1972 in comics

==Events==
* Marvel Comics forms their British publishing arm, Marvel UK (under the corporate name Magazine Management London Ltd.).
* Phil Seuling founds East Coast Seagate Distribution, developing the concept of the direct market distribution system for getting comics directly into comic book specialty shops, bypassing the established newspaper/magazine distributor method.
* Art Spiegelman publishes "Maus", a three-page strip which will eventually turn into Maus, for Funny Aminals [cq], an underground comic published by Apex Novelties.
* DC acquires licensing rights to the Marvel Family, originally published by Fawcett Comics.
* Fleming H. Revell establishes Spire Christian Comics.
* Jacques Glénat, at only twenty years old, establishes Glénat.
===January===
* Korak, Son of Tarzan (1964 series), with issue #45, cancelled by Gold Key Comics. (The title is acquired and continued by DC in June.)
===February===
* The Brave and the Bold #100 (Feb./Mar. cover date): Batman teams up with Robin, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Green Lantern. (DC Comics)
* With issue #206, Gold Key Comics cancels Tarzan, a title it acquired from Dell Comics in 1962.
===March===
* Marvel Comics launches its second ongoing Spider-Man title, Marvel Team-Up.
* House of Mystery #200, edited by Joe Orlando. (DC Comics)
*March 4: Charles Biro dies at age 60.
===April===
* Marvel Comics launches Marvel Premiere, an anthology series.
* With issue #207, DC Comics begins publishing Tarzan, acquired from Gold Key Comics.
* With issue #89 (Apr./May cover-date), DC suspends publishing Green Lantern.
===May===
* Wonder Woman #200 (May/June cover date): 52-page giant, "The Beauty Hater," by Denny O'Neil and Dick Giordano. (DC Comics)
===June===
* Marvel Comics launches Luke Cage, Hero for Hire, which is the debut of the title character.
* Thor #200: "The End of the World," by Gerry Conway (pages 1, 21), Stan Lee (pages 2–20), John Buscema, and John Verpoorten.
* The Avengers #100: "Whatever Gods There Be," by Roy Thomas and Barry Smith.
* The Darkhold, also known as The Book of Sins, is introduced in Marvel Spotlight #4.
* Korak, Son of Tarzan, with issue #46, taken over by DC from Gold Key Comics.
* With issue #12 (June/July cover date), All-Star Western changes it name to Weird Western Tales. (DC Comics)
* With issue #5 (June/July cover date), The Sinister House of Secret Love changes its name to Secrets of Sinister House. (DC Comics)
===July===
* After a year-long experimentation with 25-cent, 52-page comics, DC Comics reduces the price of a typical comic to 20 cents, and returns the page count to 36 pages.
* Sgt. Fury #100: "One Hundredth Anniversary," by Gary Friedrich, Dick Ayers, and Mike Esposito. (Marvel Comics)
===August===
* Justice League of America #100: "The Unknown Soldier of Victory!", by Len Wein, Dick Dillin, and Joe Giella.
* Forever People, with issue #11, is cancelled by DC.
===September===
* House of Secrets #100, edited by Joe Orlando. (DC Comics)
* Stan Lee becomes Marvel Comics' publisher; Roy Thomas takes over as Marvel editor-in-chief.
=== October ===
* Date with Debbi, with issue #18 (Oct./Nov. cover date), is cancelled by DC.
* Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth #1: new series by writer/artist Jack Kirby is launched by DC Comics with an October/November cover date).
* New Gods, with issue #11 (Oct./Nov. cover date), is temporarily cancelled by DC (it is revived with issue #12 in 1977).
* Silver Age inker Sid Greene dies at age 66.
===November===
*Girls' Love Stories, with issue #180 (Nov./Dec. cover-date), cancelled by DC Comics.
== Conventions ==
* June: Multicon, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
* July 1–5: Comic Art Convention, Statler Hilton Hotel, New York City
* August 18–21: San Diego's West Coast Comic Convention, El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California — Official guests: Bob Clampett, Harry Harrison, Jack Kirby, Katherine Kurtz, Mel Lazarus, Roy Thomas, Milt Gray
== Awards ==
=== Shazam Awards ===
Presented in 1973 for comics published in 1972:
* Best Individual Story: "Dark Genesis", by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson, Swamp Thing #1 (DC Comics)
* Best Individual Short Story (Dramatic): "The Demon Within", by John Albano and Jim Aparo, House of Mystery #201 (DC)
* Best Writer (Dramatic Division): Len Wein
* Best Penciller (Dramatic Division): Berni Wrightson
* Best Humor Story: "The Poster Plague", by Steve Skeates and Sergio Aragones, House of Mystery #202 (DC)
* Best Inker (Humor Division): Sergio Aragones
* Special Award: DC letterer/proofreader Gerda Gattel "for bringing her special warmth to our history"
* Superior Achievement by an Individual: Julius Schwartz "for bringing the Shazam Family back into print"
== First issue by title ==
=== DC Comics ===
The Demon
: Release: Aug./Sept. Writer/Artist: Jack Kirby. Inker: Mike Royer.
Kamandi, The Last Boy On Earth
: Release: Oct./Nov. Writer/Artist: Jack Kirby. Inker: Mike Royer.
Supergirl
: Release: November. Editor: Dorothy Woolfolk.
Swamp Thing
: Release: Oct./Nov. Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Bernie Wrightson.
Weird Mystery Tales
: Release: July/Aug. Editor: E. Nelson Bridwell.
