Notable events of 1968 in comics.
November
- November 8: In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the oldest comics store in Europe, Lambiek, is opened by Kees Kousemaker.[37]
- November 12: Peter van Straaten's Vader & Zoon makes its debut and will run until 1987.[38]
- November 12: In the Belgian comic magazine Le journal de Tintin the first episode of the Michel Vaillant story De l’huille sur la piste! by Jean Graton is published.
- November 23: Bonvi's Sturmtruppen makes its debut.[39]
- Blue Beetle: the third run of this series is cancelled. The series will not be revived until June 1986.
- Brother Power the Geek, with issue #2, cancelled by DC.
- Marvel's Space-Born Superhero: Captain Marvel, with issue #7, changes its title to Captain Marvel. (Marvel Comics)
- Summer Love, with issue #48, cancelled by Charlton.
Specific date unknown
- With Kinney National Company's acquisition of Warner Bros., DC Comics becomes part of what eventually will be known as Warner Communications.
- DC Comics art director (and soon-to-be editorial director) Carmine Infantino is given the mandate to revitalize DC in the wake of rival Marvel Comics' pop-culture success. Eased out are long-time DC artists Wayne Boring, Jim Mooney, George Klein, and George Papp; and writers Otto Binder, Edmond Hamilton, and Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel. In exchange, Infantino hires new talent and promotes artists like Joe Orlando, Joe Kubert, and Mike Sekowsky to editorial positions. Orlando is put in charge of DC's horror and suspense titles.
- The final episode of Peter O'Donnell and Alfred Sindall's Tug Transom ends in 1968.
- Tom Wilson's Ziggy makes its debut.
- Brumsic Brandon Jr.'s Luther makes its debut.[41]
- The first issue of Lance Spearman is published.
- Robert Maynar Hutchins and John Hubley's Zuckerkandl! is first published.
- The final episode of William St. John Glenn's Ballyscunnion is published.[42]
- Salsa musician Izzy Sanabria illustrates the cover of the album The Alegere All-Stars in Lost & Found, Volume III in comic strip style. [43]
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January
- January 1: Käthe Olshausen-Schönberger, Austrian illustrator and comics artist (Aus Thier und Menschenleben), dies at age 86.[44]
- January 8: Don Flowers, American comics artist (Oh Diana, Modest Maidens (later retitled Glamor Girls)), dies at age 59.[45]
- January 16: Vladmir Delac, Yugoslavian comics artist and animator (Svemirko, Viki and Niki, Marina, Tramvajko), dies at age 60 from cancer.[46]
- January 18: Emmérico Nunes, Portuguese comics artist, dies at age 80.[47]
- January 22: Chaval, French cartoonist, commits suicide at age 52, after his wife's death.[48]
- Specific date unknown: Steve Muffati, American animator and comics artist (Harvey Comics), dies at age 57.[49]
June
- June 7: Arie Emens, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (Betje Kuis), dies at age 72.[59]
July
- July 16: Enver Bongrani, Italian comics artist (Zeffirino), dies at age 54.[60]
- July 25: Hallvard Sandnes, Norwegian schoolteacher and comic writer (Ingeniør Knut Berg på eventyr), dies at age 75.[61]
August
- August 3: Neil O'Keeffe, American comics artist and illustrator (Dick's Adventures in Dreamland, continued Inspector Wade), dies at age 77.[62]
- August 17: Bruno Paul, German comics illustrator, architect and comics artist, dies at age 94.[63]
- August 21: Ernie Bache, American comics artist (assisted on Dean Marshall and Perry Mason), worked for Atlas Comics and Charlton Comics), dies at age 45 years. [64]
September
- September 1: Gus Bofa, French comics artist and illustrator (Chez Les Toubibs), dies at age 85.[65]
- September 30: Alexander Bojinov, Bulgarian comics artist (Bulgaran, Azbuka za Malkite), dies at age 90.[66]
