1988 in comics explained
See also: List of years in comics. Notable events of 1988 in comics.
Events and publications
January
February
- February 1:
- February 12: Belgian comic artist François Craenhals is knighted in the Order of the Belgian Crown. [2]
- February 19:
- The Dutch comics magazine Eppo Wordt Vervolgd changed its name to Sjors en Sjimmie Weekblad, based on the popularity of their signature series Sjors en Sjimmie. It continued until 1994, after which it was renamed as Sjosji.[3]
- In the first issue, Hanco Kolk and Peter de Wit's photo comic Mannetje en Mannetje makes its debut.[4] [5]
March
April
May
June
July
August
- August 14: In the Italian Disney comics magazine Topolino Little Gum makes his debut in the story Paperinik e l’incredibile Little Gum by Giulio Chierchini.[14]
- August 26: Belgian comics character Jommeke receives his first statue. It is revealed in front of the library of Beveren, but is destroyed by vandals a few years later.[15]
October
November
- November 4-5-6: During the Stripdagen in The Hague Toon van Driel wins the Stripschapprijs.[20] Wilbert Plijnaar, Jan van Die and Robert van der Kroft win the Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten (nowadays the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs).[21]
- Creator's Bill of Rights signed in Northampton, Massachusetts, by Steve Bissette, Craig Farley, Gerhard, Mark Martin, Larry Marder, Michael Zulli, Ken Mitchroney, Scott McCloud, Dave Sim, Rick Veitch, Peter Laird, Kevin Eastman, and the artists of Mirage Studios.
- Black Orchid #1 (of 3), the first American comic written by Neil Gaiman, published by DC Comics.
- Star Trek is canceled by DC Comics with issue #56.
- The Draft, a New Universe one-shot, is published by Marvel Comics.
- Concrete vol. 1 is canceled by Dark Horse with issue #10.
December
- December 11: In the Italian Disney comics magazine Topolino, Arizona Goof and his rival Kranz made their debut in The Lost Temple, by Bruno Sarda and Maria Luisa Uggetti.
- December 27:
- Aristocratic Xtraterrestrial Time-Traveling Thieves is cancelled by Comics Interview with issue #12.
- Mazinger by Go Nagai is published by First Comics.
- New Teen Titans vol. 2 changes its name to The New Titans with issue #50.
- Silver Surfer #1 (of 2), an out-of-continuity mini-series by Stan Lee and Moebius, are published by Marvel.
- The Warlord is canceled by DC Comics with issue #133.
- "Semper Fi" #1 is published by Marvel Comics.
Specific date unknown
Deaths
January
- January 4: Henfil, Brazilian comics artist (Zeferino, Bode Orellana, Os Fradins, Orelhão, Urubu, Pó de Arroz, Bacalhau, Ubaldo, Paranóico, Graúna), dies at age 43 from AIDS.[27]
- January 30: Homer Brightman, American animation screenwriter and comics writer (original scriptwriter of Al Taliaferro's Donald Duck comic strip [28]), dies at age 86.[29]
February
- February 11: Lino Landolfi, Italian comics artist (Procopio), dies at age 62.[30]
- February 25: Dori Seda, American underground comics artist (Lonely Nights Comics: Stories To Read When the Couple Next Door Is Fucking Too Loud), dies of respiratory failure at age 37.[31] [32]
- February 4: Frank Giacoia, American comics artist (worked on The Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America), dies at age 63.[33]
- February 13: Ron Embleton, British comics artist (Wulf the Briton, Oh, Wicked Wanda) dies of a heart attack at age 57.[34]
March
- March 2:
- March 6: Jack Binder, American comics artist (Daredevil), dies at age 86.[37]
