comics
a medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, captions, and onomatopoeia can indicate ...
-related events in 2020. It includes any relevant comics-related events, deaths of notable comics-related people, conventions and first issues by title.
Events
January
* January 20: Legendary comics writer René Goscinny receives a statue in Paris. He is the first comics artist to be honoured this way in the French capital.
* January 28: A cartoon by Niels Bo Bojesen in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten causes a diplomatic incident with the Chinese embassy for depicting the
Chinese flag
The National Flag of the People's Republic of China, also known as the Five-star Red Flag, is a Chinese red field with five golden stars charged at the canton. The design features one large star, with four smaller stars in an arc set off tow ...
, with its yellow stars depicting the
coronavirus
Coronaviruses are a group of related RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans and birds, they cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal. Mild illnesses in humans include some cases of the com ...
particles.
* January 29: Dutch comics artist Wasco wins the Stripschapprijs. On 8 February it is announced that Bas Schuddeboom and Kjell Knudde, editors of the comics encyclopedia website Comiclopedia, connected to the Amsterdam comics store
Lambiek
Galerie Lambiek is a Dutch comic book store and art gallery in Amsterdam, founded on November 8, 1968 by Kees Kousemaker (, – Bussum, ), though since 2007, his son Boris Kousemaker is the current owner. From 1968 to 2015, it was located ...
, win the P. Hans Frankfurther Prize.
February
* February 4: Belgian cartoonist Lectrr causes a diplomatic incident with the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Belgium and Luxemburg by drawing the
Chinese flag
The National Flag of the People's Republic of China, also known as the Five-star Red Flag, is a Chinese red field with five golden stars charged at the canton. The design features one large star, with four smaller stars in an arc set off tow ...
and replacing the yellow stars with 'danger' symbol(s).
* February 23:
** The final episode of Norm Feuti's '' Retail'' is published.
** Chris Yambar and Randy Bish launch a revival of Richard F. Outcault's classic newspaper comic character '' The Yellow Kid'', albeit in comic book format.
Diamond Comic Distributors
Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. (often called Diamond Comics, DCD, or casually Diamond) is an American comic book distributor serving retailers in North America and worldwide. They transport comic books and graphic novels, as well as other po ...
stops sending comics to retail shops until further notice. Issues of comics with United States release dates of April 1 or later, and with United Kingdom release dates of March 25 or later, will not be shipped until normal operations resume."Largest US comics distributor won't ship new books 'until further notice' due to coronavirus" Polygon.com. Accessed Mar. 24, 2020.
* March 28: The final daily episode of Bob Weber's '' Moose & Molly'' is published. The final Sunday episode appears on 5 April. On 17 October of the same year Weber dies.
April
* April 1: '' De Kiekeboes'' are from now on drawn digitally rather than by hand. Creator Merho passes his pencil on to his successors: Kristof Fagard and Steve Van Bael, though keeps writing the scripts.
May
* May 7: To support comics stores who had to close down several months due to the COVID-19 pandemiclockdown various Dutch and Flemish comics artists release a free collective comic book titled ''Striphelden versus Corona'', which is handed out in stores to everybody who buys a comic for minimum 15 euro.
* May 20: For the first time since his retirement in 2002, Paul Geerts presents a new '' Suske en Wiske'' story, drawn by himself: ''De Preutse Prinses''. The title was set to be presented in March, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the release had to be postponed.
June
* June 5: DC Comics announces that they will discontinue their distribution through
Diamond Comic Distributors
Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. (often called Diamond Comics, DCD, or casually Diamond) is an American comic book distributor serving retailers in North America and worldwide. They transport comic books and graphic novels, as well as other po ...
and instead have their comics distributed through Penguin Random House, USC Comic Distributors and Lunar Distribution instead."DC Cuts Ties with Diamond Comic Distributors" Hollywoodreporter.com. Accessed Jun. 5, 2020.
* June 10: At age 99 Al Jaffee retires from the comics industry. Mad Magazine releases a thematic special, which features his final fold-in.
July
* July 1: The second posthumous '' The Adventures of Nero'' story, ''De Toet van Tut'', starts serialisation in ''Knack'', scripted by Willy Linthout and drawn by
Luc Cromheecke
Luc Cromheecke (born 2 August 1961), is a Belgium, Belgian comics artist best known for the comic series ''Tom Carbon'', ''Taco Zip'', ''Roboboy'' and ''Plunk''.
Biography
Luc Cromheecke was born in Antwerp in 1961.De Weyer, Geert (2005). "Luc Cr ...
.
* July 13: The final episode of '' Doc and Raider'' is published. Three weeks later, creator Sean Martin dies from pancreatic cancer.
* July 26: The final episode of Jan Eliot's ''
Stone Soup
Stone Soup is a European folk story in which hungry strangers convince the people of a town to each share a small amount of their food in order to make a meal that everyone enjoys, and exists as a moral regarding the value of sharing. In varyin ...
De Telegraaf
''De Telegraaf'' (; en, The Telegraph) is the largest Dutch daily morning newspaper. Haro Kraak,Gaat Paul Jansen de crisis bij De Telegraaf oplossen?, '' de Volkskrant'', 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015. Paul Jansen has been the editor-in-chief s ...
