2008 in comics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
January
- January 9: Teen Titans: The Lost Annual, delayed since 2003, is published.[1]
- January 17: Trik wins the Inktspotprijs for Best Political Cartoon.[2]
- January 22: Webcomic Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery by Rick Smith begins publication.
- January 23: Hellblazer #240, marking the 20th anniversary of the series, is released.[3]
February
- February 11: Belgian comic artist Marc Sleen is declared an honorary citizen of Turnhout.[4]
- Ji Kangmin begins the Korean webcomic Welcome to Convenience Store
March
- March 5: Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham softcover edition released under the Vertigo imprint.
April
- April 1: Acclaimed historian, political scientist and social critic Howard Zinn releases A People's History of American Empire. The book was co-authored by historian Paul Buhle and cartoonist Mike Konopacki.
- April 3: Graphic novel Britten and Brülightly by Hannah Berry is published by Random House under their Jonathan Cape imprint
- April 7: Jessica Hagy's webcomic Indexed is voted best blog of the year by Time.com.[5]
- April 20: At the New York Comic Con, Marvel announces Marvel Apes, which will start in October.[6]
- April 23: Countdown to Final Crisis concludes.
- April 28: Universal Studios announce that they have optioned Oni Press' Resurrection by Marc Guggenheim, to be produced by Scott Stuber.[7]
- April 30: Barry Allen returns to the DC Universe proper 23 years after his death in Crisis on Infinite Earths. The return came in DC Universe #0.
May
- May 2: The Iron Man film, based on the character of the same name, is released in theaters.
- May 28: Final Crisis #1 is released.
June
- Me and My Ainia by Lai Ann wins the Outstanding Comics Award from the Institute for Compilation and Translation of Taiwan
- Tiny Titans released by DC Comics
July
- July 9: A comics mural, depicting a scene from Willem Elsschot's graphic novel adaptation of Gerard Reve's novel Cheese is inaugurated in Antwerp, as part of the city's Comic Book Route.[8]
- The Dark Knight takes in a record $155.34 million in its opening weekend, topping the previous best of $151.1 million for Spider-Man 3 in May 2007.
- Wildstorm's World's End event begins in the aftermath of Number of the Beast.
- Comic Book Tattoo, the comic book anthology based on the lyrics of Tori Amos makes its debut at San Diego Comic-Con.
August
- August 2: To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the British comics magazine The Beano, Nick Park is guest editor.[9]
September
- September 10: In the Netherlands René Schoenmakers and Marc Jansen, co-found Catawiki, a compendium of collector's catalogues.[10]
- September 27: During the Stripdagen in Houten, The Netherlands, Erik Kriek receives the Stripschapprijs. Pim Oosterheert, author of various books about Marten Toonder, receives the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs.[11] Bob van den Born and Jaap Kramer receive the Bulletje en Boonestaak Schaal.[12]
October
- Hellboy: In The Chapel Of Moloch, the first Hellboy series written and drawn by Mike Mignola since 2005, is scheduled to ship.
- October 8: Archaia Studios Press confirm they have been bought by Kunoichi, the company established by Joshua Blaylock, former president at Devil's Due Publishing.[13][14]
November
- November 14: French cartoonist Piem is named Knight in the Ordre National du Mérite.[15]
- November 18: Jonas Geirnaert's comic strip Kabouter Wesley makes its debut in HUMO.[16]
- The non-fiction book Becoming Batman: The Possibility of a Superhero is published by E. Paul Zehr.
December
Specific date unknown
- Seung-Jin Park and Kim Jung Gi launch the webcomic series TLT - Tiger the Long Tail, which will run until 2010.[17]
- Ryan K. Hudson launches his webcomic series Channelate.[18]
Deaths
January
- January 3: Johan van Dijk, Dutch comics artist and illustrator (Onze Rusteloze Aarde, Wonderen der Natuur), dies at age 90.[19]
- January 6: Marty Links, American comics artist (Emmy Lou), dies at age 90.[20]
- January 18: Joaquin Cervante Bassoco, Mexican comics artist (Pies Lanos, Tirando a Gol (El Pirata Negro), Wama), dies at age 89.[21]
- January 19: Rik Clément, Belgian comics artist (Dees Dubbel), dies at age 87.[22]
February
- February 2: Gus Arriola, Mexican-American comics artist (Gordo), dies at age 90.[23]
- February 10: Steve Gerber, American comic book writer (Marvel Comics, DC Comics, creator of Howard the Duck), dies from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at age 60.
