1977 in comics

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.
• Bob Brown dies at age 62.
• 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.
• January 3: The Spider-Man newspaper comic strip makes its debut. The storyline of the first strip is that Doctor Doom is coming to address the United Nations.
• January 24: John Rosenberger passes away at the age of 58.
• Toward the Terra by Keiko Takemiya debuts in Asahi Sonorama's Gekkan Manga Shōnen magazine.

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 1: Edmond Hamilton dies at age 72.
• February 26: 2000 AD is launched.

Spring

• Doc Savage: Man of Bronze, with issue #8, is cancalled 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.
• 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.

April

• Paul Gustavson, creator of The Human Bomb and The Angel, dies at age 60.
• G.I. Combat #201 and World's Finest Comics #244 change to the Dollar Comics format. Backup features in World's Finest Comics include Green Arrow, Black Canary, 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 #8â€"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

• Golden Age artist Louis Cazeneuve dies at c. age 69.
• 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.
• November 5: Asterix co-creator René Goscinny dies at age 51.

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.
• John Verpoorten, inker and Marvel Comics production manager, dies at age 37.
• With issue #8 (December 1977/January 1978 cover date), DC cancels Isis.

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) â€" guests include Jim Steranko, Bob Layton, and Mike Nasser
• Dayton Comic Book Convention (Convention Center, Dayton, Ohio) â€" produced by Dayton retailer The Dragon's Lair

• June: Houstoncon (Houston, Texas) â€" guests include Frank Brunner, Spanky McFarland, Jock Mahoney, George Takei, Forrest J Ackerman, and Roy Rogers
• July 1â€"5: Comic Art Convention (Hotel Sheraton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) â€" 10th annual show, first time in Philadelphia. Guests of honor: John Stanley and Bernie Wrightson; other guests include Roy Thomas, Wendy Pini, Linda Behrle, Barry Windsor-Smith, Frank Thorne, Frank Brunner, and Jeff Jones
• July 20â€"24: San Diego Comic-Con (El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California) â€" 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 29â€"31: Konvention of Alternative Komix (Air Galleries, London, England, UK) â€" 2nd annual underground comix event
• August 5â€"7: Chicago Comicon (Pick-Congress Hotel, 520 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois) â€" produced by Joe Sarno, Mike Gold, and Bob Weinberg; guests include Stan Lee, Jenette Kahn, Chester Gould, and Howard Chaykin
• September: OrlandoCon (Orlando, Florida) â€" guests include Ralph Dunagin and Scorchy Smith's Edmund Good
• September 3â€"4: Comicon '77 (British Comic Art Convention) (Bloomsbury Centre Hotel, London, England) â€" organized by Rob Barrow; presentation of the first annual Eagle Awards
• September 10â€"11: Frazetta '77 (Penn Stroud Hilton Inn, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania) â€" 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 25â€"27: Creation Comic Book & Pop Culture Convention (Statler Hilton Hotel, New York City) â€" guests include George Pérez; admission: $5/day

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.

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

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)
• 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 Rampaging Hulk #1 (January, Curtis Magazines)
• Bushmaster, in Iron Fist #15 (September)
• Constrictor, in 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 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