1948 in comics

Events and publications

European

• Spirou et l'aventure by Jijé, Dupuis
• Spirou et Fantasio by André Franquin, Dupuis

U.S.

January

• 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

February

• All-True Crime Cases (previously Official True Crime Cases) issue #26 (Timely Comics)
• Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #85 - Timely Comics

March

• Collier's Weekly publishes Fredric Wertham's "Horror in the Nursery"
• Two-Gun Kid (1948 series) #1 - Timely Comics

April

• Captain America Comics (1941 series) #66 - Timely Comics
• Crimefighters issue 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 (1940 series) #30 - Timely Comics

June

• Crime Exposed issue 1 - 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

• The American Journal of Psychotherapy publishes Fredric Wertham's "The Psychopathology of Comic Books"
• July 1: 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.
• Blackstone the Magician #3 - Timely Comics
• Captain America Comics (1941 series) #67 - Timely Comics
• Human Torch (1940 series) #31 - Timely Comics

August

• All-Winners Comics vol. 2, issue 1 - Timely Comics
• Complete Mystery issue 1 - Timely Comics
• Kid Colt, Hero Of The West issue 1 - Timely Comics
• Krazy Komics vol. 2, issue 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
• Wow Comics, with issue #69, publishes its final issue, changing format and title to Real Western Hero, and continuing the numbering — Fawcett Comics

September

• Blaze Carson issue 1 - Timely Comics
• Captain America Comics (1941 series) #68 - Timely Comics
• Human Torch (1940 series) #32 - Timely Comics

October

• Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #88 - Timely Comics
• Sub-Mariner Comics (1941 series) #28 - Timely Comics
• Two-Gun Kid (1948 series) #4 - Timely Comics

November

• Captain America Comics (1941 series) #69 - Timely Comics
• Human Torch (1940 series) #33 - Timely Comics

December

• Marvel Mystery Comics (1939 series) #89 - Timely Comics
• Sub-Mariner Comics (1941 series) #29 - Timely Comics
• Two-Gun Kid (1948 series) #5 - Timely Comics

First issues by title

DC Comics

• Leave It to Binky (February/March)
• 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)
• Spiff and Hercules (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

• Mad Hatter, in Batman #49.