1991 in comics
Notable events of 1991 in comics.
Events
Year overall
- Publishers Cartoon Books, Comic Zone Productions, Personality Comics, and Boneyard Press all enter the arena; First Comics stops publishing.
- Egmont UK bought Fleetway Publications. They merge it with London Editions to form Fleetway Editions.
January
January 7: Big Nate debuts.- The Indian comics magazine Target discontinues Ajit Ninan's detective comic Detective Moochhwala.
- Checkmate is canceled by DC Comics with issue #33.El Diablo vol. 2 is canceled by DC with issue #16.Count Duckula is canceled by the Marvel Comics imprint Star Comics with issue #15.Alien Legion: On The Edge is canceled with issue #3.Avengers Spotlight is cancelled with #40.
February
February 24: The final episode of Ralph Graczak's Our Own Oddities is published. The Amazing Spider-Man #344 - First appearance of Cletus Kasady, who later becomes the super-villain Carnage.Frank by Jim Woodring debuts in the second issue of Buzz.New Mutants #98 - Introduction of Deadpool, Domino, and Gideon. Power Pack is canceled by Marvel with issue #62.Heathcliff is cancelled with issue #56.March
- "Weapon X" begins in Marvel Comics Presents.
- With #12, Stalkers is cancelled by Epic Comics.
- With #4, The Last American is cancelled by Epic Comics.
April
New Mutants #100, the title's final issue, featuring the debut of X-Force.- With #6 Cadillacs & Dinosaurs is cancelled.
- With #5, Hollywood Superstars is cancelled.
- First issue of Seth's PalookavilleNightcat a one-shot comic book published by Marvel featuring real-life singer Jacqueline Tavarez. Written by Barry Dutter and drawn by Denys Cowan and Jimmy Palmiotti. The cover art by Joe Jusko was also used on the compact disc and cassette tape release of Tavarez's music album.
May
May 11: The British girls' comics magazine Mandy merges with Judy.- W. B. Park receives the National Cartoonist Society Advertising and Illustration Award.Little Archie #1, relaunched as The New Little Archie that only ran for nine issues.
June
June 15: In Turnhout, Belgium, a statue of Adhemar is revealed, made by Frank-Ivo Van Damme.- The final issue of Françoise Mouly and Art Spiegelman's Raw is published.Armageddon 2001 crossover event.
July
July 13: René Windig and Eddie de Jong receive the Stripschapprijs. The Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten goes to publishing company Big Balloon.- In Brussels, Belgium, the first mural depicting a famous Belgian comics series, is inaugurated. This launches the Brussels' Comic Book Route project.Superman: The Man of Steel #1 - debut issue of fourth ongoing Superman title. Written by Louise Simonson and drawn by Jon Bogdanove, Tom Grummett, Bob McLeod, Dan Jurgens, Dennis Janke, Jerry Ordway, and Brett Breeding.Wizard publishes its premiere issue.
- The Marvel Comics event "Muir Island Saga" begins.
- With #10, Mighty Mouse is cancelled.
- With #80, The Transformers is cancelled by Marvel Comics.
- With #25, Yummy Fur moves to Drawn & Quarterly
August
New Gods vol. 3 is canceled by DC with issue #28.- With #19, Cloak & Dagger is cancelled.
September
Alpha Flight #100: "The Final Option, Part Four: Decisions of Trust," written by Fabian Nicieza.- With #2, Impossible Man Summer Vacation Spectacular is cancelled.
- With #4, Car Warriors is cancelled.
- With #3, Samurai Cat is cancelled.
- With #4, Damage Control v3 is cancelled.Everything's Archie is canceled by Archie Comics with issue #157.
October
- In the Dutch monthly magazine Doen, Marnix Rueb's comic series Haagse Harry makes its debut. It will grow from a cult hit into a nationally popular phenomenon. Crisis is canceled by Fleetway with issue #63.
- With #2, Legion of Night is cancelled.
- With #3, Terminator 2: Judgment Day is cancelled.
- With #4, Alpha Flight Special is cancelled.
- With #6, Sweet XVI is cancelled.
- With #10, Foolkiller v1 is cancelled.
November
November 21 - the Marathi comic strip Chintoo is first published.Alpha Flight #102: Introduction of Wild Child as Weapon Omega.Maze Agency is canceled by Innovation Comics with issue #23.- With #12, Marvel Comics' Zorro is cancelled.
