2003 in comics
The following events happened in the world of comics in the year 2003.
Events
January
- First issue of Firebreather by Phil Hester and Andy Kuhn and Invincible by Robert Kirkman
February
- In the Batman universe, debut of the series Gotham Central by Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker and of the miniseries Batgirl: Year One by Scott Beatty and Marcos Martin
- ''Aida al confine – graphic novel by Vanna Vinci; a ghost story inspired by the true life of the author's grandfather.
March
March 16: The final Sunday comic episode of Flash Gordon is published, which also marks the end of the series overall, which had been in continuous production since 1934.Fantastic Four: Unstable Molecules by James Sturm- In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the arc "Slayer Interrupted" begins.
April
Action Comics #800: Double-sized anniversary issue, "A Hero's Journey," by Joe Kelly, Pascual Ferry, and Duncan Rouleau. Generazioni – special album for the Martin Mystere’s 20th anniversary, by Carlo Recagno and various cartoonists; it sees a team-up among the hero, his ancestors Docteur Mystere and Cygale and his robotic version of the future.April 19: Webcomic Bigtime Consulting comes to a conclusionMay
Il faut tuer Lincoln – by Francois Corteggiani and Michel Blanc-Dumont, 13th album of the series BlueberryJune
June 30: in Le temps, the first episode of The Sarcophagi of the Sixth Continent, Volume 1: The Universal Threat, by Yves Sente and Andrè Juliard, is prepublished. Wolverine vol. 2 is canceled by Marvel with issue #189.Born by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar June 10 - Manhwa Dragon Hunter begins publicationLa balle perdue – by Derib, 18th album of the Buddy Longway series.- The first episode of Fabio Ciccone's webcomic Magias & Barbaridades is published.
July
July 18: The first issue of the Croatian comics magazine Q strip is published. It will last until 2013.July 22: Blankets by Craig Thompson Chaos bleeds, by Christopher Golden, Tom Sniegoski and Cliff Richards, one shot Buffy comics attached to the homonymous videogame.- First issue of Runaways, by da Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona.
August
August 5: The wolves in the walls by Neil Gaiman and David McKean- First issue of The losers by Andy Diggie and Jock
- Death: At Death's Door by Jill Thompson Red by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer
- Thor Vikings by Garth Ennis and Glenn Fabry
- First issue of Troubles, by Mark Millar and Frank Cho
- JLA-Avengers by Kurt Busiek and George Perez OK corrral by Jean Giraud Tecnodoridi, written by Stefano Vietti; Aristotele Skotos, the main villain of the Nathan Never series, is killed in a duel by the hero.
September
September 20: Le fleuve de jade, by Jacques Martin, Rafael Morales and Marc Henniquiau ; 23th album of the Alix series.September 24: Albert Uderzo is honoured as Commandeur des Arts et Lettres.October
October 16: Asterix and the class act by Goscinny and Uderzo October 18–19: During the Stripdagen in Alphen aan den Rijn John Reid, Bastiaan Geleijnse and Jean-Marc van Tol receive the Stripschapprijs. Gerard Roord, publisher of Illustrated Classics wins the Hans P. Frankfurtherprijs. Henk Sprenger, Wim Meuldijk and Gerrit Stapel are the first people to receive a new award, the Bulletje en Boonestaakschaal.October 29: Dick Matena's graphic novel adaptation of Gerard Reve's novel De Avonden starts its serialisation in Het Parool. The comic book adaptation will bring Matena tremendous acclaim and pave the way for more graphic novel adaptations of literary classics.Smax by Alan Moore and Gene Ha- Pianet X by Grant Morrison and Phil Jimenez
- Marvel 1602, by Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert.
- Supreme power by J. Michael Straczynski and Gary Frank
- First issue of The walking dead by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore
- Fagin the Jew by Will Eisner
- Fisrst issue of Monster allergy, by Francesco Artibani and Alessandro Barbucci
- The Italian cartoonist Gipi publishes his first graphic novel, Esterno notte, a collection of six stories about violence and decay, set in Roman suburbs-
November
- First issue of Teen titans go! The sandman: endless night by Neil Gaiman
- Ultimate six by Brian Michael Bendis and Trevor Hirsine Play with fire, paperback collecting various Buffy comics by limited diffusion
December
December 11: Paolo Aldighieri publishes in his personal blog erladan, one of the first Italian webcomcs. December 16: In Topolino the first episode of The Lost Explorers' Trail, by Casty and Giorgio Cavazzano is published. It marks the debut of Eurasia Toft, a Disney version of Lara Croft.- December 24: The final issue of the Flemish comics magazine Suske en Wiske Weekblad is published.
- Wanted by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones
Specific date unknown
- The AOL name was finally dropped from Time Warner, which reverted to the Time Warner name.
