1993 in comics

Events

January

• January 11 Raider of the Copper Hill by Don Rosa.
• January 24 – March 18: Hanco Kolk and Peter de Wit host a TV documentary series about cartooning on Teleac, which will often been repeated in the years that follow.
• Doom Patrol #63: "The Empire of Chairs," Grant Morrison's final issue as Doom Patrol writer.
• First appearance of Ghost Rider 2099 – The [Punisher War Journal (1988 series)|The Punisher War Journal] # 50 Jan 1993
• Asterix and the Class Act, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.
• In the first issue of Dylan Dog gigante, Totentanz, by Tiziano Sclavi and Giampiero Casertano.
• Beginning of Il segreto del Morisco , the longest Tex Willer story, lasting 6 albums and 586 tables, and strongly influenced by the archaeologic adventures of Indiana Jones and Martin Mystere.

February

• Action Comics, with issue #686, suspends publication following "The Death of Superman."
• Clive Barker's Hellraiser is canceled by Epic Comics with issue #20.
• [Hardware (character)|Hardware] #1 debuts under Milestone brand. Created by Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan, Hardware is the first character and book published by Milestone to debut.
• First issue of Palestine by Joe Sacco.
• In the magazine Sturmtruppen, fist strip of L'ultima burba by Leo Ortolani; the series ironizes about the author's experiences as conscript.

March

• March 7: The final episode of the daily comic series Flash Gordon is published. The Sunday comics will continue until 2003.
• March 15: The New Laird of Castle McDuck  by Don Rosa.
• March 27: The first edition of the Fantasy Anime Comics Toys Space, aka F.A.C.T.S. festival is organized in Ghent, Belgium.
• DC Comics debuts its new Vertigo imprint with the publication of Death: The High Cost of Living #1. Existing DC titles Swamp Thing #129, Hellblazer #63, Sandman #47, Doom Patrol #64, Animal Man #57, and Shade, the Changing Man #33 all become Vertigo titles as well.
• Hawkworld canceled by DC with issue #32.
• Introduction of the hero X in Dark Horse Comics #8.
• Introduction of Deathblow in Darker Image #1 and Stormwatch in Stormwatch #1.
• ''I killer venuti dal buio by Claudio Chiaverotti and Luigi Siniscalchi, with Dylan Dog.

April

• April 1: News is spread that archeologists have found the ancient ruins of Astérix' village. This later turns out to be an April fools' joke.
• Adventures of Superman #500 is released and the Reign of the Supermen! begins with four Supermen.
• The Martin Mystere's arc called "Italian mysteries" begins with the album Nea Heliopolis, by Alfredo Castelli and Giancarlo Alessandrini; the hero leaves temporarily New York and, for two years, settles in Florence.

May

• May 3: The Terror of the Transvaal, by Don Rosa.
• Cable is released by Marvel Comics as a monthly title.
• Peter Parker, Spectacular Spider-Man #200: "Best of Enemies!" by J.M. DeMatteis and Sal Buscema.
• Web of Spider-Man #100 by Terry Kavanagh, Alex Saviuk and Joe Rubinstein.
• Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. is canceled by Marvel with issue #47.
• The Tick vol. 1 is canceled by New England Comics with issue #12.
• Marvel's "Maximum Carnage" Spider-Man storyline begins.
• The first edition of Scott McCloud's book Understanding Comics is published by Tundra Publishing. The book went on to win 1994 Harvey Awards for Best Writer; Best Graphic Album of Original Work; and Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation. It also won the 1994 Eisner Award for Best Comics-Related Book.
• Le maître dell'illusion by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet.
• The first official issue of Sonic the Hedgehog by Archie Comics is released.

June

• June 14: The Dreamtime Duck of the Never Never by Don Rosa.
• June 29: Cancellation of the Belgian comics magazine Tintin, after nearly half a century of publication.
• Adventures of Superman #500 by Jerry Ordway, Tom Grummett and Doug Hazlewood.
• Action Comics, with issue #687, resumes publication after a four-month hiatus following "The Death of Superman" and "Funeral for a Friend" storylines.
• With issue #51, Justice League Europe changes its name to Justice League International vol. 2.
• Malibu Comics launches the Ultraverse line of comics in which it states that "Writers are the true enhancements in comics". Said writers include Steve Englehart, Gerard Jones, and Steve Gerber. Variant editions of the first issues are published with hologram covers.
• The conclusion to Marvel Comics' "Infinity Trilogy" is launched with Infinity Crusade.
• The first episode of Daniel Clowes' Ghost World is prepublished in Eightball.
• in Italy, first issue of Minni & company, Disney magazine aimed to the female public.
• Johnny Freak by Tiziano Sclavi and Andrea Venturi, one of the most moving and beloved Dylan Dog's stories.
• Two Blueberry's albums appear simultaneously:  Mission Sherman, by Jean Giraud and William Vance, second chapter of the arc Marshall Blueberry, and Trois hommes pour Atlanta by Francois Corteggiani and Colin Wilson, first part of a diptych where a young Blueberry takes part to the battle of Atlanta.

