Notable events of 2017 in comics. It includes any relevant comics-related events, deaths of notable comics-related people, conventions and first issues by title.
Events and publications
March
April
- April 9: In Antwerp, Belgium, next to the Central Station the theme park Comics Station is officially opened, which puts a spotlight on various Belgian comics characters.[7]
- April 15: The final issue of the Belgian satirical comics and cartoons magazine Pan is published.
- April 21: Canadian comics artist Gisèle Lagacé makes headlines when she is denied entry near the U.S.-Canadian border for a couple of hours for no particular reason.[8]
May
- May 8:
- May 11: Hollywood actress Goldie Hawn reveals that , at age 19, she was sexually intimidated by comics artist Al Capp (who died in 1978). According to her he tried inviting her to his casting couch, which she refused, much to his anger. She'd had told this anecdote before in a 1985 interview with Playboy,[11] but only now it receives more media attention.[12][13]
- May 13: In Kansas City comics store owner James Dale, "Jim", Cavanaugh (Clint's Comics) tries to stop a shoplifter, but is thrown to the ground, hitting his head. He is brought to the hospital, where he dies.[14][15] He was 66 or 67 years old.[16]
July
August
- August 21: Nero receives a comics mural in Middelkerke, Belgium, as part of the local Comic Book Route.[18]
September
October
- October 12: Margreet de Heer is elected as first Dutch Stripmaker des Vaderlands (Comics Laureate of the Netherlands) for a period of three years.[22]
- October 13: Tubbs Fire: during a fire in Santa Rosa, California, the house of late Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz burns down to the ground. His widow is saved.[23][24]
November
December
- December 17: Iranian cartoonist Ali Dorani, better known as Eaten Fish, is finally released from his detention in a refugee camp in Manus Island, where he spent five years. By making comics and cartoons about his imprisonment, which were smuggled out the camp, he was able to bring international attention to his case, which led to sympathy campaigns that eventually solidified his release. [25]
- December 18: Geneviève Gautier publishes her comic book Les Aventures du Pingouin Alfred. The event receives a lot of media attention since, at age 95, she is the oldest person to ever publish a comic book.[26]
Specific date unknown
- Amby Vaingankar launches her webcomic series AmbyComics, also known as Gotta Sketch 'Em All. [27]
- Esther González launches her webcomic series Miss Pad Thai. [28]
- Gary Panter releases the graphic novel Songy of Paradise. [29]
