1975 in comics

Year overall

Following up their various Giant-Size series from 1974, Marvel publishes a number of one-shot Giant-Size annuals featuring reprints of "classic" Captain America, Captain Marvel, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, Hulk, Invaders, Iron Man, Power Man, and Thor stories. In addition, the company publishes three Giant-Size issues (January, April, and July cover dates) of Kid Colt, and two Giant-Size issues (May and June cover dates) of the reprint title Marvel Triple Action. On the other hand, the company cancels 10 Giant-Size titles, including Giant-Size Avengers, Giant-Size Conan, Giant-Size Defenders, Giant-Size Fantastic Four, Giant-Size Man-Thing, Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu, Giant-Size Spider-Man, Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up, Giant-Size Werewolf, and Giant-Size X-Men.

The horror/suspense comic resurgence ends, as publishers cancel titles in droves. Marvel and its black-and-white magazines are particularly hard hit, canceling Adventure Into Fear, Dead of Night, Dracula Lives!, Giant-Size Chillers, Giant-Size Werewolf, Haunt of Horror, both Man-Thing titles, Masters of Terror, Monsters Unleashed, Supernatural Thrillers, Tales of the Zombie, Vampire Tales, and Where Monsters Dwell. DC Comics cancels Black Magic, Secrets of Haunted House, Tales of Ghost Castle, and Weird Mystery Tales. Gold Key Comics cancels Mystery Comics Digest, and Archie Comics even cancels their title Red Circle Sorcery.

Newspaper strip Cecil C. Addle by Ray Collins begins publication

January

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

Spring

DC Special (1968 series) is revived with issue #16; the title had ceased publishing in 1971. (DC Comics)

March

Adventure Comics #438: A "Seven Soldiers of Victory" script by Joseph Samachson written in the 1940s was serialized as a backup feature in Adventure Comics beginning with issue #438 and running through #443, with each chapter illustrated by a different artist including Dick Dillin, Howard Chaykin, Lee Elias, Mike Grell, Ernie Chan, and José Luis García-López.

April

Detective Comics, with issue #446, resumes a monthly schedule, after going bi-monthly in June/July 1973. (DC Comics)

May

Giant-Size X-Men #1, written by Len Wein and illustrated by Dave Cockrum (Marvel Comics).

July

Canadian publisher Comely Comix, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, debuts with Captain Canuck #1.

The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom switches to weekly publication.

August

Uncanny X-Men #94 — first issue of title featuring the new X-Men. Written by Chris Claremont; he will write the title continuously for the next 17 years.

Fall

Atlas/Seaboard Comics folds, after parts of two years in business, having published 23 comics titles and five comics magazines.

October

Marvel debuts three new ongoing titles, The Champions, The Inhumans, and Marvel Presents. Simultaneously, it cancels six ongoing titles: Giant-Size Fantastic Four, Man-Thing, Outlaw Kid (vol. 2), Supernatural Thrillers, War is Hell, and Where Monsters Dwell.

November

Skartaris introduced in 1st Issue Special #8. (DC Comics)

Korak, Son of Tarzan, with issue #60, changes its name to Tarzan Family. (DC Comics)

December

Secrets of Haunted House, with issue #5 (December 1975/January 1976 cover date), goes on hiatus (DC Comics).

January

January 4: Bob Montana, creator of Archie and his pals, dies at age 54 of a heart attack.

February

February 20: Artie Simek, long-time letterer for Marvel Comics, dies at age 59.

May

May 5: George Baker, cartoonist of The Sad Sack, dies at age 59.

July

July 18: Vaughn Bodé dies of autoerotic asphyxiation at age 33.

Conventions

Multicon '75 (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) — produced by OAK (Oklahoma Alliance of Fans); guests include George Takei, George Pal, Spanky McFarland, Bret Morrison, Jim Bannon, Al Williamson, and Steve Barrington

Ohiocon '75 (Youngstown, Ohio) — program booklet, edited by Joe Zabel, includes a history of the Youngstown Comic Art Association

Pittcon '75 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

January: Cincinnati Comic Convention (Netherland Hilton, Cincinnati, Ohio) — 1st annual show, produced by comics retailer the Yellow Kid Comics Shoppe

March: Mid-America Comic Convention (Holiday Inn, Cincinnati, Ohio) — sponsored by Northern Kentucky’s only comic book shop, the Northern Kentucky Bookstore

March 22-24: Mighty Marvel Comicon (Hotel Commodore, New York) — 1st annual show, produced by Marvel Comics

Summer: Nostalgia '75, 4th Annual Chicago Comic and Nostalgia Convention (Chicago, Illinois) — produced by Nancy Warner

June 25–29: Houstoncon '75 (Royal Coach Inn, Houston, Texas) — merged with the Houston Star Trek convention; guests include C. C. Beck, George Takei, Jock Mahoney, John Wooley, and Don "Red" Barry (Beck and Barry serve as judges for the costume contest)