July

• July 12: In Spirou, first chapter of the final La Patrouille des Castors story La Pierre de foudre by Mitacq is published.
• July 19: The Argonaut Of White Agony Creek by Don Rosa.
• July 29 : Sonic The Comic launched.
• in Uncle Scrooge Adventures, Guardians of the Lost Library, by Don Rosa.
• Premiere issue of Hero Illustrated.
• The start of the "Summer Offensive" in 2000 AD when control was handed over to Grant Morrison and Mark Millar. With issue #842 the magazine launches a raft of new features, including Really & Truly, Slaughterbowl, Big Dave, and Maniac 5 as well as Morrison's run on Judge Dredd with "Inferno."
• DC Comics releases Batman #500, in which Azrael becomes the new Batman.
• Image Comics and Valiant Comics stage an intercompany crossover called Deathmate.
• Fatal Attractions begins.
• Fuga da Skynet, by Guido Nolitta, Alfredo Castelli, Stefano and Domenico Di Vitto and Roberto Diso; only team-up of Martin Mystere and Mister No.
• Sergio Bonelli inaugurates officially the Almanacs series, with the Crime Almanac 1993 and the Science-fiction Almanac 1993 ; however, the formula had been already experimented since 1987, with the Mystery Almanacs.  
• Doppia identità by Ade Capone and Giancarlo Olivares; first issue of the Lazarus Leed's regular series.
• Last issue of the Italian magazine Corto Maltese; it contains the short watercolor story Corto a Cordoba, last appearance of the Hugo Pratt's seaman.

August

• 2000 AD "Summer Offensive" draws to a close with issue #849.
• The New Titans #100: "The Darkening, Part Four: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something... Dead," by Marv Wolfman, Tom Grummett, and Bill Jaaska.
• Deadpool #1 is released by Marvel Comics
• "The Fall from Grace" storyline debuts in Daredevil #319.
• Comic book radio show " 'Nuff Said! " debuts on WBAI-FM, New York City, on the 28th as part of Jim Freund's "Hour of the Wolf" science fiction program.
• First issue of the Italian Disney magazine Paperinik.

September

• The 'Nam is canceled by Marvel with issue #84.
• September 15: First issue of the Flemish comics magazine Suske en Wiske Weekblad.
• September 24: First page of Doctor Fun is uploaded on the World Wide Web.

October

• October 3: In Gisteren Zondag, a newspaper made to promote the TV talk show Morgen Maandag by Mark Uytterhoeven, Fritz Van den Heuvel's gag comic Luchien is published. It will run until the final episode of the TV show, on 26 December, which also means the end of Gisteren Zondag.
• October 14: The theme park built around the comic strip Li'l Abner, Dogpatch USA, closes down.
• October 16–17: During the Stripdagen in Breda Kamagurka receives the Stripschapprijs. The Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten is awarded to colorist Wilma Leenders.
• Batman #500: 64-page giant—"Knightfall" chapter 19, written by Doug Moench.
• Green Lantern takes part in the Reign of the Supermen in issue #46
• Mike Carlin and Dan Jurgens relaunch the Metal Men with a four-issue limited series
• Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic "dies" in Fantastic Four #381
• Stephen Platt debuts on Moon Knight #55 and becomes extremely popular due to his art style resembling Todd McFarlane.
• X-Men 2099 #1 – Marvel 2099
• The first full colour issue of The Beano, it was issue 2674 dated October 16, 1993.
• Business blues, by Jean Van Hamme and Philippe Francq.
• La source et la sonde, by Francois Bourgeon and Claude Lacroix, first album of the Cyann cycle.

