Notable events of 1971 in comics. Events
January January 6: The first episode of Kees Stip and Nico Visscher's newspaper gag-a-day comic In de Wolken is published. It will run until 1979. January 10: The castle of Nederhorst den Berg in the Netherlands burns down, also destroying Marten Toonder's comic studio. January 12: In Pif Gadget, the Corto Maltese story La Conga des Bananes by Hugo Pratt kicks off. The story belongs to a cycle of Corto Maltese's adventures set in Central America and South America (Beyond the windy isles). This story marks the debut of the dark lady Venexiana Stevenson, a recurring antagonist of the captain. January 28: The Comics Code becomes less strict and will soften its rules a few more times during the year. Initially "liberalized" on January 28, 1971, to allow for (among other things) the sometimes "sympathetic depiction of criminal behavior . . . [and] corruption among public officials" ("as long as it is portrayed as exceptional and the culprit is punished")Thompson, Don & Maggie, "Crack in the Code" in Newfangles #44 (February 1971). as well as permitting some criminal activities to kill law-enforcement officers and the "suggestion but not portrayal of seduction." Also newly allowed were "vampires, ghouls and werewolves . . . when handled in the classic tradition such as Frankenstein, Dracula, and other high calibre literary works written by Edgar Allan Poe, Saki, Conan Doyle and other respected authors whose works are read in schools around the world." Zombies, lacking the requisite "literary" background, remain taboo. January 30: Al Capp and Raeburn Van Buren's Abbie an' Slats comes to a close after nearly 34 years of syndication. Blackmark published by Bantam Books. Conceived and drawn by Gil Kane, and scripted by Archie Goodwin from an outline by Kane, it is one of the first American graphic novels. "The Sandman Saga" Superman story-arc, written by Denny O'Neil and drawn by Curt Swan, begins in Superman #233 (running almost continuously through the September issue, #242). Among other things, the story arc eliminates all Kryptonite on Earth,McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 144 "New editor Julius Schwartz, new scripter Denny O'Neil, and regular artist Curt Swan removed the Man of Steel's greatest weakness from the face of the Earth." makes Clark Kent less wimpy, and essentially reinvents Superman for the Bronze Age. Bad Day for Troop A by Carl Barks. Empire of a Thousand Planets (album) by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières.
February Alan Light publishes the first issue of The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom. World's Finest Comics #200: "Prisoners of the Immortal World!" by Mike Friedrich, Dick Dillin, and Joe Giella. (DC Comics) New Gods #1 (February /March ) (DC Comics) by Jack Kirby First appearances of Highfather, Kalibak, Lightray, and Orion Chamber of Darkness, with issue #9, changes its name to Monsters on the Prowl. (Marvel Comics)
Spring Classics Illustrated, published under that title since March 1947 (and before that as Classic Comics since 1941), canceled by Gilberton after 288 issues.
March March 2: The first episode of Bill Tidy's The Fosdyke Saga appears in print. The series will continue until 1985. March 4: The first episode of the Astérix story The Mansions of the Gods, by Goscinny and Uderzo, is prepublished in Pilote. March 11: The final episode of Andries Brandt's Horre, Harm en Hella is published. March 14: In the story La resa dei conti (The showdown), by Claudio Nizzi and Carlo Boscarato, Larry Yuma gets his definitive name (in the two previous episodes, the character was called Dave). March 20: Andries Brandt and Jan Van Haasteren's Aafje Anders makes its debut. After a few stories Robert Hamilton and Richard Klokkers take over the artwork. The series will run until 17 April 1973. The Avengers #85 (Marvel Comics) First appearance of the Squadron Supreme, as well as members Blue Eagle, Doctor Spectrum, Golden Archer, Hyperion, Lady Lark, Nighthawk, Tom Thumb, and Whizzer. Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., with issue #18, canceled by Marvel. Tower of Shadows, with issue #10, changes its name to Creatures on the Loose. (Marvel Comics) Ka-Zar, with issue #3, is canceled by Marvel. Bill Griffith's Zippy the Pinhead makes it debut. Il figlio di Mefisto by Gianluigi Bonelli and Galep. The evil wizard Mefisto, dies, torn apart by rats, but in the same story his son Yama takes his place as Tex Willer’s nemesis.
April April 1: in Pilote, first chapter of Ma Dalton, by Goscinny and Uderzo. April: The final issue of the long-running French satirical cartoons and comics magazine Le Rire is published. Mister Miracle #1 (DC Comics) First appearance of Mister Miracle Aquaman (1962 series), with issue #56, is canceled by DC Comics.