- Peter van Straaten wins his third Inktspotprijs for Best Political Cartoon.
- Danish animator comic artist Børge Ring is knighted in the Order of the Dutch Lion.
- In Il vernacoliere, debut of Don Zaucker, by Emiliano Pagani and Daniele Caluri.
Deaths
January
January 1: Warren Whipple, American comics artist, dies at age 92.January 2: Jack Keller, American comics artist dies at age 80.January 8: Franz Drappier, aka Franz, Belgian comics artist, dies at age 54.January 10: Ramón Sabatés, Spanish comics artist, dies at age 87.January 14: Rémy Bordelet, French comics artist, dies at age 71.January 20: Mose, French comics artist, dies at age 85.January 28: Leoncio Rojas Cruzat, aka Leo, Chilean comics artist, dies at age 83.January 30:- * Les Zakarin, American comic inker, dies at age 73.
- * Guido Zamperoni, aka Guy Zam, Italian comics artist, dies at age 90.
February
February 22: George A. Ward, American comic artist, dies at age 82.February 26:- * Carlos Freixas, Spanish comics artist, dies at age 79.
- * Ram Waeerkar, Indian comic artist, dies at age 66 or 67.February 28: Pete Millar, American comics artist, dies at age 73.
March
March 2: Bill Woggon, American comics artist, dies at age 92.March 3: Dave Pascal, American cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 84.March 11: Frans Verstreken, Belgian publisher, writer and curator, dies at age 80.March 12:- * Branco Karabajic, Croatian comics artist and animator, dies at age 77.
- * Thomas Warkentin, American animator, comics writer and comic artist, dies at age 67.March 16: Auguste, French comic artist, dies at age 62.March 22: Fernando Carpucino, Italian painter, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 80.Specific date in March unknown: Angus Scott, British comics artist, dies at age 94.
April
April 3: Karel Boumans, aka Kabou, Belgian comics artist, dies at age 71.April 4: Rudy Florese, Filipino comic artist, dies at age 56.April 9: Jerry Bittle, American comics artist, dies at age 53.April 14: Ric Hugo, American comics artist, dies at age 75 or 76.April 14: John Kent, New Zealand cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 65.May
May 2: Peter Jackson, British comics artist, dies at age 81.May 8: Leo Bachle, Canadian comics artist, dies at age 79.May 14: Dante Quinterno, Argentine cartoonist and comics artist,, dies at age 93.May 23: Pierce Rice, American comics artist, dies at age 86 or 87.May 27: Al Hartley, American comics artist, dies at age 81.June
June 4: Serafín Rojo Caamaño, Spanish comic artist, dies at age 77.June 9: Georges Pichard, French comics artist and writer .June 18: Guy Bara, French cartoonist and comic artist, dies at age 79.July
July 17: Cosper, Danish comics artist, dies at age 92.July 20: William Woolfolk, American novelist, TV writer and comics writer, dies at age 86.July 24:- * Irving Dressler, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 90.
- * Warren Kremer, American comics artist, dies at age 82.July 31: Guido Crepax, Italian comics artist, dies at age 70.
August
August 9: Bert Wunderink, Dutch comics artist, dies at age 80.August 31: Dave Gerard, American comics artist, dies at age 94.September
September 25: Herb Gardner, American playwright, screenwriter and comics artist, dies at age 68 from lung disease.Specific date in September unknown: Sergio Boffano, Italian-Uruguayan comic artist, dies at age 86.October
October 1: Costas Grammatopoulos, Greek painter, engraver, illustrator, poster designer and comics artist, dies at age 87.October 5: Alain Bignon, French comic artist, dies at age 56.October 12: Pete Morisi, American comics artist, dies at age 75.October 14: Ned Riddle, American cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 90 and 91.November
November 12: John Tartaglione, American comics artist and inker, dies at age 82.November 29: Len Lawson, Australian comics artist and convicted rapist and murderer, dies at age 76 from a heart attack.November 30: Kin Platt, American caricaturist, radio writer, TV writer, animation writer, comics artist, dies at age 91.December
December 5: Bob Gregory, American comics writer/artist dies at age 82.December 20:- * Edgar Ley, Chinese-born, Belgian comics artist, dies at age 85 or 86.
- * Hector Saavedra, Argentine comics artist, dies at age 49 or 50.December 25: Art Wetherell, British illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 42.December 26: Bill Harrison, American cartoonist, dies at age 76.December 27: Pete Alvarado, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 83.December 29: Don Lawrence, British comics artist,, dies at age 75.Specific date in December unknown: Oliver Passingham, British comics artist and animator, dies at age 78.
Specific date unknown
- Allan Borgström, Swedish comics artist, dies at age 89 or 90.
