2006 in comics

Events

January

• January 1: Newsweek offers a look back at 2005 through editorial cartoons.
• January 1: After 109 years of continuous publication the longest-running comic strip of all time, The Katzenjammer Kids comes to an end.
• January 2: Gabrielle, AKA 'Gaby', Scaon-Possompes, director of the comics museum Musée de la BD in Angoulême, is honoured with the title Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.
• January 2: The Cincinnati Enquirer cartoonist Jim Borgman starts a blog to detail his creative process.
• January 3:
• * Todd Hignite interviews Brian Walker, co-curator of the Masters of American Comics exhibition currently on at the Hammer Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.
• * The London Metropolitan Police refuse to distribute Cops and Robbers, a comic book detailing first hand stories of criminals embracing the Christian faith. The police cite the book's failure to cover a multitude of faiths as reason.
• January 5: 2005 Pulitzer Prize winner Nick Anderson is to move from the Louisville Courier-Journal, where he thrived, to the Houston Chronicle.
• January 6:
• * Richard Branson is launching Virgin Comics alongside mystical self-help guru Deepak Chopra, a company to be based in and cater for India. Film director John Woo is reported to be developing a series for the company.
• * Christianity Today use Bill Watterson's position on licensing to contrast with the marketing of Aslan in the wake of the current film based upon The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
• * Neil Gaiman is interviewed by 92nd Street Y.
• January 8:
• * Jeet Heer appraises Daydreams and Nightmares, a new collection of work by Winsor McCay, for The Boston Globe.
• * Tom Spurgeon interviews Matt Madden in the wake of the publication of his new work 99 Ways to Tell a Story.
• January 9:
• * The jury selects Etienne Davodeau's Les Mauvaises Gens to receive the Prix du Public at the Angoulême International Comics Festival.
• * Bob Greenberger is let go from his position as Collected Editions Editor by DC Comics.
• * United Kingdom television channel Five are to broadcast a series based on the comic strip Rupert the Bear. The series is being produced by Cosgrove Hall.
• * Jean-François Kieffer's Loupio series has been awarded Le prix de la BD chretienne Francophone, the prize awarded by a jury composed from representatives of Christian denominations.
• * Hasbro and Marvel Comics announce a deal which allows the former to produce toys based upon the latter's comic book characters.
• January 10:
• * Cartoonist Jamie Hewlett, co-creator of the band Gorillaz, is nominated for the Designer of the Year award.
• * A fund to support journalists, writers, cartoonists and artists is launched. The fund is intended to help those who become persecuted for their work in the Middle East or North Africa. The fund was developed at the International Conference on Freedom of Expression in the Arab World, held in Amman, Jordan, in December 2005.
• * Comic book writer J. Torres is to write a series of graphic novels based on the popular television drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation.
• * German manga Yonen Buzzs first volume is released in English by Tokyopop.
• January 11:
• * Hal Foster fan Sid Weiskirch is to curate an exhibition of his work at the Noyes Cultural Center in Evanston, Illinois, where Foster was resident for 17 years.
• * Seth is interviewed by Daniel Robert Epstein for UnderGround Online.
• * AdHouse Books founder Chris Pitzer is interviewed at Newsarama. Pitzer discusses his opinion of the state of the industry at present and also the future.
• January 12:
• * Marvel Comics unveil a new costume for Spider-Man.
• * The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists place a report from the Business Journal of Phoenix, which comments on the future of editorial cartooning in the United States, upon their website.
• * The Springfield News-Sun offer up their top ten Stan Lee moments.
• * Tim Marchman reviews Chris Ware's Acme Novelty Library for the New York Press.
• * Spike TV is to show a two-hour drama based on the comic book and media franchise character Blade.
• * Simon & Schuster, Inc. announce that as of January 2006 they are to handle distribution within the United States for VIZ Media's book division.
• January 15: The Guardian review Hergé's Adventures of Tintin the musical at the Young Vic based on Tintin in Tibet.
• January 16: ICv2 reports on 2005 sales figures for works distributed to comics stores, noting that sales of graphic novels were up by a third.
