Notable events of 2019 in comics. It includes any relevant comics-related events, deaths of notable comics-related people, conventions and first issues by title.
January 7: First installment of the comic strip Alley Oop written by Joey Alison Sayers and illustrated by Jonathan Lemon.
January 25: Canadian-Dutch artist Maia Matches is inaugurated as the annual Stadstekenaar van Amsterdam (City Illustrator of Amsterdam).[1]
January: The final issue of the French comics magazine Psikopat is published.[2]
February
February 10: Wiley Miller's newspaper comic Non Sequitur causes controversy after a subliminal anti-Donald Trump message is spotted in one of the panels.[3][4][5] Multiple newspapers discontinued carrying the strip in response.[6][7][8]
February 15: The oldest Danish comics store in the world, Fantask, in Copenhagen, announces it will close down in June after 47 years.[9] Within two days a crowdfunding campaign saves the store from this fate and it continues its existence.[10]
February 20: Dutch comics writer Patty Klein is knighted in the Order of the Dutch Lion. She dies less than a month later.[11]
April 29: The New York Times gets caught up in controversy over two cartoons accused of antisemitism. Both target Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One is made by António Moreira Antunes,[19] the other by Roar Hagen. As a result, the magazine announces that they will no longer publish syndicated editorial cartoons. Two months later they push this policy even further and decide to no longer publish any daily political cartoons.[20]
May
May 22:
In Orvelte, The Netherlands, a museum is opened dedicated to the work of Jan Kruis.[21]
French comics artist and illustrator Pascal Somon is sentenced for plagiarism and illegal copies of Tintin to the hefty sum of 32.000 euros (35.600 dollars) in damages.[25]
June
June 10: The New York Times announces that it will no longer publish daily political cartoons in its international edition from 1 July on, as a result over a controversial cartoon by António[19] depicting Donald Trump as a lapdog of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu two months earlier.[26]
Egyptian artist Ganzeer publishes his first graphic novel The Solar Grid.[27]
July 3: It is announced that Mad Magazine will no longer publish original material from August on and disappear from the newsstands. It will only be available via subscription and direct markets, specializing on reprints, but with brand new covers. It will still publish occasional specials.[30]
August 16: The Guardian makes a controversy public regarding Marvel Comics who refused to publish an essay by Art Spiegelman, because of criticism in the text regarding U.S. President Donald Trump. Marvel claims they wanted to stay apolitical.[32]
September 17: Diane Noomin releases the collective comic book Drawing Power: Women's Stories of Sexual Violence, Harassment and Survival, published by Harry N. Abrams. It features comics by women reflecting on personal encounters with sexual violence.[34]
September 24: The Dutch cartoonists collective Gorilla wins the Inktspotprijs for Best Political Cartoon.[35]
October 23: Belgian comics publishers Standaard Uitgeverij and Ballon Media merge.[38]
November
November 13: The Dutch cartoonist duo Evert Kwok wins a court case against a man who sued them after they complained about his illegal and uncredited use of their cartoons on his site.[39]
December
December 2: Under pressure of Christian organisation CitizenGO, Dutch supermarket chain Dirk apologizes for offering the controversial graphic novel Jezus Christus Was Een Meisje by Jan Bart Dieperink as a prize, if customers buy an issue of their magazine Ditjes en Datjes. [40][41]
December 23: The Antwerp mini-theme park and exhibition Comics Station is sold to Studio 100.[42]
January 1: Dagfinn Bakke, Finnish painter and comics artist, dies at age 85.[45]
January 8: Arturo Rojas de la Cámara, aka Rojas, Spanish comics artist (Cucharito, Nabucondonosor, Gedeon, El Genio Eustaquio, Agente 7-7 a la Izquierda, Centaurito, Aladino, Don Percebe y Basilio, Anibal), dies at age 88.[46]
January 15: Isaac del Rivero Sr., Spanish comics writer and artist, dies at age 87 or 88.[49]
January 16:
Pauli Heikkilä, Finnish novelist and comics artist (Vanhat herrat), dies at age 60.[50]
Hanza Sanchō, Japanese comics artist, dies at age 90.
