1966 in comics

1966

1965 in comics

1967 in comics

Notable events of 1966 in comics. See also List of years in comics.

Events and publications

Year overall

• The Print Mint begins their underground printing and distribution business
• Myron Fass founds Eerie Publications and M. F. Enterprises

January

• Adventure Comics (1938 series) #340 - DC Comics - The first appearance of Computo by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Curt Swan.
• Hawkman (1964 series) #11 - DC Comics - The first appearance of the Shrike by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson
• House of Mystery (1951 series) #156 - DC Comics - First Dial H for Hero by writer Dave Wood and artist Jim Mooney
• Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt (1966 series) #1 - Charlton Comics - The first appearance of Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt by creator Pete Morisi

February

• Vibranium makes its first Marvel Universe appearance, in Daredevil #13
• Adventure Comics (1938 series) #341 - DC Comics - Triplicate Girl becomes Duo Damsel when Computo destroys one of her duplicates.
• Journey into Mystery (1952 series) #125 - Marvel Comics - Final issue of the series. Becomes Thor with next issue
• Justice League of America (1960 series) #42 - DC Comics - Metamorpho refuses membership in the Justice League
• Showcase (1956 series) #60 - DC Comics - The first Silver-Age appearance of the Spectre by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson
• Fightin' Air Force, with issue #53, is canceled by Charlton.

March

• Adventure Comics (1938 series) #342 - DC Comics - Star Boy is expelled from the Legion.
• Challengers of the Unknown (1958 series) #48 - DC Comics - Doom Patrol cross-over
• Doom Patrol (1964 series) #102 - DC Comics - Challengers of the Unknown cross-over
• Fantastic Four (1961 series) #48 - Marvel Comics - First appearance of the Silver Surfer and Galactus by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby
• Green Lantern (1960 series) #43 - DC Comics - First appearance of Major Disaster by writer Gardner Fox and artist Gil Kane
• Justice League of America (1960 series) #43 - DC Comics - First appearance of the Royal Flush Gang by writer Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky
• Tales of Suspense (1959 series) #75 - Marvel Comics - 1st appearance of Sharon Carter and Batroc the Leaper by writer Stan Lee and artists Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers
• Thor (1952 series) #126 - Marvel Comics - Title becomes Thor. Previously Journey into Mystery

May

• The Ultimate Nullifier makes its Marvel Universe debut, in Fantastic Four #50
• Ghostly Tales debuts with issue #55, taking over the numbering of Unusual Tales. (Charlton)
• Judomaster debuts with issue #89, taking over the numbering of Gunmaster. (Charlton)
• Fightin' Navy, with issue #125, ceases publication (it is briefly revived in 1983). (Charlton)
• Daredevil #16 (Marvel Comics): "Enter Spider-Man," drawn by John Romita

June

• Fantastic Four #51, "This Man... This Monster!" by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (Marvel Comics)

July

• The Cosmic Cube makes its first Marvel Universe appearance, in Tales of Suspense #79
• Adventure Comics #346 — Jim Shooter makies his debut as a comics writer with the "Legion of Super-Heroes" story, "One of Us Is a Traitor," in this issue.^[1]
• Marvel Tales #3 (renamed from Marvel Tales Annual), becomes an ongoing title (Marvel Comics)
• Fantastic Four #52 introduces Black Panther (Marvel Comics)

August

• *Adventure Comics #347 — conclusion of the "Legion of Super-Heroes" story arc, "One of Us Is a Traitor"
• The Amazing Spider-Man #39 (Marvel Comics): "How Green Was My Goblin"

September

• The Amazing Spider-Man #40 (Marvel Comics): "Spidey Saves The Day"
• Thor Annual #2 renamed from Journey into Mystery Annual (Marvel Comics)
• With issue #110, DC Comics suspends publication of Mystery in Space (1951 series); the title is temporarily revived in 1980.

November

• The Flash #165: Barry Allen marries Iris West (DC Comics).^[2]

Deaths

January

• January 20: Pieter Kuhn, creator of Kapitein Rob, dies at age 55.