• * Paul Gravett reviews the Young Vic's production of Hergé's Adventures of Tintin.
• January 17:
• * Drawn & Quarterly announce plans to collect Tove Jansson's Moomin comic strips. It is planned to collect the works in five volumes.
• * DC Comics announce that Dan Jurgens has signed an exclusive contract with them.
• * The Harvey Awards announce that they have added a "Best Online Comics Work" category to this year's awards.
• January 18:
• * ICv2 report that Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore is to end with issue #90, scheduled for publication in March 2007.
• January 26: Lewis Trondheim is awarded the Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême at the Angoulême International Comics Festival
• January 26: Dylan Horrocks is named University of Auckland/Creative New Zealand Literary Fellow 2006.
• January 30:
• * The Children's Publishing division of Reader's Digest announce a licensing deal with Marvel Comics which will see them launch a line of interactive books based on popular Marvel characters.
• January 31':
• * Spike TV have greenlit a thirteen episode series based on the Blade comics and films.
• * Todd McFarlane Toys announce a deal with Warner Bros. allowing it to produce a line of action figures based on characters from the Hanna-Barbera library.

  February

• February 1: A French newspaper, France-Soir, reprints the cartoons at the centre of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy.
• February 2:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** The editor of French newspaper France-Soir, which reprinted the cartoons at the centre of the controversy, is fired.
• * Many newspapers in continental Europe re-publish the cartoons.
• * The United States Joint Chiefs of Staff issue a letter of protest against a The Washington Post cartoon by Tom Toles.
• * Wizard announce the cancellation of WizardWorld Boston.
• * CNet News examine the digitization of comics.
• * Lewis Trondheim gives an interview in which he offers his frank opinions on journalists covering the medium.
• February 3:
• * Muslims take to the streets in many countries to protest the publication of the cartoons lampooning Mohammed.
• * The Indian Express reports nostalgically on the comic strips The Phantom and Jiggs.
• * Michael Fry announces his weekly panel Committed is to end on February 19.
• February 4:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** Syrian protestors set fire to Denmark's embassy in Damascus. They were demonstrating against the publication of cartoons defaming Mohammed in a Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten.
• February 6:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** It is reported that at least four people around the world are dead as a result of violent protests against the cartoons published in late 2005 by Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten
• ** The Daily Telegraph seeks to uncover the source of the "extra" three cartoons which were distributed in The Middle East as being actual cartoons published by Jyllands-Posten, when they were in actuality not.
• * Lagardère, a French publishing giant, is to purchase Time Warner Book Group from Time Warner. The division handles the distribution of graphic novels published by DC Comics to bookstores.
• * Salon review Ghost of Hoppers Jaime Hernandez's latest graphic novel.
• * James Cromwell is cast in the role of Captain George Stacy for the upcoming Spider-Man 3 movie.
• * Stan Lee is interviewed by science fiction weekly.
• February 7:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** Members of the State assembly in Kano, Nigeria, burn Danish flags in protest at the controversy.
• ** Iranian newspaper Hamshahri announces "an international cartoon contest about the Holocaust".
• * Paul Levitz, publisher and president of DC Comics is to write six issues of the JSA comic book.
• * Law.com profile John N. Turitzin, executive vice president of and general counsel to Marvel Comics.
• February 8:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** President Bush issues a statement calling for calm: "I call upon the governments around the world to stop the violence, to be respectful, to protect property, to protect the lives of innocent diplomats who are serving their countries overseas."
• ** The Danish embassy in Tehran is stormed.
• ** The editorial staff of the New York Press walk out after the publishers of the paper refuse to carry the cartoons at the centre of the controversy.
• ** The editor of the Jyllands-Posten, Carsten Juste, rejects suggestions he should resign.
• ** Pakistan's Daily Times reveals Danish law should have prevented the publication of the cartoons.
• ** The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists issues a statement which expresses support for "the right of free expression by the world's cartoonists."
• February 9:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** The United States' Talk of the Nation examine the power the editorial cartoon has.