- Antonio Correa Expósito, Spanish comics artist, dies at age 62 or 63.
- Hank P. Meyer, Dutch comic artist, dies at an unknown age.
Exhibitions
Summer–early Fall: "Ohio Cartoonists: A Bicentennial Celebration" — includes work by Frederick Burr Opper, Edwina Dumm, Richard F. Outcault, and many of the cartoonists who took Charles N. Landon's Cleveland-based correspondence course and were hired by Landon to create cartoon features for the Newspaper Enterprise AssociationOct 19, 2003-Sep 7, 2004: "Heroes, Heartthrobs and Horrors: Celebrating Connecticut's Invention of the Comic Book" — exhibits on Eastern Color Printing and ''Funnies on Parade''Conventions
January 11: FLUKE Mini-Comics & Zine Festival January 25: Big Apple Comic Book Art, and Toy Show I January 31–February 2: Creation Comic Book & Pop Culture Convention February 1–2: Alternative Press Expo February 9: Emerald City ComiCon — first annual event; 2,500 attendees; guests: Erik Larsen, John Cassaday, Scott Morse, Pia Guerra, Darick Robertson, Sean Chen, Greg Rucka, Ford Gilmore, Jim Mahfood, Steve Skroce, Mike Huddleston, Steve Rolston, Ian Boothby, Jay Faerber, Matt Haley, Kathleen Webb, John Lustig, David Hahn, Stefano Gaudiano, Donna Barr, Roberta Gregory, Rick Hoberg, Jason Hall, and Brian SnöddyFebruary 28–March 2: MegaCon — guests include J. Scott Campbell, Scott McDaniel, Chuck Dixon, Frank Cho, George Pérez, Roy Thomas, Greg Land, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Robert Rodi, Bart Sears, Brian Pulido, and Adam HughesMarch 22–24: East Coast Hobby Show 2003 March 23: Toronto Comic Con I — first edition of this convention, organized by Paradise ComicsMarch 29–30: Planet Comicon April: Phoenix Comicon April 5–6: Dallas Comic Con 2.0 — guests include Tim Bradstreet, Adam Hughes, Dave Dorman, and Frank Cho, Scott Kurtz, Kerry Gammill, Cal Slayton, and Michael Lark. A collectible program book produced with dual covers by artists Dave Dorman and Adam Hughes.April 5: Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo — special guests: Dave Sim and GerhardApril 25–27: Pittsburgh Comicon — guests include Terry Austin, Terry Moore, Wayne Wise, Adam Hughes, Bill Morrison, Erin Gray, George Pérez, Joseph Michael Linsner, Jim Balent, and Michael TurnerApril 26–27: WonderCon — convention moves from OaklandApril 27: MicroCon 2003 May 2–3: Big Apple Comic Book Art, and Toy Show II — guest of honor Jim Steranko; other guests: Russ Heath, Billy Tucci, Graig Weich, Tony Isabella, Guy Gilchrist, Jim Krueger, Jamal Igle, Robin Riggs, and Jim SalicrupMay 2–3: Hershey Comicon I May 16–18: Motor City Comic Con I — guests include Aaron Bordner, Mark Bode, Dan Brereton, Norm Breyfogle, Guy Davis, Dan Fogel, Frank Kelly Freas, Laura Freas, Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez, Vince Locke, William Messner Loebs, James O'Barr, Jim Pitts, Paul Ryan, William Stout, Billy Tucci, Neil Vokes, and Larry WelzMay 17: East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention — 50 attendees; guests include William H. Foster III, Jerry Craft, and Anthony JappaMay 23–24: Comics 2003 — presentation of the National Comics Awards; guests include Jim Lee, Jeff Smith, Dez Skinn, Mike Conroy, Duncan Fegredo, Steve Yeowell, Gary Spencer Millidge, Phil Winslade, Sean Phillips, Mike Carey, Chris Weston, Chris Francis, Phil Hall, Bryan Talbot, Dave Gibbons, John McCrea, John Cassaday, D'Israeli, Staz Johnson, Gary Erskine, Rich Johnston, Nick Locking, and David HitchcockMay 30–June 1: Wizard World East May 31–June 1: Adventure Con 2 June 13–15: Heroes Convention — guests include Bob Almond, Jim Amash, Pat Broderick, Frank Brunner, Sal Buscema, Nick Cardy, Richard Case, Steve Conley, Shane Davis, Kim DeMulder, Todd Dezago, Tommy Lee Edwards, Michael Eury, Tom Feister, Lou Ferrigno, Dick Giordano, Cully Hamner, Scott Hampton, Tony