1977 in comics

==Events==
=== Year overall ===
* Wendy and Richard Pini establish WaRP Graphics.
* Jan and Dean Mullaney establish Eclipse Comics.
* The United Kingdom's Eagle Awards are established.
* Bob Brown dies at age 62.
* Ciao magazine is launched.
===January===
* Our Army at War #300: "300th Hill," by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert. (DC Comics)
* With issue #6 (Jan//Feb. issue), DC cancels Four Star Spectacular.
*January 3: The Spider-Man newspaper comic strip makes its debut. The storyline of the first strip is that Doctor Doom is coming to address the United Nations.Spider-Man: Newspaper Strips, Volume 1, Stan Lee and John Romita, Collection Editor Mark D. Beazley, First printing 2009, ISBN 978-0-7851-3793-1, published by Marvel Publishing Inc.
* January 24: John Rosenberger passes away at the age of 58.
===February===
* With issue #258, DC cancels Tarzan, a title it acquired from Gold Key Comics in 1972 (and continued the Gold Key numbering).
* With issue #250, DC suspends publishing Blackhawk, which ran from 1957 to 1968, and was revived in 1976.
* Star Spangled War Stories, with issue #204 (Feb.–Mar.), canceled by DC.
* With issue #33, the Marvel imprint Curtis Magazines cancels Deadly Hands of Kung Fu.
* Planet of the Apes, with issue #29, is cancelled by Marvel.
* Ka-Zar vol. 2, with issue #20, is cancelled by Marvel.
* The Occult Files of Dr. Spektor, with issue #24, canceled by Gold Key.
* February 1: Edmond Hamilton dies at age 72.
*February 26: 2000 AD is launched.
=== Spring ===
* Doc Savage: Man of Bronze, with issue #8, is cancalled by Curtis Magazines (Marvel Comics).
===March===
* With issue #302, DC changes the title of Our Army at War to Sgt. Rock.
* G.I. Combat #200: "The Tank That Died Twice," by Robert Kanigher and Sam Glanzman.
* Kobra, with issue #7, is cancelled by DC.
* Werewolf by Night, with issue #43, is cancelled by Marvel.
*March 5: Judge Dredd debuts in the second issue of 2000 AD with the story "Judge Whitey", written by Peter Harris and drawn by Mike McMahon.
===April===
* Paul Gustavson, creator of The Human Bomb and The Angel, dies at age 60.
* Marvel Spotlight, with issue #33, is cancelled by Marvel.
* April 30: The Judge Dredd storyline "The Robot Wars" begins in 2000 AD (running through June 18).
=== May ===
* With issue #205, DC changes the title of Star Spangled War Stories to The Unknown Soldier.
=== June ===
* DC Comics raises the price of its standard comic book from 30 to 35 cents.
* Challengers of the Unknown is revived by DC Comics with issue #81 (June/July cover date; continued from 1958 series); storyline picks up from Super-Team Family issues #8–10.
* Secrets of Haunted House revived with issue #6 (June/July issue) after a 17-month hiatus (DC Comics).
* With issue #5, DC cancels Ragman.
=== July ===
* With issue #231, Marvel UK changes the title of the weekly magazine Super Spider-Man and the Titans to Super Spider-Man & Captain Britain, now featuring new Captain Britain stories (as well as The Amazing Spider-Man reprints).
* Iron Man #100: "Ten Rings To Rule the World!" by Bill Mantlo, George Tuska, and Mike Esposito.
* With issue #12, DC revives The New Gods (now called Return of the New Gods), continuing the numbering from the 1971 series.
* With issue #126, DC cancels Young Love (1960 series), picked up from Prize Comics in 1963.
* With issue #7, Marvel publishes the final issue of Logan's Run.
===August===
* Golden Age artist Louis Cazeneuve dies at c. age 69.
* With issue #94 (Aug./Sept. cover date), DC revives Showcase, continuing the numbering from the 1956 series, which ceased publishing in 1970.
* With issue #57, DC revives Aquaman, continuing the numbering from the 1962 series, which ceased publishing in 1971.
* With issue #230, DC cancels Superboy (at this point titled Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes).
* With issue #29, DC cancels DC Special (1968 series).
* With issue #12 (Aug./Sept. cover date), DC cancels Hercules Unbound.
* With issue #12, Marvel cancels The Inhumans.
* With issue #12, Marvel cancels the anthology title Marvel Presents.
=== September ===
* With issue #19, DC revives Mister Miracle (1971 series), which had gone on hiatus in 1974.
* With issue #10, Marvel publishes the final issue of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
=== October ===
* With issue #10, Marvel cancels Omega the Unknown.
* With issue #8, DC cancels Starfire.
===November===
* Following rival DC's lead, Marvel Comics raises the price of its standard comic book from 30 to 35 cents.