- March 8: Jan Kraan, Dutch illustrator, animator and comics artist, dies at age 87.[38]
- March 26: Rit-Ola, Swedish comics artist (Biffen och Bananen), dies at age 82.[39]
- March 31: Georges Lévis (Jean Sidobre), French comics artist, dies at age 63.[40]
April
- April 3: Milton Caniff, American comics artist (Terry and the Pirates, Dickie Dare, Steve Canyon, Male Call), dies at age 81 from lung cancer.[41]
- April 8: Clem Gretter, American comics artist (Sue to Lou, assisted Harry "A" Chesler and Ripley's Believe It or Not), dies at age 83.[42]
- April 10: Gene Fawcette, American comics artist (worked on Our New Age), dies at age 68.[43]
- April 16: Siauw Tik Kwie, Indonesian comics artist (Sie Djin Koei, Kang Lam Hiap Soe), dies at age 74.[44]
May
June
- June 6: Willi Kohlhoff, German illustrator and comics artist (comics based on Robinson Crusoe), dies at age 82.[46]
- June 7: Octave Joly, Belgian comics writer (Les Belles Histoires de l'Oncle Paul), dies at age 78.[47]
- June 16: Andrea Pazienza, Italian comics artist (Massimo Zanardi), dies at age 32 from a heroin overdose.[48]
- June 25: Evert Werkman, Dutch journalist, poet, columnist and comics writer (Kapitein Rob,[49] Frank, de Vliegende Hollander [50]), dies at age 73.[51]
July
- Specific date unknown: Julius Stafford Baker II, British comics artist (continued Tiger Tim), dies at age 84.[52]
August
- August 7: Wilfred Jackson, American animator (Walt Disney Company), dies at age 82.
September
- September 6: Roger Bussemey, French comics artist (Moky et Poupy), dies at age 67.[53]
- September 11: Roger Hargreaves, British illustrator and comics writer/artist (Mr. Men, Little Miss), dies at age 53 from a stroke.[54]
- September 12: Mars Ravelo, Filipino comics artist (Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying, Varga, Wanted: Perfect Mother, Hiwaga, Maruja, Mariposa, Roberta, Rita, Buhay Pilipino, Jack and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny Tony, and Dragonna), dies at age 71.[55]
- September 25: Barrie Phillip Nichol, American novelist, poet and comics artist (Scraptures, Grease Ball Comics), dies at age 43.[56]
- September 27: Paul Reinman, American comics artist and inker for Jack Kirby, dies at age 78.[57]
- September 28: Charles Addams, American cartoonist and comics artist (The Addams Family), dies from a heart attack at age 76.[58]
October
- October 25: Eric Larson, American animator (Walt Disney Company), dies at age 83.
November
December
- December 3: Jean David, French illustrator, cartoonist and comics artist (Les Amours de Barbara Smith), dies at age 82 or 83.[60]
- December 11: Frank S. Pepper, British comics writer (Roy of the Rovers, Captain Condor, Jet-Ace Logan), dies at age 78.
- December 12: Tarpé Mills, American comics artist (Miss Fury), dies at age 73.[61]
- December 17: Alberto Solsona (Agar-agar, Arturito King, Cartulino), dies at age 41.[62]
- December 19: Robert Bernstein aka R. Berns, American comics writer, playwright and concert impresario (DC Comics, EC Comics), dies from heart failure at age 69.[63] [64]
- December 26: Herluf Bidstrup, Danish comics artist and cartoonist, dies at age 76.[65]
Specific date unknown
- Leo Bothas, German illustrator (made Nazi propaganda comics during World War II), dies at 84 or 85. [66]
- Dan Gormley, American comics artist (comics for Dell Publishing, Disney comics, worked on Nancy), dies at age 69 or 70.[67]
Exhibitions and shows
- June 27–August 10: Galería Esquina de la Libertad (San Francisco) — "Spain: a View from the Bottom: Posters, Comic Strips, Caricatures and More."