November

• November 11: The Billionaire of Dismal Downs, by Don Rosa.
• November 12: in Gazzetta di Parma, first strip of the series Quelli di Parma by Leo Ortolani.
• Green Lantern #47 marks the reunion of Green Lantern and Green Arrow.
• Avengers West Coast #100: 64-page anniversary issue; the death of Mockingbird.
• Wolverine #75 represents a turning point in Wolverine's life as the adamantium is separated from his body by Magneto.
• Marvel's X-Men "Fatal Attractions" X-Men storyline concludes, only for "Bloodties" to begin.
• La forteresse invisible – by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosiński, nineteenth Thorgal's album.
• At Lucca Comics, the number zero of Arthur King, parodic sci-fi series by Lorenzo Bartoli and Andrea Domestici, is presented.

December

• Conan the Barbarian is canceled with issue #275
• The Punisher debuts the "Suicide Run" storyline with issue #85
• "Emerald Twilight" storyline debuts in Green Lantern #48
• Hellboy makes his first mainstream comic book appearance, in Next Men #21.
• Lobo gets a monthly title from DC Comics
• Malibu Ultraverse launches "Break-Thru," the first company-wide crossover.
• Last issue of Tiramolla; after forty years, the character leaves definitively the scene.

Specific date unknown

• A tumultuous year in publishing: Topps Comics, Claypool Comics, Alternative Comics, Bongo Comics, Hall of Heroes, Lightning Comics, Azteca Productions, ANIA Publishing, Dagger Enterprises, Majestic Entertainment, Triumphant Comics, and Michael Hunt Publishing all enter the marketplace; while First Comics, Eclipse Comics, Disney Comics, Vortex Comics, Innovation Comics, Personality Comics, and Comic Chronicles all cease publishing.
• DC Comics introduces its Vertigo, Paradox Press, and Milestone Media imprints.
• Early webcomics start to appear on the World Wide Web, effectively starting the history of webcomics.
• Rip Off Press publishes Savage Henry #30, the final issue of volume one of that series.
• Ted Hearn's Fuzz & Pluck debuts, which will run until 2017.
• Jan Bucquoy is sued by Morris' estate for making a pornographic parody comic of Lucky Luke.
• In the Italian magazine Cyborg, AWOP-BOP-ALOOBOP ALOP-BAM-BOOM, by Massimo Mattioli, demented adventures of a cat whose girlfriend has been abducted by the Aliens.
• Amanda, by Robin Wood and Alfredo Falugi, for Editorial Columbia; serial, inspired by the Nineteenth Century feuilletons, about the adventures of an orphan girl.
• Spaghetti Bros, by Carlos Trillo and Domingo Mandrafina, saga of five Italo-American brothers in the roaring Twenties.
• Jean-Pol, Wim Swerts and Luc Van Asten develop a celebrity comic strip based on the popular children's TV show Samson en Gert. It will run until 2005.
• Little Archie #10, comeback reprints of the original Little Archie.
• Dutch cartoonist Gummbah makes his debut.

Deaths

January

• January 17: F. O. Alexander, American cartoonist, comics artist and key contributor to the design of the board game Monopoly, dies at age 95.
• January 28:
• * Nelson Dias, Portuguese comics artist, dies at age 52.
• * Frans Funke Küpper, Dutch comics artist, dies at age 84.
• * Jerry Mills, American comic artist, dies at age 31.

February

• February 7: Nic Broca, Belgian animator and comics artist, dies at age 60.
• February 9: Jacques Verbeek, Dutch animator and comics artist, dies at age 46.
• February 16: Mal Hancock, American cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 56.
• February 21: Harvey Kurtzman, American comics artist, writer and publisher, dies at age 68.

March

• March 3: Bill Draut, American comics artist and animator, dies at age 71.
• March 6: Norman Mansbridge, British comics artist, dies at age 82.
• March 19: Al McWilliams, A.K.A. Alden McWilliams, American comic artist, dies at age 77.
• March 31: Manuel Gonzales, Spanish-American animator and comics artist, dies at age 80.
• Specific date unknown: Frank Humphris, British comics artist, dies at age 82.

April

• April 15:
• * Leslie Charteris, British novelist and comics writer, dies at age 85.
• * Alberto Giolitti, Italian-American comics artist and founder of the Giolitti Studios, dies in Rome at age 69.
• April 20: Charles Degotte, Belgian comics artist, commits suicide at the age of 59.
• April 23: Bertus Aafjes, Dutch novelist, poet and comics writer and De Vrolijke Vaderlandse Geschiedenis'', dies at age 78.