Weird Worlds
: Release: September. Editor: Dennis O'Neil.
=== Marvel Comics ===
The Cat
: Release: November. Writers: Roy Thomas and Linda Fite. Artists: Marie Severin and Wally Wood.
The Defenders
: Release: August. Writer: Steve Englehart. Artists: Sal Buscema and Frank Giacoia.
Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze
: Release: October. Writers: Roy Thomas (plot) and Steve Englehart (script). Artists: Ross Andru and Jim Mooney.
Hero for Hire
: Release: June. Writers: Roy Thomas, John Romita, and Archie Goodwin. Artists: George Tuska and Billy Graham.
Jungle Action
: Release: October. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Marvel Premiere
: Release: April. Writer: Roy Thomas. Artists: Gil Kane and Dan Adkins.
Marvel Team-Up
: Release: March. Writer: Roy Thomas. Artists: Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.
Marvel Triple Action
: Release: February. Reprints early issues of The Avengers and Fantastic Four.
The Mighty World of Marvel
: Release: October 7 (weekly) by Marvel UK.
Night Nurse
: Release: November. Writer: Jean Thomas. Artist: Winslow Mortimer.
Shanna the She-Devil
: Release: September. Writers: Carole Seuling and Steve Gerber. Artists: George Tuska and Vince Colletta.
Supernatural Thrillers
: Release: December. Writers: Theodore Sturgeon (original story) and Roy Thomas (adaptation). Artists: Marie Severin and Frank Giacoia.
The Tomb of Dracula
: Release: April. Writer: Gerry Conway. Artist: Gene Colan.
Werewolf by Night
: Release: September. Writer: Gerry Conway. Artists: Mike Ploog and Frank Chiaramonte.
=== Other publishers ===
Archie at Riverdale High
: Release: August by Archie Comics.
Captain Paragon
: Release: by Paragon Publications. Writer/Artist: Bill Black.
Midnight Tales
: Release: Dec. by Charlton. Artist: Wayne Howard.
Mystery Comics Digest
: Release: March by Gold Key Comics.
The Rose of Versailles (Berusaiyu no Bara)
: Release: May 21 by Margaret magazine (Shueisha). Writer/artist: Riyoko Ikeda.
Wimmen's Comix
: Release: November by Last Gasp.
== Initial appearance by character name ==
=== DC Comics ===
* Anton Arcane, in Swamp Thing #2 (Dec. 1972/Jan. 1973)
* Bernadeth, in Mister Miracle #6 (February)
* Jim Corrigan, in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #149 (May)
* Destiny, in Weird Mystery Tales #1
* Devilance, in Forever People #11 (August)
* Doctor Moon, in Batman #240 (March)
* Effron the Sorcerer, in World's Finest Comics #210 (March)
* Etrigan the Demon, in The Demon #1 (August)
* Forager, in New Gods #9 (August)
* Funky Flashman, in Mister Miracle #6 (Jan./Feb.)
* Gilotina, in Mister Miracle #8 (May)
* Human Target, in Action Comics #419 (December)
* Jonah Hex, in All-Star Western #10 (Feb./Mar.)
* Kamandi, in Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth #1 (October)
* Kanto, in Mister Miracle #7 (Mar./Apr.)
* Lashina, in Mister Miracle #6 (January)
* Morgaine le Fey, in The Demon #1 (September)
* Mad Harriet, in Mister Miracle #6 (January)
* Matthew Cable, in Swamp Thing #1 (Oct./Nov.)
* Nebula Man, in Justice League of America #100 (August)
* Starbreaker, in Justice League of America #96 (February)
* Steppenwolf, in New Gods #7 (February)
* Stompa, in Mister Miracle #6 (January)
* Terra-Man, in Superman #249 (March)
* The Un-Men, in Swamp Thing #1 (Oct./Nov.)
===Marvel Comics===
* Adam Warlock, in Marvel Premiere #1 (April)
* Brute (Reed Richards), in Marvel Premiere #2 (May)
* Luke Cage, in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (June)
* Diamondback (Willis Stryker), in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 (June)
* Dracula, in Tomb of Dracula #1 (April)
* Dragon Lord I, in Sub-Mariner #52 (Aug)
* Frank Drake, in Tomb of Dracula #1 (April)
* Damon Dran, in Daredevil #92 (October)
* Elric, in Conan the Barbarian #15 (March)
* Kulan Gath, in Conan the Barbarian #14 (February 1972)
* Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze), in Marvel Spotlight #5 (August)
* Gibbon, in The Amazing Spider-Man #110 (July)
* Grand Director, in Captain America #153 (September)
* Hammerhead, in The Amazing Spider-Man #113
* Jonas Harrow, in The Amazing Spider-Man #114 (October)
* Mister Fear, in The Mighty Thor #200 (June)
* Night Nurse, in Night Nurse #1 (November)
* Thundra, in Fantastic Four #129 (December)
* Tigra, in The Cat #1 (November)
* Rachel van Helsing, in Tomb of Dracula #3 (July)
* Werewolf by Night, in Marvel Spotlight #2 (February)
* Zarathos, in Marvel Spotlight #5 (August)
=== Independent publishers ===
* Captain Paragon, in Captain Paragon #1 (Paragon Publications)
* Doctor Spektor, in Mystery Comics Digest #5 (Gold Key Comics, July)
* Les Aventures extraordinaires d'Adèle Blanc-Sec, in Pilote #680
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