Notable events of 2020 in comics. It includes any relevant comics-related events, deaths of notable comics-related people, conventions and first issues by title.
January 20: Legendary comics writer René Goscinny receives a statue in Paris. He is the first comics artist to be honoured this way in the French capital.[1][2]
January 28: A cartoon by Niels Bo Bojesen in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten causes a diplomatic incident with the Chinese embassy for depicting the Chinese flag, with its yellow stars depicting the coronavirus particles.[3]
January 29: Dutch comics artist Wasco wins the Stripschapprijs.[4] On 8 February it is announced that Bas Schuddeboom and Kjell Knudde, editors of the comics encyclopedia website Comiclopedia, connected to the Amsterdam comics store Lambiek, win the P. Hans Frankfurther Prize.[5][6]
February
February 4: Belgian cartoonist Lectrr causes a diplomatic incident with the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Belgium and Luxemburg by drawing the Chinese flag and replacing the yellow stars with 'danger' symbol(s).[7]
Chris Yambar and Randy Bish launch a revival of Richard F. Outcault's classic newspaper comic character The Yellow Kid, albeit in comic book format. [9]
March
March 23: Due to the COVID-19 pandemiclockdownDiamond Comic Distributors stops sending comics to retail shops until further notice. Issues of comics with United States release dates of April 1 or later, and with United Kingdom release dates of March 25 or later, will not be shipped until normal operations resume.[10]
March 28: The final daily episode of Bob Weber's Moose & Molly is published. The final Sunday episode appears on 5 April. On 17 October of the same year Weber dies.[11]
April
April 1: De Kiekeboes are from now on drawn digitally rather than by hand. Creator Merho passes his pencil on to his successors: Kristof Fagard and Steve Van Bael, though keeps writing the scripts.[12]
May
May 7: To support comics stores who had to close down several months due to the COVID-19 pandemiclockdown various Dutch and Flemish comics artists release a free collective comic book titled Striphelden versus Corona, which is handed out in stores to everybody who buys a comic for minimum 15 euro.[13][14]
May 20: For the first time since his retirement in 2002, Paul Geerts presents a new Suske en Wiske story, drawn by himself: De Preutse Prinses. The title was set to be presented in March, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the release had to be postponed.[15][16]
June
June 5: DC Comics announces that they will discontinue their distribution through Diamond Comic Distributors and instead have their comics distributed through Penguin Random House, USC Comic Distributors and Lunar Distribution instead.[17]
June 10: At age 99 Al Jaffee retires from the comics industry. Mad Magazine releases a thematic special, which features his final fold-in.[18]
September 2: In the Central Station of Brussels, Belgium, the ceiling fresco depicting The Smurfs, which was inaugurated in 2018, collapses due to a water leak.[24]
September 17: Belgian comics scholar Pascal Lefèvre receives an honorary doctorate at the University of Malmö, Sweden.[25][26]
September 22: Dutch cartoonist Len Munnik wins his second Inktspotprijs for Best Political Cartoon. The first time happened in 1996. [27][28]
October
October 2:
During the Stripdagen in Haarlem Herman Roozen is named the new Dutch Stripmaker des Vaderlands (Comics Laureate of the Netherlands).[29]
During the Stripdagen in Haarlem Bas Schuddeboom and Kjell Knudde, writers and editors of Lambiek's comics encyclopedia Comiclopedia, receive the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs.[30][31]
Johnny Sampson makes his first fold-in for Mad.[32]
November
November 29: Jan Godschalk and Ton Kooreman win the annual Bulletje en Boonestaakschaal.[33][34]
December
December 13: Frank von Hebel and Fred de Heij create a homage story to Pieter Kuhn's classic comic Kapitein Rob, which is serialized in Het Parool, 75 years after the character's debut in the paper. Since 1966 no official new stories of this series had been published.[35]
January 7: Tobias Tak, Dutch comics artist (Gaboon, Zizmo the cat), dies at age 65.[37]
