1969 in comics

This is a list of comics-related events in 1969.
==Events==
=== Year overall ===
* Paragon Publications established in Longwood, Florida, by Bill Black.
* George Klein, long-time Superman inker, dies in his fifties from cirrhosis of the liver, six months after getting married.Interview with Pat Sekowsky, Alter Ego #33 (Feb. 2004), pp. 5-20.
===February===
* The Golden Age character Phantom Stranger makes his first Silver Age appearance in Showcase #80.
* Flash Gordon (1966 series), with issue #12, is picked up by Charlton Comics, taking over from the defunct King Comics.
=== March ===
* Strange Adventures, with issue #217, becomes a reprint title. (DC Comics)
* Beware the Creeper, with issue #6 (Mar./Apr. issue), canceled by DC.
=== April ===
* Secret Six, with issue #7 (Apr./May), is cancelled by DC.
=== May ===
* Not Brand Echh, with issue #13, canceled by Marvel.
=== June ===
* DC Comics raises the price of its typical comic from 12 cents to 15 cents.
=== July ===
* Long-time DC Comics logo designer and letterer Ira Schnapp dies at age 76.
=== August ===
* Marvel Comics follows DC's lead and raises the price of its typical comic from 12 cents to 15 cents.
=== September ===
* Classics Illustrated cartoonist Alex Blum dies at age 80.
=== October ===
* The Marvel Comics reprint title Marvel Collectors' Item Classics, with issue #23, becomes Marvel's Greatest Comics.
=== November ===
* Doctor Strange, with issue #183, canceled by Marvel.
* T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, with issue #20, canceled, as publisher Tower Comics goes out of business.
=== December ===
* Metal Men, with issue #41 (Dec. 1969/Jan. 1970 cover-date), suspends publishing. (DC Comics)
== Conventions ==
* Triple Fan Fair, Detroit, Michigan
* July 4–6: Comic Art Convention — held Independence Day weekend at the Statler Hilton Hotel in New York City. Attendees pay $3.50 for a three-day ticket, with daily passes at $1.50.The 1969 Comic Art Convention Progress Report Admittance free with a hotel room rental, which costs $15-and-up per day.
== Awards ==
=== Alley Awards ===
: Presented July 1969 at the Comic Art Convention
Best Comic Magazine Section
*Best Adventure Title — Fantastic Four  (Marvel Comics)
*Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title - Doctor Strange  (Marvel Comics)
*Best Western Title - Bat Lash  (DC Comics)
*Best War Title - Star Spangled War Stories  (DC Comics)
*Best Humor Title - Archie  (Archie Comics)
*Best Romance Title - Young Love  (DC Comics)
*Best Reprint Title - Marvel Super-Heroes  (Marvel Comics)
Professional Work
*Best Editor - Dick Giordano (DC Comics)
*Best Writer - Roy Thomas
*Best Pencil Artist - Neal Adams
*Best Inking Artist - Tom Palmer
*Best Cover - Captain America #113, by Jim Steranko
*Best Full-Length Story - "...And Who Shall Mourn for Him?," by Stan Lee, John Buscema & Sal Buscema, The Silver Surfer #5  (Marvel Comics)
*Best Feature Story - "At the Stroke of Midnight," by Jim Steranko, Tower of Shadows #1 (Marvel Comics) 
*Hall of Fame - "Deadman", by Neal Adams (DC Comics)
Special Awards
*Carmine Infantino, "who exemplifies the spirit of innovation and inventiveness in the field of comic art".
*Joe Kubert, "for the cinematic storytelling techniques and the exciting and dramatic style he has brought to the field of comic art".
*Neal Adams, "for the new perspective and dynamic vibrance he has brought to the field of comic art".