.
September
* September 2: In the Central Station of Brussels, Belgium, the ceiling fresco depicting The Smurfs, which was inaugurated in 2018, collapses due to a water leak.
* September 17: Belgian comics scholar Pascal Lefèvre receives an honorary doctorate at the
University of Malmö
A university () is an educational institution, institution of higher education, higher (or Tertiary education, tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. Universities ty ...
, Sweden.
* September 22: Dutch cartoonist Len Munnik wins his second Inktspotprijs for ''Best Political Cartoon''. The first time happened in 1996.
October
* October 2:
** During the Stripdagen in
Haarlem
Haarlem (; predecessor of ''Harlem'' in English) is a city and municipality in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland. Haarlem is situated at the northern edge of the Randstad, one of the most populated metropoli ...
Herman Roozen is named the new Dutch ''Stripmaker des Vaderlands'' (''Comics Laureate of the Netherlands'').
** During the Stripdagen in Haarlem Bas Schuddeboom and Kjell Knudde, writers and editors of
Lambiek
Galerie Lambiek is a Dutch comic book store and art gallery in Amsterdam, founded on November 8, 1968 by Kees Kousemaker (, – Bussum, ), though since 2007, his son Boris Kousemaker is the current owner. From 1968 to 2015, it was located ...
's comics encyclopedia Comiclopedia, receive the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs.
* Johnny Sampson makes his first fold-in for Mad.
November
* November 29: Jan Godschalk and Ton Kooreman win the annual Bulletje en Boonestaakschaal.
December
* December 13: Frank von Hebel and Fred de Heij create a homage story to Pieter Kuhn's classic comic '' Kapitein Rob'', which is serialized in Het Parool, 75 years after the character's debut in the paper. Since 1966 no official new stories of this series had been published.
Wiedźmin
''The Witcher'' ( pl, Wiedźmin ) is a series of six fantasy novels and 15 short stories written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The series revolves around the eponymous "witcher", Geralt of Rivia. In Sapkowski's works, "witchers" are b ...
''), dies at age 78.
* January 7: Tobias Tak, Dutch comics artist (''Gaboon'', ''Zizmo the cat''), dies at age 65.
* January 11:
Steve Stiles
Stephen Willis Stiles (July 16, 1943 – January 11, 2020) was an American cartoonist and writer, coming out of the science fiction fanzine tradition. He won the 2016 Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist.
Early life and education
Steven Willis Stil ...
, American comics artist (''The Adventures of Professor Thintwhistle and His Incredible Aether Flyer'', ''
Xenozoic Tales
''Xenozoic Tales'' is an alternative comic book by Mark Schultz set in a post-apocalyptic future. Originally published by Kitchen Sink Press, the series began in 1986 with the story "Xenozoic!" which was included in the horror comics anthology ...
''), dies at age 76.
* January 14: Jacques Stoll, French animator and comics artist (''Colonel Nightingale'', ''Bing et Boing''), dies at an unknown age.
* January 19: Pirana, Belgian cartoonist and comics artist (''Mevrouw Dallemans''), dies at age 72 from euthanasia.
* January 20:
Wolfgang J. Fuchs
Wolfgang J. Fuchs (16 September 1945 – 20 January 2020) was a German nonfiction author, journalist, comics scholar, comics author, comics translator and film expert. He co-wrote the first standard work in German on comics as an art form, publis ...
, German author, historian (co-author of ''Anatomie eines Massenmediums'' and ''Comics-Handbuch'' with Reinhold Reitberger ) and comic book translator, dies at age 74.
* January 25: Horst Alisch, German illustrator, animator and comics artist (''Bürokrates, Sohn des Pedantes'', ''Ali und Archibald'', ''Emmy'' and ''Käpt'n Lütt''), dies at age 94.
* January 30: Bill Canfield, American sports cartoonistst, dies at age 99.
* Specific date unknown: Raymond Larrett, aka Norman Dog, American illustrator and comics artist (''Bad Habits''), dies at an unknown age.
February
* February 3: Philippe Adamov, French illustrator, animator and comics artist (''Seule au Monde'', ''Le Vent des Dieux'', ''Dayak'', ''L'Impératrice Rouge'', ''Le Malédiction de Zener'', ''Dakota''), dies at age 63.
* February 8: Victor Gorelick, American comic book editor (''
Archie Comics
Archie Comic Publications, Inc., is an American comic book publisher headquartered in Pelham, New York.Claire Bretécher, French comics artist (''
Les Frustrés
''Les Frustrés'' is a comic strip series by the French writer Claire Bretécher, published from 1973 to 1981 in the center-left weekly ''Le Nouvel Observateur'', in line with ''Salades de saison'' published in Pilote from 1971 to 1973.
''Les Fru ...
'', ''Hector'', ''Agrippine'', ''Celullite'') and editor (co-founder of '' L'Écho des Savanes''), dies at age 79.
* February 12: Hubert Boulard aka Hubert, French comics writer (''Le Legs de l'alchimiste'', ''Miss Pas Touche'', ''Beauté'', ''Les Ogres-Dieux'') and colorist, dies at age 49.