• ** 2000 Muslims protest in Bangladesh and thousands of Shi'ite Muslims in Lebanon turn a religious ceremony into a pacific protest over the cartoons.
• ** Condoleezza Rice blames Iran and Syria for stoking the controversy regarding the cartoons.
• ** The BBC summarise the situation so far.
• * The San Francisco Bay Area minicomic scene is examined up by the local press.
• * Hill & Wang a non-fiction imprint of Farrar, Straus and Giroux are to launch a line of non-fiction graphic novels under the name Novel Graphics. The first work will be an adaptation of the 9/11 Commission Report.
• * DC Comics are to unveil their line of toys based on the movie Superman Returns at the 2006 American International Toy Fair.
• February 10:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** Flemming Rose, editor of the Jyllands-Posten is told to take a vacation after he commented the paper "would run the cartoons" published by Hamshahri in its contest inviting cartoons satirising the holocaust.
• ** Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen agrees with comments made by Condoleezza Rice regarding Syria and Iran, noting they "have taken advantage of the situation because both countries are under international pressure".
• ** It is reported at least thirteen people are dead due to protests against the cartoons.
• February 11:
• * Illinois newspaper The Daily Herald has launched an online cartoon page composed entirely of webcomics.
• * Peter David announces he has signed an exclusive contract with Marvel Comics.
• February 12:
• * Frank Miller has announced that his next Batman book, Holy Terror, Batman!, will pit the caped crusader against Osama bin Laden.
• * At Wondercon, Grant Morrison is announced as the next writer on Batman.
• February 13:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen responds to criticism of his country, declaring "Denmark is an open and tolerant society".
• ** Anders Fogh Rasmussen has also had talks with a Muslim group called "Democratic Muslims".
• ** It is reported that Muslim graves have been desecrated in Denmark.
• ** Denmark withdraws official staff from embassies in Syria, Iran, and Indonesia.
• ** Art Spiegelman is interviewed to garner his thoughts on the controversy.
• ** Iran demands apologies after recent accusations from Condoleezza Rice that it had fermented the controversy.
• * Ted Rall is reportedly considering launching a lawsuit against Ann Coulter over comments she jokingly alleged that "Iran is soliciting cartoons on the Holocaust. So far, only Ted Rall, Garry Trudeau, and The New York Times have made submissions".
• February 14: zoomaphoto.com
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** Two security guards are shot dead and police use tear gas on rioting students as protests continue in Pakistan.
• ** Belgian Muslim groups have called on the European Union to "act determinedly to prepare a draft law that forbids every kind of blasphemy".
• ** A number of Danish websites have reportedly been hacked by protestors.
• February 15:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** Danish politicians have called for an investigation into a Muslim group's actions during a trip to the Middle East. It is alleged the group may have helped ferment the recent protests.
• ** Flemming Rose, cultural editor of the Jyllands-Posten has stated that the cartoons were published to "go against this tendency to self-censorship".
• ** Carsten Juste, editor of the Jyllands-Posten, states his belief that "Muslims are being given special treatment".
• * Justin Thomas is announced as the winner of a contest to choose the next cartoonist of the strip Unfit.
• February 16:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** Twelve people are reported to have died in Afghanistan after a week of protesting.
• ** Three people are reported to have died as protests continue in Pakistan.
• * The Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has lost his claim for compensation. Erdoğan was suing over a number of cartoons which had depicted him as a series of animals.
• February 17:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** Eleven people are reportedly killed after protesting in Libya.
• ** Indiana newspaper The Indianapolis Star polls college newspaper editors within the state on their opinion on publishing the cartoons.
• * Ivan Brunetti is interviewed by Nashville City Paper.
• February 19:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** 45 people reportedly die after rioting in Nigeria in protest against the cartoons.
• ** Security forces in Pakistan disperse a protest against the cartoons.
• ** The United States embassy in Jakarta is attacked by protestors.
• ** A small group of protesters gather outside the Danish embassy in Tehran.
• * Paul Pope discusses Batman: Year 100 with the Toronto Star.
