1974 in comics

This is a list of comics-related events in 1974.
==Events and publications==
===Year overall===
* 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.
* Marvel Fireside Books debuts with Origins of Marvel Comics (Fireside Books/Simon & Schuster).
===January===
* The Demon, with issue #16, is cancelled by DC.
* Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze, with issue #8, is cancelled by Marvel.
===February===
* Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #200: " The Legionnaire Bride of Starfinger" by Cary Bates and Dave Cockrum.
* With issue #18 (Feb./March cover date), DC Comics' Mister Miracle (1971 series) goes on hiatus.
* Hero for Hire, with issue #17, changes its name to Power Man.
* Special Marvel Edition, with issue #16, is cancelled by Marvel; its numbering continues with Master of Kung Fu (April).
===March===
* Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion, with issue #15, cancelled by DC.
* Prez, with issue #4, cancelled by DC.
===April===
* With issue #164 (Apr./May cover date), Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (1954 series) changes its name and format to The Superman Family.
* Master of Kung Fu debuts with issue #17, continuing the numbering of Special Marvel Edition.
* With issue #6, Chilling Adventures in Sorcery changes its name to Red Circle Sorcery. (Red Circle Comics)
===May===
* Marvel Comics raises the price of its typical comic book from 20 cents to 25 cents, keeping the page-count at 36.
===June===
* Seaboard Periodicals formed by former Marvel Comics publisher Martin Goodman to publish comics under the Atlas Comics banner.
===July===
* Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, with issue #120, is cancelled by Marvel.
===August===
* Roy Thomas steps down as Marvel Comics' editor-in-chief, succeeded by Len Wein (color titles) and Marv Wolfman (black-and-white titles).
* Giant-Size Super-Stars, with issue #2, changes its name to Giant-Size Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics).
* Worlds Unknown, with issue #8, is cancelled by Marvel.
===September===
* Sub-Mariner, with issue #72, is cancelled by Marvel.
* Giant-Size Chillers, with issue #2, changes its name to Giant-Size Dracula (Marvel Comics).
* Supergirl, with issue #10 (Sept./Oct. cover date), is cancelled by DC.
* Spider-Man: The Manga, with issue #30, is cancelled by Monthly Shōnen Magazine.
===October===
* Weird Worlds, with issue #10 (Oct./Nov. cover date), is cancelled by DC.
* Giant-Size Creatures, with issue #2, changes its name to Giant-Size Werewolf (Marvel Comics).
* Monsters on the Prowl, with issue #30, is cancelled by Marvel.
==Deaths==
===January===
* January 18: Bill Finger dies at age 59.
===May===
* Gene Bilbrew dies at age 50.
===October===
* October 13: Otto Binder dies at age 63.
===December===
* December 24: Everett M. "Busy" Arnold dies at age 75.
==Conventions==
* January: First annual Angoulême International Comics Festival (France)
* July 4–8: Comic Art Convention, Hotel Commodore, New York City
* July 31–August 5: San Diego Comic-Con, El Cortez Hotel, San Diego, California — Official guests: Majel Barrett, Milton Caniff, Frank Capra, Chuck Jones, Walter Koenig, Russ Manning, Russell Myers, Charles M. Schulz, Larry "Seymour" Vincent
==Awards==
====Shazam Awards====
Presented in 1975 for comics published in 1974:
* Best Continuing Feature: Conan the Barbarian (Marvel Comics)
* Best Individual Story: "Götterdämmerung", in Detective Comics #443 (DC)
* Best Individual Short Story (Dramatic): "Cathedral Perilous" (Manhunter) by Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson, Detective Comics #441 (DC)
* Best Writer (Dramatic Division): Archie Goodwin
* Best Penciller (Dramatic Division): John Buscema
* Best Inker (Dramatic Division): Dick Giordano
* Best Humor Story: "Kaspar the Dead Baby" Crazy #8 (Marvel)
* Best Writer (Humor Division): Steve Skeates
* Best Penciller (Humor Division): Marie Severin
* Best Inker (Humor Division): Ralph Reese
* Best Letterer: John Costanza
* Best Colorist: Tatjana Wood
* Outstanding New Talent: Craig Russell
* Superior Achievement by an Individual: Roy Thomas
* Hall of Fame: Jack Kirby
==First issues by title==
===DC Comics===
OMAC
: Release: Sept./Oct. Writer/Artist: Jack Kirby.
Rima, the Jungle Girl
: Release: Apr./May. Editor: Joe Kubert.