October
- October 1: Quin Hall, American comics artist (The Dolittles, Peter Plink), dies at age 84.[67]
- October 18: Mary A. Hays, American comics artist (Kate and Karl, the Cranford Kids), dies at age 70.[68]
November
- November 3: Étienne Le Rallic, aka Smile or Levesque, French illustrator and comics artist (various one-shot realistic comics), dies at age 78.[69]
- November 15: Bob Grant, American comics artist (Disney comics), dies at age 62.[70]
- November 29: Mo Leff, American comics artist (continued Joe Jinks as Curly Kayoe), dies at age 56.[71]
- Specific date in November unknown: Al Zere, American comic artist (So This Is Married Life, The Wows, Flossie, Rookie Joe, continued Susie Sunshine), dies at age 79.[72]
Specific date unknown
- Edgar Henry Banger, aka, Harry Banger, British comics artist (Koko the Pup, Chubb and Tubb, Skit the Kat, Stoogie, Dilly Duckling, Boney Prince Charlie, Dudley Dudd the Dud Detective, Coal Black Jones), dies at age 71.[74]
- Bob Forrest, British illustrator and comics artist (made comics for the Amalgamated Press and Fleetway), dies at age 60 or 61.[75]
- Bernard Jeanson, French comics artist (Toto Bulldozer) commits suicide at age 33 or 34.[76]
- Barye Phillips, American illustrator and comic artist (drew comics for Famous Fiction, syndicated by the Bell Syndicate), dies at age 62 or 63. [77]
- Frank Thomas, American comics artist (Dinky Doyle, All-American Football, Going West, Hossface Hank, continued Ferd'nand), dies at age 53 or 54.[78]
- June 15–16: Detroit Triple Fan Fair (Fort Pick Shelby Hotel, Detroit, Michigan)[79] — Guest of Honor Harlan Ellison; c. 175 attendees[80]
- June 21–23:[51] Southwesterncon III (Hotel Southland, Dallas, Texas) — 160 attendees; produced by Larry Herndon & Tom Reamy; official guests include Fritz Leiber,[81] Harold LeDoux (guest of honor), and H. H. Hollis
- June 28–30: Gateway Con 2 (St. Louis, Missouri) — produced by Bob Schoenfeld;[82] guest of honor Roy Thomas[83]
- June 29–30: Toronto Triple Fan Fair (594 Markam Street, Toronto, ON, Canada) — also known as "Fan Fair I;" organized and managed by George Henderson[84] (sponsored by OSFiC, Memory Lane, the Canadian Academy of Comic Book Collectors, and the Markam Village Film Club); Guests of Honor Roger Zelazny and Stan Lee; admission $1 for "passport" to all venues
- July 4–7: International Convention of Comic Book Art (Statler Hilton Hotel, New York City) — Phil Seuling hosts his first comic book convention (later to be known as the Comic Art Convention) under the aegis of SCARP (Society for Comic Art Research and Preservation, Inc.);[82] guests of honor: Will Eisner and Burne Hogarth.[85] Featured speakers include Stan Lee, Milton Caniff, Lee Falk, and Charles Biro. Professional guests include Neal Adams, Dan Adkins, Murphy Anderson, Dick Ayers, Vaughn Bodē, E. Nelson Bridwell, Nick Cardy, Gene Colan, Leonard Darvin, Sol Davidson, Arnold Drake, Creig Flessel, Woody Gelman, Dick Giordano, Archie Goodwin, Bill Harris, Larry Ivie, Jeff Jones, Gil Kane, Gray Morrow, Joe Orlando, Jerry Robinson, John Romita, Richard Sherry, Jerry Siegel, Leonard Starr, Jim Steranko, Roy Thomas, Sal Trapani, John Verpoorten, Al Williamson, and Wally Wood.[86]
- August 30 – September 2: Comicon '68 (British Comic Art Convention) (Midland Hotel, Birmingham, England) — first annual event, organized by Phil Clarke; "member"-guests include Alan Moore, Paul Neary, Jim Baikie, Steve Moore, and Nick Landau; 70 attendees[87]
- Presented at the Comic Art Convention, July 1969
Comic Magazine Section
Professional Work
- Best Editor – Stan Lee
- Best Writer – Stan Lee
- Best Pencil Artist – Jim Steranko
- Best Inking Artist – Joe Sinnott
- Best Cover – Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #6, by Jim Steranko (Marvel Comics)