January 11: Steve Stiles, American comics artist (The Adventures of Professor Thintwhistle and His Incredible Aether Flyer, Xenozoic Tales), dies at age 76.[38]
January 14: Jacques Stoll, French animator and comics artist (Colonel Nightingale, Bing et Boing), dies at an unknown age.[39]
January 19: Pirana, Belgian cartoonist and comics artist (Mevrouw Dallemans), dies at age 72 from euthanasia.[40]
January 20: Wolfgang J. Fuchs, German author, historian (co-author of Anatomie eines Massenmediums and Comics-Handbuch with Reinhold Reitberger [41]) and comic book translator, dies at age 74.[42][43]
January 25: Horst Alisch, German illustrator, animator and comics artist (Bürokrates, Sohn des Pedantes, Ali und Archibald, Emmy and Käpt'n Lütt), dies at age 94.[44]
January 30: Bill Canfield, American sports cartoonistst, dies at age 99.[45]
Specific date unknown: Raymond Larrett, aka Norman Dog, American illustrator and comics artist (Bad Habits), dies at an unknown age.[46]
February
February 3: Philippe Adamov, French illustrator, animator and comics artist (Seule au Monde, Le Vent des Dieux, Dayak, L'Impératrice Rouge, Le Malédiction de Zener, Dakota), dies at age 63.[47]
February 12: Hubert Boulard aka Hubert, French comics writer (Le Legs de l'alchimiste, Miss Pas Touche, Beauté, Les Ogres-Dieux) and colorist, dies at age 49.[50]
February 21: Nick Cuti, American comics writer (E-Man, Michael Mauser, Captain Cosmos), editor, animator and artist (Moonchild), dies at age 75.[51]
May 2: Armando Huerta, Mexican-American illustrator, pin-up artist and comic artist (contributed to the Double Impact series), commits suicide at age 50.[83]
May 18: Jennifer Kisler, British comics artist (continued Rupert Bear), dies at age 84.[86]
May 21: Lluís Juste De Nin, aka L'Esquerrà, El Zurdo, Spanish comics artist, caricaturist and illustrator (La Norma, Petant La Xerrada, ELS NIN), dies at age 74 or 75.[87]
May 29: Eric Schreurs, Dutch comics artist (Joop Klepzeiker, Dick van Bill), dies from heart failure at age 61.[88]
Specific date in May unknown:
Frank B. Johnson, American comics artist (Boner's Ark, Beany, Miss Caroline, Einstein, continued Bringing Up Father), dies at age 89.[89]
Richard Sala, American comics artist, illustrator and animator (The Chuckling Whatsit, Evil Eye), dies at age 65.[90][91]
June 24: Ralph Dunagin, American comics writer (The Middletons, continued Grin and Bear It, The Girls) and comics artist (Dunagin's People), dies at age 83.[94]
July 30–31: Concepció Zendrera Tomás, Catalan-Spanish comics translator (translator of The Adventures of Tintin into Catalan, inspired a biographical comic about her life, drawn by David Maynar [99]), dies at age 100.[100][101]
August
August 3: Sean Martin, Canadian comics artist and graphic artist (Doc and Raider), dies at age 59 from pancreatic cancer.[20]
August 10: Laurent Vicomte, French comics artist (La Balade au Bout du Monde, Sasmira), dies at age 64.[102]
August 11: Edmond Kiraz, Egyptian-French comics artist (Line, Les Parisiennes, erotic cartoons in Playboy), dies at age 96.[103]
August 13: Harald Stricker, Brazilian illustrator, podcaster and comics artist (Independência ou Mortos), dies at age 47.[104]
Rolf Gohs, Swedish comic creator and cover artist (Fantomen, Mystika 2:an, Blodsmak), dies at age 86.[109][110]
September
September 1: Jimmy Janes, American comics artist (Legion of Super-Heroes), dies at age 73.[111]
September 6: Bob Fujitani, American comics artist (Judge Wright, continued Rip Kirby), dies at age 98.[112]
September 13: Bruno Madaule, French comics artist (Eglantine et Diégo, Les Givrés, Les Blagues Suisses, Les Winners), dies at age 49 from cancer.[113]
September 14: Fer, Spanish comics artist (Puticlub, El Urelio, Historias Fermosas), dies at age 71.[114]
September 20: John Allen, American cartoonist (Undissolved Mysteries), dies from brain cancer at an unknown age.[115]
September 21: Ron Cobb, American cartoonist, animator, film set designer, TV director and scriptwriter, dies at age 83.[116]
September 30: Quino, Argentine comics artist (Mafalda), dies at age 88.[117]
October
October 11: Gerald Gardner, American screenwriter and comics writer (Miss Caroline[118]), dies at age 91. [119]