- Daniel Clowes' Art School Confidential is prepublished in Eightball.
December
December 1: In the Italian Disney magazine Topolino, the first episode of the Mickey Mouse story Topolino e un favore da nulla, by Carlo Panaro and Corrado Mastantuono is published. It marks the debut of Pierino and Pieretto, the two nephews of Peg-Leg Pete.December 31: The final episode of Marten Toonder's Panda is published. Running for 45 years it was his longest-running series in syndication.The Incredible Hulk #388: Jim Wilson revealed to be HIV-positive.Specific date unknown
- The final episode of Costa Rican artist Fernando Zeledón Guzmán's satirical comic strip La Semana en Serio in the communist magazine Adelante is published.
- Belgian comic artists Edouard Aidans, Guy Bara, François Craenhals, Bob De Moor, André-Paul Duchâteau, André Franquin, Fred & Liliane Funcken, Michel Greg, Raymond Macherot, Jacques Martin, Eddy Paape, Tibet and Albert Weinberg are all knighted in the Order of Leopold II.
Deaths
January
January 1: Dean Miller, American comics artist, dies at age 52.January 5: John Lehti, American comics artist, dies at age 78.January 16: Maurieta Wellman, American illustrator, painter and comics artist, dies at age 88.January 19: Giovanni Sinchetto, Italian comic artist, dies at age 68.January 24: J.H. Koeleman, jr., Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 64.February
February 11: Michel Mahy, Belgian comics artist, dies at age 42.February 15: Hans Borrebach, Dutch comic artist, dies at age 87.February 16: Franco Bignotti, Italian comics artist, dies at age 60. February 19: Gradie Knipscheer, Dutch comics artist and musician, dies at age 76.March
March 15: Govindan Aravindan, Indian film director and comic artist, dies at age 56.March 29: Sytze Henstra, Dutch illustrator, cartoonist and painter, dies at age 96.April
April 4: Graham Ingels, American comics artist, dies at age 75 from stomach cancer.April 17: Jacques Armand, French comics artist, dies at age 33. April 19:- * Frederik Bramming, Danish animator and comics artist, dies at age 79.
- * Charles Popineau, French comic artist and illustrator, dies at age 65.
May
May 1: Adolfo Samper, Colombian comics artist, dies at age 91.May 6: Guido Martina, Italian comics writer, dies at age 85.May 8: Kathleen O'Brien, Australian comics artist, dies at age 76.May 10: Adolfo Aizen, Brazilian journalist and comic publisher, dies at age 83.May 14: Joy Batchelor, British animator and film director, dies at age 77.May 20: Milko Bambič, Slovene illustrator, painter, novelist and comics artist, dies at age 86.May 27: Ed Dodd, American comics artist, dies at age 88.May 29:- * Hans Brouwer, aka Ipse, Dutch comics artist, dies at age 74.
- * Harry Haenigsen, American comics artist, dies at age 90.May 31: Paul Campani, Italian comic artist, dies at age 67.
June
June 3: Vince Colletta, Italian-American comics artist and inker, dies at age 67.June 6: Gianni De Luca, Italian comics artist, dies at age 64.June 10: Jean Bruller, aka Vercors, French novelist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 89.June 10: Milorad Dobrić, Yugoslavian comics artist, dies at age 66.June 27: Virginia Huget, American comics artist, dies at age 91.July
July 4:- * Fernand Cheneval, Swiss-Belgian comics artist and publisher, dies at age 73.
- * Art Sansom, American comics artist, dies at age 70.July 6: Nicholas P. Dallis, American comics writer, dies at age 89.July 9: Petr Sadecký, Czech comics artist, dies.July 11: Paul McCarthy, American comics artist, dies at age 81. July 18: Robert B. Leffingwell, American comics artist, dies at age 80. July 31: Jess Benton, American comics artist, dies at age 90.