- Best Full-Length Story – (tie) "Track of the Hook", by Bob Haney & Neal Adams, The Brave and the Bold #79 (DC Comics); "Origin of the Silver Surfer", by Stan Lee & John Buscema, The Silver Surfer #1 (Marvel Comics)
- Best Feature Story – "Today Earth Died", by Jim Steranko, Strange Tales #168 (Marvel Comics)
- Best Regular Short Feature – "Tales of the Inhumans", by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, in The Mighty Thor (Marvel Comics)
- Hall of Fame – Fantastic Four, by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby; Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., by Jim Steranko (Marvel Comics)
Popularity Poll
Newspaper Strip Section
Fan Activity Section
- Best Limited Reproduction Fanzine – Concussion
- Best Unlimited Reproduction Fanzine – Graphic Story Magazine
- Best Fan Artist – John Fantucchio
- Best Comic Strip Writer – Larry Herndon
- Best Fan Project – The Alley Awards
Charlton Comics
Ghost Manor
- Release: July. Editor: Sal Gentile.
DC Comics
- Angel O'Day, in Showcase #77 (September)
- Anthro, in Showcase #74 (May)
- Bat Lash, in Showcase #76 (August)
- Brother Power the Geek, in Brother Power the Geek #1 (October)
- Cain, in House of Mystery #175 (July)
- Chemical King, in Adventure Comics #371 (August)
- Copperhead, in The Brave and the Bold #78 (June)
- Creeper, in Showcase #73 (March)
- Crimson Dawn, in Secret Six #1 (May)
- Doctor Cyber, in Wonder Woman #179 (November)
- Dolphin, in Showcase #79 (December)
- Jonny Double, in Showcase #78 (November)
- Guy Gardner, in Green Lantern #59 (March)
- Hank Hall, in Showcase #75 (June)
- Don Hall, in Showcase #75 (June)
- I Ching, in Wonder Woman #179 (November)
- King Savage, in Secret Six #1 (May)
- Lili de Neuve, in Secret Six #1 (May)
- League of Assassins, in Strange Adventures #215 (November)
- Legion of Super-Villains, in Adventure Comics #372 (September)
- Leland McCauley, in Adventure Comics #374 (November)
- Mike Tempest, in Secret Six #1 (May)
- Mordru, in Adventure Comics #369 (June)
- Red Star, in Teen Titans #18 (December)
- Red Tornado, in Justice League of America #64 (August)
- Sam Simeon, in Showcase #77 (September)
- Scavenger, in Aquaman #37 (January)
- Sensei, in Strange Adventures #215 (November)
- Shadow Lass, in Adventure Comics #365 (February)
- Tim Trench, in Wonder Woman #179 (November–December)
- Tornado Twins, in Adventure Comics #373 (October)
- Wanderers, in Adventure Comics #375 (December )
- General Zahl, in Doom Patrol vol. 1, #121 (October )
Marvel Comics
- Annihilus, in Fantastic Four Annual #6 (November)
- Aragorn, in The Avengers #48 (January)
- Badoon, in Silver Surfer vol. 1, #2 (October)
- Blacklash, in Tales of Suspense #97 (January)
- Centurius, in Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 (July)
- Carol Danvers, in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (March)
- Death-Stalker, in Daredevil vol. 1, #39 (April)
- Doctor Faustus, in Captain America #107 (November)
- Lemuel Dorcas, in Sub-Mariner #5 (September)
- Falcona, in The Incredible Hulk Annual #1 (October)
- Whitney Frost, in Tales of Suspense #98 (February)
- Gortokians, in X-Men #41 (February)
- Grim Reaper, in The Avengers #52 (May)
- Jester (Jonathan Powers), in Daredevil vol. 1, #42 (July)
- Leonus, in The Incredible Hulk Annual #1 (October)
- Mangog, in Thor #154 (July)
- Mephisto, in Silver Surfer #3 (December)
- Mesmero, in X-Men #49 (March)
- Missing Link, in The Incredible Hulk #105 (July)
- Franklin Richards, in Fantastic Four Annual #6 (November)
- Randy Robertson, in The Amazing Spider-Man #67 (December)
- Satannish, in Doctor Strange #174 (November)
- Shalla-Bal, in Silver Surfer #1 (August)
- George Stacy, in The Amazing Spider-Man #56 (January)
- Stallior, in The Incredible Hulk Annual #1 (Oct.)