April

• April 28: Tarzan artist Jesse Marsh passes away at age 58.^[3]

Conventions

• July 23–24: New York Comicon (Park Sheraton Hotel, New York City) — produced by John Benson^[4] — guests include Jack Kirby, Jim Steranko, Otto Binder, Len Brown, Larry Ivie, Jack Binder, Roy Thomas, Gil Kane, Archie Goodwin, bhob Stewart, Klaus Nordling, Sal Trapani, Rocke Mastroserio and Ted White; keynote speech by Kirby, a discussion about censorship between Don Thompson and Comics Code Authority acting administrator Leonard Darvin, a panel about the Golden Age of Comics, and one on the "so-called 'Forgotten ’50s,' particularly EC Comics. Bhob Stewart, on a panel with Archie Goodwin and Ted White, predicts that there will soon be "underground comics" just as there are already "underground films."^[5]
• July 23–24: Southwestern Con (Hotel Southland, Dallas, Texas) — c. 70 attendees; organized by Larry Herndon; official guest is Academy of Comic-Book Fans and Collectors executive secretary/"Academy Con" promoter Dave Kaler^[6]
• August 12–14: Academy Con II (City Squire Inn, New York City)^[4] — produced by Dave Kaler; official guests include Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Bill Everett, Carmine Infantino, Julius Schwartz, and Bill Finger^[4][7]
• Fall: Salone Internazionale del Comics (Lucca, Italy) — 2nd annual show moves to a small piazza in the center of Lucca

First issues by title

Harvey Comics

Bunny

Release: December.

Double-Dare Adventures

Release: December. Writer: Otto Binder. Artist: Bill Draut

Spyman

Release: September. Artists: George Tuska, Jim Steranko, Dick Ayers

Other publishers

Fantasy Masterpieces — Marvel Comics

Release: February. Editor: Stan Lee

Gesebel — Editoriale Corno

Release: February. Writer: Max Bunker. Artist: Magnus

Henry Brewster — M. F. Enterprises

Release: February. Writer: Bob Powell. Artist: Bob Powell

Lady Penelope — City Magazines

Release: 22 January.

Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt — Charlton Comics

Release: January. Writer: Pete Morisi. Artist: Pete Morisi

Smash! — International Publishing Corporation

Release: February 1966. Editor: Albert Cosser ("Cos")

Teen Titans — DC Comics

Release: January. Writer: Bob Haney. Artist: Nick Cardy

Undersea Agent — Tower Comics

Release: January. Artist: Ray Bailey

Weird (listed as vol. 1, #10) — Eerie Publications

Release: January. Editor: Roger Elwood

Zorro — Gold Key Comics

Release: January. Artist: Alex Toth

Initial appearances by character name

Charlton Comics

• Blue Beetle (Ted Kord), in Captain Atom vol. 2, #83 (Nov.)
• Doctor M.T. Graves, in Ghostly Tales #55 (May)
• Doctor Spectro, in Captain Atom vol. 2, #79 (Feb./Mar.)
• Nightshade, in Captain Atom vol. 2, #82 (Sept.)
• Peacemaker, in Fightin' 5 #40 (Nov.)
• Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt, in Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt #1 (Jan.)
• Tiger, in Judomaster #91 (Oct.)

DC Comics

• The Ant, in Teen Titans #5 (Sept.)
• R. J. Brande, in Adventure Comics #350 (Nov.)
• Cluemaster, in Detective Comics #351 (May)
• Computo, in Adventure Comics #340 (Jan.)
• Dial H for Hero, in House of Mystery #156 (Jan.)
• Ding Dong Daddy, in Teen Titans #3 (Jan.)
• Duo Damsel, in Adventure Comics #341 (Feb.)
• Enchantress, in Strange Adventures #187 (Apr.)
• Ferro Lad, in Adventure Comics #346 (July)
• G.I. Robot (Mac), Star Spangled War Stories #125 (Feb.–Mar.)
• Karate Kid, in Adventure Comics #346 (July)
• Khund, in Adventure Comics #346 (July)
• Nemesis Kid, in Adventure Comics #346 (July)
• Ocean Master, in Aquaman #29 (Sept.)
• Chief O'Hara, in World's Finest Comics #159 (August)
• Outsider, in Detective Comics #356 (Oct.)
• Parasite, in Action Comics #340 (August)^[8]
• Poison Ivy, in Batman #181 (June)^[9]
• Prince Evillo, in Adventure Comics #350 (Nov.)
• Princess Projectra, in Adventure Comics #346 (July)
• Royal Flush Gang, in Justice League of America #43 (Mar.)
• Shaggy Man, in Justice League of America #45 (June)
• Shrike, in Hawkman #11 (Jan.)
• Spellbinder (Delbert Billings), in Detective Comics #358 (Dec.)
• Stanley and His Monster, in The Fox and the Crow #95 (Jan.)
• Universo, in Adventure Comics #349 (Oct.)
• Unknown Soldier, in Our Army at War #168 (June)
• Rond Vidar, in Adventure Comics #349 (Oct.)
• White Witch, in Adventure Comics #350 (Nov,)

Harvey Comics

• Bee-Man, in Double-Dare Adventures #1 (Dec.)
• Bunny, in Bunny #1 (Dec.)
• Jigsaw, in Jigsaw (Sept.)
• Spyman, in Spyman #1 (Sept.)

