1958 in comics

Publications and events

Year overall

Foundation of publishers Major Publications and I. W. Publications.

January

January 20': The first episode of Francisco Ibáñez Talavera's Mortadelo y Filemón (Mort and Phil) is published. ^[1]

February

February 17: Johnny Hart's B.C. makes its debut. ^[2]

March

March 2: The final episode of Stanley Link's Tiny Tim is published. ^[3]
March 13: The first episode of Marcel Remacle's Le Vieux Nick et Barbe-Noire is published in Spirou.
March 15: The first episode of Ken Reid's Jonah is published in The Beano.
The first issue of the American satirical magazine Cracked is published. Mascot Sylvester P. Smythe appears on the front cover of its first issue. The magazine will run until February 2007.
Uncle Scrooge #21 — "The Money Well," by Carl Barks (Dell Comics)
In the 253th issue of Detective Comics the recurring villains Terrible Trio make their debut.

April

April 2: René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo's Oumpah-pah makes its debut in Tintin. ^[4] ^[5]
April 27: Stan Lynde's Rick O'Shay makes its debut. It runs until 8 March 1981.
In the 247th issue of Adventure Comics the Legion of Super-Heroes make their debut.

May

May 26: The first episode of Jack Cole's Betsy and Me is published. After Cole's suicide on 13 August the series will be continued by Dwight Parks until 27 December. ^[6]
The final issue of Justice Traps the Guilty is published.
The final issue of This Magazine is Haunted is published.

June

June 15: The final episode of Cliff Sterrett's Polly and Her Pals appears in the papers. ^[7]
Action Comics #241 — "The Super-Key to Fort Superman", first appearance of Superman's Fortress of Solitude (DC Comics)
Uncle Scrooge #22 — "The Golden River," by Carl Barks (Dell Comics)

July

July 7: The first episode of Francisco Ibáñez Talavera's La familia Trapisonda is published. ^[8]
In issue #242 of Action Comics one of Superman's arch enemies Brainiac makes his debut.

August

Four Color Comics #946 — The Big Country, by Paul S. Newman and Bob Correa (Dell Comics)
In the 123th issue of Superman Supergirl makes her debut.

September

September 8: Jack Berill, Neal Rubin and Rod Whigham's Gil Thorp makes its debut. ^[9]
September: Dave Wood and Jack Kirby's Sky Masters makes their debut. ^[10]
Superman #124 — the first DC title with a letters column as a regular feature beginning with this issue.^[11]
Uncle Scrooge #27 — "The Money Champ," by Carl Barks (Dell Comics)
Bob White's Cosmo the Merry Martian makes its debut and will run until October 1959.
The first issue of the British comics magazine War Picture Library is published. It will run until December 1984.

October

October 20: Víctor Mora's El Jabato makes its debut. ^[12]
October 23: In the Johan and Peewit story The Flute with Six Holes by Peyo The Smurfs make their debut, as well as their leader Papa Smurf.^[13] They eventually become a successful spin-off comic. ^[14]
The final issue of Harvey Kurtzman's satirical magazine Humbug is published.
The Cisco Kid, with issue #41 (October–December cover date), cancelled by Dell.
In the 101th issue of Wonder Woman the Time Trapper makes his debut.

November

In the British comics magazine The Beezer Tom Bannister's Colonel Blink makes his debut.
Adam Strange makes his debut in the 17th issue of Showcase.

December

In the 73th issue of Forbidden Worlds Richard E. Hughes and Ogden Whitney's Herbie Popnecker makes his debut. ^[15]
The first issue of Strange Worlds is published and will run until August 1959.
The first issue of the British comics magazine Bunty is published, which will run until 2001.

Specific date unknown

Hui Guan-man's Uncle Choi is first published. ^[16]
Hugh Morren's The Smasher makes its debut.^[17]
Irving Phillips's The Strange World of Mr. Mum makes its debut. It will run until 1974. ^[18]

Deaths

January

January 2: Harry G. Peter, American comics artist (Wonder Woman), passes away at age 76 or 77.^[19]
January 11: Frank Willard, American comics artist (Moon Mullins), dies at age 64.^[20]
January 23: Ilia Beshkov, Bulgarian comics artist and painter, dies at age 56.^[21]

February

February 17: Robert Moore Brinkerhoff, American comics artist (Little Mary Mixup), dies at age 77.^[22]

May

May 12: Frank Minnitt, British comics artist (Billy Bunter), dies at age 63.^[23]
May 28: Charlie Schmidt, American comics artist (Radio Patrol), passes away at age 71. ^[24]

June

June 7: Joe Maneely, American comics artist (Atlas Comics), dies in a railroad accident at age 32.^[25]

August

August 8: J.P. McEvoy, American comics writer, (Dixie Dugan), dies at age 61.
August 13: Jack Cole, American comics artist (Plastic Man) commits suicide at age 43.^[26]

September

September 18: Olaf Gulbransson, Norwegian-German cartoonist and comics artist (worked for Simplicissimus), dies at age 86. ^[27]
September 20: Aleksander Dobrinov, Bulgarian caricaturist, cartoonist and comics artist, passes away at age 60. ^[28]

October

October 4: Jack King, American animator and comics artist (assisted on Mickey Mouse), dies at age 72. ^[29]
October 26: Clare Victor Dwiggins, also known as Dwig, American comics artist (School Days, Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn), dies at age 74.^[30]

