1967 in comics

Notable events of 1967 in comics. See also List of years in comics.

Events and publications

Year overall

• Kinney National Company acquires National Periodical Publications (a.k.a. DC Comics).
• A tumultuous year for Charlton Comics, as they debut titles like Blue Beetle (vol. 5), The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves, Peacemaker, and Timmy the Timid Ghost; but are forced to cancel Fightin' 5, Thunderbolt, the afore-mentioned Peacemaker, Judomaster, and Captain Atom.
• The newspaper strip Captain Kate begins syndication.

January

• Blackhawk #228, the beginning of "the New Blackhawk Era" â€" in the issues that follow, all characters but team leader Blackhawk gain a costumed superhero alter-ego at the behest of a shadowy government agency. (DC Comics)
• Detective Comics #359, "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl," written by Gardner Fox and illustrated by Carmine Infantino. (DC Comics)

First appearance of Batgirl

• "The Death of Ferro Lad" story arc begins in Adventure Comics #352, by Jim Shooter, Curt Swan, and George Klein (continued in Adventure Comics #353). (DC Comics)

First appearance of the Fatal Five, and its member Emerald Empress, Mano, Persuader, Tharok, and Validus

• Fightin' 5, with issue #41, canceled by Charlton.

February

• Warfront (1951 series), with issue #39, canceled by Harvey Comics.

March

• "The Adult Legion" story arc begins in Adventure Comics #354, by Jim Shooter, Curt Swan, and George Klein. (Concludes in Adventure Comics #355 (Marchâ€"April 1967.) (DC Comics)

June

• Blue Beetle #1 (vol. 5) (Charlton)

First appearance of The Question

July

• Our Army at War #182: Artist Neal Adams makes his DC Comics debut with the short story "It's My Turn to Die".
• Strange Adventures, with issue #202, changes format from science fiction to supernatural fantasy. (DC Comics)
• The Amazing Spider-Man #50: "Spider-Man No More!," written by Stan Lee and illustrated by John Romita. (Marvel Comics)

August

• The Adventures of Jerry Lewis #101: "Jerry the Asto-Nut", Neal Adams' first full-length story for DC.
• Superman #199 Writer Jim Shooter and artist Curt Swan crafted the story "Superman's Race With the Flash!" which featured the first race between the Flash and Superman, two characters known for their super-speed powers.
• Closure of the longtime publisher American Comics Group, and the cancellation of their long-running titles Adventures into the Unknown (174 issues), Forbidden Worlds (145 issues), and Unknown Worlds (57 issues).

October

• Strange Adventures #205 (DC Comics)

First appearance of Deadman This story included the first known depiction of narcotics in a story approved by the Comics Code Authority.

November

• Ghost Rider, with issue #7, canceled by Marvel.
• Thunderbolt, with issue #60, canceled by Charlton.
• Peacemaker, with issue #5, canceled by Charlton.

December

• Judomaster, with issue #98, canceled by Charlton.
• Captain Atom, with issue #89, canceled by Charlton.
• King Comics, with issue #11, publishes its final issue of Flash Gordon.

Deaths

October

• October 1: Bob Powell dies at age 50.

December

• December 12: Mac Raboy dies at age 53.

Conventions

• Summer: Detroit Triple Fan Fair (Detroit, Michigan) â€" produced by Shel Dorf

• June 16â€"18: Houston Comic Convention (Ramada Inn, Houston, Texas) â€" first Houston-based comics convention (Houstoncon); 124 attendees.
• July 14â€"16: Academy Con (City Squire Inn, New York City) â€" 3rd edition of this convention; attendees include Frank Frazetta, Roy Krenkel, and Stephen Hickman.
• late July: Gateway Con (St. Louis, Missouri) â€" produced by Bob Schoenfeld

Awards

Alley Awards

Best Comic Magazine Section

• Adventure Book with the Main Character in the Title - The Amazing Spider-Man  (Marvel Comics)
• Adventure Hero Title with One or More Characters in Own Strip - Strange Tales  (Marvel Comics)
• Super Hero Group Title - Fantastic Four  (Marvel Comics)
• Non-Super-Powered Group Title - Challengers of the Unknown  (DC Comics)
• Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title - The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves  (Charlton Comics)
• Western Title - Ghost Rider  (Marvel Comics)
• War Title - Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos  (Marvel Comics)
• Humor Title: Teenage - Archie  (Archie Comics)
• Humor Title: Costumed - Not Brand Ecch  (Marvel Comics)
• Humor Title: Juvenile - Uncle Scrooge  (Western Publishing)
• All-Reprint Title - Fantasy Masterpieces  (Marvel Comics)
• Combination New & Reprint Material Title - Marvel Super-Heroes  (Marvel Comics)

Best Professional Work

• Editor - Stan Lee  (Marvel Comics)
• Writer - Stan Lee
• Pencil Artist - Jack Kirby
• Inking Artist - Joe Sinnott
• Cover - Strange Adventures #207, by Neal Adams  (DC Comics)
• Coloring - Magnus, Robot Fighter  (Gold Key Comics)
• Full-Length Story - "Who's Been Lying in My Grave?", by Arnold Drake & Carmine Infantino, Strange Adventures #205  (DC Comics)
• Feature Story - "Lost Continent of Mongo" by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson, Flash Gordon #4  (King Comics)
• Regular Short Feature - (tie) "Tales of Asgard" and "Tales of the Inhumans", both by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, in The Mighty Thor  (Marvel Comics)
• Hall of Fame - The Spirit, by Will Eisner