* February 21: Nick Cuti, American comics writer ('' E-Man'', ''Michael Mauser'', ''Captain Cosmos''), editor, animator and artist (''Moonchild''), dies at age 75.
* Specific date unknown: Alice Schenker, American underground comix and poster publisher ('' Print Mint Press''), dies at age 88.
March
* March 2:
** Abdullah Turhan, Turkish comics artist (''Uzun Kılıçlı Kahraman'', ''Kara Murat'', ''Tolga'', ''Burak Bey''), dies at age 87.
**
Suat Yalaz
Suat Yalaz (1 January 1932 – 2 March 2020) was a Turkish comic book artist, foremost known as the creator of the character Karaoğlan. He has also produced films based on his creation.
Early career
Graduated from Istanbul Academy of Fine ...
, Turkish comics artist ('' Karaoğlan''), dies at age 88.
* March 4:
**
Helen Courtney
Helen Kathleen Courtney (5 June 1952 – 4 March 2020) was a New Zealand cartoonist and illustrator, known for her work on ''Broadsheet''.
Life
Of Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and Te Āti Awa descent, Courtney grew up in ...
, New Zealand cartoonist (made cartoons for
Broadsheet
A broadsheet is the largest newspaper format and is characterized by long Vertical and horizontal, vertical pages, typically of . Other common newspaper formats include the smaller Berliner (format), Berliner and Tabloid (newspaper format), ta ...
Brenda Starr, Reporter
''Brenda Starr, Reporter'' (often referred to simply as ''Brenda Starr'') is a comic strip about a glamorous, adventurous reporter. It was created in 1940 by Dale Messick for the Chicago Tribune Syndicate.
History
Although set in Chicago, ''B ...
André Chéret
André Chéret (27 June 1937 – 5 March 2020) was a French comic book artist. He is best known for creating '' Rahan'' in 1969 alongside Roger Lécureux.
Biography
Chéret was placed in the care of farmers in Allier during World War II. Passion ...
, French comics artist ('' Rahan'', ''Domino'', ''Protéo'', continued ''Bob Mallard''), dies at age 82.
* March 9: Allen Bellman, American comics artist and one of the last living
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books describes an era of American comic books from 1938 to 1956. During this time, modern comic books were first published and rapidly increased in popularity. The superhero archetype was created and many well-known char ...
artists (continued ''
Captain America
Captain America is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by cartoonists Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, the character First appearance, first appeared in ''#Golden Age, Captain America Comics'' #1 (cover ...
''), dies at age 96.
* March 13: René Follet, Belgian illustrator and comics artist (''Steve Steverin'', continued ''Valhardi''), dies at age 88.
* March 18: Erwin Drèze, Belgian comics artist (''Les Aventures de Louis Valmont'', assisted on ''Lefranc''), dies at age 59 from a brain tumor.
* March 19: Roman Arámbula, Mexican animator and comics artist (
Disney comics
Disney comics are comic books and comic strips featuring characters created by the Walt Disney Company, including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge.
The first Disney comics were newspaper strips appearing from 1930 on, starting with ...
, continued the ''
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is an animated cartoon Character (arts), character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The longtime mascot of The Walt Disney Company, Mickey is an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic mouse who typically wears red sho ...
'' newspaper comic), dies at age 83.
* March 20:
**
François Dermaut
François Dermaut (9 November 1949 – 19 March 2020) was a French comic book artist. He is particularly well known for the series ''Les Chemins de Malefosse''.
Biography
Dermaut studied drawing at the Institut Saint-Luc de Tournai. He began his ...
, aka Franjack, French comics artist (''Les Chemins de Malefosse'', ''Souvenirs de Toussaint''), dies at age 71.
**
Giovanni Romanini
Giovanni Romanini (Bologna, 27 December 1945 – Bologna, 20 March 2020) was an Italian comic artist and cartoonist noted for collaboration with Magnus (pen name of Roberto Raviola).
Biography
He began his career in animated cinema, also workin ...
, Italian animator and comics artist (continued ''
Kriminal
''Kriminal'' is an Italian comics series featuring an eponymous fictional character, created in 1964 by Magnus and Max Bunker, the authors of '' Alan Ford'', '' Maxmagnus'' and ''Satanik''.
Characters
Kriminal is an English master thief, Anthon ...
Disney comics
Disney comics are comic books and comic strips featuring characters created by the Walt Disney Company, including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge.
The first Disney comics were newspaper strips appearing from 1930 on, starting with ...
), dies at age 75 from a heart attack.
* March 24:
**
Juan Padrón
Juan Manuel Padrón Blanco (January 29, 1947 – March 24, 2020) was a Cuban animation director and comics artist, best known as the creator of the comic strip ''Elpidio Valdés''.
He was born in Matanzas. From 1963 he published sketches and car ...
, Cuban animator and comics artist ('' Elpidio Valdés''), dies at age 73.
** Albert Uderzo, French comics artist (''Jehan Pistolet'', ''
Oumpah-pah
''Oumpah-pah le Peau-Rouge'' (''Ompa-pa the Redskin'') is a comics series created by comics artist Albert Uderzo and comics author René Goscinny, best known as the creators of Asterix. The series first appeared in the weekly ''Tintin'' magaz ...
