1974 in comics

Year overall

From May to September, Marvel debuts their Giant-Size series, mostly double- or triple-length comics featuring their most popular characters. Many of the Giant-Size books are one-shots; none of the ongoing titles last more than six issues.

Marvel Fireside Books debuts with Origins of Marvel Comics (Fireside Books/Simon & Schuster).

Tut le Blanc's comic strip An Altar Boy Named Speck concludes

January

The Demon, with issue #16, is cancelled by DC.

Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze, with issue #8, is cancelled by Marvel.

February

Adventure Comics #431: Spectre feature begins by writer Michael Fleisher and artist Jim Aparo. It runs through issue #440.

Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #200: "The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger" by Cary Bates and Dave Cockrum.

With issue #18 (February /March cover date), DC Comics' Mister Miracle (1971 series) goes on hiatus.

Hero for Hire, with issue #17, changes its name to Power Man.

Special Marvel Edition, with issue #16, is cancelled by Marvel; its numbering continues with Master of Kung Fu (April).

The Punisher makes his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129.

March

Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion, with issue #15, cancelled by DC.

Prez, with issue #4, cancelled by DC.

April

With issue #164 (April /May cover date), Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (1954 series) changes its name and format to The Superman Family.

Master of Kung Fu debuts with issue #17, continuing the numbering of Special Marvel Edition.

With issue #6, Chilling Adventures in Sorcery changes its name to Red Circle Sorcery. (Red Circle Comics)

May

Marvel Comics raises the price of its typical comic book from 20 cents to 25 cents, keeping the page-count at 36.

June

Seaboard Periodicals formed by former Marvel Comics publisher Martin Goodman to publish comics under the Atlas Comics banner.

July

Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, with issue #120, is cancelled by Marvel.

The Amazing World of DC Comics #1, DC's in-house fanzine

August

Roy Thomas steps down as Marvel Comics' editor-in-chief, succeeded by Len Wein (color titles) and Marv Wolfman (black-and-white titles).

Giant-Size Super-Stars, with issue #2, changes its name to Giant-Size Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics).

Worlds Unknown, with issue #8, is cancelled by Marvel.

September

Sub-Mariner, with issue #72, is cancelled by Marvel.

Giant-Size Chillers, with issue #2, changes its name to Giant-Size Dracula (Marvel Comics).

Supergirl, with issue #10 (September /October cover date), is cancelled by DC.

Spider-Man: The Manga, with issue #30, is cancelled by Monthly Shōnen Magazine.

October

Weird Worlds, with issue #10 (October /November cover date), is cancelled by DC.

Giant-Size Creatures, with issue #2, changes its name to Giant-Size Werewolf (Marvel Comics).

Monsters on the Prowl, with issue #30, is cancelled by Marvel.

Wolverine makes his first appearance in The Incredible Hulk #180.

January

January 18: Bill Finger, co-creator of Batman, dies at age 59.

May

Gene Bilbrew, American cartoonist and fetish artist, dies at age 50.

June

June 22: Alain Saint-Ogan, French comics artist (Zig et Puce), passes away at the age of 78.

July

July 9: Leo Dorfman, American comics writer (National Periodical), dies at age 60.

October

October 13: Otto Binder, American comics writer (Captain Marvel Adventures), dies at age 63.

December

December 24: Everett M. "Busy" Arnold, publisher of Quality Comics, dies at age 75.

Conventions

Creation Con '74 (Hotel Commodore, New York City)

January: Angoulême International Comics Festival (Angoulême, France) — first iteration of this festival; 10,000 attendees

March 2: Oak Con II (Sunset Room, Oakland University, Rochester Hills, MI) — produced by Steve Sundahl

April 17–20: Berkeleycon 74, (Pauley Ballroom, ASUC Building, University of California, Berkeley) — second iteration, organized by local retailer Comics & Comix; guests include Mike Friedrich, Steve Englehart, Frank Brunner, Orvy Jundis, Vaughn Bodē, Jaxon, Rick Griffin, Greg Irons, and Victor Moscoso