July 3–7: Comic Art Convention (Hotel Commodore, New York City)

July 30–August 3: San Diego Comic-Con (El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California) — 1,100 attendees; official guests: Robert Bloch, Will Eisner, Mark Evanier, Gil Kane, Jack Katz, Stan Lee, Dick Moores, Chuck Norris, Don Rico, Jerry Siegel, Jim Starlin, Jim Steranko, Theodore Sturgeon

August: Cleveland Comic Con (Sheraton Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio) — produced by Vladimir Swyrinsky; guests include Tony Isabella

August 1–3: Toronto Triple Fan Fair a.k.a. "Fan Fair 3" (King Edward Hotel, Toronto, ON, Canada) — Guests of Honour: Lester del Rey and Cy Chauvin; 600 attendees

August 2–3: Comicon '75 (British Comic Art Convention) (Regent Centre Hotel, London, England) — organized by Rob Barrow; guests include Frank Hampson and Paul Neary

August 22–24: Atlanta Comics & Fantasy Fair (Ramada Inn, Atlanta, Georgia) — first iteration of this event; official guests include Stan Lee, Kenneth Smith, and collector Mike Curtis

September: OrlandoCon '75 (Orlando, Florida) — guests include Harvey Kurtzman, Burne Hogarth, Roy Crane, and Hal Foster

November 7–9: Famous Monsters Convention (Commodore Hotel, New York City) — guests include James Warren, Forrest J Ackerman, Peter Cushing, Verne Langdon, Ingrid Pitt, and Barbara Leigh

December 18–21: MiamiCon I (Americana Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida) — 3,000 attendees; guests include Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Neal Adams, C. C. Beck, James Doohan; admission price: $3.50

DC Comics

Batman Family

Release: September /October Editor: Julius Schwartz.

Beowulf

Release: April /May. Writer: Michael Uslan. Artist: Ricardo Villamonte.

Claw the Unconquered

Release: May/June. Writer: David Michelinie. Artist: Ernie Chua.

First Issue Special

Release: April. Writer/Artist: Jack Kirby.

Hercules Unbound

Release: October /November Writer: Gerry Conway. Artists: José Luis García-López and Wally Wood.

The Joker: arguably the first regular series to feature a villain.

Release: May. Writer: Dennis O'Neil. Artist: Irv Novick and Dick Giordano.

Justice, Inc.

Release: May/June. Writer: Dennis O'Neil. Artist: Al McWilliams.

Kong the Untamed

Release: June/July. Writer: Jack Oleck. Artist: Alfredo Alcala.

Man-Bat

Release: December 1975/January 1976. Writer: Gerry Conway. Artists: Steve Ditko and Al Milgrom.

Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter

Release: April /May. Writer: Jim Dennis. Artist: Leopoldo Duranona.

Secrets of Haunted House

Release: April /May. Editor: Joe Orlando.

Sherlock Holmes

Release: September /October Writers: Denny O'Neil (adaptation) and Arthur Conan Doyle (original story). Artists: E.R. Cruz.

Stalker

Release: June/July. Writer: Paul Levitz. Artist: Steve Ditko.

Super-Team Family

Release: October/November Editor: Gerry Conway.

Tales of Ghost Castle

Release: May/June Editor: Tex Blaisdell.

Tor: first DC issue, featuring reprints of a Kubert character created in 1953.

Release: May/June Writer/Artist: Joe Kubert.

Marvel Comics

The Champions

Release: October. Writer: Tony Isabella. Artists: Don Heck and Mike Esposito.

Doc Savage: Man of Bronze

Release: August by Curtis Magazines. Writer: Doug Moench. Artists: John Buscema and Tony DeZuniga.

Giant-Size Chillers

Release: February.

Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up

Release: March. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Giant-Size X-Men

Release: May. Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Dave Cockrum.

The Inhumans

Release: October. Writer: Doug Moench. Artists: George Pérez and Frank Chiaramonte.

The Invaders

Release: August. Writer: Roy Thomas. Artists: Frank Robbins and Vince Colletta.

Kull and the Barbarians

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

Marvel Feature vol. 2

Release: November. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Marvel Presents

Release: October. Writer: John Warner. Artists: Mike Vosburg, Pat Boyette, and Bob McLeod.

Marvel Preview

Release: Winter by Magazine Management/Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Masters of Terror

Release: July by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Tony Isabella.

Skull the Slayer

Release: August. Writer: Marv Wolfman. Artist: Steve Gan.

Super-Villain Team-Up

Release: August. Writer: Tony Isabella.

Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction

Release: January by Magazine Management/Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.

Other publishers

Arcade

Release: Spring by The Print Mint. Editors: Art Spiegelman and Bill Griffith.

Arzach

Artist/Writer: Jean Giraud.

Battle Picture Weekly

Release: March 8 by IPC Magazines. Editor: Pat Mills.

Big Apple Comix

Release: by Big Apple Productions. Editor: Flo Steinberg.

