1978 in comics

{{short description|none}}

{{Yearsincomics}}

Notable events of 1978 in comics.

Events

= January =

  • Green Lantern #100: Double-size special featuring Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Air Wave. (DC Comics).
  • The first episode of L’uomo di Tsushima (The man of Tsushima) by Bonvi is published, a retelling of the famous battle as seen by Jack London, for the series Un uomo un’avventura (Bonelli).{{Cite web|url=http://www.slumberland.it/contenuto.php?id=3091|title=L'uomo di Tsushima - Slumberland.it|website=www.slumberland.it|access-date=2020-01-23}}

= February =

  • February 2: Belgian comics artist Maurice Tillieux is killed in a car crash.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/t/tilleux.htm|title=Maurice Tillieux|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • The first issue of the Belgian comics magazine À Suivre is published. It will run until December 1997.
  • In the first issue of A Suivre the first chapter of Jean-Claude Forest and Jacques Tardi's Ici Même (Just Here) makes its debut. {{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/t/tardi.htm|title=Jacques Tardi|website=lambiek.net|access-date=June 1, 2021}}
  • Detective Comics #475, "The Laughing Fish" by Steve Englehart, Marshall Rogers, and Terry Austin.{{cite book|last1 = Greenberger|first1 = Robert|author-link = Robert Greenberger|last2 = Manning| first2 = Matthew K.|title = The Batman Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the Batcave|publisher = Running Press|year = 2009|isbn = 978-0-7624-3663-7|page= 163 |quote = In this fondly remembered tale that was later adapted into an episode of the 1990s cartoon Batman: The Animated Series, the Joker poisoned the harbors of Gotham so that the fish would all bear his signature grin, a look the Joker then tried to trademark in order to collect royalties.}} (DC Comics)
  • February 8: Marvel UK publish Star Wars Weekly in a black-and-white anthology format.
  • February 28:The first appearance of ElfQuest by Wendy and Richard Pini in issue #1 (and only) of Fantasy Quarterly.

= March =

=April=

=May=

=June=

  • Continuing the "DC Explosion," the company increases its titles' page counts to 25 story pages and increases the price of a typical comic from 35 cents to 50 cents.
  • Batman #300: "The Last Batman Story—?", by David V. Reed, Walt Simonson, and Dick Giordano.
  • Garfield, by Jim Davis is launched on June 19 in 41 newspapers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/davis_jim.htm|title=Jim Davis (II)|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • In the magazine Cannibale RanXerox by Tanino Liberatore makes its debut.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/liberatore.htm|title=Tanino Liberatore|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}

= Summer =

= July =

  • July 4 : In Tintin magazine, the first chapter of the Jonathan story L'Espace bleu entre les nuages (The blue space amongst the clouds) by Cosey, the fifth episode of the series, is published.

=August=

= Fall =

  • DC Special Series #16 — "The Last Bounty Hunter!", death of Jonah Hex, by Michael Fleisher and Russ Heath.[http://www.comics.org/issue/32653/?style=default DC Special Series #16] at the Grand Comics Database DC Special Series goes on hiatus after this issue and is revived in Summer 1979.

= September=

=October=

=November=

  • November 22: In Belgium the Vlaamse Onafhankelijke Stripgilde (Flemish Independent Comics Guild) is founded, with cartoonist Eddy Ryssack as their first president. {{cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/ryssack_e.htm|title=Eddy Ryssack|website=Lambiek.net|access-date=28 January 2021}}
  • Fantastic Four #200: Double-sized anniversary issue, "When Titans Clash!" by Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard, and Joe Sinnott. (Marvel Comics)
  • L’uomo delle nevi (The snowman), by Alfredo Castelli and Milo Manara, for the series Un uomo un’avventura (Bonelli).
  • In Il mago Soviet secret agent Ivan Timbrovic by Massimo Cavezzali makes his debut.{{Cite web|url=http://www.slumberland.it/contenuto.php?id=52|title=Ivan Timbrovic, divertente fumetto di Cavezzali parodia di 007 e della Russia comunista|website=www.slumberland.it|access-date=2020-01-23}}
  • First volume of the Storia d’Italia a fumetti di Enzo Biagi (Enzo Biagi’s History of Italy in comics), drawn by some of the best Italian cartoonists (Milo Manara, Sergio Toppi, Dino Battaglia).