'', '' Astérix'', '' Tanguy et Laverdure''), dies at age 92 from a heart attack.
* March 27:
** Daniel Azulay, Brazilian TV host and comics artist (''Capitão Sol'', ''Capitão Cipó'', ''Turma do Lambe-Lambe''), dies at age 72 from COVID-19.
* March 31:
** Emmanuel Malot, aka Malotruf, French comics artist (''Contes des 1001 Vies - 7 Destins'', ''L'Étoile Miraculeuse''), dies at age 51 from COVID-19.
** Valeer Peirsman, Belgian sculptor (sculpted many statues of comics characters, among others for the Comics Route in Middelkerke), dies at age 87.
April
* April 2: Juan Giménez, Argentine comics artist ('' Metabarons''), dies at age 76 from COVID-19.
* April 4:
** Dale Crain, American comics artist (archive editor of DC Comics, worked on '' Thor''), dies at an unknown age.
** Arnold Heertje, Dutch economist and comics writer (wrote ''De Geschiedenis van het Geld'', illustrated by
Peter de Smet
Peter de Smet (4 July 1944, Amsterdam – 6 January 2003, Amsterdam) was a Dutch comic-strip artist. He was the author of '' De Generaal'' ("The General").
From the 1960s onwards de Smet worked as an artist in advertising and started drawing c ...
), dies at age 86.
** Rao Pingru, Chinese illustrator and comics artist ('' Our Story''), dies at age 97 or 98.
* April 8: Mort Drucker, American comics artist, illustrator and caricaturist (the film and TV parodies in Mad Magazine, ''Benchley''), dies at age 91.
* April 12: Albert Roch, aka Béoc, Belgian comics artist (''Patrick, Le Petit Irlandais'', ''Dudule''), dies at age 90.
* April 16:
**
Gene Deitch
Eugene Merril Deitch (August 8, 1924 – April 16, 2020) was an American illustrator, animator, comics artist, and film director who was based in Prague from the 1960s until his death in 2020. Deitch was known for creating animated cartoons ...
, American animator, animated film director and comics artist (''The Cat'', ''Terr'ble Thompson'', ''Maly Svet''), dies at age 95.
** Tonet Timmermans, Belgian illustrator and comics artist (''Genoveva van Brabant''), dies at age 94.
* April 26:
Jean-Claude Pertuzé
Jean-Claude Pertuzé (11 September 1949 – 26 April 2020) was a French comic book artist, illustrator, and writer.
Publications
Comics in the Press
*''L’Ort vert, Haga'' (1974)
*'' Métal hurlant'' (1978, 1979, 1980)
*''Les histoires de Pap ...
, French comics artist, dies at age 70.
May
* May 2: Armando Huerta, Mexican-American illustrator, pin-up artist and comic artist (contributed to the ''Double Impact'' series), commits suicide at age 50.
* May 10: Martin Pasko, Canadian-American comics writer (wrote for ''
Superman
Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (cover-dated June 1938 and publi ...
'', ''
Batman
Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...
Star Trek
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...
'' comics), dies at age 61.
* May 12: Frank Bolle, American comics artist (''Children's Tales'', ''Debbie Deere'', ''Quick Quiz'', continued '' Winnie Winkle'', '' The Heart of Juliet Jones'' and '' Apartment 3-G''), dies at age 95.
* May 18: Jennifer Kisler, British comics artist (continued '' Rupert Bear''), dies at age 84.
* May 21: Lluís Juste De Nin, aka L'Esquerrà, El Zurdo, Spanish comics artist, caricaturist and illustrator (''La Norma'', ''Petant La Xerrada'', ''ELS NIN''), dies at age 74 or 75.
* May 29:
Eric Schreurs
Eric Schreurs (15 September 1958 in Leiden – 29 May 2020 in Leiden) was a Dutch cartoonist. He was the winner of the 2002 Stripschapprijs. He is most famous for his long-running humor comics series ''Joop Klepzeiker'', which had satirical elemen ...
, Dutch comics artist (''Joop Klepzeiker'', ''Dick van Bill''), dies from heart failure at age 61.
* Specific date in May unknown:
** Frank B. Johnson, American comics artist ('' Boner's Ark'', ''Beany'', ''Miss Caroline'', ''Einstein'', continued '' Bringing Up Father''), dies at age 89.
** Richard Sala, American comics artist, illustrator and animator (''The Chuckling Whatsit'', ''Evil Eye''), dies at age 65.Dean, Michael "Richard Sala 1955-2020," ''The Comics Journal'' (MAY 12, 2020).
June
* June 10: Murray Olderman, American sports cartoonist, dies at age 98.
* June 11: Dennis O'Neil, American comics writer ( Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Charlton Comics), dies at age 81.
* June 24: Ralph Dunagin, American comics writer ('' The Middletons'', continued '' Grin and Bear It'', ''The Girls'') and comics artist (''Dunagin's People''), dies at age 83.
* June 25: Joe Sinnott, American comics artist and inker ( Marvel Comics), dies at age 93.
