1998 in comics


Notable events of 1998 in comics.

Events and publications

January

  • Specific date unknown: Dutch cartoonist Stefan Verwey wins the Inktspotprijs for Best Political Cartoon. He will win the award again next year.
  • La main de la mort and Crime sur Internet by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibert, 59. and 60. album of the Ric Hochet series.
  • Last issue of the Italian magazine L'intrepido, in the newstads since 1935.
  • The Ken Parker series is abruptly interrupted with the episode Faccia di rame, by Giancarlo Berardi, Ivo Milazzo and Luca Vannini; the story is inspired by the life of Ishi. The series will get a conclusion only in 2015.

    February

  • February 5 : in Anders And & Co., The last lord of Eldorao, by Don Rosa.
  • February 8: Superman, distant fires one-shot by Howard Chaykin and Gil Kane
  • February 13: Comic artist Willy Vandersteen receives a statue in Antwerp, Belgium.
  • Superman Red/Superman Blue begins.
  • Ghost Rider, vol. 3., 1990 series, cancelled by Marvel Comics with issue #93
  • First issue of Fathom, by Michael Turner

    March

  • March 11: The Flemish newspapers Het Laatste Nieuws and De Nieuwe Gazet change the title of their weekly children comics supplement De Samson en Gert Krant, based on the popular TV show Samson en Gert, into De Plopkrant, based on the children's show Kabouter Plop.
  • March 25: The first episode of Paige Braddock's Jane's World is published. The series will run until 2018.
  • Batman: Cataclysm begins.
  • Coeur de canard – by Lewis Trondheim and Johan Sfarr, first album of the fantasy saga Dungeon.
  • L’aventure immobile by Didier Convart and Andrè Juliard, with Blake and Mortimer; first album of the series Le dernier chapitre'', showing the heroes of the French comics at the twilight of their lives.

    April

  • First issue of Battle chasers by Joe Madueira

    May

  • May 29: In the Danish magazine Anders And, the first episode of The Black Knight by Don Rosa is published, which marks the debut of Arpin Lusene.
  • The first episode of Daniel Clowes' David Boring is prepublished in Eightball.
  • Marvel Comics' Identity Crisis begins.
  • Batman: Cataclysm concludes.
  • 300 by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley
  • Le jeu de la potence by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet, 61. album of the Ric Hochet series.
  • Colpo da maestro by Moreno Burattini and Gallieno Ferri ; the criminal mastermind Mortimer, Zagor’s recurring adversary, makes his debut.

    Spring

  • Gay Comix, with issue #25, publishes its final issue

    June

  • June 3: in Spirou, first episode of La Jonque céleste by Roger Leloup.
  • Emerald Knights begins.
  • Identity Crisis concludes.
  • Superman Red/Superman Blue concludes.
  • Nato il 31 febbraio by Claudio Chiaverotti and Massimo Rotundo, first album of the post-apocalyptic series Brendon.

    July

  • A family matter by Will Eisner.

    August

  • August 3 : in Libération, Le Mystère des profondeurs by Jacques Tard is prepublished.
  • August 24: The Dutch comics magazine Sjosji changes its name again into Sjosji Striparazzi.It will continue until 1999, after which it changes its name into Striparazzi.
  • First issue of JLA: The Nail by Alan Davis and Mark Farmer.
  • L’orphelin des astres by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières.

    September

  • September 9: Through a long trial Albert Uderzo wins the profits and rights to all his Asterix-related merchandise and albums from previous publisher Dargaud.
  • In Anders And & Co., The sign of the triple distelfink by Don Rosa; the story homages the 50th anniversary of Gladstone Gander’s first apparition.
  • First issue of the miniseries Superman for all seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.
  • Le sommeil du monstre by Enik Bilal.
  • Voir Venise by Jean Van Hamme and Philippe Francq, 9th episode of the series Largo Winch.
  • L’inizio by Leo Ortolani and Ade Capone, first album of the cyberpunk series Morgan: La Sacra Ruota.

