1973 in comics

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.

January

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 (by Englehart with art by Bob Brown and Frank McLaughlin), the story continued in Justice League of America #103 (by Wein, Dick Dillin and Dick Giordano), and concluded in Thor #207 (by Conway and penciler John Buscema).

Teen Titans, with issue #43 (January /February issue), suspends publication. (DC Comics)

February

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 (February /March cover date), is revived by DC after being cancelled in 1970.

FOOM #1, Marvel's in-house fanzine

May

Night Nurse, with issue #4, is cancelled by Marvel.

June

Detective Comics, with issue #435 (June/July cover date) begins a bimonthly schedule. (DC Comics)

Doom Patrol vol 1., with issue #125 (June–July), 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. (Concludes in Amazing Spider-Man #122, July cover-date.)

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 (August /September cover date) goes on hiatus, to be revived in 1976. (DC Comics)

Shanna the She-Devil, with issue #5, is cancelled by Marvel.

October

Detective Comics, with issue #437 (October /November issue), 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 (October /November issue), 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. (Curtis Magazines)

Vampire Tales #2: The first appearance of Satana, drawn by John Romita (Marvel Comics)

November

Kull the Conqueror, with issue #11, changes its name to Kull the Destroyer. (Marvel Comics)

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.

February

February 27: Bill Everett dies at age 55.

June

Werner Roth dies at age 52.

June 3: Syd Shores dies at age 59.

October

October 18: Pogo creator Walt Kelly dies at age 60.

Conventions

January 19–21: Infinity '73 (Commodore Hotel, New York City) — SF/comic con

February 24: Comic Mart (Lyndhurst Hall, London, England) — 2nd such event organized by "Godfather of British fandom" Frank Dobson

April 20–22: Berkeleycon 73, (Pauley Ballroom, ASUC Building, University of California, Berkeley) — 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 (West Berlin, Germany) — organized by German fan organization INCOS, est. 1970

May 18–20: Chicago Comic Con (Midland Hotel, Chicago, IL) — (not affiliated with Nostalgia '73, which later became the Chicago Comicon); 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 (Memorial Day weekend): Detroit Triple Fan Fair I, (Detroit Hilton, Detroit, MI) — guests include Jerry Bails

June 21–24: Houstoncon '73 (Marriott Hotel, Houston, Texas) — 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 (Sheraton Hotel, Dallas, Texas) — guests include Harlan Ellison, William Gaines, Burne Hogarth, and Jerry Bails; tickets $7.50 at the door

July 4–8: Comic Art Convention (Hotel Commodore, New York City) — 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 (Waverley Hotel, London, England) — 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 (Pick-Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois) — produced by Nancy Warner

August 16–19 — San Diego Comic-Con (Sheraton Hotel, Harbor Island, California) — 1,000+ attendees. Official guests: Neal Adams, D.C. Fontana, June Foray, Mike Friedrich, Carmine Infantino

August 24–26: Cleveland Comic Convention (Sheraton Cleveland Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio) — guests include Val Mayerik, Dan Adkins, Paul Gulacy, Tony Isabella, and P. Craig Russell

October: Buffalo Marvelous Con (Statler Hilton Hotel, Buffalo, NY) — guests include Gil Kane and Phil Seuling

October 18–21: Detroit Triple Fan Fair II, (Detroit Hilton, Detroit, MI) — guests include Barry Windsor-Smith, Michael Kaluta, George A. Romero, and Russ Heath

October 31–November 3: Lucca Comics & Games (Lucca, Italy) — 9th annual festival

December 2: Oak Con I (Gold Room, Oakland University, Rochester Hills, MI) — produced by Steve Sundahl

Comic Fan Art Awards

(Formerly the Goethe Awards) For comics published in 1973. Presented at the 1974 Comic Art Convention, held July 4–8, 1974, at the Commodore Hotel, New York City; and published in The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom #63 (Aug. 1, 1974).

Favorite Pro Artist: Bernie Wrightson

Favorite Pro Writer: Len Wein

Favorite Pro Editor: Roy Thomas

Favorite Pro Comic Book: Swamp Thing (DC)

Favorite Comic-Book Story: "Night of the Bat,"” by Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, and Joe Orlando in Swamp Thing #7 (DC)

Favorite Comic-Book Character: Conan

Favorite Fanzine: The Comic Reader (edited by Paul Levitz)

Favorite Fan Writer: Don & Maggie Thompson

Favorite Fan Artist: Don Newton

Howard Bender (third place)

Shazam Awards

Presented in 1974 for comics published in 1973:

Best Continuing Feature: Swamp Thing (DC Comics)

Best Individual Story: "Song of Red Sonja", by Roy Thomas and Barry Smith, Conan the Barbarian #24 (Marvel Comics)

Best Individual Short Story (Dramatic): "The Himalayan Incident" (Manhunter), by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson, Detective Comics #437 (DC)