Specific date unknown

Alex Akerbladh, Swedish-British comics artist (drew various celebrity comics based on popular music hall and film comedians), dies at age 71 or 72. ^[31]
Basil Blackaller, British comics artist (Hairy Dan), dies at age 36 or 37.^[32]
S.J. Cash, British comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 73 or 74.^[33]
Charles Genge, British comics artist (Our Boy Scout Patrol), dies at age 83 or 84. ^[34]

First issues by title

Bunty (D. C. Thomson & Co.)
Cosmo the Merry Martian (Archie Comics, September)
Life with Archie (Archie Comics, September)
Strange Worlds (Atlas Comics, December)
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane^[35] (DC Comics, March/April)
Tell It to the Marines Super #1 (I.W. Publishing) — (also see Tell It to the Marines)
Uncle Choi (Hong Kong)

Initial appearance by character name

DC Comics

Adam Strange in Showcase #17 (November), created by Julius Schwartz and Murphy Anderson - DC Comics
- Sardath in Showcase #17 (November), created by Julius Schwartz and Murphy Anderson - DC Comics
Tlano in Batman #113 (August), created by France Herron and Dick Sprang - DC Comics
Bizarro in Superboy #68 (October), created by Otto Binder and George Papp - DC Comics
Brainiac in Action Comics #242 (July), created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino - DC Comics
Calendar Man in Detective Comics #259 (September), created by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff - DC Comics
Doctor Alchemy in Showcase #13 (April), created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino - DC Comics
Doctor Double X in Detective Comics #261 (November)
False-Face in Batman #113 (February), created by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff - DC Comics
Legion of Super-Heroes in Adventure Comics #247 (April), created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino - DC Comics
- Cosmic Boy
- Lightining Lad
- Saturn Girl
Mister Element in Showcase #13 (April)
Orana in Wonder Woman #250 (December), created by Jack C. Harris - DC Comics
Rainbow Archer in Adventure Comics #246 (March), created by France Herron and George Papp - DC Comics
Space Ranger in Showcase #15 (July), created by Edmond Hamilton, Gardner Fox and Bob Brown - DC Comics
Terrible Trio in Detective Comics #253 (March), created by Dave Wood and Sheldon Moldoff - DC Comics

Other publishers

Cosmo the Merry Martian in Cosmo the Merry Martian #1 (Archie Comics, September)
Mort & Phil in Pulgarcito #1394, January
Herbie Popnecker in Forbidden Worlds #73 (American Comics Group, December)
Papa Smurf in Johan and Peewit: "La Flûte à six trous" (Éditions Dupuis, October 23)
The Smurfs in Johan and Peewit: "La Flûte à six trous" (Éditions Dupuis, October 23)

References

^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/i/ibanez.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/hart.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/link-stanley.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/goscinny.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/u/uderzo.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/cole.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/sterrett.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/i/ibanez.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/berrill_jack.htm
^ Gravett, Paul, "1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die", Universe, page 209.
^ Irvine, Alex; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1950s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. This issue of Superman was the first DC comic to include a letters column that would become a regular feature, though readers' letters were published in issue #3 of Real Fact Comics in July 1946. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/mora-victor.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/peyo.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/peyo.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/whitney_ogden.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/hui-guan-man.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/morren_hugh.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/phillips_i.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/peter-hg.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/willard_f.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/beshkov_ilia.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/brinkerhoff_rm.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/minnitt_f.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/schmidt_c.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/maneely_joe.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/cole.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/gulbransson_olaf.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/dobrinov_aleksandar.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/king_jack.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/dwiggins_cv.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/akerbladh_alex.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/blackaller_basil.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/cash_sj.htm
^ https://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/genge_charles.htm
^ Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 89: "Following her successful test run in the pages of Showcase #9 and #10, Lois Lane got her own title Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane in which Superman was ever the prankster."

[1] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/i/ibanez.htm

[2] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/hart.htm

[3] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/link-stanley.htm

[4] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/goscinny.htm

[5] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/u/uderzo.htm

[6] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/cole.htm

[7] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/sterrett.htm

[8] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/i/ibanez.htm

[9] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/berrill_jack.htm

[10] Gravett, Paul, "1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die", Universe, page 209.

[11] Irvine, Alex; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1950s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. This issue of Superman was the first DC comic to include a letters column that would become a regular feature, though readers' letters were published in issue #3 of Real Fact Comics in July 1946. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[12] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/mora-victor.htm

[13] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/peyo.htm

[14] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/peyo.htm

[15] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/whitney_ogden.htm

[16] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/hui-guan-man.htm

[17] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/morren_hugh.htm

[18] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/phillips_i.htm

[19] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/p/peter-hg.htm

[20] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/willard_f.htm

[21] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/beshkov_ilia.htm

[22] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/brinkerhoff_rm.htm

[23] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/minnitt_f.htm

[24] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/schmidt_c.htm

[25] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/m/maneely_joe.htm

[26] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/cole.htm

[27] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/gulbransson_olaf.htm

[28] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/dobrinov_aleksandar.htm

[29] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/king_jack.htm

[30] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/dwiggins_cv.htm

[31] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/akerbladh_alex.htm

[32] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/blackaller_basil.htm

[33] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/cash_sj.htm

[34] ttps://www.lambiek.net/artists/g/genge_charles.htm

[35] Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 89: "Following her successful test run in the pages of Showcase #9 and #10, Lois Lane got her own title Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane in which Superman was ever the prankster."

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