* With issue #18, DC cancels Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter.
* November 5: Asterix co-creator René Goscinny dies at age 51.
===December===
* Dave Sim begins writing and independently publishing Cerebus under the publisher name Aardvark-Vanaheim.
* John Byrne and Terry Austin begin their acclaimed run as X-Men penciller/inker team with issue #108 of the title.
* John Verpoorten, inker and Marvel Comics production manager, dies at age 37.
* With issue #8 (Dec. 1977/Jan. 1978 cover date), DC cancels Isis.
==Exhibitions and shows==
==Conventions==
* British Comic Art Convention, Great Britain — presentation of the first annual Eagle Awards
* July 1–5: Comic Art Convention, Hotel Sheraton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* July 20–24: San Diego Comic-Con, El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California — Official guests: Carl Barks, C. C. Beck, Walter Gibson, Robert A. Heinlein, Michael Kaluta, Jack Kirby, B. Kliban, Joe Kubert, Harvey Kurtzman, Stan Lynde, Alex Niño, Trina Robbins, Bill Scott
== Awards ==
=== Eagle Awards ===
Presented in 1978 for comics published in 1977:
* Favourite Writer: Steve Englehart
* Favourite Artist: Neal Adams
* Favourite Inker: Terry Austin
* Favourite Comic Book (Dramatic): Uncanny X-Men
* Favorite Comic Book (Humor): Howard the Duck, by Steve Gerber and Gene Colan
* Favourite Black and White Magazine: Savage Sword of Conan
* Favourite Single Story: "The Final Threat," Avengers Annual #7, by Jim Starlin
* Favourite Continued Story: Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2, by Jim Starlin
* Favourite Group or Team: Uncanny X-Men
* Favourite Character: Batman
* Favourite Supporting Character: Pip the Troll
* Favourite Villain: Thanos
* Favourite Comic (UK): 2000 AD (Fleetway)
* Favourite Editor (UK): Dez Skinn, for MAD magazine
* Roll of Honour: Steve Englehart
==First issues by title==
=== DC Comics ===
Black Lightning
: Release: April. Writer: Tony Isabella. Artist: Trevor Von Eeden.
DC Special Series: catch-all series primarily for one-shots of different formats, released on an irregular schedule
: Release: September. Editor: Paul Levitz.
Jonah Hex
: Release: March/April. Writer: Michael Fleisher. Artist: José Luis García-López.
Men of War
: Release: August. Editor: Paul Levitz.
Shade, the Changing Man
: Release: June/July. Writers: Steve Ditko and Michael Fleisher. Artist: Steve Ditko.
Star Hunters
: Release: Oct./Nov. Writer: David Michelinie. Artists: Don Newton and Bob Layton.
=== Marvel Comics ===
Black Panther
: Release: January. Writer/Artist: Jack Kirby.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
: Release: August. Writer: Doug Moench. Artists: Herb Trimpe and Jim Mooney.
John Carter, Warlord of Mars
: Release: June. Writer: Marv Wolfman. Artists: Gil Kane and Dave Cockrum.
Human Fly
: Release: September. Writer: Bill Mantlo. Artists: Lee Elias.
Logan's Run
: Release: January. Writer: Gerry Conway. Artists: George Pérez and Klaus Janson.
Marvel Super Action
: Release: May. Reprints classic Captain America stories.
Rampaging Hulk
: Release: January by Curtis Magazines. Editor: John Warner.
Star Wars
: Release: July. Writer: Roy Thomas. Artist: Howard Chaykin.
What If
: Release: February. Writer/Editor: Roy Thomas.
=== Independent publishers ===
2000 AD
: Release: February 26 by IPC Media. Editor: Tharg the Mighty.
Cerebus the Aardvark
: Release: December by Aardvark-Vanaheim. Writer/Artist: Dave Sim.
Heavy Metal
: Release: April by HM Communications, Inc.. Editor: Sean Kelly and Valerie Marchant.
=== Hakusensha ===
Bessatsu Hana to Yume
: Release: July
== Initial appearance by character name ==
=== DC Comics ===
* Baron Blitzkrieg, in World's Finest Comics #246 (Aug./Sept.)
* Black Lightning, in Black Lightning #1 (April)
* Celsius, in Showcase #94 (Aug./Sept.)
* Joshua Clay, in Showcase #94 (Aug./Sept.)
* Dawnstar, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #226 (April)
* Doctor Phosphorus, in Detective Comics #469 (May)
* Cal Durham, in Adventure Comics #452 (July)
* Faora, in Action Comics #471 (May)
* Godiva, in Super Friends #7 (October)
* Golden Glider, in Flash #250 (June)
* Gravedigger, in Men of War #1 (August)
* Huntress, in DC Super Stars # 17 (Nov./Dec. 1977)
* Icemaiden, in Super Friends #9 (December)
* Impala, in Super Friends #7 (October)
* Jack O'Lantern, in Super Friends #8 (November)
* Owlwoman, in Super Friends #7 (October)
* Professor Ojo, in Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #16 (July/Aug.)