* June 26: Milton Glaser, American graphic designer (designed the logo for DC Comics between 1977 and 2005), dies at age 91.
July
* July 1: Marc Alberich Lluís, Spanish comics artist and animator (''Don Pankracio, el Yayo Punk''), dies at age 49.
* July 2: Jiro Kuwata, Japanese comics/manga artist ('' 8 Man''), dies at age 85.
* July 30–31: Concepció Zendrera Tomás, Catalan-Spanish comics translator (translator of '' The Adventures of Tintin'' into Catalan, inspired a biographical comic about her life, drawn by David Maynar ), dies at age 100.
August
* August 3: Sean Martin, Canadian comics artist and graphic artist ('' Doc and Raider''), dies at age 59 from pancreatic cancer.
* August 10: Laurent Vicomte, French comics artist (''La Balade au Bout du Monde'', ''Sasmira''), dies at age 64.
* August 11:
Edmond Kiraz
Edmond Kiraz, born Kirazian (25 August 1923 – 11 August 2020) was an Egyptian-born French-Armenian cartoonist and illustrator.
Biography
Born in Cairo of Armenian descent, Kiraz began his career as a political cartoonist at 17 (without arti ...
, Egyptian-French comics artist (''Line'', ''Les Parisiennes'', erotic cartoons in Playboy), dies at age 96.
* August 13: Harald Stricker, Brazilian illustrator, podcaster and comics artist (''Independência ou Mortos''), dies at age 47.
* August 14:
Svetozar Obradović
Svetozar Obradović Toza (12 November 1950 – 15 August 2020) was a Serbian writer, best known for his comic books. He also wrote articles, essays, stories, books and radio dramas.
Professional career
Obradović debuted with ''Lieutenant Tara ...
, Serbian novelist, radio scriptwriter and comics writer (''Lieutenant Tara'', ''
Cat Claw
Cat Claw is a Fictional character, fictional comic book superhero created by Serbian artist Branislav Kerac and writer Svetozar Obradović.
History
In the early 1980s, the publisher Dečje novine and editor Sibin Slavković called for comic strip ...
'', '' Kobra''), dies at age 69.
* August 17: Claude Laverdure, Belgian comics artist (assistant of Edouard Aidans and Chris Lamquet, drew a biographical comic about
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger, comte de Saint-Exupéry, simply known as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (, , ; 29 June 1900 – 31 July 1944), was a French writer, poet, aristocrat, journalist and pioneering aviator. He became a laureate of s ...
), dies at age 73.
* August 23:
** André-Paul Duchâteau, Belgian novelist, dramatist, radio and TV scriptwriter and comics writer (''
Chick Bill
''Chick Bill'' is a Belgian humorous Western comic book series created by Tibet. It was first published in 1953 in the magazine ''Chez Nous Junior'', and its Dutch language counterpart '' Ons Volkske'', and began serial publication on October 1 ...
Rolf Gohs
Rolf Ernst Gohs (26 October 1933 – 23 August 2020) was a Swedish comic creator. He was born in Estonia but moved to Sweden in 1946.
Acclaimed mostly for his artwork, Gohs usually writes his own stories as well. Early works such as ''Mannen fr� ...
, Swedish comic creator and cover artist (''
Fantomen
''The Phantom'' is an American adventure comic strip, first published by Lee Falk in February 1936. The main character, the Phantom, is a fictional costumed crime-fighter who operates from the fictional African country of Bangalla. The charact ...
'', ''Mystika 2:an'', ''Blodsmak''), dies at age 86.
September
* September 1: Jimmy Janes, American comics artist (''Legion of Super-Heroes''), dies at age 73.
* September 6: Bob Fujitani, American comics artist (''Judge Wright'', continued ''
Rip Kirby
''Rip Kirby'' is an American comic strip created by Alex Raymond and Ward Greene featuring the adventures of private detective Rip Kirby. The strip ran from 1946 to 1999 and was in the hands of artist John Prentice for more than 40 years.
Publ ...
''), dies at age 98.
* September 13: Bruno Madaule, French comics artist (''Eglantine et Diégo'', ''Les Givrés'', ''Les Blagues Suisses'', ''Les Winners''), dies at age 49 from cancer.
* September 14: Fer, Spanish comics artist (''Puticlub'', ''El Urelio'', ''Historias Fermosas''), dies at age 71.
* September 20: John Allen, American cartoonist (''Undissolved Mysteries''), dies from brain cancer at an unknown age.
* September 21: Ron Cobb, American cartoonist, animator, film set designer, TV director and scriptwriter, dies at age 83.
* September 30: Quino, Argentine comics artist ('' Mafalda''), dies at age 88.
October
* October 13: Yves Thos, French painter and illustrator (illustrated magazine covers for Pilote and for comic book album covers of series like '' Redbeard'' and '' Tanguy et Laverdure''), dies at age 85.
* October 17: Bob Weber Sr., American comics artist ('' Moose & Molly'', assisted on '' Winthrop'') and writer ('' Barney Google and Snuffy Smith''), dies at age 86.
