1937 in comics

Notable events of 1937 in comics. See also List of years in comics.

Events and publications

This literature-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

January

• January 8 and June 7: Pablo Picasso makes the comic The Dream and Lie of Franco, a comic strip satirizing Francisco Franco. [1]
• January 9: The first issue of the Italian catholic comic magazine Il vittorioso (The winner) is published.
• January 16: The first issue of the Flemish comics magazine Ons Kinderland is published. It will run for about a year and a half.[2]
• The first issue of the Italian comic magazine Albi d’oro (Golden albums), gathering the Mickey Mouse's strips, is published by Mondadori.
• Will Eisner and Jerry Iger (script) and Mort Meskin (art) launch Sheena, Queen of the Jungle in the first issue of Wags, a British comics magazine. A year and nine months later Sheena will make her debut in the U.S. in Jumbo Comics. [3]
• Detective Picture Stories #2 - Centaur Publications
• Famous Funnies #30 - Eastern Color
• The Funnies #4 - Dell Comics
• Funny Picture Stories #3 - Centaur Publications
• King Comics #10 - David McKay Publications
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #17 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (previously New Comics) (1936 series) #12 - National Periodical Publications
• Popular Comics #12 - Dell Comics
• Tip Top Comics #9 - United Features

February

• February 13: Harold Foster's Prince Valiant makes its debut.[4]
• Detective Picture Stories #3 - Centaur Publications
• Famous Funnies #31 - Eastern Color
• The Funnies #5 - Dell Comics
• Funny Pages #8 — Centaur Publications
• Funny Picture Stories #4 - Centaur Publications
• King Comics #11 - David McKay Publications
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #18 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1936 series) #13 - National Periodical Publications
• Popular Comics #13 - Dell Comics
• Star Comics #1 - Centaur Publications
• Star Ranger #1 - Centaur Publications
• Tip Top Comics #10 - United Features
• Western Picture Stories #1 - Centaur Publications

March

• March 1: The first issue of DC Comics comics magazine Detective Comics is published. It features the debut of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's Slam Bradley. Detective Comics will eventually become the longest continuously published comic book magazine in the United States, running without interruption until 2011.
• March 22: Jack Monk and Don Freeman's Buck Ryan makes its debut and will run until July 1962.[5]
• The Comics #1 - Dell Comics
• Detective Picture Stories #4 - Centaur Publications
• Famous Funnies #32 - Eastern Color
• The Funnies #6 - Dell Comics
• Funny Pages #9 — Centaur Publications
• Funny Picture Stories #5 - Centaur Publications
• King Comics #12 - David McKay Publications
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #19 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1936 series) #14 - National Periodical Publications
• Popular Comics #14 - Dell Comics
• Tip Top Comics #11 - United Features
• Western Picture Stories #2 - Centaur Publications

April

• April 5: The first episode of Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse in search of jungle treasure is published.
• Ace Comics (1937 series) #1 - David McKay Publications
• The Comics #2 - Dell Comics
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #2 - DC Comics
• Detective Picture Stories #5 - Centaur Publications
• Famous Funnies #33 - Eastern Color
• The Funnies #7 - Dell Comics
• Funny Pages #10 — Centaur Publications
• Funny Picture Stories #6 - Centaur Publications
• King Comics #13 - David McKay Publications
• Popular Comics #15 - Dell Comics
• Star Comics #2 - Centaur Publications
• Star Ranger #2 - Centaur Publications
• Tip Top Comics #12 - United Features
• Western Picture Stories #3 - Centaur Publications

May

• May 3: Henning Dahl Mikkelsen, aka Mik's Ferd'nand makes its debut. It will become one of the longest-running pantomime gag-a-day comics in the world, appearing without interruption until 2012.[6][7]
• May 15: In the 67th issue of the British comics magazine Mickey Mouse Weekly William A. Ward adapts the Disney animated short Don Donald into a comic strip. This marks the first longer adventure comic to star Donald Duck.[8]
• Ace Comics (1937 series) #2 - David McKay Publications
• The Comics #3 - Dell Comics
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #3 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies #34 - Eastern Color
• Feature Book #1 - David McKay Publications
• The Funnies #8 - Dell Comics
• King Comics #14 - David McKay Publications
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #20 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1936 series) #15 - National Periodical Publications
• Popular Comics #16 - Dell Comics
• Star Comics #3 - Centaur Publications
• Star Ranger #3 - Centaur Publications
• Tip Top Comics #13 - United Features

