2000 AD prog 27 (Fleetway)
• Judge Goodman, in 2000 AD #2 (Fleetway)
• Bill Savage, in 2000 AD #1 (February 26, Fleetway)
• Tharg the Mighty, in 2000 AD #1 (February 26, Fleetway)

References