Marvel Comics

• Ares, in Thor #129 (June)
• Batroc the Leaper, in Tales of Suspense #75 (Mar.)
• Black Panther, in Fantastic Four #52 (July)
• Boomerang, in Tales to Astonish #81 (July)
• Peggy Carter, in Tales of Suspense #77 (May)
• Sharon Carter, in Tales of Suspense #75 (Mar.)
• Collector, in Avengers #28 (May)
• Dionysus, in Thor #129 (June)
• Dredmund the Druid, in Strange Tales vol. 1 #144 (May)
• Ego the Living Planet, in Thor #132 (Sept.)
• Elders of the Universe, in Avengers #28 (May)
• Fafnir, in Thor #134 (Nov.)
• Fixer (comics), in Strange Tales #141 (Feb.)
• Bill Foster, in Avengers #32 (Sept.)
• Freak, in Tales of Suspense #74 (Feb.)
• Galactus, in Fantastic Four #48 (Mar.)
• Hera, in Thor #129 (June)
• High Evolutionary, in Thor #134 (Nov.)
• Gladiator, in Daredevil #18 (July)
• Hippolyta, in Thor #127 (Apr.)
• Kaluu, in Strange Tales #147 (Aug.)
• Klaw, in Fantastic Four #53 (Aug.)
• Living Laser, in Avengers #34 (Nov.)
• Looter, in The Amazing Spider-Man #36 (May)
• Man-Beast, in Thor #135 (Dec.)
• Masked Marauder, in Daredevil #16 (May)
• Maximus, in Fantastic Four #47 (Feb.)
• Mentallo, in Strange Tales #141 (Feb.)
• Mimic, in Uncanny X-Men #19 (Apr.)
• New Men, in Thor #135 (Dec.)
• Plunderer, in Daredevil #13 (Feb.)
• Pluto, in Thor #127 (Apr.)
• Punisher, in Fantastic Four #49 (Apr.)
• Prester John, in Fantastic Four #54 (Sept.)
• Quasimodo, in Fantastic Four Annual #4 (Nov.)
• Rhino, in The Amazing Spider-Man #41 (Oct.)
• Silver Surfer, in Fantastic Four #48 (Mar.)
• Jasper Sitwell, in Strange Tales #144 (May)
• Mendel Stromm, in The Amazing Spider-Man #37 (June)
• Ultimo, in Tales of Suspense #76 (Apr.)
• Umar, in Strange Tales #150 (Nov.)
• Valkyrior, in Thor #133 (Oct.)
• Mary Jane Watson, in The Amazing Spider-Man #42 (Nov.)
• Wyatt Wingfoot, in Fantastic Four #50 (May)

Other publishers

• Jodelle, in Hara-Kiri (Éditions du Square)
• Lone Sloane, in Mystère des Abîmes
• Pepe Gotera y Otilio, in Tío Vivo (April 2)
• Peppermint Patty, in Peanuts (August 22)
• Sally the Witch, in Ribon
• Smurfette, in Spirou (Dupuis)

References

1. McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 118: "In his first-ever published story, fourteen-year-old Jim Shooter admitted four new members into the Legion of Super-Heroes ... Shooter's long, memorable tenure as one of the Legion's greatest writers was officially underway."
2. McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 119: "Barry Allen and iris West's wedding day...was {DC's} most anticipated...Writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino were the team behind the nuptials in the story 'One Bridegroom Too Many!'"
3. Jesse Marsh at INDUCKS
4. Schelly, Bill. "The Kaler Con: Two Views: Bigger And Better Than The Benson Con Just Three Weeks Before?? (Part VIII of '1966: The Year Of (Nearly) Three New York Comics Conventions')," Alter-Ego #64 (Jan. 2007).
5. Schelly, Bill. "1966: The Year Of THREE (Or Maybe 21/2) New York Comicons!: Part 2: The 1966 New York 'Benson' Con," Alter-Ego #54 (Nov. 2005).
6. Schelly, Bill. Founders of Comic Fandom: Profiles of 90 Publishers, Dealers, Collectors, Writers, Artists and Other Luminaries of the 1950s And 1960s (McFarland, 2010), p. 60.
7. Schelly, Bill. "Introduction," Founders of Comic Fandom: Profiles of 90 Publishers, Dealers, Collectors, Writers, Artists and Other Luminaries of the 1950s and 1960s (McFarland, 2010), p. 8
8. McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 118: "With a story written by Jim Shooter and drawn by Al Plastino, the Parasite entered Superman's life."
9. McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 118: "Poison Ivy first cropped up to plague Gotham City in issue #181 of Batman. Scripter Robert Kanigher and artist Sheldon Moldoff came up with a villain who would blossom into one of Batman's greatest foes"