June

• June 9: The first issue of the Italian comics magazine Il Vittorioso is published. It will run until 1970.
• June 30: The first issue of the Flemish comics magazine Wonderland is published, as a supplement to the newspaper De Dag. It will run until 1942.[9]
• Ace Comics (1937 series) #3 - David McKay Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #4 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies #35 - Eastern Color
• Feature Book #2 - David McKay Publications
• The Funnies #9 - Dell Comics
• Funny Pages #11 — Centaur Publications
• Funny Picture Stories #7 - Centaur Publications
• King Comics #15 - David McKay Publications
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #21 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1936 series) #16 - National Periodical Publications
• Popular Comics #17 - Dell Comics
• Star Comics #4 - Centaur Publications
• Star Ranger #4 - Centaur Publications
• Tip Top Comics #14 - United Features
• Western Picture Stories #4 - Centaur Publications

July

• July 1: Theo Fünke Kupper's gag comic De Verstrooide Professor makes its debut in the Dutch comics weekly Kleuterblaadje, where it will appear until 1 January 1966.[10]
• July 12: Al Capp and Raeburn Van Buren's Abbie an' Slats makes its debut. It will run until 30 January 1971.[11]
• Ace Comics (1937 series) #4 - David McKay Publications
• The Comics #4 - Dell Comics
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #5 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies #36 - Eastern Color
• Feature Book #3 - David McKay Publications
• The Funnies #10 - Dell Comics
• King Comics #16 - David McKay Publications
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #22 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1936 series) #17 - National Periodical Publications
• Popular Comics #18 - Dell Comics
• Star Comics #5 - Centaur Publications
• Star Ranger #5 - Centaur Publications
• Tip Top Comics #15 - United Features

August

• August 9: The first episode of Floyd Gottfredson's The monarch of Medioka is published, a parody of The prisoner of Zenda.
• The final issue of the French satirical magazine Le Charivari, which offered room for countless comics artists and cartoonists, is published.
• Watt Dell's Olga Mesmer makes its debut. It will run until October 1938.
• Ace Comics (1937 series) #5 - David McKay Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #6 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies #37 - Eastern Color
• Feature Book #4 - David McKay Publications
• The Funnies #11 - Dell Comics
• King Comics #17 - David McKay Publications
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #23 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1936 series) #18 - National Periodical Publications
• Popular Comics #19 - Dell Comics
• Tip Top Comics #16 - United Features

September

• Ace Comics (1937 series) #6 - David McKay Publications
• The Comics #5 - Dell Comics
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #7 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies #38 - Eastern Color
• Feature Book #5 - David McKay Publications
• The Funnies #12 - Dell Comics
• Funny Pages V.2 #1 — Centaur Publications
• Funny Picture Stories V.2 #1 - Centaur Publications
• King Comics #18 - David McKay Publications
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #24 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1936 series) #19 - National Periodical Publications
• Popular Comics #20 - Dell Comics
• Star Comics #6 - Centaur Publications
• Star Ranger #6 - Centaur Publications
• Tip Top Comics #17 - United Features

October

• October 17: In Al Taliaferro's Donald Duck newspaper comic strip Huey, Louie and Dewey make their debut.[12]
• Ace Comics (1937 series) #7 - David McKay Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #8 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies #39 - Eastern Color
• Feature Book #6 - David McKay Publications
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #1 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
• The Funnies #13 - Dell Comics
• Funny Pages V.2 #2 — Centaur Publications
• Funny Picture Stories V.2 #2 - Centaur Publications
• King Comics #19 - David McKay Publications
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #25 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1936 series) #20 - National Periodical Publications
• Popular Comics #21 - Dell Comics
• Star Comics #7 - Centaur Publications
• Star Ranger #7 - Centaur Publications
• Tip Top Comics #18 - United Features

November

• November 28: The final episode of Bud Counihan's Betty Boop newspaper comic is published.[13]
• Ace Comics (1937 series) #8 - David McKay Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #9 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies #40 - Eastern Color
• Feature Book #7 - David McKay Publications
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #2 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
• The Funnies #14 - Dell Comics
• Funny Pages V.2 #3 — Centaur Publications
• Funny Picture Stories V.2 #3 - Centaur Publications
• King Comics #20 - David McKay Publications
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #26 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1936 series) #21 - National Periodical Publications
• Popular Comics #22 - Dell Comics
• Tip Top Comics #19 - United Features

December

• December 4: First issue of the long-running British comics magazine The Dandy #1 - DC Thomson. It will run until December 4, 2012. It its first issue Dudley D. Watkins's Desperate Dan, Allan Morley's Freddie the Fearless Fly, John R. Mason's Barney Boko and Keyhole Kate and James Crighton's Korky the Cat make their debut.
• December 28: Hugh McClelland's Beelzebub Jones makes its debut. It will run until 28 December 1945.
• December 31: The first issue of the Italian Disney comics magazine Paperino (Donald Duck) is published. It stars a Donald Duck story by Federico Pedrocchi (Paperino e il mistero di Marte, Donald Duck and the Mars mystery) and is actually the first time that Donald is featured as the star of a continuous adventure comics series, long before the same willen happen in the United States.[14]
• Ace Comics (1937 series) #9 - David McKay Publications
• Detective Comics (1937 series) #10 - DC Comics
• Famous Funnies #41 - Eastern Color
• Feature Book #8 - David McKay Publications
• Feature Funnies (1937 series) #3 - Comic Favorites, Inc.
• The Funnies #15 - Dell Comics
• Funny Pages V.2 #4 — Centaur Publications
• Funny Picture Stories V.2 #4 - Centaur Publications
• King Comics #20 - David McKay Publications
• More Fun Comics (1936 series) #27 - National Periodical Publications
• New Adventure Comics (1936 series) #22 - National Periodical Publications
• Popular Comics #23 - Dell Comics
• Star Comics #8 - Centaur Publications
• Star Ranger #8 - Centaur Publications
• Tip Top Comics #20 - United Features

