Notable events of 1948 in comics.
Events and publications
Year Overall Tony Falco by Andrea LavezzoloBono, Gianni and Farina, Antonio (2015). "Albi della Mezzaluna: Tony Falco". Guida al Fumetto Italiano. Retrieved 13 September 2016 .
January : Stanley Link's newspaper comic The Dailys is first published. It will run until 14 September 1957. : Debut of Dudley D. Watkins' Biffo the Bear in The Beano. : Frank Godwin's Rusty Riley makes its debut. : In the Donald Duck story Wintertime Wager Donald's cousin Gladstone Gander makes his debut. Captain America Comics (1941 series) #65 - Timely Comics Frankie and Lana (previously Frankie Comics) issue #13 - Timely Comics Sub-Mariner Comics (1941 series) #24 - Timely Comics The first issue of the Dutch comics magazine Ketelbinkie Krant is published, which is named Kapitein Rob's Vrienden outside Rotterdam. It will run until February 1957.
February All-True Crime Cases (previously Official True Crime Cases) issue #26 (Timely Comics) Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #85 - Timely Comics
March : in L'Humanité, PCF's house organ, the strip Pif le chien, by José Cabrero Arnal, make its debut. Collier's Weekly publishes Fredric Wertham's "Horror in the Nursery" Two-Gun Kid (1948 series) #1 - Timely Comics
Spring Joker Comics (1942 series) #31 - Timely Comics
April : Jacques Laudy's Hassan et Kaddour debuts in Tintin, where it will run until 1962. : The first episode the Mickey Mouse story The Atombrella and the Rhyming Man, by Bill Walsh and Floyd Gottfredson is published, which marks the debut of the Rhyming Man. Captain America Comics (1941 series) #66 - Timely Comics Crime Fighters (1948 series) #1 - Timely Comics Sub-Mariner Comics (1941 series) #25 - Timely Comics
May Blackstone the Magician issue 2 - Timely Comics Comedy Comics vol. 2, issue 1 - Timely Comics Human Torch Comics (1940 series) #30 - Timely Comics
June : U.S. bandleader Fred Waring starts an annual event where professional cartoonists are invited to come to his golf resort in Shwanee Inn. This will result in a huge collection of cartoons and comics: the Fred Waring collection. Crime Exposed (1948 series) #1 - Timely Comics Crime Fighters (1948 series) #2 - Timely Comics Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #86 - Timely Comics Sub-Mariner Comics (1941 series) #26 - Timely Comics Two-Gun Kid (1948 series) #2 - Timely Comics
July : Lev Gleason Publications, EC Comics, Famous Funnies, and Orbit Publications found the Association of Comics Magazine Publishers, to regulate the content of comic books in the face of the publication of Fredric Wertham's "Horror in the Nursery" and "The Psychopathology of Comic Books", and increasing public criticism of the comic book industry. : The final episode of Bunky is published. : The American Journal of Psychotherapy publishes Fredric Wertham's "The Psychopathology of Comic Books", which will lead to a witch hunt against comics. Blackstone the Magician #3 - Timely Comics Captain America Comics (1941 series) #67 - Timely Comics Human Torch Comics (1940 series) #31 - Timely Comics Joker Comics (1942 series) #32 - Timely Comics
August : The first episode of André LeBlanc's Morena Flor is published. The series will run until 1951. : In Al Capp's Li'l Abner the Shmoo makes its debut, which will become an unexpected merchandising phenomenon within a few months. All-Winners Comics vol. 2, issue 1 - Timely Comics Complete Mystery issue 1 - Timely Comics Crime Fighters (1948 series) #3 - Timely Comics Kid Colt, Hero Of The West issue 1 - Timely Comics Krazy Komics vol. 2, issue 1 - Timely Comics Lana (1948 series) #1 - Timely Comics Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #87 - Timely Comics Sub-Mariner Comics (1941 series) #27 - Timely Comics Two-Gun Kid (1948 series) #3 - Timely Comics Venus (1948 series) #1 - Timely Comics Wow Comics, with issue #69, publishes its final issue, changing format and title to Real Western Hero, and continuing the numbering — Fawcett Comics