= December =

  • Kamillo Kromo, book for children by Francesco Tullio Altan.
  • Art Spiegelman creates Ed Head, published in Playboy on an irregular basis until November 1981.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/spiegelman.htm|title=Art Spiegelman}}

= Specific date unknown =

Births

= June =

= July =

Deaths

=January=

  • January 1: Don Freeman, American comics artist, painter, illustrator and children's novelist (Corduroy), dies at age 61.
  • January 9: Tijs Dorenbosch, Dutch comics artist (Sjefke Schrober, Henkie van 't Grijze Nest, Pieternel, Heintje Hups en Honkie), dies at age 66.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/dorenbosch_tijs.htm|title=Tijs Dorenbosch|website=lambiek.net|access-date=19 January 2021}}
  • January 18: Clark Haas, American comics artist, animator and animation producer (Sunnyside, assisted on Buz Sawyer and Tim Tyler's Luck), dies at age 58.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/haas_clark.htm|title=Clark Haas|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}

=February=

  • February 1: Roland Kohlsaat, German illustrator and comics artist (Jimmy das Gummipferd, Julios Abenteuerliche Reisen), dies at age 64. {{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kohlsaat_roland.htm|title=Roland Kohlsaat|website=lambiek.net|access-date=April 4, 2021}}
  • February 2: Maurice Tillieux, Belgian comics artist (Félix, Gil Jourdan), dies in a car accident at age 56.
  • February 5: Frans Van Immerseel, Belgian painter, caricaturist, cartoonist, illustrator and comics artist (De Lotgevallen van Janssens), dies at age 68.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/v/van-immerseel_frans.htm|title=Frans Van Immerseel|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • February 7: Enrique Rapela, Argentine comics artist (Cirilo El Audaz), dies at age 67.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/rapela_enrique.htm|title=Enrique Rapela|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • February 9:
  • Woody Gelman, American animator, comics artist, novelist and publisher (The Dodo and the Frog, co-creator of Bazooka Joe), dies of a stroke at age 62.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/gelman_woody.htm|title=Woody Gelman|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • Warren King, American comics artist (The Firefly), dies at age 62.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/king_warren.htm|title=Warren King|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • February 19: Gisela Zimmermann, German comics artist (continued Digedags and Abrafaxe), dies at age 65 of heart failure.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/z/zimmermann_gisela.htm|title=Gisela Zimmermann|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • February 21: Pol Dom, Belgian-Dutch illustrator, sculptor, caricaturist and comic artist (made comics for the jam factory De Betuwe), dies at age 92. {{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/dom_pol.htm|title=Pol Dom|website=lambiek.net}}
  • February 28: Glenn Chaffin, American comics writer (Tailspin Tommy), dies at age 80. {{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/forrest_hal.htm|title=Hal Forrest|website=Lambiek}}

=March=

  • March 3: Frank Fogarty, American comics artist (Mr. & Mrs., continued Clarence), dies at age 80.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/fogarty_frank.htm|title=Frank Fogarty|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • March 8: Tjeerd Bottema, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (Er Was Eens Een Oud Vrouwtje), dies at age 94.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/bottema_tjeerd.htm|title=Tjeerd Bottema|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • March 30: István Köpeczi Bócz, Hungarian poster designer, costume designer, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 58. {{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/koepeczi_bocz_istvan.htm|title=István Köpeczi Bócz|website=lambiek.net|access-date=June 29, 2021}}

=April=

  • April 9: Elmer Woggon, American comics artist (Big Chief Wahoo (Steve Roper and Mike Nomad)), dies at age 79.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/woggon_elmer.htm|title=Elmer Woggon|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • April 14: André Beautemps, Belgian comics writer and artist (Michael Logan), dies at age 29. {{cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/beautemps.htm|title=André Beautemps|website=lambiek.net|access-date=November 2, 2021}}
  • April 29: Louis Zansky, American comics artist (worked for Classics Illustrated), dies at age 57.{{cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/z/zansky_louis.htm|title=Louis Zansky|website=lambiek.net|access-date=November 1, 2020}}