October 13: Yves Thos, French painter and illustrator (illustrated magazine covers for Pilote and for comic book album covers of series like Redbeard and Tanguy et Laverdure), dies at age 85.[120]
October 20: Alex Varenne, French comics writer and artist (Ardeur, Erma Jaguar), dies at age 81.[121]
October 22: Richard Lupoff, aka Dick Lupoff, American novelist, writer and comics writer (The Adventures of Professor Thintwhistle and His Incredible Aether Flyer[122]), dies at age 85.[123]
October 26: Jean-Pierre Autheman, French comics artist (Condor, Vic Valence, Zip Zap), dies at age 73.[124]
October 28: Ward Zwart, Belgian comics artist (Wolven, Ik Kom van Ver Maar Blijf Niet Te Lang),dies at age 35.[125]
November
November 4: Pascal Somon, French illustrator and comics artist (convicted for making illegal Tintin parodies), dies at age 60.[126]
November 6: Miguel Quesada Cerdán, Spanish comic artist (Kormax, Pacho Dinamite, continued Pantera Negra), dies at age 77. [127]
November 9: Ro Marcenaro, Swiss-Italian animator and comics artist (made a comics version of The Communist Manifesto), dies at age 83.[128]
November 12: Piem, French cartoonist (Monsieur Pépin, Turlupin), dies at age 97.[129]
November 13: Emil V. Abrahamian, American comics artist (Stumpy Stumbler, The Spacers, Space Shots, Impressions, Animal Chatter, The Sports File, Endangered Animals and Their Environment), dies at age 94.[130]
November 17: Arco van Os, Dutch editor/chief editor of the comics magazine Stripschrift, publisher of the company Stripstift, festival director of De Stripdagen comics festival (2005-2014), dies at age 58 from a heart attack.[131][132]
November 20:
Ivo Pavone, Italian comics artist (continued Sergeant Kirk), dies at age 91.[133]
December 21: Francisco Pérez Espinosa, A.K.A. Kito, Spanish comic artist (Nadine, Claudine et leur Papa), dies at age 82 or 83. [141]
December 28: Arthur Berckmans, A.K.A. Berck, Belgian comics artist (Sammy, Strapontin, Rataplan, De Familie Nopkes, De Donderpadjes, Lowietje), dies at age 91.[142]
Exhibitions
February 15–April 18: "Still... Racism in America: A Retrospective in Cartoons" (Medialia Gallery, New York City) — 100+ cartoons by the African American father-daughter cartoonists Brumsic Brandon Jr. and Barbara Brandon-Croft[143][144]
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: Which conventions took place in person, which became virtual conventions, and which were cancelled due to the pandemic?. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (December 2020)
September 3–7: Dragon Con (Atlanta, Georgia) — IN-PERSON EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC; rescheduled for the same dates as a virtual event[172]
September 11–13: Rose City Comic Con (Portland, Oregon) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC[173]
September 25–27: L.A. Comic Con — RESCHEDULED to December and then CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC[177][178]
October
October: STAPLE! (Austin, Texas) — CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC[179]
October 1–4: Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (Columbus, Ohio) — IN-PERSON EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC; rescheduled for the same dates as a virtual event[180]
October 8–11: New York Comic Con (New York City) — IN-PERSON EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC; rescheduled for the same dates as a virtual event called "New York Comic Con X MCM Comic Con Metaverse"[181]
October 16–18: SiliCon (San Jose, California) — IN-PERSON EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC; rescheduled for the same dates as a virtual event[182]
October 23–25: Baltimore Comic-Con (Baltimore, Maryland) — IN-PERSON EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC; rescheduled for the same dates as a virtual event[183]
^Broder, Mike (24 July 2020). "GalaxyCon Raleigh Announcement". galaxycon.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020. Due to the current situation regarding Covid-19 we will be postponing our July 30 – August 2, 2020 GalaxyCon Raleigh event. The new event dates for GalaxyCon Raleigh are December 10–13, 2020.