May

• May 10: Bill Ziegler, American comics artist, dies at age 67.
• May 14: Gerda Gattel, American comics letterer and proofreader, dies at age 84.
• May 30:, American illustrator and cartoonist, dies at age 86.
• May 30: Marge, American comics artist, dies at age 88.
• Specific date unknown: Renaud Mader, aka Mad, French comics artist and animator, is found dead at age 26 in a hotel room.

June

• June 6: Albert Micale, American illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 79.
• June 14: V.T. Hamlin, American comics artist, dies at age 93.
• June 18: Claude Pascal, French comics artist, dies at age 72.
• June 25: Arturo Moreno, Spanish comics artist and animator, dies at age 84.
• June 30: Ronald Herman Poelmeijer, Dutch Tibetologist, dies at age 46.

July

• July 12: Tibor Cs. Horváth, Hungarian comics writer and artist, dies at age 67.
• July 20: George Wolfe, American comics artist, dies at age 82.
• July 22: Ivá, Spanish comics artist, dies at age 52.
• July 28: Jacques Laudy, Belgian comics artist and painter, dies at age 86.
• Specific date unknown: Al Bryant, American comics artist, dies at age 76.

August

• August 7: Jørgen Clevin, Danish TV presenter and comics artist, dies at age 63.
• August 9: Bob Bugg, American comics artist, dies at age 73.
• August 21: Arie Teeuwisse, Dutch sculptor, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 74.

September

• September 1: Neon Park, American album cover designer, illustrator and comics artist, dies from ALS at age 52.
• September 9: David Tendlar, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 84.
• September 26: Eduardo Vañó Pastor, Spanish comic artist , dies at age 82.
• September 27: Al Bryant, American comics artist, dies at age 76.

October

• October 3: Miguel Angèl Sayrach, Spanish painter and comics artist, dies at age 65.
• October 20: Gaylord DuBois, American comics writer, dies at age 94.
• October 28: Jacques Géron, Belgian comics artist, dies at age 43.
• October 31: Federico Fellini, Italian film director and occasional comics artist and writer, dies of a stroke at age 73.

November

• November 9: Ross Andru, American comics artist and editor, dies at age 66.
• November 10: Alberto Breccia, Uruguayan-Argentine comics artist, dies at age 74.
• November 11: John Stanley, American comics writer, dies at age 79.
• November 12: Bill Ely, American comics artist, dies at age 80.
• November 24: Dick Wingert, American comics artist, dies at age 74.

December

• December 3: Nelly Donker, Dutch children's book illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 79.
• December 4: Frank Zappa, American rock musician, composer and comics writer, dies at age 52.
• December 7: Wim Lensen, Dutch comics artist and colorist, dies at age 79.
• December 10: Roland Davies, British comics artist, animator and painter, dies at age 89.
• December 12: Franz-Werner Richter-Johnsen, German painter, graphic artist and comics artist, dies at age 81.
• December 21: Zack Mosley, American comics artist, dies at age 87.
• December 27: Howard Sherman, American comics artist, dies at age 84.

Specific date unknown

• Andrea Da Passano, aka DaP, aka Endré, Russian-American comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 87 or 88.
• André Jacquemotte, Belgian editorial cartoonist, dies at age 67 or 68.
• Ennio Missaglia, Italian comics writer, dies at age 62 or 63.

Exhibitions

• May 18 – August 8: "War No More", featuring the artwork of George Pratt, Bill Sienkiewicz, Jack Kirby, John Severin, and Frank Redondo
• October 8 – October 30: "Comic Power: Underground/Independent Comix U.S.A." — curated by John Carlin and Carlo McCormick; later traveled to the Massachusetts [College of Art and Design|Massachusetts College of Art], the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the Dunlop Art Gallery

Conventions

Europe

• April 24–25: GlasCAC —4th edition of the GlasCAC; presentation of the U.K. Comic Art Awards; guests include Colin MacNeil, Cam Kennedy, Dave Alexander, John Beeston, and Jim Shooter
• July 17–18: CAPTION93
• September 18–19: United Kingdom Comic Art Convention —guests include Grant Morrison, Garth Ennis, Rian Hughes, Steve Yeowell, Jill Thompson, Matt Wagner, Alan Grant, and Carlos Ezquerra
• late October–early November: Lucca Comics — first iteration of what becomes Lucca Comics & Games, continuing the previous festival Salone Internazionale dei Comics, which was held in Lucca from 1966 to 1992 before moving to Rome as part of Expocartoon