* October 20: Alex Varenne, French comics writer and artist (''Ardeur'', ''Erma Jaguar''), dies at age 81.
* October 22:
Richard Lupoff
Richard Allen Lupoff (February 21, 1935 – October 22, 2020) was an American science-fiction and mystery fiction, mystery author, who also wrote humor, satire, nonfiction and reviews. In addition to his two dozen novels and more than 40 sh ...
, aka Dick Lupoff, American novelist, writer and comics writer (''The Adventures of Professor Thintwhistle and His Incredible Aether Flyer'' ), dies at age 85.
* October 26: Jean-Pierre Autheman, French comics artist (''Condor'', ''Vic Valence'', ''Zip Zap''), dies at age 73.
* October 28: Ward Zwart, Belgian comics artist (''Wolven'', ''Ik Kom van Ver Maar Blijf Niet Te Lang''),dies at age 35.
November
* November 4: Pascal Somon, French illustrator and comics artist (convicted for making illegal '' Tintin'' parodies), dies at age 60.
* November 6: Miguel Quesada Cerdán, Spanish comic artist (''Kormax'', ''Pacho Dinamite'', continued ''Pantera Negra''), dies at age 77.
* November 9: Ro Marcenaro, Swiss-Italian animator and comics artist (made a comics version of '' The Communist Manifesto''), dies at age 83.
* November 12: Piem, French cartoonist (''Monsieur Pépin'', ''Turlupin''), dies at age 97.
* November 13: Emil V. Abrahamian, American comics artist (''Stumpy Stumbler'', ''The Spacers'', ''Space Shots'', ''Impressions'', ''Animal Chatter'', ''The Sports File'', ''Endangered Animals and Their Environment''), dies at age 94.
* November 17: Arco van Os, Dutch editor/chief editor of the comics magazine Stripschrift, publisher of the company Stripstift, festival director of De Stripdagen comics festival (2005-2014), dies at age 58 from a heart attack.
* November 20:
** Ivo Pavone, Italian comics artist (continued ''
Sergeant Kirk
Sergeant Kirk or Sgt. Kirk ( es, El Sargento Kirk) is the main character of the Western comics series of the same title by Italian comic book creator Hugo Pratt and Argentine author Héctor Germán Oesterheld.
''), dies at age 91.
** Takao Yaguchi, Japanese manga artist ('' Fisherman Sanpei''), dies at age 81.
* Specific date in November unknown: Jon Davis, British illustrator and comics artist (comics based on '' Thunderbirds''), dies at an unknown age.
December
* December 2: Richard Corben, American animator, illustrator, comics writer, comics artist (''Rolf'', '' Den'', '' Bloodstar'', '' Rip in Time'') and colorist, dies at age 80.
* December 10: Karel Driesen, Belgian comics events organizer (''Stripcentrum Driesen''), dies at age 73 from COVID-21.
* December 11: Malik, Belgian comics artist (''Archie Cash'', '' Cupidon''), dies at age 72 in a house fire.
* December 17:
Doug Crane
Douglas P. Crane (June 15, 1935 – December 17, 2020) was an American animator.
Life and career
Crane was born on June 15, 1935, in Bronxville, New York. He was one of eight kids in his family. "Often, it could be pretty tough trying to get my ...
, American comics artist (worked on '' Tower Comics'', ''
Archie Comics
Archie Comic Publications, Inc., is an American comic book publisher headquartered in Pelham, New York.DC Comics'') and animator, dies at age 85.
* December 28:
Arthur Berckmans
Arthur Berckmans (3 May 1929 – 28 December 2020), better known as Berck, was a Belgian comics author, best known for '' Sammy''.
Biography
Arthur Berckmans was born in Leuven in 1929.De Weyer, Geert (2005). "Berck". In België gestript, pp. ...
, aka Berck, Belgian comics artist ('' Sammy'', ''Strapontin'', ''Rataplan'', ''De Familie Nopkes'', ''De Donderpadjes'', ''Lowietje''), dies at age 91.
Exhibitions
* February 15–April 18: ''"Still... Racism in America: A Retrospective in Cartoons"'' (Medialia Gallery, New York City) — 100+ cartoons by the African American father-daughter cartoonists Brumsic Brandon Jr. and
Barbara Brandon-Croft
Barbara Brandon-Croft (born November 27, 1958) is an American cartoonist, best known for creating the comic strip ''Where I'm Coming From'', and for being the first nationally syndicated African-American female cartoonist.
Early life
Brandon-Cro ...
Trinidad Escobar
Trinidad Escobar is an author, poet, and cartoonist active in the San Francisco Bay Area, and an educator at the California College of the Arts.
Her work has been published in ''The Nib'', ''The Brooklyn Review'', ''Walang Hiya'', and ''Mythi ...
Emil Ferris
Emil Ferris (; born 1962) is an American writer, cartoonist, and designer. Ferris debuted in publishing with her 2017 graphic novel ''My Favorite Thing Is Monsters''. The novel tells a coming-of-age story of Karen Reyes, a girl growing in 1960s C ...
Alitha Martinez
Alitha E. Martinez is an American comic book artist best known for her work on for Marvel Comics's ''Iron Man'', the '' Heroes'' webcomics, and DC's ''Batgirl''. Over the course of her career she has worked for all the major comic book publishe ...
