Events
Year overall
Marvel Comics forms their British publishing arm, Marvel UK (under the corporate name Magazine Management London Ltd.). Phil Seuling founds Sea Gate Distributors, developing the concept of the direct market distribution system for getting comics directly into comic book specialty shops, bypassing the established newspaper/magazine distributor method. DC acquires licensing rights to the Marvel Family, originally published by Fawcett Comics. Fleming H. Revell establishes Spire Christian Comics. Jacques Glénat, at only twenty years old, establishes Glénat. Newspaper strip Captain Kate ceases syndication. Kinney National Company spun off its non-entertainment assets and changed its name to Warner Communications. In Italy, Renzo Barbieri founds Edifumetto, a publishing house specialized in cheap erotic comics, in concurrence with the EdiGi of his former associate Renzo Cavedon. The firm launches, in this year, new characters, such as the monster Wallenstein (April), Zora (September), Biancaneve and the super-hero Playcolt (November).
January
January 2: Il corriere dei piccoli, splits in two magazines: Il corriere dei piccoli (The little ones’ courier), aimed to children, and Il corriere dei ragazzi (The boys’ courier) aimed to teenagers. January 6: In Pif Gadget, the Corto Maltese story Concert en O mineur pour harpe et nitroglycérine by Hugo Pratt is published. The first of four tales set in the Celtic countries (Ireland, England, Belgium and Brittany). January 7: In the magazine De Nieuwe Gommaar Timmermans creates De Nieuwe Ark, a philosophical comic will run until 8 September 1972. January 19: In Spirou, the first chapter of Tora Torapa by Jean-Claude Fournier is published. Korak, Son of Tarzan (1964 series), with issue #45, cancelled by Gold Key Comics. (The title is acquired and continued by DC in June.) Primaggio Mantovi's Sacarrolha debuts. The stories Hound of the Moaning Hills' and Storm dancers by Carl Barks and Kay Wright are published in Huey, Dewey and Louie Junior Woodchucks. Iorix le grand by Jacques Martin.
February
February 12: After a long trial Al Capp is fined for attempted adultery in a plea bargain, his public image and the popularity of Li'l Abner are damaged beyond repair. February 24: In Spirou, the first chapter of L’orgue du diable by Roger Leloup is published. February 24: in L’Intrepido, debut the SF series Iber, by Antonio Mancuso and Antonio Toldo. February 26: The final episode of Big Sister appears in print. It had run since 1928. The Brave and the Bold #100 (February /March cover date): Batman teams up with Robin, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Green Lantern. (DC Comics) With issue #206, Gold Key Comics cancels Tarzan, a title it acquired from Dell Comics in 1962.
March
March 30: In Pilote, the first chapter of the Blueberry story Ballade pour un cercueil (Ballade for a coffin) by Jean-Michel Charlier and Jean Giraud is published, the last episode of the Blueberry trilogy about the search for Confederate gold. The first issue of the French Disney comics magazine Picsou Magazine is published. Marvel Comics launches its second ongoing Spider-Man title, Marvel Team-Up. House of Mystery #200, edited by Joe Orlando. (DC Comics) The story The Day the Mountain Shook, by Carl Barks and Kay Wright is published in Huey, Dewey and Louie Junior Woodchucks. Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary, by Justin Green.
April
April 18: In Le journal de Tintin, the first chapter of the Ric Hochet story Requiem pour une idole (Requiem for an idol) by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet is published. Marvel Comics launches Marvel Premiere, an anthology series. With issue #207, DC Comics begins publishing Tarzan, acquired from Gold Key Comics. With issue #89 (April /May cover-date), DC suspends publishing Green Lantern. The first issue of the Italian magazine Il mago is published by Mondadori.