- November 25, 1988–March 4, 1989: Cartoon Art Museum (San Francisco) — "The Face Behind the Laugh: Cartoonists' Self-Caricatures from the Collections of Mark J. Cohen"
Conventions
- Summer: Dragon Con (Piedmont Plaza Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia) — 1,700 attendees
- Summer: FantaCon (Albany, New York) — horror/comics show returns after a four-year hiatus
- June: Heroes Convention (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- June 16–19: International Superman Expo (Cleveland Convention Center, Cleveland, Ohio) — commemorating Superman's 50th anniversary; official guests include Curt Swan, Jerry Ordway, George Pérez, Marv Wolfman, and Julius Schwartz[70] [71]
- June 24–26: Atlanta Fantasy Fair XIII (Atlanta Hilton and Towers, Atlanta, Georgia) — guest of honor: Stan Lee; official guests include Mark Gruenwald, Archie Goodwin, Steven Grant, Bob Burden, Kevin Maguire, Julius Schwartz, and Chris Claremont
- June 24–26: Comix Fair '88 (Ramada Hotel Southwest, Houston, Texas) — guests include Sergio Aragonés, Kim DeMulder, Mike Leeke, and William Messner-Loebs[72]
- June 25–26: Creation Con I (Penta Hotel, New York City)
- July 1–3: Chicago Comicon (Ramada O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois) — c. 5,000 attendees; special guests: Max Allan Collins and Dick Locher; other guests: Bernie Wrightson, Michael Kaluta, Dave Stevens, and Chris Claremont
- July 1–3: Dallas Fantasy Fair I (Sheraton Park Central, Dallas, Texas) — guests include Harvey Kurtzman, Burne Hogarth, and Gil Kane
- July 22–24: Memphis Fantasy Convention V (Garden Plaza Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee) — guests include Michael Kaluta, Joe Staton, and John Ostrander
- August 4–7: San Diego Comic-Con (Convention and Performing Arts Center and Omni Hotel, San Diego, California) — 8,000 attendees; official guests: Art Adams, Robert Asprin, Jules Feiffer, Ray Feist, David Gerrold, Matt Groening, George R.R. Martin, Matt Wagner
- October 7–9: Dragon*Con (Piermont Plaza Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia) — guests include Alan Dean Foster, Fred Saberhagen, Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, Gary Gygax, and Larry Elmore September 24: UKCAK88 (The Institute of Education, London, England) — presentation of the Eagle Awards November 25–27: Creation Con II (Penta Hotel, New York City)
- November 25–27: Dallas Fantasy Fair II (Marriott Park Central, Dallas, Texas)
Awards
Eisner Awards
See also: Eisner Awards. Presented in 1989 for comics published in 1988:
- Best Single Issue/Single Story: Kings in Disguise #1, by James Vance and Dan Burr (Kitchen Sink Press)
- Best Black-and-White Series: Concrete, by Paul Chadwick (Dark Horse Comics)
- Best Continuing Series: Concrete, by Paul Chadwick (Dark Horse)
- Best Finite Series/Limited Series: The Silver Surfer: Parable, by Stan Lee and Jean "Moebius" Giraud (Marvel Comics)
- Best New Series: Kings in Disguise, by James Vance and Dan Burr (Kitchen Sink)
- Best Graphic Album: , by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland (DC Comics)
- Best Writer: Alan Moore, (DC)
- Best Writer/Artist: Paul Chadwick, Concrete (Dark Horse)
- Best Artist/Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team: Brian Bolland, (DC)
- Best Art Team: Alan Davis and Paul Neary, Excalibur (Marvel)
- Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award: Phil Yeh
- Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame: Harvey Kurtzman[73]
First issues by title
DC Comics
Animal Man
Release: September Writer: Grant Morrison. Artists: Chas Truog and Doug Hazlewood.
Checkmate
Release: April Writer: Paul Kupperberg. Artists: Steve Erwin and Al Vey.
C.O.P.S.
Release: August Writer: Doug Moench. Artists: Pat Broderick and Pablo Marcos.