- February 11: Stéphane Peru, French comics artist (Shaman) and colorist (DC Comics), dies at age 26.[24]
- February 22: Steve Whitaker, British comics colourist (V for Vendetta), dies at age 53.
March
- March 2: Francesco Pescador, Italian comics artist (Tony Boy, Il Piccolo Sceriffo, Philly il Ragazzi dagli Occhi d'Oro), dies at age 93.[25]
- March 8: Franco Paludetti, Italian animator and comic artist (worked on Diabolik), dies at age 83.[26]
- March 10: Dave Stevens, American comic book artist (creator of the Rocketeer), dies of hairy cell leukemia at age 52.[27]
- March 17: Daniel Traver Griñó, Spanish comics artist (Sam Bory y el Telesforo, 1X2 el Extraterrestre, Tontáinez, El Tonto del Pueblo and Don Florencio), dies at age 76.[28]
- March 18: Wes Alexander, American comics artist (Stormfield), dies at age 41.[29]
- March 19: Hugo Claus, Belgian novelist, playwright, poet and film director (wrote the script for the comic strip Belgman with Hugo De Kempeneer, aka hugOKÉ[30]), dies from euthanasia at age 78.
- March 21: Raymond Leblanc, Belgian comics publisher and animated film producer. Founder of the Belgian comics magazine Tintin, dies at age 92.[31]
- March 21: Maurice Maréchal, Belgian comics artist (Prudence Petitpas), dies at age 85.[32]
- March 30: Jim Mooney, American comic book artist and writer (DC Comics, Marvel Comics), dies at age 88.[33]
April
- April 2: Roger Blachon, French teacher, journalist, book illustrator, editorial cartoonist and comic artist (Des Oiseaux Ordinaires), dies at age 66.[34]
- April 14: Ollie Johnston, American animator (Walt Disney Company), dies at age 95.[35][36][37][38]
- April 15: Robert Vandersteen, Belgian comics artist (Tony and Lily, worked on De Rode Ridder) and son of Willy Vandersteen, dies at age 68.[39]
May
- May 3: Ted Key, American animator and comics artist (Hazel), dies at age 95.[40]
- May 5: Edith Hegenbarth, German comics artist (Digedags), dies at age 83.[41]
- May 12: Virgilio Martínez Gaínza, Cuban comic artist (Pucho, Supertiñosa), dies at age 77.[42]
- May 13: Mike Western, British comics artist (Darkie's Mob, continued Billy's Boots), dies at age 83 following a heart attack and a stroke.[43]
- May 15: Will Elder, American comics artist (EC Comics, Mad Magazine, co-creator of Little Annie Fanny), dies at age 86.[44]
- May 19: Rory Root, American comics store owner (founder and owner of Comic Relief in Berkeley, California), dies at age 50.[45]
- May 21: Mel Casson, American comics artist (Jeff Crockett, Sparky, Angel, co-worked on Mixed Singles (later titled Boomer), continued Redeye), dies at age 87.[46]
- May 27: Ed Arno, American comics artist, cartoonist, caricaturist and illustrator (worked for Urzica, Krokodil and The New Yorker), dies at age 91.[47]
June
- June 5: Pete Tumlinson, American comics artist (Kid Colt), dies at age 87.[48]
- June 8: Vladimiro Missaglia, aka Miro, Italian comics artist and animator (I Tre Marines, Kali), dies at age 75.[49]
- June 27: Michael Turner, American comics artist (worked for DC Comics), dies at age 37 from bone cancer.[50]
July
- July 17: Creig Flessel, American comics artist (Sandman, Shining Knight), dies at age 96.[51]
August
- August 2: Fujio Akatsuka, Japanese manga artist (Tensai Bakabon, Osomatsu-kun), dies at age 72.[52]
- August 5: Jack Kamen, American comics artist (worked for EC Comics), dies at age 88.[53]
- August 6: Arnold H. Clerkx, Dutch comics artist (Ling Khi Tong, Joessoef), dies at age 88.[54]
- August 7:
- Eugênio Colonnese, Italian-Brazilian comics artist (Mylar, O Homem Mistério, Superargo, Pele de Cobra, O Morto do Pântano, Mirza, a mulher vampiro), dies at age 78.[55]
- Stefan Nagy, Swedish comics artist (Fritz von Flaxen, Ödeshandsken, It, Dark World, Carnak & Denim), dies at age 56 or 57.[56]
- August 13: Martin Berthommier, French comic artist (Touffu), dies at age .[57]
- August 15: Carlos Meglia, Argentine animator and comics artist (Irish Coffee, Cybersix, Canari), dies at age 50.[58]
September
- September 2: Bill Melendez, American animator (Walt Disney Company, Peanuts animated features), dies at age 91.[59]