Ann Telnaes
Ann Carolyn Telnaes (born 1960) is an American editorial cartoonist. She creates editorial cartoons in various media—animation, visual essays, live sketches, and traditional print—for the Washington Post. She also contributes to T ...
Jen Wang
Jennifer Sheena "Jen" Wang (born March 22, 1984) is an American cartoonist, writer and illustrator based in Los Angeles. Wang has published graphic books including ''Koko Be Good,'' ''In Real Life'' (with Cory Doctorow), and '' The Prince and th ...
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding in ...
*January 19: Pasadena Comic Con,
Pasadena, California
Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district.
I ...
*January 25: FrankfortCon,
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, United States, and the seat of Franklin County. It is a home rule-class city; the population was 28,602 at the 2020 census. Located along the Kentucky River, Frankfort is the prin ...
*January 25–26: CalComicCon,
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa (; Spanish for "Table Coast") is a city in Orange County, California. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to an urban area including part of the South Coast Plaza–John Wa ...
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola () is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle, and the county seat and only incorporated city of Escambia County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 54,312. Pensacola is the principal ...
*February 29-March 1
**Lubbock-Con,
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock ( )
is the 10th-most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of government of Lubbock County. With a population of 260,993 in 2021, the city is also the 85th-most populous in the United States. The city is in the northw ...
**Fayetteville, Arkansas Comic Show,
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville () is the second-largest city in Arkansas, the county seat of Washington County, and the biggest city in Northwest Arkansas. The city is on the outskirts of the Boston Mountains, deep within the Ozarks. Known as Washington until ...
March
*March 1: Buckeye Comic Con,
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...
*March 6–8: Comic Con Liverpool, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
*March 7: ClarksvilleCon, Clarksville, Tennessee
*March 7–8: Tupelo Con,
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo () is a city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. With an estimated population of 38,300, Tupelo is the sixth-largest city in Mississippi and is considered a commercial, industrial, and cultural hub of North M ...
*March 12–15:
Emerald City Comic Con
The Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), formerly the Emerald City Comicon, is an annual comic book convention taking place in Seattle, Washington. Originally taking place at the city's Qwest Field (first at West Field Plaza, then at the Event Center), ...
, Seattle, Washington — RESCHEDULED AND THEN CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
*March 13–15
**NorthEast Comicon and Collectibles Extravaganza, Boxborough, Massachusetts
**La Mole Convention, ''Centro Citibanamex,'' Mexico City
*March 14–15: Quad Cities Comic Con,
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is a city in and the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The original Rock Island, from which the city name is derived, is now called Rock Island Arsenal, Arsenal Island. The popul ...
*March 15: Cleveland Comic Book and Nostalgia Show, Westlake, Ohio
*March 20–22
**Collective Con, Jacksonville, Florida
**Planet Comicon Kansas City,
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...
*March 21–22: Four State Comic-Con,
Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in Washington County, Maryland,
United States and the county seat of Washington County. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2020 census was 43,527, and the population of the Hagerstown metropolitan area (exten ...
*March 26–28: Lexington Comic and Toy Convention,
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, Fayette County. By population, it is the List of cities in Kentucky, second-largest city in Kentucky and List of United States cities by popul ...
*March 27–29
**Colorado Comic Con,
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since ...
** Fan Expo Dallas (Dallas, Texas) — POSTPONED to June and then CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
**Supernova Comic Con & Gaming, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia
* March 28: FLUKE Mini-Comics & Zine Festival (Athens, Georgia) — POSTPONED to September and then CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
April
*April 3–5
**Great Philadelphia Comic Con, Oaks, Pennsylvania
**Roanoke Valley Comicon,
Salem, Virginia
Salem is an independent city in the U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,346. It is the county seat of Roanoke County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combin ...
Indianapolis
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
** WonderCon (Anaheim, California) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
*April 11: Wilmington Geek Expo, Wilmington, North Carolina
* April 16–19: MegaCon I (Orlando, Florida) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
*April 17–19: El Paso Comic Con, El Paso, Texas
*April 24–26: South Texas Comic Con, McAllen, Texas
*April 25: Little Giant Old School Comics Show,
Concord, New Hampshire
Concord () is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Hampshire and the seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2020 census the population was 43,976, making it the third largest city in New Hampshire behind Manchester and Nashua.
The village of ...
*April 25–26
**Fayetteville Comic-Con,
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville () is a city in and the county seat of Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city.
Fayetteville has received the All-America C ...
**Arctic Comic-Con,
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage () is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alaska by population. With a population of 291,247 in 2020, it contains nearly 40% of the state's population. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the neighboring Ma ...
**Wales Comic-Con, Telford, United Kingdom
*April 26: Canton Toy, Comic Book, and Nostalgia Convention, North Canton, Ohio
Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus ( ) is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the town's population was 16,264,Motor City Comic Con
The Motor City Comic Con is a fan convention held in Novi, Michigan, United States, at the Suburban Collection Showplace. It is traditionally a three-day event (Friday through Sunday), usually held in May of each year. The Motor City Comic Con was ...