Popularity Poll
*Best Adventure Hero Strip - The Amazing Spider-Man  (Marvel Comics)
*Best Adventure Group Strip - Fantastic Four  (Marvel Comics)
*Best Supporting Character - Rick Jones (The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, and Captain America)  (Marvel Comics)
*Best Villain - Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four)  (Marvel Comics)
*Strip Most Needing Improvement - Superman  (DC Comics)
Newspaper Strip Section
*Best Adventure or Human Interest Strip - Prince Valiant, by Hal Foster
*Best Humor Strip or Panel - Peanuts, by Charles Schulz
*Hall of Fame - Tarzan, by Burne Hogarth 
Fan Activity Section
*Best Limited Reproduction Fanzine - Newfangles by Don & Maggie Thompson
*Best Unlimited Reproduction Fanzine - The Comic Reader
*Best Fan Artist - John Fantucchio
*Best Comic Strip Writer - Mark Hanerfeld
*Best Fan Project - 1969 New York ComiCon
==First issues by title==
===DC Comics===
Date with Debbi
: Release: Jan./Feb. Editor: Dick Giordano.
The Phantom Stranger
:Release: May-June. Editor: Joe Orlando.
The Witching Hour
:Release: Feb./Mar.: Editor: Joe Orlando.
===Marvel Comics===
Chamber of Darkness
: Release: October. Editor: Stan Lee.
Tower of Shadows
: Release: Sept. Editor: Stan Lee.
===Independent titles===
Alan Ford
: Release: by Max Bunker Press. Writer: Max Bunker. Artist: Magnus.
Archie's TV Laugh-Out
: Release: Dec by Archie Comics.
Everything's Archie
: Release: May by Archie Comics.
Golden Comics Digest
: Release: May by Gold Key Comics.
==Initial appearance by character name==
===DC Comics===
* Abel, in DC Special #4 (July-Sept.)
* Jason Bard, in Detective Comics #392 (Oct.)
* Black Canary (Dinah Lance), in Justice League of America #75 (Nov.) — ret-con
* Mindgrabber Kid, in Justice League of America (vol. 1) #70 (Mar.) 
* Nightmaster, in Showcase #82 (May)
* Superman (Earth-Two), in Justice League of America #73 (Aug.)
* Tala, in Phantom Stranger vol. 2, #4 (Nov.–Dec.)
===Marvel Comics===
* Controller, in Iron Man vol. 1, #12 (Apr.)
* Digger, in Tower of Shadows #1 (Sept.)
* Falcon, in Captain America #117 (Sept.)
* Father Set, in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #9 (Jan.)
* Vanessa Fisk, in The Amazing Spider-Man #70 (Mar.)
* Frankenstein's Monster, Silver Surfer #7 (Aug.) 
* Galaxy Master, in The Incredible Hulk #111 (Jan.)
* Glob, in The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #121 (Nov.)
* Grandmaster, in The Avengers #69 (Oct.)
* Guardians of the Galaxy, by Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (Jan.)
* Havok, in Uncanny X-Men #54 (Mar.)
* Hyperion, in The Avengers #69 (Oct.)
* Larry Trask, in Uncanny X-Men #57 (June)
* Living Monolith, in Uncanny X-Men #54 (Mar.)
* Machinesmith (Starr Saxon), in Daredevil #49 (Feb.)
* Man Mountain Marko, in The Amazing Spider-Man #73 (June)
* Man-Ape, in The Avengers #62 (Mar.)
* Midas, in Iron Man #17 (Sept.)
* Naga, in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #9 (Jan.)
* Nighthawk (Kyle Richmond), in The Avengers #69 (Oct.)
* Prowler, in The Amazing Spider-Man #78 (Nov.)
* Sauron, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #60 (Sept.)
* Savage Land Mutates
** Amphibius, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #62 (Nov.)
** Barbarus, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #62 (Nov.)
** Brainchild, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #62 (Nov.)
** Gaza, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #62 (Nov.)
** Lorelei, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #63 (Dec.)
** Lupo, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #62 (Nov.)
** Piper, in Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #62 (Nov.)
* Silvermane, in The Amazing Spider-Man #73 (June)
* Doctor Spectrum, in The Avengers #69 (Nov.)
* Speed Demon, in The Avengers #70 (Nov.)
* Stingray, in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #19 (Nov.) 
* Super-Patriot, in Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #13 (July)
* Titanium Man, in Tales of Suspense #69 (Sept.)
* Undying Ones, in Doctor Strange vol. 1, #183 (Nov.)
* Viper, in Captain America #110 (Feb.) 
* Whizzer II (James Sanders), in The Avengers #69 (Oct.) 
== References ==
Comics