Harris, Irwin Hasen, Adam Hughes, Matt Hughes, Greg Hyland, Jamal Igle, Dan Jolley, Bruce Jones, Nat Jones, Jason Latour, Bob Layton, Jon Lewis, David W. Mack, Pop Mhan, Phil Noto, Jeff Parker, George Pratt, Budd Root, Craig Rousseau, Julie Schwartz, Bill Sienkiewicz, Roxanne Starr, Brian Stelfreeze, Karl Story, Roy Thomas, Rich Tommaso, Tim Townsend, Koi Turnbull, George Tuska, Neil Vokes, Loston Wallace, Daniel Way, and Mike WieringoJune 13–14: Lexington Sci-Fi Comic Con June 20–21: Hershey Comicon II June 22: MoCCA Festival — guests include Jessica Abel, Signe Baumane, Amanda Conner, Howard Cruse, Evan Dorkin, Phoebe Gloeckner, Klaus Janson, Denis Kitchen, James Kochalka, Peter Kuper, Jason Little, Patrick McDonnell, Mike Mignola, Bill Plympton, Ted Rall, Jeff Smith, Art Spiegelman, and Craig ThompsonJune 27–July 6: Comica — London International Comics Festival — first iteration of this event, organized by Paul Gravett; guests include Chris Ware, Charles Burns, Joe Sacco, Warren Ellis, Mike Carey, Posy Simmonds, Frédéric Boilet, Sophie Crumb, David Lloyd, Melinda Gebbie, Peter Hogan, Garry Leach, and Gary Spencer MillidgeJuly 12–13: Big-D Collectible Show — 1500 attendeesJuly 17–20: Comic-Con International — 70,000 attendees; official guests: Brian Azzarello, Charles Berberian, Sal Buscema, Philippe Dupuy, Neil Gaiman, Jackson "Butch" Guice, Nalo Hopkinson, Steve Jackson, Geoff Johns, Larry Lieber, Carla Speed McNeil, Kevin O'Neill, Howard Post, and R.A. SalvatoreJuly 18–20: Hawaii All-Collectors Show August: "Cyber CAPTION" — guests include Carla Speed McNeilAugust 3: Atlanta Comic Convention August 8–10: Wizard World Chicago August 22–24: Fan Expo Canada — 20,655 attendees; guests include Leonard Nimoy, Ray Park, Adrian Rayment & Neil Rayment Twins (The Matrix), J. August Richards, Connor Trinneer, Denise Crosby, Brian Michael Bendis, Francisco Herrera, Ed McGuinness, Ken Steacy, Darwyn Cooke, Josh Blaylock, and Fred GallagherAugust 29–September 1: Dragon Con — 20,000+ attendeesSeptember 4–6: International Comics and Animation Festival — guests include Francesca Ghermandi, Stefano Ricci, and Lalo AlcarazSeptember 5–6: Big Apple Comic Book Art, and Toy Show III September 5–7: Small Press Expo September 12–14: Raptus 2003 — 4,500 attendeesSeptember 20–21: Baltimore Comic-Con September 20–21: Royalfest 2003 — 3,000–4,000 attendeesOctober 3–5: Adventure Con 2.5 October 4–5: FallCon October 17–November 2: FIBDA XIV October 18–19: Motor City Comic Con II — guests include Kurt Busiek, Andy Lee, and David W. MackOctober 19: Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention October 19: Maine Comic Book Spectacular October 25–26: Dallas Comic Con — guests include Tim Bradstreet, Phil Noto, Adam Hughes, Scott Kurtz, John Lucas, Ben Dunn, Jaime Mendoza, Cal Slayton, and Erik ReevesOctober 31–November 3: Las Vegas Comic-Con — first annual eventOctober 31–November 2: Lucca Comics and Games — 50,000 attendeesNovember 1: Comic Festival Winter Special — guests include Steven Appleby, Mark Buckingham, John M. Burns, Laurence Campbell, Al Davison, Alex Collier, Mike Conroy, Andy Diggle, Simon Donald, Christian Dunn, Ian Edginton, Carl Flint, Paul Gambaccini, Phil Gascoigne, Ian Gibson, Jon Haward, Morris Heggie, P. J. Holden, Jock, Davey Jones, Euan Kerr, Roger Langridge, Metaphrog, Gary Spencer Millidge, Robbie Morrison, Paul Palmer, Siku, Dez Skinn, Kev F. Sutherland, and Lee TownsendNovember 6–9: Coco Bulles November 7–9: Toronto Comic Con II — guests of honor: Jim Starlin and Michael William KalutaNovember 15–16: Kansas City ComiCon November 21–23: Wizard World Texas November 28–30: Big Apple Comic Book Art, and Toy Show IV November 29–30: Mid-Ohio Con December 7: Boston Comic Book Spectacular — 1,000 attendeesFirst issues by title
;Confidential Assassination Troop;Fluffy
;Opus
;''xxxHolic''