August
August 10: Jerzy Wroblewski, Polish comic artist, dies at age 50.August 18: Rick Griffin, American underground comix artist dies at age 47 in a motorcycle accident.August 24: Reynold Brown, American poster designer and comics artist, dies at age 73.Specific date in August unknown: James De Carlo, American comic artist, dies at age 43.September
September 4: Bing Coughlin, Canadian advertising illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 86.September 5: Carol Kalish, American comics publisher and vice President of New Product Development at Marvel Comics, dies at age 36 from a brain aneurysm.September 13: Edmond Good, Canadian illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 81.September 18: Vinicio Berti, Italian painter and comics artist, dies at age 70.September 24:- * Dom Orejudos, American illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 58 from AIDS.
- * Dr. Seuss, American children's novelist, illustrator, animator and comics artist, dies at age 87.
October
October 2: George Vakalo, Greek painter, set designer, costume maker, writer and comic artist, dies at age 86 or 87.October 16: Henricus Kannegieter, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 93.October 23: Antonio Canale, Italian comics artist, dies at age 76.November
November 7: Tom of Finland, Finnish comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 71.November 11:- * Franziska Bilek, German comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 85.
- * Mikhail Kupriyanov, Russian painter, illustrator and poster designer, dies at age 88.November 18: Reg Parlett, British comics artist, dies at age 87.Specific date unknown: Neville Colvin, British comics artist, dies at age 72.
December
December 3: Alex Graham, Scottish comics artist, dies at age 78.December 21: Sheldon Mayer, American comics artist, dies at age 74.December 29: Tony Strobl, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 76.Specific date unknown
- Albert Edgard Beard, British comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 88 or 89.
- Gordon Boshell, British novelist, journalist and comics writer, dies at age 81 or 82.
- Jaap Lamberton, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 45.
- Charles Popineau, French illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 65 or 66.
- Alberto Romero, Argentine comics artist, dies at age 75 or 76.
- Eugen Taru, Romanian illustrator, caricaturist and comics artist, dies at age 78.
Conventions
April 27–28: WonderCon — guests include Kevin Eastman, Mark Bodé, Miguel Ferrer, Bill Mumy, Steve Leialoha, and Max Allan CollinsJune: Heroes Convention June 21–23: Comix Fair — ninth annual convention; guests include Russ Heath, Nestor Redondo, Jeff Millar, Bill Hinds, and Richard KlawJune 21–23: Chicago Comicon — guests include Jim Steranko, Kevin Eastman, and Chris ClaremontJuly: Tri-State Con — guests include Michael Avon Oeming, Evan Dorkin, Nat Gertler, Romeo Tanghal, Paul Ryan, Bob Wiacek, and Mike ManleyJuly 4–7: San Diego Comic-Con : 15,000+ attendees; official guests: Clive Barker, Dan DeCarlo, Harlan Ellison, Neil Gaiman, Keith Giffen, Joe Haldeman, Lynn Johnston, Joe Kubert, Jim Lee, Don Maitz, Sheldon Moldoff, Rick Sternbach, and Janny WurtsJuly 12–14: Dragon Con/Atlanta Comics Expo — 5,200 attendees; guests include Philip José Farmer and Frank MillerJuly 19–21: Dallas Fantasy Fair — presentation of the Harvey AwardsJuly 26–28: Atlanta Fantasy Fair — official guests include Marina Sirtis, Dean Stockwell, Marc Singer, Matt Wagner, Julius Schwartz, Greg BearSeptember 21–22: Miamicon — guests include Chris Warner, Evan Dorkin, Bob Schreck, and Matt WagnerNovember: Mid-Ohio ConFirst issues by title
DC Comics
Deathstroke the TerminatorLimited series
- ''Black Canary''
Dark Horse Comics
Marvel Comics
BarbieBarbie FashionBill & Ted's Excellent Comic BookCaptain Planet and the PlaneteersDarkhawkDeathlok v2The Destroyer v3Double DragonOriginal Ghost Rider Rides AgainNFL SuperProSleepwalkerSweet XVIThe Toxic AvengerWonder ManX-Force v1- ''X-Men v2''
Limited series
Adventures of Captain AmericaAlpha Flight SpecialCaptain ConfederacyCar WarriorsDamage Control v3Deadly Foes of Spider-ManDeathlok Special The Infinity GauntletLegion of NightThe Pirates of Dark WaterSamurai CatSpider-Man SagaTerminator 2: Judgment DayThe Transmutation of Ike Garuda- ''Weaveworld''
Independent
BoneDirty PlottePalookaville- ''Rubber Blanket''