Denis Sire, French comics artist and illustrator (Menace Diabolique, Bois Willys), dies at age 65.[51]
January 18: Angel Del Arbol, Spanish comics artist (Sevla Rebelde, Aventuras Deportivas, Laura, Cuentos Gigante Tres Hadas, Macabro, comics based on Tom & Jerry), dies at age 82.[52]
January 19: Bort, Italian comics artist (Le Ultime Parole Famose), dies at age 92.[53]
January 28: Frans Buissink, Dutch painter, journalist and comics writer (Sjors en Sjimmie, Brammetje Bram), dies at age 75.[54]
January 29: Alex Barbier, French comics artist and painter (worked for Charlie Mensuel, Les Paysages de la Nuit, Comme un Poulet Sans Tête, dies at age 68.[55]
February
February 1: Ted Stearn, American animator and comics artist (Fuzz & Pluck, The Forgotten Dream of a Melancholy Chef), dies at age 57 from AIDS.[56]
February 2: Kakashi Oniyazu, Japanese comics artist (Though You May Burn to Ash, Date Ast Like), dies at an unknown age.[57]
February 8: Sérgio Tibúrcio Graciano, Brazilian comics artist (assistant of Mauricio de Sousa), dies at age 83.[58]
February 9: Tomi Ungerer, French novelist, illustrator, cartoonist and poster designer (The Three Robbers, Flat Stanley, Underground Sketchbook, The Party, Fornicon), dies at age 87.[59]
February 13: Annibale Casabianca, Italian comic artist (Miciolino, I Serpenti, drew Italian versions of The Phantom and Mandrake the Magician, worked for Sergio Rosi, Roy D'Ami and Alberto Giolitti), dies at age 89. [60]
February 15: Werner Hierl, German comics artist (Rolf Kauka), and animator (Bavaria Film), dies at age 88 or 89.[61]
February 17: Claude Renard, Belgian comics artist (Ivan Casablanca, 1914-1918, Les Anges de Mons) and teacher (founder of Atelier R), dies at age 72.[62]
February 18: Jacques Sandron, French comics artist (Godaille et Godasse, Raphaël et les Timbres), dies at age 76.[63]
February 19: Dee, Malaysian comics artist (Hello Bos), dies at age 52.[64]
February 20: Har Brok, Dutch journalist and writer (wrote various books about Hergé, among them: Kuifje, Van Leerlingjournalist tot Wereldberoemd Reporter), dies at age 76.[65]
February 21: Àngel Badia i Camps, Spanish painter, illustrator and comics artist (Pilaropo, created comics for Fleetway, Bruguera and Ricart), dies at age 89–90.[66]
February 25: Tadeusz Raczkiewicz, Polish cartoonist, comics writer and artist (Kusmider i Filo, Tajfun), dies at age 69.[67]
March
March 2: Sergio Tuis, Italian comics artist (La Pattuglia dei Bufali, Kirby Flint, Agente senza Nome, continued Martin Mystère), dies at age 83.[68]
March 6: Shigehisa Sunagawa, Japanese comics artist, dies at age 77.[69]
May 29: Josep María Blanco Ibarz, Spanish comics artist (Los Kakikus, La Familia Ulises, Patam Plaff, El Loco Pericos), dies at age 92.[101]
June
June 4: Rinaldo Traini, Italian comics promoter (co-organiser of the Salone Internazionale dei Comics festival) and comics writer (wrote for Guido Buzzelli, Roberto Diso and Corrado Mastantuono), dies at age 88.[102]
June 5: Helmut Nickel, German comics artist (Titanus, Don Pedro, Robinson Crusoë), dies at age 95.[103]
June 6: Kees Sparreboom, Dutch painter, illustrator and comics artist (Boot & Van Dijk and various autobiographical comics), dies from cancer at age 79.[104]
June 7: Reto Gloor, Swiss comics artist (Das Karma-Problem), dies at age 66.[105]
