1954 in comics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Notable events of 1954 in comics. See also List of years in comics.

Events and publications[]

February[]

  • February 3: A controversial cartoon by Leslie Illingworth in Punch shows a visibly old and tired Winston Churchill behind his desk. It instantly causes outrage and scandal. [1]
  • February 13: Leo Baxendale's The Bash Street Kids makes its debut in The Beano, but is still named When the Bell Rings in this period. It will receive its definitive title on 11 November 1956.[2]
  • February 27: The first issue of the British comics magazine Jack and Jill is published. It will run until 29 June 1985.
  • Hopalong Cassidy, with issue #86, revived by DC Comics, taking over the numbering of the Fawcett Comics series.[3]
  • The first issue of the American comics magazine Panic is published.

March[]

  • March 1: The Billy DeBeck Awards are renamed the Reuben Awards.
  • March 4: Jijé's Jerry Spring makes its debut.[4]
  • March 20: Marten Toonder's Koning Hollewijn makes its debut. It will run until 26 June 1971.[5]
  • March 20: First issue of the British comics magazine Swift is published. It will run until 2 March 1963.
  • Atlas Comics publishes Lorna, the Jungle Girl #6 (renamed from Lorna, the Jungle Queen)
  • The secret of Atlantis, by Carl Barks, on Uncle Scrooge.

April[]

May[]

  • May 1: The 11th issue of Mad Magazine is published, featuring Basil Wolverton's iconic parody of the Beautiful Girl of the Month on the cover.[8]
  • May 16: In Italy, the first issues of Albi della rosa (reprints of Disney comics, aimed to the youngest readers) and Albi del falco (adventures of Superman, renamed Nembo Kid, and later also of the other DC heroes) are published by Mondadori. The second magazine, lasted till 1970, makes superheroes comics popular in Italy, even if the original stories are often heavily manipulated or censored.
  • In Gilbert, relative genius by Bill Wright, Gilbert, the savant Goofy’s nephew, makes his debut.

June[]

July[]

August[]

September[]

  • September 4: The last issue of the Dutch comics magazine Grabbelton is published, a supplement of De Katholieke Illustratie.[12]
  • September 11: The first issue of the British comics magazine Tiger is published. It will last until 30 March 1985.[13]
  • September 11: Frank S. Pepper and Joe Colquhoun's Roy of the Rovers makes its debut in Fleetway's Tiger
  • September 30: The first stories of Daisy Duck’s diary by Dick Moores are published. In the following years, the series will be prosecuted by several American and Italian authors.
  • Formation of the Comics Magazine Association of America (CMAA) and the Comics Code Authority (CCA)
  • Atlas Comics publishes Crime Fighters Always Win #11 (renamed from Timely's Crimefighters)
  • The first issue of the Croatian children's magazine Modra lasta is published.
  • Carl Barks publishes his Uncle Scrooge story The Seven Cities of Cibola.

October[]

  • October 3: Il Grande Blek by Giovanni Sinchetto, Dario Guzzon and Pietro Sartoris, also known as trio EsseGesse, makes its debut.[14]
  • October 16: The first issue of the British comics magazine Playhour is published. It will run until 15 August 1987.
  • October 18: Mort Walker and Dik Browne's Hi and Lois makes its debut.[15][16]
  • October: Brad Anderson's Marmaduke makes its debut.

November[]

December[]

Specific date unknown[]

  • The first episode of Roland Davies' Roddy the Road Scout is published.[18]
  • In the Kapitein Rob story De Speurtocht van de Vrijheid by Pieter J. Kuhn Kapitein Rob marries Paula. Due to negatieve reader reactions he later makes him a lonely drifter again. [19]

Deaths[]

January[]

  • January 4: Jimmy McMenamy (aka Jimmy Mack), American comics artist (Dotty Dripple, Good Joe, assisted on Dinky Dinkerton, Secret Agent 6 7/8, continued Big Sister), passes away at age 41.[20][21]
  • January 7:
    • Bruno Angoletta, Italian illustrator and comics artist (Marmittone, Calogero Sorbara, Centerbe Ermete), dies at age 64.[22]
    • Albertine Randall, aka Albertine Randall Wheelan, American illustrator and comics artist (The Dumbunnies), passes away at age 90.[23]

February[]

  • February 21: Roland Coe, American comics artist (Crosstown Cartoons, His Nibs), dies at age 46.[24]

July[]

  • July 16: , Italian comics artist and illustrator (Bilbolbul, Gian Saetta, Schizzo, Dorotea and Salomone), passes away at age 76.[25]

August[]

  • Specific date unknown: Lou Ferstadt, Ukrainian-American muralist painter, comics artist (Bouncer) and comics studio founder (Ferstadt Studios), dies at age 53.[26]

September[]

October[]

First issues by title[]

Archie Comics[]

Atlas Comics[]

Hulton Press[]

National Comics[]

Toby Press[]

Initial appearances by character name[]

Atlas Comics[]

Dell Comics[]

  • Turok in Four Color Comics #596 (October/November)

Harvey Comics[]

L. Miller & Son[]

  • Marvelman in Marvelman #25 (3 February)

National Comics[]

Prize Comics[]

Newspaper strips[]

Italy[]

  • Tarzanetto, parody of Tarzan, by Roberto Terenchi (Edizioni Dardo)
  • Geppo the good-hearted devil (December), created by Giulio Chierchini (Bianconi).

References[]

  1. ^ "Leslie Illingworth". lambiek.net. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  2. ^ "Leo Baxendale". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  3. ^ Irvine, Alex (2010). "1950s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Following the decision to close the comics division of Fawcett Publications in 1953, Hopalong Cassidy came to DC with issue #86...by the writers Gardner Fox and Don Cameron and artist Gene Colan.
  4. ^ BDoubliées. "Spirou année 1954" (in French).
  5. ^ "Marten Toonder". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Tintin année 1954". bdoubliees.com. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  7. ^ "Dr. Fredric Wertham". www.lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  8. ^ "Basil Wolverton". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  9. ^ "Charles M. Schulz". lambiek.net. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "Charles M. Schulz". lambiek.net. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "Alex Raymond". lambiek.net. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  12. ^ "Grabbelton". www.lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  13. ^ "Comic Stories". Roy of the Rovers.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. Retrieved 2005-06-09.
  14. ^ "Il grande Blek – Il mitico trapper dei fumetti firmato EsseGesse". www.slumberland.it. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
  15. ^ "Don Markstein's Toonopedia: Hi & Lois". www.toonopedia.com. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  16. ^ "Mort Walker". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  17. ^ "Hergé". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  18. ^ "Roland Davies". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  19. ^ "Pieter Kuhn". lambiek.net. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
  20. ^ "Jimmy (James McMenamy, Jr.) Mack – Artist, Fine Art Prices, Auction Records for Jimmy (James McMenamy, Jr.) Mack". www.askart.com.
  21. ^ "Jimmy McMenamy". lambiek.net.
  22. ^ "Bruno Angoletta". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  23. ^ "Albertine Randall". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  24. ^ "Roland Coe". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  25. ^ "Attilio Mussino". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  26. ^ "Lou Ferstadt". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  27. ^ "Bud Fisher". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  28. ^ "George McManus". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  29. ^ Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 73: "Jimmy Olsen got his own adventures in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #1. A comic remarkable for its inventiveness and longevity, it ran for 163 issues."
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