April 27: Comic Mart (Holborn Assembly Hall, London, England)

Summer: Nostalgia '74, 3rd Annual Chicago Comic and Nostalgia Convention (Chicago, Illinois) — produced by Nancy Warner

June 20–23: Houstoncon '74 (Sheraton-Lincoln Hotel, Houston, Texas) — merged with Star Trek '74 and produced by Earl Blair, Jr. and G. B. Love (known colloquially as "Houston Double Con"); guests include Walter Koenig, Al Williamson, Dan Adkins, Don Newton, Kenneth Smith, Fred Fredericks, Jock Mahoney, Kirk Alyn, Tom Steele, William Benedict, and stuntman Dave Sharpe

July 4–8: Comic Art Convention (Hotel Commodore, New York City) — guests include Bob Kane and Marie Severin

July 21–22: Comicon '74 (British Comic Art Convention) (Regent Centre Hotel, London, England) — organized by Rob Barrow; guests include Denis Gifford; subtitled "Comic Mart Summer Special 1974"

July 31–August 5: San Diego Comic-Con (El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California) — official guests: Majel Barrett, Milton Caniff, Frank Capra, Chuck Jones, Walter Koenig, Russ Manning, Russell Myers, Charles M. Schulz, Larry "Seymour" Vincent

September: OrlandoCon (Howard Johnson’s Hotel, Orlando, Florida) — first edition of the show started by regional chairman of the National Cartoonists Society Jim Ivey; guests include C. C. Beck, Roy Crane, Hal Foster, Ron Goulart, Mel Graff, Les Turner, Ralph Dunagin, Bill Crooks, Harold McCauley, Ralph Dunagin, "Scorchy Smith" artist Edmund Good, and Disney artist Ralph Kent

October 10–13: Detroit Triple Fan Fair (Detroit, Michigan) — 10th edition of the fair; official guests include Carmine Infantino, Stan Lee, James Warren, Jim Steranko, Michael Kaluta, and Barry Windsor-Smith; other guests include Alan Ormsby, Rich Buckler, Keith Pollard, and Arvell Jones; program cover by Will Eisner

November: Famous Monsters Convention (New York City) — first annual show, co-produced by Phil Seuling; guests include Forrest J Ackerman, Verne Langdon, Catherine Lorre, Cal Floyd, and Sam Sherman

Comic Fan Art Awards

(Formerly the Goethe Awards) Announced in The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom #123 (March 26, 1976) (for comics published in 1974). Awards co-administered by Ken Gale.

Favorite Writer: Roy Thomas

Favorite Penciller: Jim Starlin

Favorite Inker: Tom Palmer

Favorite Editor: Roy Thomas

Favorite Comic Book: E-Man (Charlton)

Favorite Fanzine: The Comic Reader

Shazam Awards

Presented in 1975 for comics published in 1974:

Best Continuing Feature: Conan the Barbarian (Marvel Comics)

Best Individual Story: "Götterdämmerung", in Detective Comics #443 (DC)

Best Individual Short Story (Dramatic): "Cathedral Perilous" (Manhunter) by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson, Detective Comics #441 (DC)

Best Writer (Dramatic Division): Archie Goodwin

Best Penciller (Dramatic Division): John Buscema

Best Inker (Dramatic Division): Dick Giordano

Best Humor Story: "Kaspar the Dead Baby" Crazy #8 (Marvel)

Best Writer (Humor Division): Steve Skeates

Best Penciller (Humor Division): Marie Severin

Best Inker (Humor Division): Ralph Reese

Best Letterer: John Costanza

Best Colorist: Tatjana Wood

Outstanding New Talent: Craig Russell

Superior Achievement by an Individual: Roy Thomas

Hall of Fame: Jack Kirby

DC Comics

OMAC

Release: September /October Writer/Artist: Jack Kirby.

Rima, the Jungle Girl

Release: April /May. Editor: Joe Kubert.

The Sandman

Release: Winter. Writer: Joe Simon. Artists: Jack Kirby and Mike Royer.

