1973 in comics

==Events and publications==
===Year overall===
* Dell Comics, after 44 years in the comics business, ceases publication; a few of the company's former titles moving to Gold Key Comics.
* Marvel's Curtis Magazines makes a push, debuting three new horror titles: Dracula Lives!, Monsters Unleashed, and Vampire Tales.
* Archie Comics publisher John L. Goldwater licenses Archie for evangelical Christian messages; the comics are written and illustrated by Archie regular Al Hartley and published by Spire Christian Comics.
=== January ===
* Teen Titans, with issue #43 (Jan./Feb. issue), suspends publication. (DC Comics)
=== February ===
* Doom Patrol vol. 1, with issue #122, is revived by DC after being cancelled in 1968.
* Metal Men, with issue #42 (Feb./Mar. cover date), is revived by DC after being cancelled in 1970.
=== May ===
* Night Nurse, with issue #4, is cancelled by Marvel.
===June===
* Detective Comics, with issue #435 (June/July cover date) begins a bimonthly schedule. (DC Comics)
* Doom Patrol vol 1., with issue #125 (June–July), canceled by DC.
* "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" story arc begins in The Amazing Spider-Man #121, written by Gerry Conway, with art by Gil Kane. (Concludes in Amazing Spider-Man #122, July cover-date.)
=== August ===
* Metal Men, with issue #44 (Aug./Sept. cover date) goes on hiatus, to be revived in 1976. (DC Comics)
* Shanna the She-Devil, with issue #5, is cancelled by Marvel.
===October===
*Strange Adventures, with issue #244 (Oct./Nov. issue), canceled by DC Comics.
* Archie Comics revives its Red Circle Comics superhero imprint, as Red Circle takes over Chilling Adventures in Sorcery as told by Sabrina with issue #3, changing its name to Chilling Adventures in Sorcery.
* Savage Tales, after a 17-month hiatus, resumes publishing with issue #2. (Curtis Magazines)
*Vampire Tales #2: The first appearance of Satana, drawn by John Romita (Marvel Comics)
=== November ===
* Kull the Conqueror, with issue #11, changes its name to Kull the Destroyer. (Marvel Comics)
* Marvel Feature, with issue #12, is canceled by Marvel.
=== December ===
* Millie the Model, with issue #207, canceled by Marvel.
==Deaths==
===February===
* February 27: Bill Everett dies at age 55.
=== June ===
* Werner Roth dies at age 52.
* June 3: Syd Shores dies at age 59.
=== October ===
* October 18: Pogo creator Walt Kelly dies at age 60.
==Exhibitions and shows==
==Conventions==
* Berkeleycon 73, Pauley Ballroom, ASUC Building, University of California, Berkeley — Bud Plant's retail business Comics & Comix acquires over 4,000 Golden Age comic books owned by Tom Reilly.Beerbohm, Bob. "Please Consider Buying Some Comics From Industry Icon Robert Beerbohm," The Comics Reporter (March 14, 2008).
* Memorial Day weekend: Detroit Triple Fan Fair, Detroit, Michigan
* July 4–8: Comic Art Convention, Hotel Commodore, New York City
* August 16–19 — San Diego Comic-Con, Sheraton Hotel, Harbor Island, California — 1,000+ attendees. Official guests: Neal Adams, D.C. Fontana, June Foray, Mike Friedrich, Carmine Infantino
==Awards==
=== Shazam Awards ===
Presented in 1974 for comics published in 1973:
* Best Continuing Feature: Swamp Thing (DC Comics)
* Best Individual Story: "Song of Red Sonja", by Roy Thomas and Barry Smith, Conan the Barbarian #24 (Marvel Comics)
* Best Individual Short Story (Dramatic): "The Himalayan Incident" (Manhunter), by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson, Detective Comics #437 (DC)
* Best Writer (Dramatic Division): Archie Goodwin
* Best Penciller (Dramatic Division): Berni Wrightson
* Best Inker (Dramatic Division): Dick Giordano
* Best Humor Story: "The Gourmet", Plop! #1 (DC)
* Best Writer (Humor Division) (tie):
** Stu Schwartzberg
** Steve Skeates
* Best Penciller (Humor Division): Marie Severin
* Best Inker (Humor Division): Ralph Reese
* Best Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
* Best Colorist: Glynis Wein
* Best Foreign Comic Series: Lieutenant Blueberry
* Outstanding New Talent (tie):
** Walt Simonson
** Jim Starlin
* Superior Achievement by an Individual: Richard Corben
* Hall of Fame: Carl Barks
==First issues by title==
=== DC Comics ===
Black Magic: selected reprints of 1950 Prize Comics series.