* Rising Sun, in Super Friends #8 (November)
* Scalphunter in Weird Western Tales #39 (Mar./Apr.)
* Seraph, in Super Friends #7 (October)
* Shade, the Changing Man, in Shade, the Changing Man #1 (June/July)
* Silver St. Cloud, in Detective Comics #470 (June)
* Sklarian Raiders, in Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #233 (November, DC Comics)
* Tasmanian Devil, in Super Friends #7 (October)
* Rupert Thorne, in Detective Comics #469 (May)
* Tuatara, in Super Friends #8 (November)
* Valentina Vostok, in Showcase #94 (August)
=== Marvel Comics ===
* Aqueduct, in Ghost Rider #23 (April)
* Aries (Life Model Decoy), in The Defenders #49 (July)
* Bereet, in Rampaging Hulk #1 (January, Curtis Magazines)
* Bushmaster, in Iron Fist #15 (September)
* Constrictor, in Incredible Hulk #212 (June)
* Deathbird, in Ms. Marvel #9 (September)
* Devil-Slayer, in Marvel Spotlight #33 (April)
* Doctor Bong, in Howard the Duck #15 (August)
* Dreadknight, in Iron Man #102 (August)
* Dyna-Mite / Destroyer, in Invaders #14 (March)
* Celestials
** Dreaming Celestial, in The Eternals #18 (December)
** Eson the Searcher, in The Eternals #9 (March)
** Hargen the Measurer, in The Eternals #9 (March)
** Jemiah the Analyzer, in The Eternals #7 (January)
** Nezarr the Calculator, in The Eternals #9 (March)
** One Above All, in The Eternals #7 (January)
** Oneg the Prober, in The Eternals #9 (March)
** Tefral the Surveyor, in The Eternals #7 (January)
** Ziran the Tester, in The Eternals #18 (December)
* Eternals
** Aginar, in The Eternals #11 (May)
** Delphan Brothers, in The Eternals #11 (May)
** Druig, in The Eternals #11 (May)
** Forgotten One, in The Eternals #13 (July)
** Sigmar, in The Eternals #17 (November)
** Sprite, in The Eternals #9 (March)
** Kingo Sunen, in The Eternals #11 (May)
** Uni-Mind, in The Eternals #12 (June)
** Valkin, in The Eternals #11 (May)
** Zarin, in The Eternals #11 (May)
* Henry Peter Gyrich, in Avengers #165 (November)
* Human Fly (Rick Rojatt), in Human Fly (Rick Rojatt) #1 (September)
* Imperial Guard, in X-Men #107 (October)
** Astra
** Electron
** Fang
** Flashfire
** Guardian
** Magique
** Mentor
** Neutron
** Nightside
** Oracle
** Pulsar
** Scintilla
** Smasher
** Starbolt
** Titan
* Jocasta, in Avengers #162 (August)
* Killer Shrike, in Rampaging Hulk #1 (January, Curtis Magazines)
* Lightmaster, in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #3 (February)
* Machine Man, in 2001: A Space Odyssey #8 (July)
* Malice, in Ghost Rider vol. 2, #25 (August)
* Paragon / Kismet, in The Incredible Hulk Annual #6
* Ringer, in Defenders #51 (September)
* Rocket Racer, in The Amazing Spider-Man #172 (September)
* Sabretooth, in Iron Fist #14 (August)
* Nicholas Scratch, in Fantastic Four #185 (August)
* Sphinx, in Nova #6 (February)
* Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), in Marvel Spotlight #32 (February)
* Spirit of '76, in The Invaders #14 (March)
* Starjammers, in X-Men #107 (October)
** Ch'od, in X-Men #104 (April)
** Corsair, in X-Men #104 (April)
** Hepzibah, in X-Men #107 (October)
** Raza Longknife, in X-Men #107 (October)
* Swarm, in Champions #14 (July)
* Warrior Woman, in Invaders #16 (May)
* Will O' Wisp, in The Amazing Spider-Man #167 (April)
* Arnim Zola, in Captain America #208 (April)
=== Independent titles ===
* Cerebus the Aardvark, in Cerebus #1 (December, Aardvark-Vanaheim)
* Rico Dredd, in 2000 AD prog 30 (Fleetway)
* Judge Dredd, in 2000 AD #2 (Fleetway)
* Judge Giant, in 2000 AD prog 27 (Fleetway)
* Judge Goodman, in 2000 AD #2 (Fleetway)
* Bill Savage, in 2000 AD #1 (February 26, Fleetway)
* Tharg the Mighty, in 2000 AD #1 (February 26, Fleetway)
== References ==
Comics