January 20: In the Disney comics magazine Topolino, the first episode of the Donald Duck story Paperino e la visita distruttiva is published, the first story realized by the team of Giorgio Pezzin (writer) and Giorgio Cavazzano (cartoonist).
In Italy, the first issue of Alter linus (Milano libri), a supplement to Linus, dedicated to the adventure comics is published; debut also of the erotic series Maghella (Ediperiodici) and of the series Pinocchio (Bianconi).
The Flemish comics magazine Pats, a weekly children's supplement of the newspapers Het Nieuwsblad, De Standaard, Het Handelsblad [fr; nl], De Gentenaar [eo; nl] and De Landwacht, changes its name to the Patskrant. It will run until 23 August 1977, after which its becomes the Stipkrant.
Inside the new Pats, Gommaar Timmermans' children's comic Jonas en de Wonderwinkel is published, which will run until 3 September 1974.[4]
May 9: In Spirou, the first chapter of the Yoko Tsuno story Message pour l'éternité is published by Roger Leloup.
May 19: The Donald Duck album Paperino ai mondiali (Donald at the World Cup), realized by Mondadori for the 1974 FIFA World cup is published. It contains two stories: Paperino ai mondiali di calcio (Donald at the Football world cup), by Romano Scarpa and Paperino calciatore (Donald football player), by Gian Giacomo Dalmasso and Marco Rota.
Daim Press begins to publish I Protagonisti (The Protagonists), a collection of graphic novels, written and drawn by Rino Albertarelli, about the true lives of the American Frontier's heroes; the first is George Armstrong Custer. The series, very appreciated also for its historical accuracy, is interrupted after less than a year by the author's death.
October 21: A weekly political-satirical gag comic spin-off of Jean Tabary's Iznogoud starts running in the French Sunday newspaper Journal du Dimanche. It will continue until 17 June 1979.[18]
Weird Worlds, with issue #10 (October /November cover date), is cancelled by DC.[14]
November 9: The final episode of the Dutch funny animal comic Wipperoen (Whipper), by Raymond Bär von Hemmersweil and Jan van Reek, appears in print.[19][20]
La Marcia della Disperazione (Despair March) by Guido Nolitta and Gallieno Ferri; Zagor, for the first time, has a love interest (Frida Lang). The story is considered by many fans the masterpiece of the Zagor series.[21]
December 27: Dick Matena launches the first version of his comic De Teloorgang van Oude Knudde in Pep. [23]
Specific date unknown
The Dutch comics appreciation society Het Stripschap establishes their annual Stripschapprijs, the most important Dutch comics award. The first winner is publishing company Skarabee.[24][25]
The final issue of the Flemish comics magazine/fanzine CISO-Magazine is published by Danny De Laet. It changes its name into Stripgids and receive a new chief editor, Jan Smet. Under its new name it will continue until 1985.
Tim Wallace draws an underground comic strip named Ka-Blam, which features a man whose head explodes after smoking a joint.[26]
The Costa Rican artist Fernando Zeledón Guzmán creates the satirical comic strip La Semana en Serio in the communist magazine Adelante. It will run until 1991.[27]
Denis Gifford publishes The British Comics Catalogue, 1874-1974.[28]
Mad Magazine makes a TV special where several of their comics series appear in animated form. The director is Chris Ishii. Unfortunately the special never airs, because network executives deem the comedy "too family unfriendly".[30]
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.