(Detroit, Michigan) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
*May 16: SNH Comic bash,
Nashua, New Hampshire
Nashua is a city in southern New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 91,322, the second-largest in northern New England after nearby Manchester, New Hampshire, Manchester. Along with Manc ...
Salem, Oregon
Salem ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County, Oregon, Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river ...
* June 4–7: MegaCon II (Orlando, Florida) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
*June 5–7: Niagara Falls Comicon, Niagara Falls, Ontario
* June 13–14:
Chicago Alternative Comics Expo
The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (widely known as CAKE) is a comic book festival usually held each June in Chicago. Inaugurated in 2012, the curated festival showcases graphic novels, comic books, minicomics, and zines created by independ ...
(CAKE) (Chicago, Illinois) — CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
*June 19–21:
** HeroesCon, Charlotte, North Carolina — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
**Supernova Comicon & Gaming,
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
, New South Wales, Australia
*June 20–21: Greater Austin Comic Con, Austin, Texas
*June 26–28: Supernova Comicon & Gaming, Perth, Western Australia
July
*July 3–5
**NorthEast Comicon and Collectibles Extravaganza, Boxborough, Massachusetts
** Fan Expo Denver, Denver — RESCHEDULED and then CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
*July 10–12
**Corpus Christi Comic-Con, Robstown, Texas
**Tampa Bay Comic Con, Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Florida
* July 11: ECBACC (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — IN-PERSON EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19; one-day virtual event held on this date
* July 11–12:
Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo
The Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo, or SPACE or S.P.A.C.E., is an annual convention in Columbus, Ohio, United States, for alternative comics, minicomics, and webcomics. Bob Corby founded the convention as a gathering place for "the com ...
(S.P.A.C.E.) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
* July 22–26: San Diego Comic-Con (San Diego, California) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
* July 30–August 2: GalaxyCon Raleigh (Raleigh, North Carolina) — RESCHEDULED AND THEN CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
*July 31-August 2: Atlanta Comic-Con, Atlanta
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding in ...
Dragon Con
Dragon Con (previously Dragon*Con and sometimes DragonCon) is a North American multigenre convention, founded in 1987, which takes place annually over the Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. , the convention draws attendance of over 80,000, f ...
(Atlanta, Georgia) — IN-PERSON EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC; rescheduled for the same dates as a virtual event
* September 11–13:
Rose City Comic Con
Rose City Comic Con (RCCC) is an annual comic book and pop culture convention that takes place in Portland, Oregon each September.
Was founded by Ron Brister and his partner Paula Brister while on a road trip to San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) in July ...
(Portland, Oregon) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
* September 12–13: Small Press Expo (Bethesda, Maryland) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC; Ignatz Awards ceremony held online
* September 17–19: FanX (Salt Lake City, Utah) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
* September 18–20: Big Texas Comicon (San Antonio, Texas) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
*September 19: Monroe Pop Fest, Monroe, Michigan
*September 19–20
**Granite State Comicon, Manchester, New Hampshire
**Harrisburg Comic & Pop Con,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in Pe ...
* September 25–27: L.A. Comic Con — RESCHEDULED to December and then CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Nashua, New Hampshire
Nashua is a city in southern New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 91,322, the second-largest in northern New England after nearby Manchester, New Hampshire, Manchester. Along with Manc ...
* October 8–11: New York Comic Con (New York City) — IN-PERSON EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC; rescheduled for the same dates as a virtual event called "New York Comic Con X MCM Comic Con Metaverse"
* October 16–18: SiliCon (San Jose, California) — IN-PERSON EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC; rescheduled for the same dates as a virtual event
*October 17–18
**Fayetteville Comic-Con,
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville () is a city in and the county seat of Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city.
Fayetteville has received the All-America C ...
**Massachusettes Expo Comic (MICE), Boston
* October 23–25:
Baltimore Comic-Con
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was ...
(Baltimore, Maryland) — IN-PERSON EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC; rescheduled for the same dates as a virtual event
*October 31-November 1: Vermont Fan Fest,
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the seat of Chittenden County. It is located south of the Canada–United States border and south of Montreal. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 44,743. It ...
November
*
Comic Arts Brooklyn
Comic Arts Brooklyn (CAB) is a comic book festival and art book fair organized by the comic book store Desert Island, held annually in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2013 as a successor to the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival (BCGF), CAB ...
(Brooklyn, New York) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
* November 6–8: Rhode Island Comic Con (Providence, Rhode Island) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
*November 7–8: Akron Comicon, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
*November 27–29: NorthEast Comicon and Collectibles Extravaganza, Boxborough, Massachusetts
December
*
Comic Arts Los Angeles
Comic Arts Los Angeles (abbreviated as CALA or Comic Arts LA) is a comic book festival held annually in Los Angeles, California. Inaugurated in 2014 at Think Tank Gallery, the festival showcases graphic novels, comic books, and zines created ...
(Los Angeles, California) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMICTeam CALA Comic Arts Los Angeles website (May 7, 2020). Retrieved March 21, 2021.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2020 In Comics
Comics
a medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, captions, and onomatopoeia can indicate ...