North America

• January 17–18: International Association for Direct Distribution
• January 23–24: Great Eastern Conventions I —guests include Wendy & Richard Pini, launching their Elfquest '93 tour.
• March 5–7 Dallas Fantasy Fair I —first presentation of the Harvey Awards since the death of awards' namesake Harvey Kurtzman; fund-raiser to help pay for the continuance of the award; official guests include Adam West, Donald Simpson, Larry Stroman, Tex Henson, Kerry Gammill, and Shannon Wheeler
• March 21: WaRP Graphics convention —organized by Wendy and Richard Pini to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation
• March 31 – April 1: ProCon —first professionals-only convention; held right before WonderCon
• April 2–4: WonderCon —7th edition of the convention
• April 3–4: Great Eastern Conventions II
• May 3–4: Capital City Trade Show —guests included Dave Sim
• May 8: Ramapo Comic Con VIII —guests include Julius Schwartz, José Luis García-López, Jerry Ordway, Frank McLaughlin, Luke McDonnell, Jim Salicrup, Mike Leeke, Evan Dorkin, Mark Chiarello, George Pratt, Lee Weeks, Bob McLeod, Dave Cockrum, Bob Pinaha, John Workman, Rick Parker, Jordan Raskin, Bob Wiacek, Ron Garney, Rachel Pollack, Ken Gale, Mercy Van Vlack, Kurt Schaffenberger, Anthony Tollin, Adrienne Roy, Joe Staton, Bernie Wrightson, Elaine Lee, Doug Moench, Bob Smith, Bob Layton, Michael Davis, Deni Loubert, Ray Lago, Eric Shanower, Kim DeMulder, Rick Bryant, Howard Bender, and M. D. Bright
• May 16–18: Heroes World Trade Show —guests include Dave Sim
• June 11–13: Heroes Convention —guests include Dave Sim
• June 12–13: Great Eastern Conventions III
• June 18–20: Dallas Fantasy Fair II —guests include Clive Barker and Dave Sim
• June 25–27: Atlanta Fantasy Fair XIX —official guests include David Prowse, Grace Lee Whitney, Caroline Munro, Monique Gabrielle, Jeff Rector, Gunnar Hanson, Irish McCalla
• July 2–4: Chicago Comicon —20,000–30,000 attendees; guest of honor: Neil Gaiman; other guests include Dave Sim
• July 16–18: Dragon Con Atlanta Comics Expo —8,000 attendees; presentation of the Wizard Fan Awards
• August 7–8: Houston Comic Book Festival —first annual edition; guests include Chris Claremont, Matt Wagner, Kelley Jones, Joe St. Pierre, Evan Dorkin, and Mike Leeke
• August 19–22: San Diego Comic-Con —28,000 attendees. Special guests include Murphy Anderson, Jim Aparo, Peter Bagge, Dan Clowes, Nancy Collins, Paul Dini, Garth Ennis, Ferd Johnson, Rick Kirkman, Don Martin, Olivia, Dave Sim, Vin Sullivan, Michael Whelan, Robert Williams, and Roger Zelazny
• October 8–11: Comicfest '93 —produced by David Greenhill Promotions; guests included Harlan Ellison, Jim Shooter; infamous debate about Image Comics between Peter David and Todd McFarlane, moderated by George Pérez
• November 13–14: Mid-Ohio Con —guests include John Byrne, Mike Mignola, Roger Stern, Dave Sim

Awards

• First annual publication of the Wizard Fan Awards, presented at Dragon*Con.

First issues by title

[Sirius Entertainment]

• ''Animal Mystic''

DC Comics

• Batman: In Darkest Knight
• Black Canary
• Bloodlines
• Catwoman
• Chain Gang War
• Hawkman
• Justice League Task Force
• Legacy of Superman
• Lobo
• Lobo annual
• Metal Men limited series
• The Outsiders
• Robin monthly series
• Showcase 93
• Supergirl
• ''Trinity''

Image Comics

• 1963
• Freak Force
• ''Stormwatch''

Malibu Ultraverse

• Break-Thru
• Exiles
• Freex
• Hardcase
• Mantra
• Prime
• Sludge
• Solitaire
• The Nightman
• The Solution
• ''The Strangers''

Marvel Comics

• Deadpool
• Doom 2099
• Midnight Sons Unlimited
• Night Thrasher
• Nova
• Punisher 2099
• Spider-Man Unlimited
• Transformers: Generation 2
• X-Men 2099
• ''X-Men Unlimited''

[Milestone Comics]

• Blood Syndicate
• Hardware
• Icon
• ''Static''