March 4: Paul Gordeaux, French journalist, historian, playwright, novelist, comedian and comics writer (L' Histoire du Demi-Siècle, Le Crime Ne Paie Pas, Les Amours Célèbres), dies at age 82.[37]
March 16: Jo Ooms, Dutch writer, illustrator and comic artist (Slager Kokkie en zijn Fokkie), dies at age 60.[38]
March 21: Eric Parker, British comics artist and illustrator (worked for Knockout, Buster and Ranger, Pepys' Diary, Tommy Walls), dies at age 76.[39]
April
April 22: Tjalie Robinson, Dutch comics artist (Taaie en Neut), dies at age 63.[40]
April 27: Jean Bernard-Aldebert, French caricaturist, illustrator and comics artist (Adonis, Gigolette), dies at age 64.[41]
May
May 3: Ray Hoppman, American comics artist (Going Down!, This is the Life, Types of Humanity, Morals of Young Mister Wise, Make-A-Comic, Ma, Twinkling Stars, continued Assorted Nuts, Hank and Pete, Famous Fans), dies at age 87.[42]
July 12: Kurt Caesar, Italian comic artist (Romano il Legionario, Dino e Dario, Eroi dell'Aria, I Moschietteri del Aeroporto Z), dies at age 67 or 68. [50]
November 9: Charles W. Winter, American comics artist (Thorny the Cactus, Hank and His Whale, Jit Jones, Diggy the Derrick, Justin Thyme, Lady De Van), dies at age 56.[59]
December
December 3: Maurice Toussaint, French painter and comic artist (D'Artagnan, French-Bill), dies at age 92. [60]
Specific date unknown: D. C. Eyles, British illustrator and comics artist (continued Kit Carson), dies at age 72.[63]
Specific date unknown
Bertie Brown, British comics artist (Homeless Hector, The Brownie Boys, Pa Perkins and Percy, Dad Walker and his Son Wally, Constable Cuddlecook, Smiler and Smudge, Pinhead and Pete, Jumbo Jim and Brother Tim, celebrity comics based on Charlie Chaplin among others), dies at age 86 or 87.[64]
Germán Butze, Mexican comics artist (Los Supersabios, Super Whiz Kids) dies at age 61 or 62.[65]
Mal Eaton, American comics artist (Peter Piltdown, AKA Rocky Stoneaxe), dies at age 71 or 72.[66]
Vernon Miller, Canadian comics artist (Iron Man), dies at age 62.[67]
Herbert Ruschke, German illustrator and comics artist (Waputa die Geierkralle, Ali Ben Populi and Hodscha Nasreddin), dies at age 59 or 60.[68]
^McAvennie, Michael (2010). "1970s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 159. ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9. The Spectre re-materialized in the pages of Adventure Comics. This time, however, he brought along an all-out wrathful disposition, delivering punishments that not only fit the crimes, but arguably exceeded them." "[Michael] Fleisher and [Jim] Aparo's run lasted only ten issues, yet it was widely regarded as some of their finest work, and the character's seminal period.
^"Aloha". www.lambiek.net. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
^McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 159 "DC's 100-page Super Spectaculars were proving popular, so DC said goodbye to Supergirl, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane, and housed the characters together in Superman Family. Continuing the numbering from where Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen ended, the series featured classic reprints with new tales in the lead spot."
^ abWells, John (October 24, 1997), "'Lost' DC: 1971-1975", Comics Buyer's Guide, no. 1249, p. 125, In the wake of a nationwide paper shortage, DC canceled several of its lower-selling titles in late 1973...[Supergirl #10] and three other completed comic books slated for release in November 1973 (Secret Origins #7, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #137, and Weird Worlds #10) were put on hold until the summer of 1974.
^Gale entry, Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999. Accessed Feb. 4, 2016.
^McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 161 "In OMAC's first issue, editor/writer/artist Jack Kirby warned readers of "The World That's Coming!", a future world containing wild concepts that are almost frighteningly real today."
^McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 158 "The legendary tandem of writer Joe Simon and artist/editor Jack Kirby reunited for a one-shot starring the Sandman...Despite the issue's popularity, it would be Simon and Kirby's last collaboration."
^Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. Dorling Kindersley. p. 164. ISBN978-0756641238. The Thing got his own comic book with the first issue of Marvel Two-in-One, a series that teamed him up with other super heroes.
^McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 161: "Fans of John Boorman's 1974 sci-fi film Zardoz, starring Sean Connery in revealing red spandex, could appreciate writer Cary Bates and artist Curt Swan's inspiration for Vartox of Valeron."