Specific date unknown

• In Hanover, Germany the Wilhelm Busch Museum opens its doors. [15]

Specials

• New Book of Comics (1937 series) #1 - National Periodical Publications

Deaths

January

• January 10: Gabriele Galantara, Italian journalist, caricaturist and comics artist, dies at age 73. [16]

March

• March 8: Carlos Ángel Díaz Huertas, Spanish painter, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 70 or 71. [17]
• March 17: Harold Earnshaw, British comics artist and illustrator (The Pater), passes away at age 51.[18]
• March 20: Ramón Cilla, Spanish caricaturist and comics artist, dies at age 76.[19]

July

• July 6: M.T. Penny Ross, American comics artist and illustrator (Mamma's Angel Child, assisted on Buster Brown), passes away at age 56.[20]

August

• August 28: Frederick Burr Opper, American comics artist (Happy Hooligan, Alphonse and Gaston, And Her Name Was Maud), dies at age 80.[21]

October

• October 16: Jean de Brunhoff, French novelist, illustrator and comics artist (Babar the Elephant), passes away at age 37 of tuberculosis.[22]

November

• November 10: Sergej Mironović Golovčenko, Croatian illustrator and comics artist (Maks i Maksic), dies at age 38 or 39.[23]

December

• December 5: Gustave Verbeek, American comics artist (The Upside Downs of Little Lady Lovekins and Old Man Muffaroo), passes away at age 70.[24]
• December 11: Herbert Crowley, British painter and comics artist (The Wigglemuch), dies at age 54 or 54. [25]

Specific date unknown

• G. L'Huer, French illustrator (made text comics for Le Quantin), passes away at age 63 or 64.[26]
• Joan Llopart, Spanish illustrator and comics artist, passes away at age 80. [27]
• Jean Rapsomanikis, Greek-Spanish comics artist (Ojo De Lince), dies at age 52.[28]
• William Ridgewell, British cartoonist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 55 or 56. [29]

First issues by title

• Ace Comics cover dated April, published by David McKay Publications.
• Detective Comics cover dated March, published by DC Comics.
• Feature Funnies cover dated October, published by Harry A. Chesler Comics.
• The Dandy cover dated December, published by DC Thomson.

Renamed titles

• New Comics renamed New Adventure Comics as of the January cover date.

Initial appearances by character name

• Slam Bradley in Detective Comics #1 - March. Published by DC Comics
• Speed Saunders in Detective Comics #1 - March. Published by DC Comics

Sources

1. "Pablo Picasso". lambiek.net. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
2. KOUSEMAKER, Kees en Evelien, "Wordt Vervolgd- Stripleksikon der Lage Landen", Uitgeverij Het Spectrum, Utrecht, Antwerpen, 1979, page 185.
3. "Will Eisner". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
4. "Hal Foster". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
5. "Jack Monk". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
6. "The history behind the B&O Logo". www.beoworld.org. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
7. "Mik". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
8. "William A. Ward". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
9. KOUSEMAKER, Kees en Evelien, "Wordt Vervolgd- Stripleksikon der Lage Landen", Uitgeverij Het Spectrum, Utrecht, Antwerpen, 1979, page 235.
10. "Theo Funke Küpper". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
11. "Raeburn Van Buren". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
12. "Al Taliaferro". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
13. "Bud Counihan". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
14. "Federico Pedrocchi". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
15. http://www.karikatur-museum.de/230_Chronik_der_Wilhelm-Busch-Gesellschaft.html history
16. "Gabriele Galantara". lambiek.net. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
17. "Carlos Ángel Díaz Huertas". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
18. "Harold C. Earnshaw". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
19. "Ramón Cilla". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
20. "M.T. Ross". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
21. "Frederick Burr Opper". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
22. "Jean De Brunhoff". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
23. "Sergije Mironovic Golovcenko". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
24. "Gustave Verbeck". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
25. "Herbert Crowley". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
26. "G. L'Huer". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
27. "Joan Llopart". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
28. "Jean Rapsomanikis". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
29. "William Ridgewell". lambiek.net. Retrieved August 26, 2020.