Hellblazer
Release: January Writer: Jamie Delano. Artist: John Ridgway.
Starman
Release: October Writer: Roger Stern. Artists: Tom Lyle and Bob Smith.
Wanderers
Release: June. Writer: Doug Moench. Artists: Dave Hoover and Robert Campanella.
Limited series
(4 issues)
Release: August Writer: Jim Starlin. Artist: Bernie Wrightson.
Black Orchid (3 issues)
Release: November Writer: Neil Gaiman. Artist: Dave McKean.
Cosmic Odyssey (4 issues)
Release: December Writer: Jim Starlin. Artist: Mike Mignola.
Crimson Avenger (4 issues)
Release: June Writers: Roy and Dann Thomas. Artist: Greg Brooks.
Millennium (8 weekly issues)
Release: January Writer: Steve Englehart. Artists: Joe Staton and Ian Gibson.
Power Girl (4 issues)
Release: June. Writer: Paul Kupperberg. Artists: Rick Hoberg and Arne Starr.
The Prisoner: Shattered Visage (4 issues)
Release. Writer/Artist: Dean Motter.
Unknown Soldier (12 issues)
Release: Winter. Writer: James Owsley. Artist: Phil Gascoine.
The Weird (4 issues)
Release: July. Writer: Jim Starlin. Artist: Bernie Wrightson.
Kodansha
Natsuko's Sake
Release: on Weekly Morning. Author: Akira Oze.
Marvel
Count Duckula
Release: November from Star Comics. Writer: Michael Gallager. Artist: Warren Kremer.
Death's Head
Release: December from Marvel UK. Writer: Simon Furman. Artists: Bryan Hitch and Mark Farmer.
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme
Release: November Writer: Peter Gillis. Artists: Richard Case and Randy Emberlin.
Dragon's Claws
Release: June from Marvel UK. Writer: Simon Furman. Artist: Geoff Senior.
Excalibur
Release: October Writer: Chris Claremont. Artist: Alan Davis.
Marvel Comics Presents
Release: September Editors: Terry Kavanagh and Michael Higgins.
The Punisher War Journal
Release: November Writer/Penciller: Carl Potts. Inker: Jim Lee.
Wolverine
Release: November Writer: Chris Claremont. Artists: John Buscema and Al Williamson.
Limited series
Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. (6 issues)
Release: June. Writer: Bob Harras. Artists: Paul Neary and Kim DeMulder.
Stray Toasters (4 issues)
Release: by Epic Comics. Writer/Artist: Bill Sienkiewicz.
X-Terminators (4 issues)
Release: October Writer: Louise Simonson. Artist: Jon Bogdanove.
Independent titles
Ongoing series
- AARGH (Mad Love)
- (Attack International, April)
- Aquablue (Delcourt, April)
- Brought to Light (Eclipse Comics)
- Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (Continuity Comics, August)
- Crisis (Fleetway, September)
- Deadline (Deadline Publications Ltd., October)
- Dinosaurs for Hire (Eternity Comics, March)
- (Northstar Publishing, December). Writer: David Quinn. Artist: Tim Vigil.
- The Forever War (Dupuis)
- Fright Night (Now Comics, October)
- Maze Agency (Comico Comics, December)
- The Real Ghostbusters (Now Comics, August)
- Shaloman (Mark 1 Comics)
- Taboo (Spiderbaby Grafix, Fall)
- Terminator (Now Comics, September)
- The Tick (New England Comics, June)
- The True North (Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund, August)
Limited series
Release: May by Dark Horse Comics. Writer: Mark Verheiden. Artist: Mark A. Nelson.
Release: June by Vortex Comics. Writer/Artist: Howard Chaykin.
Initial appearance by character name
DC Comics
Marvel Comics
Independent titles
Notes and References
- Web site: David Sutherland. lambiek.net. 15 February 2023.
- Web site: François Craenhals. lambiek.net. April 27, 2023.