Best Writer (Dramatic Division): Archie Goodwin

Best Penciller (Dramatic Division): Berni Wrightson

Best Inker (Dramatic Division): Dick Giordano

Best Humor Story: "The Gourmet", Plop! #1 (DC)

Best Writer (Humor Division) (tie):

Stu Schwartzberg

Steve Skeates

Best Penciller (Humor Division): Marie Severin

Best Inker (Humor Division): Ralph Reese

Best Letterer: Gaspar Saladino

Best Colorist: Glynis Wein

Best Foreign Comic Series: Lieutenant Blueberry

Outstanding New Talent (tie):

Walt Simonson

Jim Starlin

Superior Achievement by an Individual: Richard Corben

Hall of Fame: Carl Barks

DC Comics

Black Magic: selected reprints of 1950 Prize Comics series.

Release: October /November Writer: Joe Simon. Artist: Jack Kirby.

Plop!

Release: September /October Editor: Joe Orlando.

Prez

Release: September. Writer: Joe Simon. Artist: Jerry Grandenetti.

Shazam!

Release: February. Artist: C.C. Beck. Editor: Julius Schwartz.

Marvel Comics

Crazy: precursor to Crazy Magazine

Release: January.

Crazy Magazine

Release: October. Editor: Marv Wolfman.

Dead of Night

Release: January.

Dracula Lives!

Release: by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Ghost Rider vol. 2

Release: September. Writer: Gary Friedrich. Artist: Tom Sutton and Syd Shores.

Monster of Frankenstein

Release: January. Writer: Gary Friedrich. Artist: Mike Ploog.

Monsters Unleashed

Release: July by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Spider-Man Comics Weekly

Release: February 10 by Marvel UK. Editor: Tony Isabella.

Tales of the Zombie

Release: July by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Vampire Tales

Release: July by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.

War is Hell

Release: January. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Worlds Unknown

Release: May. Editor: Stan Lee.

Independent titles

Bobo

Release by Semic Press. Writer and Artist: Lars Mortimer

Cutie Honey

Release: October 1 by Akita Shoten. Writer/Artist: Go Nagai.

E-Man

Release: October by Charlton Comics. Writer: Nicola Cuti. Artist: Joe Staton.

The Occult Files of Dr. Spektor

Release: May by Gold Key Comics. Writer: Don Glut. Artist: Jesse Santos.

DC Comics

Abigail Arcane, in Swamp Thing #3 (February -March)

Black Orchid, in Adventure Comics #428 (July)

Freedom Fighters, in Justice League of America #107 (October)

Klarion the Witch Boy, in The Demon #7 (March)

Steve Lombard, in Superman #264 (June)

Mister Miracle (Shilo Norman), in Mister Miracle #15 (August)

Spook, in Detective Comics #434 (April)

Tyr, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #197 (September)

Wildfire, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #195 (June)

Marvel Comics

Angar the Screamer, in Daredevil #100 (June)

Bi-Beast, in The Incredible Hulk #169 (November)

Blade, in The Tomb of Dracula #10 (July)

Lucas Brand, in The Tomb of Dracula #9 (June)

Brother Voodoo, in Strange Tales #169 (September)

Drax the Destroyer, in Iron Man #55 (February)

Deacon Frost, in The Tomb of Dracula #13 (October)

Gremlin, in The Incredible Hulk #163 (May)

Quincy Harker, in The Tomb of Dracula #7 (March)

Daimon Hellstrom, in Ghost Rider (vol. 2) #1 (September)

Helmut Zemo, in Captain America #168 (December)

Howard the Duck, in Adventure into Fear #19 (December)

The Hydro-Men, in Sub-Mariner #61 (May)

The Infra-Worlders, in The Incredible Hulk #164 (June)

Solomon Kane, in Monsters Unleashed #1 (August)

Erik Killmonger, in Jungle Action #6 (September)

Killraven, in Amazing Adventures #18 (May)

Kronos, in Iron Man #55 (February)

A'lars, in Iron Man #55 (February)

Moondragon, in Iron Man #54 (January)

Nimrod, in Dracula Lives! #3 (October)

Orb, in Marvel Team-Up #15 (November)

Satana, in Vampire Tales #2 (October)

Shang-Chi, in Special Marvel Edition #15 (December)

Sui-San, in Captain Marvel #29 (November)

Starfox, in Iron Man #55 (February)

Thanos, in Iron Man #55 (February)

Ultimus, in The Mighty Thor #209 (March)

Uranos, in Captain Marvel #29 (November)

Venomm, in Jungle Action #6 (September)

Wendigo, in The Incredible Hulk #162 (April)

Wundarr the Aquarian, in Adventure into Fear #17 (October)

Baron Zemo II, in Captain America #168 (December)

Zzzax, in The Incredible Hulk #166 (August)

Independent titles

Black Jack, in Weekly Shōnen Champion (November 19)

Rerun van Pelt, in Peanuts (March 26)