This Day in Comic Book History: June 23
This Day in Comic Book History: June 23
June 23 is a date of endings — the conclusion of two landmark comics that shaped their respective cultures — but also a date of beginnings, marking the birth of creators whose work would define comics for decades.
June 23, 1973: Final Appearance of Mafalda
Mafalda's Final Strip — June 23
Created by Quino · Ran 1964–1973 · Most culturally significant comic in Latin America · Still in print worldwide
On June 23, 1973, Argentine cartoonist Quino published the final strip of Mafalda, his beloved comic about a precocious young girl who questioned politics, war, and injustice. Even today, half a century later, Mafalda remains in print and beloved worldwide.
June 23, 1990: Final Issue of Akira
Akira Concludes — June 23
Katsuhiro Otomo · 8 years · 2,182 pages · Sparked the global manga boom
On June 23, 1990, the final chapter of Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira was published, concluding one of the most ambitious sci-fi sagas in manga history. Its English publication by Marvel's Epic Comics directly sparked the global manga boom of the 1990s and 2000s.
June 23, 1979: Debut of Latigo
Latigo Debuts — June 23
Stan Lynde (creator of Rick O'Shay) · King Features Western strip
On June 23, 1979, Stan Lynde launched Latigo, a Western comic strip continuing his celebrated frontier storytelling tradition following the success of Rick O'Shay.
June 23, 1983: First Appearance of Cliff Hanger in Buster
Cliff Hanger Debuts — June 23
Jack Edward Oliver · British comic Buster · UK weekly comics tradition alongside 2000 AD
On June 23, 1983, Cliff Hanger debuted in Buster, part of Britain's vibrant weekly comics tradition that also produced Alan Moore, Brian Bolland, and Dave Gibbons.
June 23, 1959: Birth of Dan Jurgens, Creator of Booster Gold
Dan Jurgens Born — June 23
Creator of Booster Gold · Death of Superman writer-artist · Superman #75 sold 6 million+ copies
Dan Jurgens, born June 23, 1959, created Booster Gold in 1986 and wrote and drew the landmark Death of Superman in 1992 — a comics event covered on newspaper front pages worldwide, with Superman #75 selling over six million copies.
🏆 Top 10 Key Comics Tied to June 23 History
- Superman #75 (January 1993) — Death of Superman by Dan Jurgens, born this date in 1959. Sold 6+ million copies.
- Booster Gold #1 (February 1986) — First Booster Gold by Dan Jurgens; one of DC's most beloved modern heroes.
- Akira #38 (Young Magazine, June 1990) — Final issue of Otomo's landmark manga, published June 23, 1990.
- Akira #1 (Epic Comics, September 1988) — First English Akira; the series that concluded this date changed comics globally.
- Superman: Doomsday and Beyond (1993) — DC companion to the Death of Superman by Dan Jurgens.
- 2000 AD #1 (February 1977) — British anthology that nurtured the tradition Cliff Hanger debuted in on this date in 1983.
- Watchmen #1 (September 1986) — Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' masterpiece; both came from the British comics tradition.
- Rick O'Shay #1 (1958) — Stan Lynde's Western strip that preceded Latigo, debuting this date in 1979.
- Superman: The Man of Steel #17 (November 1992) — Part of the Doomsday arc leading to Superman #75.
- Mafalda Volume 1 (1966) — First Mafalda collection by Quino; final strip ran this date in 1973.
Find Akira, DC classics, and manga imports at Epic Panels Comics!