=May=

  • May 7: Mort Weisinger, American comic book writer (DC Comics), dies at age 63.{{cite book | last1=Binder | first1=Otto Oscar | last2=Siegel | first2=Jerry | last3=Hamilton | first3=Edmond | last4=Plastino | first4=Al | last5=Shooter | first5=Jim | last6=Bates | first6=Cary | last7=Bridwell | first7=E. Nelson | last8=Levitz | first8=Paul | title=Legion of Super-heroes Archives | date=1991 | isbn=1-56389-430-0 | page = 242}}
  • May 11: Clinge Doorenbos, Dutch comedian, singer, songwriter, children's novelist, poet, journalist and comics writer (Flippie Flink {{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/raemaekers_robert_louis.htm|title=Robert Louis Raemaekers Jr.|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}), dies at age 93.
  • May 27: Jo Spier, Dutch illustrator and cartoonist, dies at age 77.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/spier_j.htm|title=Jo Spier|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}

=June=

  • June 22: William Reusswig, American illustrator and comics artist (made comic adaptations of novels), dies at age 75.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/reusswig_william.htm|title=William Reusswig|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}

=July=

  • July 5: Paul Cuvelier, Belgian comics artist and painter (Corentin, Epoxy), dies at age 54.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/cuvelier.htm|title=Paul Cuvelier|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • July 23: Tom Hill, American comics artist (continued Mark Trail), dies at age 56. {{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/hill_tom.htm|title=Tom Hill|website=lambiek.net|access-date=April 20, 2024}}

=August=

  • August 1: Geoffrey William Backhouse, British illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 74.{{cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/backhouse_gw.htm|title=Geoffrey William Backhouse|website=lambiek.net|access-date=12 August 2020}}

=September=

  • September 9: Barbara Shermund, American cartoonist (Shermund's Sallies), dies at age 79.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/shermund_barbara.htm|title=Barbara Shermund|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}

=October=

  • October 4: Sezgin Burak, Turkish comics artist (Tarkan), dies at age 43.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/burak_sezgin.htm|title=Sezgin Burak|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • October 10: J.R. Bray, American animator and comics artist (Singing Sammy, Mr. O.U. Absentmind, Colonel Heeza Liar), dies at the age of 99.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/bray_jr.htm|title=J.R. Bray|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}

=November=

  • November 8: Norman Rockwell, American painter and illustrator (made a few sequential illustrations in his career), dies at the age of 84.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/rockwell_norman.htm|title=Norman Rockwell|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • November 20: Tom Okamoto, aka Tom Oka, aka Tom Mako, Japanese-American animator and comics artist (Deems, Little Brave, continued Li'l Neebo), dies at age 62. {{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/o/okamoto_tom.htm|title=Tom Okamoto|website=lambiek.net|access-date=March 27, 2021}}
  • November 21: Orhan Ural, Turkish comics artist (Pazar Ola Hasan Bey), dies at age 64 or 65.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/u/ural_orhan.htm|title=Orhan Ural|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}

=December=

  • December 4: Brian Lewis, British illustrator, comics artist and animator (The Suicide Six, continued Jet Ace Logan), dies at age 49.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/lewis_brian.htm|title=Brian Lewis|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • December 6: Dick Dreux, A.K.A. Rod Draga, Dutch novelist, radio writer and comics artist (Raket-Ridders), dies at age 65.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/dreux_dick.htm|title=Dick Dreux|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • December 28: Hi Mankin, American comics artist (the Roy Rogers newspaper comic, Hanna-Barbera comics, assisted on The Adventures of Smilin' Jack, Bringing Up Father, Buz Sawyer, Dotty Dripple), dies at age 51 or 52 from a heart attack.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/mankin_hi.htm|title=Hi Mankin|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • December 31: Arsène Brivot, French comics artist and illustrator (Jojo Richissime), dies at age 80.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/brivot_arsene.htm|title=Arsène Brivot|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • December 31: Basil Wolverton, American comics artist (Mad Magazine, Powerhouse Pepper), dies at age 69.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/wolverton.htm|title=Basil Wolverton|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • Specific date unknown: Jacques Gagnier, Canadian caricaturist, comics artist, children's book illustrator and cartoonist (La Vie en Images), dies at age 61.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/gagnier_jacques.htm|title=Jacques Gagnier|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}