The Sandman
: Release: Winter. Writer: Joe Simon. Artists: Jack Kirby and Mike Royer.
===Marvel Comics===
Comix Book
: Release: Oct. by Magazine Management Co.. Editor: Denis Kitchen.
Deadly Hands of Kung Fu
: Release: April by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Doctor Strange
: Release: June. Writer: Steve Englehart (co-plot; script), Frank Brunner (co-plot). Artists: Frank Brunner and Dick Giordano.
Giant-Size Avengers
: Release: August. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Giant-Size Chillers
: Release: June. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Giant-Size Conan
: Release: September. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Giant-Size Creatures
: Release: July. Writer: Tony Isabella. Artists: Don Perlin and Vince Colletta.
Giant-Size Defenders
: Release: July. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Giant-Size Man-Thing
: Release: August. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu
: Release: September. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Giant-Size Spider-Man
: Release: July. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Giant-Size Super-Stars
: Release: May. Writer: Gerry Conway. Artists: Rich Buckler and Joe Sinnott.
Haunt of Horror
: Release: May by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.
Ka-Zar vol. 2
: Release: January Writer: Mike Friedrich. Artists: Paul Reinman and Mike Royer.
Man-Thing
: Release: January. Writer: Steve Gerber. Artists: Val Mayerik and Sal Trapani.
Marvel Two-in-One
: Release: January. Writer: Steve Gerber. Artists: Gil Kane and Joe Sinnott.
Planet of the Apes
: Release: August by Curtis Magazines. Writers: Gerry Conway and Doug Moench. Artist: Mike Ploog.
Savage Sword of Conan
: Release: August by Curtis Magazines. Editor: Roy Thomas.
===Independent titles and manga===
Hana to Yume
: Release: May by Hakusensha.
Jinty
: Release: November 5 by Fleetway.
Métal Hurlant
: Release: December by Les Humanoïdes Associés.
Princess
: Release: by Akita Shoten
Star*Reach
: Release: April by Star*Reach. Editor: Mike Friedrich.
Warlord
: Release: September 28 by D.C. Thomson.
==Initial appearance by character name==
===DC Comics===
* Anthony Lupus, in Batman #255 (April)
* Harvey Bullock, in Detective Comics #441 (June)
* Global Peace Agency, in OMAC #1 (October)
* Inspector William Henderson, in Action Comics #440 (October)
* Libra, in Justice League of America #111 (June)
* OMAC, in OMAC #1 (October)
* Quentin Turnbull, in Weird Western Tales #22 (March/April)
* Rima, in Rima the Jungle Girl #1 (Apr./May)
* Sandman (Garrett Sanford), in Sandman #1 (Winter)
===Marvel Comics===
* Allatou, in Marvel Spotlight #18 (October)
* Alpha the Ultimate Mutant, in Defenders #15 (September)
* Aries (Grover Raymond), in The Avengers #120 (February)
* Baron Macabre, in Jungle Action #9 (May)
* Abe Brown, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1 (April)
* Deathlok (Luther Manning), in Astonishing Tales #25 (August)
* Bob Diamond, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1 (April)
* Doctor Sun, in Tomb of Dracula #16 (January)
* Dragon Lord (Nu-An), in Marvel Premiere #15 (May)
* Foolkiller, in Man-Thing #3 (March)
* Gabriel the Devil Hunter, in Haunt of Horror #2 (July)
* Grizzly (Maxwell Markham), in The Amazing Spider-Man #139 (December)
* Hammer and Anvil, in The Incredible Hulk #182 (December)
* Iron Fist, in Marvel Premiere #15 (May)
* Hannibal King, in The Tomb of Dracula #25 (October)
* Lilith, in Giant-Size Chillers featuring Curse of Dracula #1 (June)
* Malice, in Jungle Action vol. 2, #8 (January)
* Nefarius, in Captain America #169 (January)
* Nitro, in Captain Marvel #34 (September)
* Punisher, in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (February)
* Roxxon Energy Corporation, in Captain America #180 (December)
* Silver Samurai, in Daredevil #111 (July)
* Lin Sun, in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #1 (April)
* Colleen Wing, in Marvel Premiere #19 (November)
* Wolverine, in The Incredible Hulk #180 (October)
* Wrecking Crew, in Defenders #17 (November)
** Bulldozer
** Piledriver
** Thunderball
* Y'Garon, in Giant-Size Dracula #2 (Sept.)
===Independent titles===
* Tara Fremont, in Tara on the Dark Continent (Paragon Publications)
Category:1974