- September 15: Gedeone Malagola, Brazilian comics artist (Raio Negro, Hydroman, Homem Lua), dies at age 84.[60]
- September 26: Raymond Macherot, Belgian comics artist (Chlorophylle, Clifton, Sibylline), dies at age 91.[61]
October
- October 15: Guus Boissevain, aka Gub, Dutch comics artist (Piet Pelle, Snuf en de Grollenburgers, Bliep en Barthold, also worked for the Dutch edition of Mad), dies at age 79.[62]
- October 16: Mark Buck, American comics artist, dies at age 41 in a motorcycle accident.[63]
- October 20:
- Les Barton, British comics artist (continued Billy Bunter), dies at age 84.[64]
- Ken Hunter, British comics artist (Jeff and Bill Star in the kingdom of Zero, Barney's Barmy Army, Mr. Licko and His Lollipops), dies at age 91 or 92.[65]
- October 31: Mongo Sisé, Congolese comics artist (Mata Mata et Pili Pili, Bingo, Tchindé), dies from a stroke at age 60.[66]
November
- November 11: Lasse Sandberg, Swedish comics artist and illustrator (Ångvälten Andersson, Vilde Viktor, Gojan Patrik, Orädda Oskar, Idrottsmannen Eskil), dies at age 84.[67]
- November 15:
- Janusz Christa, Polish comic artist (Kajtek i Koko, Kajko and Kokosz), dies at age 74 [68]
- Cláudio Seto, aka Chuji Seto Takeguma, Brazilian comics artist (María Erótica, O Samurai), dies at age 64.[69]
- November 17: Guy Peellaert, Belgian painter, album cover designer, illustrator and comics artist (Les Aventures de Jodelle, Pravada la Surviveuse, The Game, SHE and the Green Rairs), dies from cancer at age 74.[70]
- November 25: Sergio Rosi, Italian comics artist (Simonetta, Il Principe Scimmiotto, Cochito, Volpetto, Mustafà, Ramirez & Gonzales, Bill Revolver, Jacula), dies at an unknown age.[71]
- November 28: Enrico De Seta, Italian comics artist, cartoonist and caricaturist (Giovanni-qui-obéit, Bacù), dies at age 100.[72]
- November 28: Leon Lazarus, American comics writer and editor (worked for Marvel Comics), dies at age 89.
December
- December 4: Fritz Behrendt, German-Dutch political cartoonist, dies at age 83.[73]
- December 6: Gérard Lauzier, French comics artist (Tranches de Vie, Al Crane), dies at age 76.[74]
- December 11: Maddie Blaustein, American comic writer (Milestone Media), dies at age 48.
- December 16: Vic Donahue, American comics artist (comics about scientific subjects), dies at age 90.[75]
- December 23: Pietro Gamba, Italian comics artist (continued Kinowa, Pecos Bill), dies at age 83.[76]
Specific date unknown
- Rik Jottier, Belgian comics artist and illustrator (Wopsie: De Avonturen van een Bewaarengeltje), dies at age 81 or 82.[77]
- Marits Rietdijk, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (comics for motorcycle magazines), dies at age 87 or 88.[78]
- Lui Yu-tin (also spelled as Louie Yu Tin), Chinese comics artist (Wu-lung Wong, aka King of Blunders), dies at age 80 or 81.[79]
Exhibitions
- September 9–December 5 (Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, New York City) — Kim Deitch retrospective[80]
- November 8, 2008 – January 10, 2009 (Brooklyn Public Library — Central Library) — "The Art of Politics" by Randy Jones (with work from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Newsday, as well as illustrations from the Inner Circle Program, a charity show presented by journalists who cover New York City Hall)[81][82]
- November 8, 2008 – January 10, 2009 (Brooklyn Public Library — Central Library) — "A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge" by Josh Neufeld, including a section detailing the process from script to final art.[81]
- November 8, 2008 – January 10, 2009 (Brooklyn Public Library — Central Library) — "Clip-Art Comics" by David Rees[82][81]
- November 17–21 (Istituto Italiano di Cultura; Cultural Services of the French Embassy; School of Visual Arts; MoCCA (Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art); La Maison Française/NYU; Prague Kolektiv, New York City) — "Graphic Novels from Europe" (exhibitions of and discussions with Igort, David Mazzucchelli, Nicolas de Crécy, David B., Isabel Kreitz, Max, Jaroslav Rudiš, and Jaromír 99)