Marvel Comics

Comix Book

Release: October by Magazine Management Co.. Editor: Denis Kitchen.

Deadly Hands of Kung Fu

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

Doctor Strange

Release: June. Writer: Steve Englehart (co-plot; script), Frank Brunner (co-plot). Artists: Frank Brunner and Dick Giordano.

Giant-Size Avengers

Release: August. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Chillers

Release: June. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Conan

Release: September. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Creatures

Release: July. Writer: Tony Isabella. Artists: Don Perlin and Vince Colletta.

Giant-Size Defenders

Release: July. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Man-Thing

Release: August. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu

Release: September. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Spider-Man

Release: July. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size Super-Stars

Release: May. Writer: Gerry Conway. Artists: Rich Buckler and Joe Sinnott.

Haunt of Horror

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

Ka-Zar vol. 2

Release: January Writer: Mike Friedrich. Artists: Paul Reinman and Mike Royer.

Man-Thing

Release: January. Writer: Steve Gerber. Artists: Val Mayerik and Sal Trapani.

Marvel Two-in-One

Release: January. Writer: Steve Gerber. Artists: Gil Kane and Joe Sinnott.

Planet of the Apes

Release: August by Curtis Magazines. Writers: Gerry Conway and Doug Moench. Artist: Mike Ploog.

Savage Sword of Conan

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

Independent titles and manga

Hana to Yume

Release: May by Hakusensha.

Jinty

Release: November 5 by Fleetway.

Métal Hurlant

Release: December by Les Humanoïdes Associés.

Princess

Release: by Akita Shoten

Star*Reach

Release: April by Star*Reach. Editor: Mike Friedrich.

Warlord

Release: September 28 by D.C. Thomson.

DC Comics

Anthony Lupus, in Batman #255 (April)

Harvey Bullock, in Detective Comics #441 (June)

Global Peace Agency, in OMAC #1 (October)

Inspector William Henderson, in Action Comics #440 (October)

Libra, in Justice League of America #111 (June)

OMAC, in OMAC #1 (October)

Quentin Turnbull, in Weird Western Tales #22 (March/April)

Rima, in Rima the Jungle Girl #1 (April /May)

Sandman (Garrett Sanford), in Sandman #1 (Winter)

Vartox, in Superman #281 (November)

Marvel Comics

Allatou, in Marvel Spotlight #18 (October)

Alpha the Ultimate Mutant, in Defenders #15 (September)

Aries (Grover Raymond), in The Avengers #120 (February)

Baron Macabre, in Jungle Action #9 (May)

Abe Brown, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1 (April)

Deathlok (Luther Manning), in Astonishing Tales #25 (August)

Bob Diamond, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1 (April)

Doctor Sun, in Tomb of Dracula #16 (January)

Dragon Lord (Nu-An), in Marvel Premiere #15 (May)

Equinox, in Marvel Team-Up #23 (July)

Foolkiller, in Man-Thing #3 (March)

Gabriel the Devil Hunter, in Haunt of Horror #2 (July)

Grizzly (Maxwell Markham), in The Amazing Spider-Man #139 (December)

Hammer and Anvil, in The Incredible Hulk #182 (December)

Iron Fist, in Marvel Premiere #15 (May)

Hannibal King, in The Tomb of Dracula #25 (October)

Lilith, in Giant-Size Chillers featuring Curse of Dracula #1 (June)

Malice, in Jungle Action vol. 2, #8 (January)

Nefarius, in Captain America #169 (January)

Nitro, in Captain Marvel #34 (September)

Punisher, in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (February)

Roxxon Energy Corporation, in Captain America #180 (December)

Silver Samurai, in Daredevil #111 (July)

Lin Sun, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1 (April)

Colleen Wing, in Marvel Premiere #19 (November)

Wolverine, in The Incredible Hulk #180 (October)

Wrecking Crew, in Defenders #17 (November)

Bulldozer

Piledriver

Thunderball

Y'Garon, in Giant-Size Dracula #2 (September )

Independent titles

Tara Fremont, in Tara on the Dark Continent (Paragon Publications)