• February 20:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** The New York Times previews Marvels new crossover event, Civil War.
• ** Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen defends the handling of the controversy.
• ** The Danish flag is burnt by protestors in Jakarta.
• ** The Nation ask Art Spiegelman and Joe Sacco for their thoughts on the current controversy.
• ** Russian newspaper Our region+ closes after publishing the cartoons.
• * JM Thevenet is reportedly fired as the director of the Festival International de la Bande Dessinee.
• * Nominees for the 2006 Shuster Awards are announced.
• * icv2.com report on January's Direct Market sales figures.
• * The Guardian reports on the new cartoon museum in London.
• February 21:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** A number of Muslims protest against the cartoons in India.
• ** Christopher Hitchens, writing for Slate, examines the issue.
• ** The Danish Ambassador returns to Jakarta having left in the wake of protests over the cartoons.
• ** A second Russian newspaper, the weekly Nash Region closes after having printed a montage of the cartoons.
• * JM Thevenet confirms he has been fired from his position with Festival International de la Bande Dessinee, although he claims he was employed as a consultant.
• * The Guardian sketches the history of the political cartoon as a prelude to the opening of The Cartoon Museum in London.
• February 22:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** Corpses are burnt on the streets of Onitsha, Nigeria, as part of an ongoing confrontation between Christians and Muslims regarding the cartoons.
• ** Protestors stage a demonstration outside the Danish embassy in Jakarta.
• ** The Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, notes the controversy has become something greater than the initial furor over editorial cartoons, noting "It's about everything else and different agendas in the Muslim world."
• ** Danish volunteers and non-government officials are withdrawing from the relief effort aiding those areas of Pakistan hit by the recent earthquake and leaving the country as a result of the Pakistani people's protest against the cartoons.
• * Naushad Waheed, a political cartoonist and artist sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in the Maldives for political unrest, has been freed.
• * iBooks, the publishing company founded by Byron Preiss, files for bankruptcy. Preiss died in June 2005.
• February 23:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
• ** Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister, denounces the cartoons at the heart of the controversy.
• ** Amitai Sandy and Eyal Zusman, organisers of an antisemitic cartoon contest, are profiled by World Press.
• * Marvel Comics announces a drop in profits.
• * The London cartoon museum is opened by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
• February 24:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** Doug Marlette comments on the controversy.
• ** Protestors demonstrate in Pakistan, defying a ban which prohibits such gatherings.
• * Kyle Baker is to be the host for the 2006 Harvey Awards.
• * Warner Bros. are reported to have confirmed sequels to Batman Begins and Superman Returns.
• * The London cartoon museum opens to the public.
• February 26: The New York Comic Con has problems with the size of the crowd attending the convention, having to turn visitors away.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on the recent phenomenon of non-comics writers being approached to write for the medium by the larger comics publishers.
• February 27:
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** European Union officials issue a fresh statement on the controversy.
• ** It is reported that Denmark are to hold a conference examining the controversy and the publication of the cartoons on March 10.
• ** Finnish magazine Kaltio has fired its editor after he published a cartoon commentating on the controversy by Ville Ranta on the magazine's website. The sacking came in the wake of pressure from advertisers. Ranta has also lost work on the strength of the cartoon.
• * Speakeasy Comics announces it is to cease publishing.
• February 28:'
• * Jeff Danziger is announced as the winner of the Herblock Prize for editorial cartooning, to be awarded on April 18.
• * Aaron McGruder is to take a six-month break from Boondocks.
• * It is reported that at the recent New York Comic Con Dark Horse Comics announced that they are to double their output of manga titles this year.
• * Marvel Comics and Top Cow announce a tie-up which will see artists employed by Top Cow illustrating up to 36 Marvel titles this year.
• * DC Comics are to publish Megatokyo through their imprint CMX. The title had previously been published by Dark Horse Comics.
• * The Oregon Daily Emerald reports on Art Spiegelman's speaking tour date at the University of Oregon.
• * Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
• ** Nigerian governors condemn the recent riots that have taken place in the country.