September : First publication of the Swedish Disney comics magazine Kalle Anka & C:o. : Willy Vandersteen's Suske en Wiske makes its debut in Tintin, but in a graphic style which is more advanced than the version which runs in Flemish newspapers. : Jacques Martin's The Adventures of Alix makes its debut in Tintin : in the Belgian edition of Tintin, first chapter of the second version, completed and revised, of Land of black gold by Hergé. : Il totem misterioso by Gian Luigi Bonelli and Galep (Audace), first adventure of Tex Willer. Blaze Carson issue 1 - Timely Comics Captain America Comics (1941 series) #68 - Timely Comics Human Torch Comics (1940 series) #32 - Timely Comics Joker Comics (1942 series) #33 - Timely Comics
October : Walt Kelly's Pogo, a comic book feature since 1942, makes its debut as a newspaper strip. : The Dutch Ministry of Culture Theo Rutten puts an official government declaration in the newspaper Het Parool to ask teachers to stop distributing dangerous and mind-corrupting comics. Crime Fighters (1948 series) #4 - Timely Comics Lana (1948 series) #2 - Timely Comics Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #88 - Timely Comics Sub-Mariner Comics (1941 series) #28 - Timely Comics Two-Gun Kid (1948 series) #4 - Timely Comics Venus (1948 series) #2 - Timely Comics
November : The first episode of Kreigh Collins' Mitzi McCoy appears in print. The series will run for two years, whereupon it changes title to Kevin the Bold. : James Simpkins' Jasper the Bear makes its debut and will run until 1972. : El diablo, by Gian Luigi Bonelli and Galep; Tex Willer, in his debut stories described as an outlaw, enters in the Texas Rangers and meets for the first time his partner Kit Carson. Captain America Comics (1941 series) #69 - Timely Comics Crime Fighters (1948 series) #5 - Timely Comics Human Torch Comics (1940 series) #33 - Timely Comics Joker Comics (1942 series) #34 - Timely Comics
December Lana (1948 series) #3 - Timely Comics Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #89 - Timely Comics Sub-Mariner Comics (1941 series) #29 - Timely Comics Two-Gun Kid (1948 series) #5 - Timely Comics Venus (1948 series) #3 - Timely Comics
Births March : Picanyol, Spanish comics artist (Ot el bruixot, L'Illa Perduda), (d. 2021).
May : Carlos Romeu Müller, Spanish comics artist (Miguelito), (d. 2021).
Specific date unknown
Cary Bates, American comic book writer (Superman, Legion of Super-Heroes, Captain Atom, The Flash).
Deaths
January : Thomas Theodor Heine, German painter, cartoonist, comics artist and illustrator (worked for the magazine Simplicissimus), dies at age 90.
March : Mary Tourtel, British illustrator and comics artist (Rupert Bear), dies at age 74. : Freddie Langeler, Dutch comics artist (Pietje Pluk en Kootje Kwak, Bobby den Speurder, Barendje Kwik, Bello Blafmeier), dies at age 49. : Wally Wallgren, American comics artist (Inbad the Sailor, Tired Timothy, Helpful Hints, Hoosegow Herman), dies at age 65.
April : Wallace Morgan, American illustrator and comics artist (a comic strip adaptation of the novel Cluny Brown), dies at age 72 or 73.
May : Herbert Morton Stoops, American illustrator and comics artist (continued Have You Seen Alonso?), dies at age 60. : Vincent Krassousky, A.K.A. Vica, Russian-French comics writer and artist (Vica), dies at age 45.
June : Jimmy Frise, Canadian comics artist (Life's Little Comedies, later Birdseye Centre), dies at age 57.
July : George Ernest Studdy, British comics artist (Bonzo the dog), dies at age 70.
August : Feliu Elias, aka Apa, Spanish caricaturist, painter, art critic and comics artist (Las Hazañas del Pitafras), dies at age 59.
September : Ernest Hix, American comic writer (continued Strange as It Seems), dies at age 46.
October : Bert Green, British animator and comics artist (Stella and Gertie, Kids), dies at age 63. : Ippei Okamoto, Japanese manga artist (Kuma o Tazumete, Tanpô Gashu, Kanraku, Match no Bou, Monomiyusan), dies at age 62.
November : Carl Thomas Anderson, American comics artist (Henry), dies at age 83.