May May 8: Al Capp is charged with sexual harassment, sodomy, attempted adultery and indecent exposure. The trial on 12 February 1972 will eventually only fine him for attempted adultery in a plea bargain, but damages his public image and the popularity of Li'l Abner beyond repair. May 10: The final episode of John M. Burns' The Seekers is published. May 11: in Le journal de Tintin, first chapter of Rush by Jean Graton. Action Comics #400: "My Son... Is He Man or Beast?", by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson. The "Green Goblin Reborn!" story-arc begins in The Amazing Spider-Man #96 (continuing through issue #98). Written by Stan Lee, and drawn by Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr., it is recognized as the first mainstream comic publication which portrayed and condemned drug abuse, and was published without the seal of approval of the Comics Code Authority. Detective Comics #411 (DC Comics) First appearance of Talia al GhulMcAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 145 "Before Batman first encountered one of his greatest adversaries, Ra's al Ghul, he met his daughter, the lovely but lethal Talia [in a story by] writer Denny O'Neil and artist Bob Brown." Forever People #2 (DC Comics) First appearance of DeSaad Mister Miracle #2 (DC Comics) First appearance of Granny Goodness With the publication of Savage Tales #1, Marvel creates its black-and-white magazine line, which published material that doesn't carry the seal of the Comics Code Authority. First appearance of Man-Thing
June June 10: In Pilote, the first chapter of the Blueberry story L'Homme qui valait 500 000 $ is published by Jean-Michel Charlier and Jean Giraud. June 12: The first issue of the British comics magazine Knockout is published. June 12: Norman Mansbridge's Fuss Pot makes its debut in Knockout. June 17: In San Diego, California, Peanuts Day is declared. June 26: The final episode of Marten Toonder's Koning Hollewijn is published. Batman #232 (DC Comics) First appearance of Ra's al GhulMcAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 145: "Writer Denny O'Neil once stated that he and artist Neal Adams 'set out to consciously and deliberately to create a villain...so exotic and mysterious that neither we nor Batman were sure what to expect.' Who they came up with was arguably Batman's most cunning adversary: the global eco-terrorist named Ra's al Ghul." The "Kree-Skrull War" story arc, written by Roy Thomas, begins in The Avengers #89 (running through issue #97, March 1972). Captain America and the Falcon #138: "It Happens in Harlem," drawn by John Romita, Sr. Tarzan #200: "The Secret Vaults of Opar," by Gaylord DuBois, Paul Norris, and Mike Royer. (Gold Key) Hollywood Romances, with issue #59, cancelled by Charlton. The first issue of the Italian humor series Abelarda, le avventure di una nonna terribile (The adventures of a terrible grandma), is published by Bianconi.
July 10-16 July: The first episode of Peter de Smet's De Generaal is published. It will run until 1997. 20 July: In Charles M. Schulz' Peanuts Marcie makes her debut. July 25: in Il Giornalino, debut of the Science-fiction series Gli Astrostoppisti (The star hitchhikers) by Alfredo Castelli and Nevio Zeccara. The final episode of Vic Forsythe's long-running newspaper comic Joe Jinks appears in print. House of Secrets #92 (DC Comics) First appearance of Swamp ThingMcAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 146: "'Swamp Thing' was the name of Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson's start of the 20th century tale, and its popularity with readers led a modernized version of the character into his own series a year later." The woman appearing on the cover of this issue was modeled after future comics writer Louise Simonson. The Incredible Hulk #141 (Marvel Comics) First appearance of Doc Samson Timmy the Timid Ghost (vol. 2), with issue #23, canceled by Charlton.
August August 3: in Le journal de Tintin, first chapter of Le Monstre de Noireville, by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet. August 5: In the obscenity case against the British underground magazine Oz and their issue Schoolkids Oz the publishers are convicted. Particularly a pornographic parody of the children's comic Rupert Bear made by a 16-year old pupil named Vivian Berger drew a lot of controversy. However, within a few months the sentences are overturned. August 22: Henry Formhals quits drawing Freckles and His Friends, bringing the newspaper comic to a close after nearly 55 years of syndication. DC Comics raises the price of its typical comic book from 15 cents to 25 cents, and the page-count from 36 to 52 by adding reprints and new backup features.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 144: "Although decreasing sales and inflation dictated a hefty cover price increase from 15 to 25 cents, [DC Comics Publisher Carmine] Infantino saw to it that extra pages containing classic reprints and new back-up features were added to DC titles."Levitz, p. 451: "Marvel took advantage of this moment to surpass DC in title production for the first time since 1957, and in sales for the first time ever." The "Snowbirds Don't Fly" story-arc, written by Denny O'Neil and drawn by Neal Adams, begins in Green Lantern #85 (August/September cover date) (concluding in issue #86).McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 146 "It was taboo to depict drugs in comics, even in ways that openly condemned their use. However, writer Denny O'Neil and artist Neal Adams collaborated on an unforgettable two-part arc that brought the issue directly into Green Arrow's home, and demonstrated the power comics had to affect change and perception." (DC Comics)
September September 9: In Spirou, the first chapter of the Spirou et Fantasio story L'abbaye truquée by Jean-Claude Fournier appears in print. September 18: Vic Neill first publishes The McTickles in The Beano. September 23: In Spirou, Jean-Marie Brouyère and Malik's series Archie Cash makes its debut. In Pif Gadget, the Corto Maltese story L'ange à la fenetre d'orient, by Hugo Pratt is first published. Set in Venice, it begins a new arc of Corto Maltese's adventures, with the First World War as background (Celtic Tales). September 25: The final issue of the British comics magazine TV Century 21 is published. September 30: The first episode of Asterix and the Laurel Wreath, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, is prepublished in Pilote. The first episode of Henk Groeneveld's gag comic Opa is published. The Amazing Spider-Man #100: "The Spider or the Man?", by Stan Lee, Gil Kane, and Frank Giacoia. "The Six Arms Saga" story-arc begins (running through issue #102). With issue #20, Ghost Manor vol. 1 changes its title to Ghostly Haunts.
October October 5: In Tintin, the first chapters of Edgar P. Jacobs Mortimer in Tokyo and of the Bruno Brazil story La Nuit des Chacals (The Jackals’ Night) by Greg and William Vance are prepublished. October 22: In Copenhagen the comics store Fantask opens its doors, which will become the oldest Danish comics store in the world. October 22: first issue of the Italian magazine Menelik (Tattilo editore) dedicated to quality erotic comics.