Captain Canuck

Release: July by Comely Comix. Writer/Artist: Richard Comely.

The Demon Hunter

Release: September by Atlas/Seaboard Comics. Writer: David Anthony Kraft Artist: Rich Buckler

Doomsday + 1

Release: July by Charlton Comics. Writer: Joe Gill. Artist: John Byrne.

Scary Tales

Release: August by Charlton Comics. Editor: George Wildman.

Zombie Hunter

Release: May by Kadokawa Shoten. Writer: Kazumasa Hirai. Artist: Yang Kyung-il

DC Comics

Black Magic, with issue #9 (April /May)

Justice, Inc., with issue #4 (November /December )

Rima, the Jungle Girl, with issue #7 (April /May)

The Sandman, with issue #6 (December 1975/January 1976)

Sherlock Holmes, with issue #1 (September )

Stalker, with issue #4 (December 1975/January 1976)

Tales of Ghost Castle, with issue #3 (September /October ).

Young Romance, with issue #208 (November /December ) — generally considered the first romance comic

Weird Mystery Tales, with issue #24 (November )

Marvel Comics

Adventure into Fear, with issue #31 (December )

Dead of Night, with issue #11 (August )

The Frankenstein Monster, with issue #18 (September )

Giant-Size Avengers, with issue #5 (December )

Giant-Size Chillers, with issue #3 (August )

Giant-Size Conan, with issue #5 (Fall)

Giant-Size Defenders, with issue #5 (July)

Giant-Size Fantastic Four, with issue #6 (October)

Giant-Size Man-Thing, with issue #5 (August )

Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu, with issue #4 (June)

Giant-Size Spider-Man, with issue #6 (Fall)

Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up, with issue #2 (June)

Giant-Size Werewolf, with issue #5 (July)

Giant-Size X-Men, with issue #2 (Fall) — reprinted "classic" Roy Thomas/Neal Adams X-Men stories

Man-Thing, with issue #22 (October )

Outlaw Kid (vol. 2), with issue #30 (October )

Supernatural Thrillers, with issue #15 (October )

Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction, with issue #6 (November )

War is Hell, with issue #15 (October )

Western Gunfighters (1970 series), with issue #33 (November )

Where Monsters Dwell, with issue #38 (October )

Curtis Magazines

Dracula Lives!, with issue #13 (July)

Haunt of Horror, with issue #5 (January )

Kull and the Barbarians, with issue #3 (September )

Masters of Terror, with issue #2 (September )

Monsters Unleashed, with issue #11 (April )

Savage Tales, with issue #11 (July)

Tales of the Zombie, with issue #10 (March )

Vampire Tales, with issue #11 (June)

Other publishers

E-Man vol. 1, with issue #10 (Charlton, September )

Mystery Comics Digest, with issue #26 (Gold Key, October )

Red Circle Sorcery, with issue #11 (Red Circle Comics/Archie Comics, February )

DC Comics

Atlas, in 1st Issue Special #1 (April)

Bronze Tiger, in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #1 (April /May)

Claw the Unconquered, in Claw the Unconquered #1 (June)

Dingbats of Danger Street, in 1st Issue Special #6 (September)

Richard Dragon, in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #1 (April /May)

Golden Eagle, in Justice League of America #116 (March)

Green Team: Boy Millionaires, in 1st Issue Special #2 (May)

Kong the Untamed, in Kong the Untamed #1 (June/July)

Lady Cop, in 1st Issue Special #4 (July)

Lady Shiva, in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #5 (December)

Lucien, in Weird Mystery Tales #18 (May)

O-Sensei, in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #1 (April /May)

Sterling Silversmith, in Detective Comics #446 (April)

Marvel Comics

Vance Astrovik, in Giant-Size Defenders #5 (July)

Janice Foswell, in Marvel Team-Up #39 (November)

Gloria Grant, in The Amazing Spider-Man #140 (January)

Harold H. Harold, in Tomb of Dracula #37 (October)

Korvac, in Giant-Size Defenders #3 (January)

Stephen Lang, in X-Men #96 (December)

Moira MacTaggert, in X-Men #96 (December)

Jamie Madrox, in Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4 (February)

Master Man, in Giant-Size Invaders #1

Moon Knight, in Werewolf by Night #32 (August)

Moses Magnum, in Giant-Size Spider-Man #4 (April)

Nova, in Fantastic Four #164 (November)

Illyana Nikolievna Rasputin, in Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May)

Razor Fist (William Young), in Master of Kung Fu #29 (June)

Ben Reilly, in The Amazing Spider-Man #149 (October)

Shroud, in Super-Villain Team-Up #5 (April)

Straw Man, in Dead of Night #11 (August)

U-Man, in Invaders #3 (November)

White Tiger, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #19 (December)

new X-Men, in Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May)

Colossus

Nightcrawler

Storm

Thunderbird

Other publishers

Captain Canuck, in Captain Canuck #1 (July)