- Tiger Shark, in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #5 (September)
- Typhon, in The Avengers #49 (February)
- Ultron, in The Avengers #54 (July)
- Vision, in The Avengers #57 (October)
- Wrecker, in The Mighty Thor #148 (January)
Independent titles
- B. D. (Doonesbury), in "Bull Tales" (Yale Daily News, September 30)
- The Checkered Demon, in Zap Comix #2 (Apex Novelties, August)
- The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, in Feds 'n' Heads (Gilbert Shelton; self-published)
- Franklin, in Peanuts (July 31)
- Marcie, in Peanuts (June 18)
- Maxmagnus, in Eureka
- Trashman, in the East Village Other (July)
- Snappy Sammy Smoot in Bijou Funnies #1 (Bijou Publishing Empire, Summer)
McAvennie, Michael (2010). "1960s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. She started trading in her generic blouse-and-pencil skirt combinations for a "mod" wardrobe filled with printed dresses, go-go boots, mini-skirts, and hot pants.
"Quino". lambiek.net. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 129 "Writer/artist Steve Ditko and co-scripter Don Segall gave [character Jack Ryder] more than the last laugh as the garishly garbed Creeper, one of DC's quirkiest protagonists."
Contributors: Dick Giordano," The New Teen Titans Archives, Volume 1 (DC Comics, 1999).
"Al Capp". lambiek.net. Archived from the original on 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 129.
"David Law". lambiek.net. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
Levitz, Paul (2010). 75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking. Taschen America. p. 420. ISBN 978-3-8365-1981-6. Captain Action was DC's first toy tie-in title...Editor Mort Weisinger...brought in his young firebrand Jim Shooter to craft an identity and back story for the character.
McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 131 "Carmine Infantino wanted to rejuvenate what had been perceived as a tired Wonder Woman, so he assigned writer Denny O'Neil and artist Mike Sekowsky to convert the Amazon Princess into a secret agent. Wonder Woman was made over into an Emma Peel type and what followed was arguably the most controversial period in the hero's history."
"Bonvi". lambiek.net. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
"Chaval". lambiek.net. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
California death index, for Theodore H. Osborne.
"Gus Bofa". lambiek.net. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
"Quin Hall". lambiek.net. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
"Bob Grant". lambiek.net. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
"Mo Leff". lambiek.net. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
"Al Zere". lambiek.net. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
DeVore, Howard. "DTTF Con Report," Science Fiction Times (August 1968).
Schelly, Bill. Founders of Comic Fandom: Profiles of 90 Publishers, Dealers, Collectors, Writers, Artists and Other Luminaries of the 1950s And 1960s (McFarland, 2010), pp. 60–61.
Harris, Peter. "There's a Hertz-Avis War in the World of Comics," Toronto Star (June 28, 1968).
Schelly, Bill. Founders of Comic Fandom: Profiles of 90 Publishers, Dealers, Collectors, Writers, Artists and Other Luminaries of the 1950s and 1960s (McFarland, 2010), p. 107.
"The 1969 Comic Art Convention". Advertisement for 1969 convention looking back on 1968 convention. RBCC. No. 63. 1969.
McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 130: "Writer E. Nelson Bridwell and artist Frank Springer brought together six individuals who all possessed special skills and dark secrets, and were all being blackmailed into the service of the faceless Mockingbird."