- Web site: Eppo. www.lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Hanco Kolk. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Peter de Wit. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Superman at 50. https://web.archive.org/web/20070713042645/http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19880314,00.html. dead. July 13, 2007. Time Archive 1923 to the Present. . December 26, 2011.
- Web site: Morris. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Foxtrot website. foxtrot.com.
- Book: Holtz . Allan . American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide . 2012 . The University of Michigan Press . Ann Arbor . 9780472117567 . 58.
- http://www.comics.org/issue/44278/ Action Comics #599
- Web site: 2 Masked Gunmen Attempt to Abduct Wife of Cartoonist Charles Schulz. 12 May 1988.
- Web site: Marc Sleen. lambiek.net. 30 January 2023.
- Drevets, Tricia. "From Archie to Space Ghost," Chicago Tribune (01 July 1988), p. 15.
- Web site: Little Gum. 2020-12-14. cl.lingfil.uu.se.
- Web site: Jommeke Digitaal. stripheld.hoembeka.be. Jul 31, 2020.
- [Dean Mullaney]
- Book: Holtz . Allan . American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide . 2012 . The University of Michigan Press . Ann Arbor . 9780472117567 . 338.
- Web site: Malik. lambiek.net. December 14, 2020.
- Web site: Lee Holley. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Het Stripschap - de Stripschapprijs.
- Web site: Het Stripschap - Complete lijst.
- Web site: Willy Vandersteen. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Patty Klein. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Eric De Rop. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Peter Pontiac. lambiek.net. January 26, 2023.
- Web site: Gary Panter. lambiek.net. March 9, 2024.
- Web site: Henfil. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Al Taliaferro. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Homer Brightman. IMDb. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Lino Landolfi. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- "Lonely Nights Artist Dori Seda Dead At 37," The Comics Journal #121 (April 1988).
- Web site: Dori Seda. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Frank Giacoia. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Ron Embleton. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Endrodi István. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Leslie Turner. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Jack Binder. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Jan Kraan. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Rit-Ola. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Georges Lévis. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Milton Caniff. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Clem Gretter. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Gene Fawcette. lambiek.net. March 9, 2021.
- Web site: Siauw Tik Kwie. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Gene Fawcette. lambiek.net. March 14, 2021.
- Web site: Willi Kohlhoff. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Octave Joly. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Andrea Pazienza. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Pieter Kuhn. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Piet Wijn. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Kapitein Rob - Pieter J. Kuhn. www.zeelandnet.nl. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Julius Stafford Baker (III). lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Roger Bussemey. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Roger Hargreaves. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Mars Ravelo. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: bp Nichol. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Paul Reinman. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Charles Addams. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Bill Hoest. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Jean David. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Tarpe Mills. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Alberto Solsona. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JKPN-LMJ Robert Bernstein
- Web site: Robert Bernstein, 69; Founded Music Series. December 22, 1988. The New York Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20141207231311/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/22/obituaries/robert-bernstein-69-founded-music-series.html. 2014-12-07. live. 2018-09-04.
- Web site: Herluf Bidstrup. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Web site: Leo Bothas. lambiek.net. January 12, 2024.
- Web site: Dan Gormley. lambiek.net. Jul 31, 2020.
- Dutrey, Jacques. "Megacon," The Comics Journal #121 (Apr. 1988), pp. 17-19.
- Bizjak, Tony. "Comics Convention in Oakland: Cost of Superheroes Is Soaring," San Francisco Chronicle (23 Apr 1988), p. A3.
- "Summer Comic Conventions," The Comics Journal #122 (June 1988), pp. 26–27.
- Myers, Greg W. "It Was 10 Years Ago: Cleveland's International Superman Expo — June 16–19, 1988," Comics Buyer's Guide (July 17, 1998), p. 8, 10.
- "Comix Fair socks it to fans," Houston Chronicle (24 June 1988), p. 15.
- Web site: 1980s. 2 December 2012.