December : Fukujiro Yokoi, Japanese comics artist (Putchar in Wonderland), dies at age 36 from TB.
Specific date unknown Jack Farr, American comics artist (Little Willie, Mr. Jolt, Chubby, If They Came Back And Did It Over Again Today, Bringing Up Bill, Bradley, Vitamin Vic, Donny the Dreamer, Gadget Man, Iron Munro, Romeo the Robot, Three-Ring Binks), dies at age 48 or 49. Christian Haugen, Norwegian novelist and comics writer, whose stories were adapted into comics by Arent Christensen, dies at age 53 or 54. Joan García Junceda, Spanish illustrator and comics artist (Les Extraordinàries Aventures d'en Massagran), dies at age 66 or 67.
First issues by title
DC Comics Leave It to Binky (February/March) Mr. District Attorney (January/February) Western Comics (January/February)
Dell Comics The Lone Ranger (January/February) Tarzan (January/February)
Marvel Comics (Timely, Atlas) All-Winners Comics (vol. 2) cover-dated August (Timely) Annie Oakley cover-dated Spring Blaze Carson cover-dated September Comedy Comics cover-dated May Complete Mystery cover-dated August Crime Exposed cover-dated June Crimefighters cover-dated April Kid Colt, Hero Of The West cover-dated August Krazy Komics cover-dated August Lana Lawbreakers Always Lose! Mitzi Comics My Romance Namora cover-dated August Sun Girl cover-dated August (Timely) Tex Morgan Tex Taylor cover-dated September (Atlas) Two-Gun Kid March (Atlas) Venus cover-dated August Wacky Duck Wild West cover-dated Spring (Atlas) Witness
Other publishers Adventures into the Unknown (B&I Publishing, Fall) The Adventures of Alix The Adventures of Dick Cole (Novelty Press) Funnyman (Magazine Enterprise) Kalle Anka & C:o (Egmont) Pantera Bionda (Giurma, April 24) Spirou et Fantasio (Dupuis) Spirou et l'aventure (Dupuis) Sweethearts (Fawcett, October) Tex Willer (Sergio Bonelli Editore, 30 September) Zago, Jungle Prince (Fox Feature Syndicate, September)
Comic strips Pogo (Post-Hall Syndicate, October 4) Rusty Riley (King Features, January 26) Pif le chien (L'Humanité on March 28, 1948)
Renamed titles All True Crime Cases issue #26 renamed from Official True Crime Cases as of the February cover date. (Marvel Comics) All-Western Winners issue #2 renamed from All Winners Comics (vol. 2) as of the Winter cover date. (Timely Comics) Blackstone the Magician #2 (cover-dated May) renamed from Blackstone the Magician Detective Fights Crime (EC Comics) Frankie and Lana issue #13 renamed from Frankie Comics as of the January cover date. (Marvel Comics) Mitzi's Boyfriend issue #2 renamed from Mitzi Comics (Marvel Comics) Wild Western issue #3 renamed from Wild West as of the September cover date (Atlas Comics)
Initial appearances by character name Cowboy Marshall in Western Comics #1 (January), created by Don Cameron - DC Comics Evil Star in All Star Comics #44 (December), created by John Broome and Irwin Hasen - DC Comics Fiddler (comics) in All-Flash #32 (January), created by Robert Kanigher and Lee Elias - DC Comics Jor-El in Superman #53 (August), created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster - DC Comics Larry Lance in Flash Comics #92 (February), created by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino - DC Comics Mad Hatter, in Batman #49 (October), created by Bill Finger and Lew Sayre Schwartz - DC Comics Merry Pemberton in Star-Spangled Comics #81 (June), created by Otto Binder and Win Mortimer - DC Comics Nighthawk (DC Comics) in Western Comics #5 (September), created by Robert Kanigher and Charles Paris - DC Comics Riddler in Detective Comics #140 (October), created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang - DC Comics Rodeo Rick in Western Comics #5 (September), created by Robert Kanigher and Charles Paris - DC Comics Serafino by Egidio Gherlizza in Gaie Fantasie (Edizioni Alpe) Star Sapphire (comics) in All-Flash Comics #32 (December), created by Robert Kanigher and Lee Elias - DC Comics