Fawcett publications ceases comic publication after years of
litigation over Captain Marvel, November. DC gets rights to Fawcett's
characters.
Planet Comics ceases publication in October with issue #73.
Captain America, Human Torch & Sub-Mariner return for short time
at Atlas (Marvel Comics).
Weird Science & Weird Fantasy cease publication. Becomes a single
title, Weird Science Fantasy in 1954.
1954
Senate Committee on Juvenile Delinquincy holds hearings on comic
books. EC publisher William Gaines
testifies.
Fredric Wertham's book "Seduction of the Innocent" is
published in April. It's paranoid concepts lead to the Comics Code being
created in October of the same year.
World's Finest Comics #71, first Superman/Batman team-up.
Mort Walker & Dik Browne create "Hi & Lois".
Jimmy Olsen #1 published.
1955
EC ceases publication of all horor titles, revamps entire line of
comics.
Mad Comics becomes Mad Magazine.
Brave & the Bold comics #1 published.
Gus Edson & Irwin Hasen co-create "Dondi".
Click on the image to see what
happened to EC!
1956
EC ceases publication of all comic book titles.
Showcase Comics #4 introduces the new Flash, signaling a new age of
superheroes.
Alex Raymond dies in car crash.
1957
Showcase Comics #6 "Challengers of the Unknown" created by
Jack Kirby. The prototype
creation that led to The Fantastic Four in 1961.
Reg Smythe's "Andy Capp" first published in England.
Leonard Starr's "On Stage" first appearance.
Mell Lazarus' "Miss Peach" first appearance.
1958
Challengers of the Unknown #1 published.
Johnny Hart's "B.C." first appearance.
Jules Feiffer's "Feifer" syndicated.
Stan Lynde's "Rick O'Shay" first appearance.
Irving Phillips' "The Strange World of Mr. Mum" first
appearance.
James Warren introduces the influential magazine "Famous
Monsters of Filmland" edited by fan favorite Forrest J. Ackerman.
Lois Lane #1 published.
1959
Stephen Becker's "Comic Art in America" published by Simon
and Schuster.
the Flash #105 (first issue) published.
Jack Kirby returns to Marvel Comics writing & illustrating
fantasy & sci-fi stories.
The Green Lantern returns in Showcase #22
1960
the Justice League of America first appearance in Brave & Bold
#28. They get their own title in December.
Green Lantern #1 published.
1961
Jack Kirby (& Stan Lee) create "the Fantastic Four"(Fantastic
Four #1) and the Marvel Age begins.
Nick Dallis & Alex Kotsky's "Apartment 3-G" first
appearance.
Jack Kirby, the King of of the
Comics
1962
Steve Ditko (& Stan
Lee, with Jack Kirby) create "Spiderman" for Amazing Fantasy
comics #15.
Harvey Kurtzman & Will
Elder's "Little Annie Fanny" first appearance in Playboy
(October 1962)
Jack Kirby creates "the Mighty Thor" and "the Hulk".
1963
Jack Kirby creates the "X-Men".
The first "Comic Book Convention" takes place in the
basement of a comic book store in New York City.
1964
Johnny Hart & Brant Parker's "Wizard of Id" makes first
appearance.
1965
Jack Kirby (& Stan Lee) create "Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD",
Strange Tales #135.
Jules Feiffer's book "the Great Comic Book Heroes"
published by Dial Press (Crown Publishers).
Robert Crumb's "Fritz the Cat" first publication.
Creepy and Eerie magazines begin publishing by Warren Pubs. These
magazines re-unite the EC artists.
1966
The City Museum of Cartoon Art inaugurated in Omiya, Japan. The first
museum devoted to comic art.
1967
Underground comix get a big boost with the printing of "Zap
Comics" #0. The book features Gilbert Shelton's "Fabulous
Furry Freak Brothers" and Robert
Crumb's "Mr. Natural".
Bill Blackbeard founds "The Academy of Comic Art" in San
Francisco.
In Paris, the Musee des Art Decoratifs exhibits a comprehensive
overview of comic art "Bande Dessinee et Figuration Narrative".
1968
Maurice Horn's book "A History of the Comic Strip"
published (co-authored with Pierre Couperie).
Jack Kirby creates "the Silver Surfer"
Al Saunders & Al McWilliams's "Dateline: Danger" first
appearance.
Phil Seuling, a high school English teacher sponsors the New York
Comic Art Convention over the July fourth weekend at the Statler Hilton
Hotel signaling the organization of comics fandom.
1969
"Collected Works of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century"
published by Chelsea House.
1970
"Conan the Barbarian" #1 published by Marvel, illustrated
by Barry Smith.
Garry Trudeau's "Doonesbury" syndicated.
Russell Myers' "Broom Hilda" first appearance.
1971
Maurice Horn organizes the exhibition "75 Years of the Comics"
at the New York Cultural Center, the first comic exhibition ever held in
a major American museum.
1972
"The Comics, an Illustrated History of Comic Strip Art" by
Jerry Robinson published, Putnam Books.
"Swamp Thing" makes first appearance in House of Secrets
#92.
1973
Dik Browne's "Hagar the Horrible" makes first appearance.