=Specific date unknown=

  • Aldo De Amicis, Italian comics artist (worked for Il Vittorioso), dies at age 74 or 75.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/de-amicis_aldo.htm|title=Aldo De Amicis|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • Al Fago, American comics artist (Atomic Mouse, Atomic Rabbit, Timmy the Timid Ghost), dies at age 73 or 74.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/f/fago_al.htm|title=Al Fago|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • Frank Fogarty, American comics artist (Mr. & Mrs., continued Clarence), dies at age 90 or 91.
  • Henry Le Monnier, French illustrator and comics artist (made various realistic adventure comics), dies at age 84 or 85.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/le-monnier_h.htm|title=Henry Le Monnier|website=lambiek.net|access-date=May 20, 2020}}
  • Oscar Novelle, Argentinean-American comic artist (worked for Gold Key Comics, Eerie, Creepy), dies at age 57 or 58. {{cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/n/novelle_oscar.htm|title=Oscar Novelle|website=lambiek.net}}

Conventions

Awards

= [[Eagle Awards]] =

Presented in 1979 for comics published in 1978:

== American section ==

== U.K. section ==

  • Favourite Writer: T.B. Grover
  • Favourite Artist: John BoltonBolton profile, [http://www.bailsprojects.com/(S(b2pprd5524b5xe55dsglot55))/bio.aspx?Name=BOLTON%2c+JOHN Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999.]
  • Favourite Comic: 2000 AD (Fleetway)
  • Favourite Character: Judge Dredd

First issues by title

= DC Comics =

Army at War

: Release: November. Editor: Paul Levitz. (Immediately cancelled as a victim of the DC Implosion.)

Battle Classics

: Release: September/October. Writer: Robert Kanigher. Artist: Joe Kubert. (Immediately cancelled as a victim of the DC Implosion.)

DC Comics Presents

: Release: July. Writer: Martin Pasko. Artists: José Luis García-López and Dan Adkins.

Doorway to Nightmare

: Release: January/February. Writer: David Michelinie. Artist: Val Mayerik.

Dynamic Classics

: Release: September/October. Editor: Cary Burkett. (Reprint title immediately cancelled as a victim of the DC Implosion.)

Firestorm, the Nuclear Man

: Release: March. Writer: Gerry Conway. Artist: Al Milgrom.

Steel: The Indestructible Man

: Release: March. Writer: Gerry Conway. Artists: Don Heck and Joe Giella.

= Marvel Comics =

Devil Dinosaur

: Release: April. Writer/Artist: Jack Kirby.

Machine Man

: Release: April. Writer/Artist: Jack Kirby.

Man From Atlantis

: Release: February. Writer: Bill Mantlo. Artists: Tom Sutton and Sonny Trinidad.

Spider-Woman

: Release: April. Writer: Marv Wolfman. Artists: Carmine Infantino and Tony DeZuniga.

= Other publishers =

1984

: Release: June by Warren Publishing. Editor: Bill DuBay.

Anarchy Comics

: Release: by Last Gasp. Editor: Jay Kinney.

À Suivre magazine

: Release: February by Casterman.

Elfquest

: Release: August by WaRP Graphics. Writers: Wendy Pini and Richard Pini. Artist: Wendy Pini.

Il Male

Release: February 7, Director : Vincino.

Misty

: Release: February 4 by Fleetway.

Starlord

: Release: May 13 by IPC Media.

Canceled titles

= DC Comics =

= Marvel Comics =

= Other publishers =

Initial appearances by character name

= DC Comics =

= Marvel Comics =

References

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1978 In Comics}}