: Release: Oct./Nov. Writer: Joe Simon. Artist: Jack Kirby.
Plop!
: Release: Sept./Oct. Editor: Joe Orlando.
Prez
: Release: September. Writer: Joe Simon. Artist: Jerry Grandenetti.
Shazam!
: Release: February. Artist: C.C. Beck. Editor: Julius Schwartz.
=== Marvel Comics ===
Dead of Night
: Release: January.
Dracula Lives!
: Release: by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Ghost Rider vol. 2
: Release: September. Writer: Gary Friedrich. Artist: Tom Sutton and Syd Shores.
Monster of Frankenstein
: Release: January. Writer: Gary Friedrich. Artist: Mike Ploog.
Monsters Unleashed
: Release: July by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Spider-Man Comics Weekly
: Release: Feb. 10 by Marvel UK. Editor: Tony Isabella.
Tales of the Zombie
: Release: July by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Vampire Tales
: Release: July by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.
War is Hell
: Release: January. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Worlds Unknown
: Release: May. Editor: Stan Lee.
=== Independent titles ===
Cutie Honey
: Release: October 1 by Akita Shoten. Writer/Artist: Go Nagai.
E-Man
: Release: October by Charlton Comics. Writer: Nicola Cuti. Artist: Joe Staton.
The Occult Files of Dr. Spektor
: Release: May by Gold Key Comics. Writer: Don Glut. Artist: Jesse Santos.
==Initial appearances by character name==
=== DC Comics ===
* Black Orchid, in Adventure Comics #428 (July)
* Freedom Fighters, in Justice League of America #107 (October)
* Klarion the Witch Boy, in The Demon #7 (March)
* Steve Lombard, in Superman #264 (June)
* Mister Miracle (Shilo Norman), in Mister Miracle #15 (August)
* Spook, in Detective Comics #434 (April)
* Tyr, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #197 (September)
* Wildfire, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #195 (June)
=== Marvel Comics ===
* Angar the Screamer, in Daredevil #100 (June)
* Bi-Beast, in Hulk #169 (November)
* Blade, in The Tomb of Dracula #10 (July)
* Lucas Brand, in The Tomb of Dracula #9 (June)
* Brother Voodoo, in Strange Tales #169 (September)
* Drax the Destroyer, in Iron Man #55 (February)
* Deacon Frost, in The Tomb of Dracula #13 (October)
* Gremlin, in Incredible Hulk #163 (May)
* Quincy Harker, in The Tomb of Dracula #7 (March)
* Daimon Hellstrom, in Ghost Rider (vol. 2) #1 (September)
* Helmut Zemo, in Captain America #168 (December)
* Howard the Duck, in Adventure into Fear #19 (December)
* The Hydro-Men, in Sub-Mariner #61 (May)
* The Infra-Worlders, in The Incredible Hulk #164 (June)
* Solomon Kane, in Monsters Unleashed #1 (August)
* Erik Killmonger, in Jungle Action #6 (September)
* Killraven, in Amazing Adventures #18 (May)
* Kronos, in Iron Man #55 (February)
* A'lars, in Iron Man #55 (February)
* Moondragon, in Iron Man #54 (January)
* Nimrod, in Dracula Lives! #3 (October)
* Orb, in Marvel Team-Up #15 (November)
* Satana, in Vampire Tales #2 (October)
* Shang-Chi, in Special Marvel Edition #15 (December)
* Sui-San, in Captain Marvel #29 (November)
* Starfox, in Iron Man #55 (February)
* Thanos, in Iron Man #55 (February)
* Ultimus, in The Mighty Thor #209 (March)
* Uranos, in Captain Marvel #29 (November)
* Venomm, in Jungle Action #6 (September)
* Wendigo, in Incredible Hulk #162 (April)
* Wundarr the Aquarian, in Adventure into Fear #17 (October)
* Baron Zemo II, in Captain America #168 (December)
* Zzzax, in Hulk #166 (August)
=== Independent titles ===
* Black Jack, in Weekly Shōnen Champion (November 19)
* Rerun van Pelt, in Peanuts (March 26)
==References==
Category:1973