    October

  • October 3: Les Barbares by Jacques Martin and Rafael Morales, 21st album of Alix series
  • October 10–11: During the Stripdagen in Breda Joost Swarte receives the Stripschapprijs. Publisher Hansje Joustra wins the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs.
  • October 14: Dust waltz, graphic novel by Dan Brereton and Hector Gomez, first comics set in the Buffy universe. The next day, the first issue of the regular Buffy comic series is published, always by Dark Horse.
  • Toy Biz buys Marvel Comics
  • The "Emerald Knights" storyline concludes
  • First issue of the series Mutant X, by Howard Mackie.
  • The Gathering of Five, taking place over Spider-Man's four main ongoing series
  • Daredevil vol. 1, 1964 series, is canceled by Marvel with issue #380
  • Excalibur is canceled by Marvel with issue #125
  • The Sensational Spider-Man is canceled by Marvel with issue #33
  • Gli occhi dell’abisso, by Giancarlo Berardi and Luca Vannini, first album of the Julia series. In the story, the heroine must face for the first time her nemesis, the serial killer Myrna Harrod.
  • Colui che dimora nelle tenebre by Alfredo Castelli, Vincenzo Beretta and Erasmo Dante Spada ; first episode of the series Storie di Altrove, spin-off of Martin Mystere.
  • L’ami Javin, by Serge Le Tendre, Regis Loisel and Lidwine, first album of Apres la quete, second cycle of La Quête de l'oiseau du temps
  • Marcel Dalton by Bob De Groot and Morris, 109th album of Lucky Luke series. The comic is charged of antisemitism, because the caricatural representation of a Jewish banker.

    November

  • November 18: The first page of Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik's Penny Arcade is uploaded to the Internet.
  • November 24: in Topolino, The river of time by Francesco Artibani, Tito Faraci and Corrado Mastrantuono. Published for Mickey Mouse’s 70th birthday, the story is a sequel to his first cartoon, Steamboat Willie,
  • 25 November: in Spirou, Machine qui reve by Tome and Janny; the story marks a turning point in Spirou and Fantasio series, that becomes more realistic and less humorous.
  • 29 November: Long feu by Metz and Luc Jacamon ; first album of the series The killer.
  • DC One Million takes place.
  • The Final Chapter begins and concludes, taking place over Spider-Man's three main ongoing series
  • The imprint Marvel Knights debuts with three new titles:
  • * Daredevil vol. 2 — the "Guardian Devil" storyline begins
  • * Black Panther vol. 3
  • * Inhumans vol. 2
  • Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man is canceled by Marvel with issue #263.
  • Silver Surfer vol. 2 is canceled by Marvel with issue #146.
  • What If vol. 2 is canceled by Marvel with issue #114.
  • La solution Pinkerton by Francois Corteggiani and Michel Blanc-Dumont, tenth album of the Blueberry’s youth series ; beginning of the “complots’ cycle”.

    December

  • December 8: In Topolino, Donald Duckling makes his debut in a tale by Paola Mulazzi and Alessandro Barbucci.
  • December 11: in Uncle Scrooge, ''The Cowboy captain of the Cutty Sark by Don Rosa.
  • The Hunt for Xavier begins.
  • The Amazing Spider-Man and Peter Parker: Spider-Man are both restarted with new #1 issues.
  • Il potere di Iside, by Antonio Serra and Antonella Platano, first album of the series Legs e le paladine, spin-off of Nathan Never''

    Specific date unknown

  • Jim Lee announced that DC Comics would take over WildStorm Productions.
  • MU Press publishes Those Annoying Post Bros. #63, the final issue of that title.
  • Hicksville by Dylan Horrocks

    Deaths

January

  • January 5: Gustavo Martz Schmidt, Spanish comics artist, dies at age 75.
  • January 7: Eli Bauer, American comics artist and animator, dies at age 69.
  • January 11: Win Mortimer, American comics artist, dies at age 78.
  • January 18: Adolfo Buylla, Spanish comics artist, dies at age 70 or 71.
  • January 28: Shotaro Ishinomori, Japanese manga artist, dies at age 60 of heart failure.

    February

  • February 8: John Miles, British cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 63.
  • February 14: Thomas McKimson, American comics artist and animator, dies at age 90.
  • February 16: Gervy, French comics artist, dies at age 89.
  • February 28: Antonio Prohías, Cuban-American comics artist, dies at age 77.

    March

  • March 1: Archie Goodwin, American comics writer and artist, dies at age 60.
  • March 3: Olaf Stoop, Dutch activist and underground comics artist, dies at age 52 from a heart attack.
  • March 23: John Sikela, Slovakian-American comics artist, dies at age 90 or 91.

    April

  • April 7: Alex Schomburg, Puerto Rican-American comics artist, dies at age 92.
  • April 8:
  • * Lee Elias, British-American comics artist, dies at age 77.
  • * Pellos - French comic artist, dies at age 98.
  • April 17: E.E. Hibbard, American painter and comics artist, dies at age 89.
  • April 23: Enrique Riverón, Cuban-American cartoonist, animator and comics artist, dies at age 95 or 96.
  • April 26: Bill Crooks, American comics artist, dies at age 80.
  • April 29: Archelaos Antonaros, Greek editorial cartoonist, comic artist and publisher, dies at age 77.