Popularity Poll

• Best Costumed or Powered Hero - Spider-Man  (Marvel Comics)
• Best Normal Adventure Hero - Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.  (Marvel Comics)
• Best Super-Powered Group - Fantastic Four  (Marvel Comics)
• Best Normal Adventure Group - Challengers of the Unknown  (DC Comics)
• Best Male Normal Supporting Character - J. Jonah Jameson (The Amazing Spider-Man)  (Marvel Comics)
• Best Female Normal Supporting Character - Mary Jane Watson (The Amazing Spider-Man)  (Marvel Comics)
• Best Villain - Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four)  (Marvel Comics)
• Best New Strip - "Deadman", by Arnold Drake & Carmine Infantino, in Strange Adventures  (DC Comics)
• Best Revived Strip - Blue Beetle  (Charlton Comics)
• Strip Most Needing Improvement - Batman  (DC Comics)
• Strip Most Desired for Revival - Adam Strange  (DC Comics)

Newspaper Strip Section

• 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 - Ripley's Believe It or Not
• Hall of Fame Award - Flash Gordon, by Alex Raymond

Fan Activity Section

• Best All-Article Fanzine - (tie) Batmania and Gosh Wow
• Best All-Strip Fanzine - Star-Studded Comics
• Best All-Fiction Fanzine - Stories of Suspense
• Best Article/Strip Fanzine - Fantasy Illustrated
• Best Fiction/Strip Fanzine - Star-Studded Comics
• Best Article/Fiction Fanzine - (tie) Gosh Wow and Huh!
• Best Fannish One-Shot - Fandom Annual
• Best Article on Comic Book Material - "Blue Bolt and Gang" (Gosh Wow #1)
• Best Article on Comic Strip Material - "Gully Foyle" (Star-Studded Comics #11)
• Best Regular Fan Column - "What's News", by Dave Kaler
• Best Fan Fiction - "Nightwalker", by Larry Brody (Gosh Wow #1)
• Best Fan Comic Strip - "Xal-Kor", by Richard "Grass" Green
• Best Fan Artist - George Metzger
• Best Comic Strip Writer - Larry Herndon
• Best Fan Project - 1967 South-Western Con
• Best Newsletter - On the Drawing Board, by Bob Schoenfeld

First issues by title

Marvel Comics

America's Best TV Comics

Release: mid-year. Writer: Stan Lee. Artists: Jack Kirby, Paul Reinman, Dick Ayers, John Romita Sr.

Ghost Rider

Release: February. Writers: Gary Friedrich and Roy Thomas. Artists: Dick Ayers and Vince Colletta.

Not Brand Echh

Release: August. Editor: Stan Lee.

Charlton Comics

Blue Beetle (vol. 5)

Release: June by Charlton Comics. Writer/Artist: Steve Ditko.

The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves

Release: May by Charlton Comics. Editor: Dick Giordano.

Peacemaker

Release: March by Charlton Comics. Writer: Joe Gill. Artist: Pat Boyette.

Timmy the Timid Ghost vol. 2

Release: October by Charlton Comics. Editor: Pat Masulli.

Other publishers

Valérian and Laureline, in Pilote magazine

Release: November by Dargaud. Writer: Pierre Christin. Artist: Jean-Claude Mézières.

Initial appearances by character name

Charlton Comics

• Captain Willy Schultz, in Fightin' Army #76 (October)
• Faustus, in Captain Atom vol. 2, #89 (December)
• The Iron Corporal, in Army War Heroes #22 (November)
• Prankster, in Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt #60 (October/November)
• The Question, Blue Beetle #1 (June)

DC Comics

• Aquagirl
• Awesome Threesome
• B'wana Beast
• Black Manta
• Comet
• Deadman, in Strange Adventures #205 (October)
• Ekron
• Element Girl
• Fatal Five, in Adventure Comics #352 (January)
  • Emerald Empress
  • Mano
  • Persuader
  • Tharok
  • Validus
• Barbara Gordon, in Detective Comics #359 (January)
• Hank Hall
• Lion-Mane
• Mad Mod, in Teen Titans #7 (DC Comics)
• Madmen
• Punch and Jewelee
• Red Guardian
• Reflecto

Marvel Comics

• Abomination
• Banshee, in X-Men #28 (January)
• Black Knight (Dane Whitman)
• Blastaar
• Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)
• Cobalt Man
• Crusher
• Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
• Dreadnought
• Grotesk
• Growing Man
• Kingpin
• Leap-Frog
• Live Wire
• Living Diamond
• Living Tribunal
• Lurking Unknown
• MODOK
• Mogul of the Mystic Mountain
• Ogre
• Phantom Rider
• Psycho-Man
• Clay Quartermain
• Robbie Robertson
• Ronan the Accuser
• Scorpio
• Sentry
• Shocker
• Kevin Sydney
• Tarantula
• Ulik
• Zom

Comic strips

• Woodstock

References