June 9: Fabien Lacaf, French screenwriter and comics artist (Les Patriotes), dies at age 65.[106]
June 16: José Colomer Fonts, Spanish comic artist (Disney comics), dies at age 76. [107]
June 22: Pieter Hermanides, Dutch painter and comics artist (De Draak van Bociti), dies at age 87.[108]
June 28: Kaj Pindal, Danish-Canadian comics artist and animator (Professor Phidus), dies at age 91.[109]
June 30:
Armando Salas Martinez, Spanish comics artist (El Eden), dies at age 73.[110]
July 11: Pepita Pardell, Spanish animator, cartoonist, illustrator and painter (worked for Ediciones Toray), dies at age 91.[112]
July 12: Klaas Knol, Dutch store employee (longest-serving employee of Amsterdam comics store Lambiek), dies at age 64.[113]
July 13: Ger Rijff, Dutch comics artist (De Vogels, Daan en Dodo, various sex parody comics, co-author of the Suske en Wiske spoof De Glunderende Gluurder), dies at age 67.[114]
July 26: Christian Gaty, French comic artist (Dany, Hôtesse de Paris, continued Barbe-Rouge) , dies at age 94. [115]
July 29: Daniele Fagarazzi, AKA Dani, Italian animator and comic artist (Tilt, Otto Krunz, Bobo, continued Zio Boris, comics based on Calimero), dies at age 54.[116]
August 27: Pedro Bell, American illustrator, animator and comics artist (drew comic strip-like album covers for George Clinton and a comic-strip review of a Deee-Lite concert), dies at age 69.[124]
August 31: Donald Rooum, British comics artist and journalist (Wildcat), dies at age 91.
September 12: Bill Schelly, American publisher (the fanzine Superheroes Anonymous, Sense of Wonder) and writer (The Golden Age of Comic Fandom), dies at age 67.[130]
September 27: Patrick Tandiang, French comics artist (Le Matin des Suaires Brûlés, Japper Jack), dies at age 58.[131]
October
October 1:
Jouko Innanen, Finnish cartoonist and comics artist (Into, Herra Kaaranen), dies at age 66.[132]
Esther Takei, American comics artist (Ama-Chan), dies at age 94.[133]
October 5:
Rik Pareit, Belgian journalist and writer (wrote the book Geheimzinnige Sterren, over het Belgische Stripverhaal, about Belgian comics), dies at age 66 from prostate cancer.[134]
November 13: Tom Spurgeon, American comics writer (Wildwood), journalist, writer, critic (editor of The Comics Journal, 1994–1999) and blogger (The Comics Reporter), dies at age 50.[137]
November 19:
Purita Campos, Spanish comics artist (Patty's World), dies at age 82.[138]
Specific date in November unknown: Jean Marcellin, aka Couic, French comics artist and illustrator (La Famille Plantevigne, Caramba et Alonzo, Artimon et Siroco), dies at age 90 or 91.[148]
December
December 7: Dani Dacquin, Belgian comics artist (Adam en Eva, De Lotgevallen van Lotje, Yoeko), dies at age 84.[149]
December 8: Caroll Spinney, American puppeteer, voice actor, comics artist and animator (Harvey), dies at age 85.[150]
December 9: Patrice Ordas, French novelist and comics writer (wrote comics for Patrick Cothias[151]), dies at age 68.[152][153]
December 19:
Jules Deelder, Dutch poet, orator and comics writer (wrote scripts for the comic book series Amber en Akka and Professor Hilarius, drawn by Rob Derks.[154]) and inspired his own celebrity comic (Juul Deeldert, drawn by Vick Debergh [155]), dies at age 75.[156]
Freek Neirynck, Belgian theatre director, journalist, actor, writer and comics writer (wrote comics for Buth [157] and Knut Kersse [158]), dies at age 70.[159]
