1990 in comics

Events

Year overall

• New Century Comics, Disney Comics, Millennium Publications, MU Press, Tundra Publishing, Valiant Comics, Drawn and Quarterly, and the French publisher L'Association, all enter the marketplace.
• The "Days of Future Present" storyline, the sequel to "Days of Future Past," appears in the annuals of Fantastic Four, New Mutants, X-Factor and X-Men.
• The merger of Time Inc. and Warner Communications, parent of DC Comics completed, the merger name was Time Warner.

  January

• Dinosaurs for Hire is cancelled by Eternity Comics with issue #9.
• 1st known artwork by Dale Keown for Marvel Comics, published in Nth Man #9.

  February

• The last issue of Damage Control v2 is published.
• With issue #6, Police Academy is cancelled.

  March

• March 16: Jan Bucquoy launches the Belgian weekly magazine Dol/Belge, which is so outrageous in slandering media celebrities, the Belgian royal family, the Pope, politicians and other high officials that within a few weeks issues are confiscated and stores refuse to sell copies. Bucquoy then transforms it into a genuine comics magazine featuring reprints of his older porn parodies. The magazine will last merely a year.
• Elektra Lives Again is published by Epic Comics, written and drawn by Frank Miller.
• The last issue of is published, thereby ending the series as a whole.

  April

• April 6: The unfinished Blake and Mortimer story, The 3 Formulas of Professor Sato: Mortimer vs. Mortimer, made before Edgar P. Jacobs' death, is published posthumously, completed by Bob de Moor.

  June

• With issue 9, The Destroyer v1 is cancelled.

  July

• Fright Night is canceled by Now Comics with issue #22.
• The New Warriors v1 #1 is released.
• 2000AD spin-off Revolver hits newsagents, with the seminal storyline Rogan Gosh.
• Shade the Changing Man is revamped by DC imprint Vertigo.

  August

• August 31: Scott McCloud draws the first comic strip drawn in 24 hours. In 2004 this will become an annual event.
• Animal Man #26: "Deus Ex Machina," writer Grant Morrison's final issue of Animal Man.
• Secret Origins is canceled by DC with issue #50.
• #1, the start of the "Torment" storyline, marked Todd McFarlane's first major outing on a series as a writer/artist. The issue would become the best selling comic book so far and be the first major step to the rise of the superstar creators and the formation of Image Comics.

  September

• is canceled by Marvel with issue #16.
• Terminator is canceled by NOW Comics with issue #17.

  October

• October 13: During the Stripdagen in Breda, the Netherlands, Henk Kuijpers receives the Stripschapprijs. Joost Swarte receives the Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdienste.
• Swamp Thing #100: Double-sized issue, "Tales of Eden," by Doug Wheeler, Kelley Jones, and Pat Broderick.
• The Huntress v1 is canceled by DC with issue #19.

  November

• Marvel's "X-Tinction Agenda" crossover begins in the pages of Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, and New Mutants.

  December

• Fantastic Four #347 – A temporary lineup introduced, consisting of the Hulk, Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Ghost Rider.
• Wendy the Good Little Witch, with issue #97, canceled by Harvey Comics.
• The Real Ghostbusters is canceled by Now Comics with issue #28.

  Specific date unknown

• The first issue of the Belgian satirical comics and cartoons magazine Ubu-Pan is published.

  Deaths

January

• January 1: Charles Boost, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, passes away at age 82.
• January 8: Bernard Krigstein, American comics artist, dies at age 71.
• January 20: Claude Auclair, French comics artist , dies at age 46.

  February

• February 22: Thomas Ochse Honiball, South African cartoonist and comics artist, dies at age 84.

  March

• March 4: Salvatore Deidda, Italian comics artist, dies at age 37.
• March 12: Woody Kimbrell, American comics artist, dies at age 83.
• March 24: Ray Goulding, American comedian and comics writer, dies at age 68.
• March 30: João Mottini, Brazilian comics artist, passes away at age 66.

  April

• April 24:
• * Claude Henri, French comics writer and artist, passes away at age 74.
• * André Fernez, Belgian comics writer, novelist and chief editor of Tintin between 1947 and 1959, passes away at age 72.
• April 28: Edwina Dumm, American comics artist dies at age 96.

  May

• May 7: Pier Lorenzo De Vita, Italian comics artist, dies at age 80.
• May 25: William Overgard, American comics artist, dies at age 64.
• May 31: William Timym, also known as Tim, Austrian-British animator and comics artist, dies at age 87.

  June

• June 23: Howard Boughner, American comics artist, dies at age 81.
• June 30: Jacques Lob, French comics artist, dies at age 67.

  July

• July 17: George Waiss, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 83.
• July 18: Yves Chaland, French comics artist, dies in a car accident at age 33.
• July 18: Georges Dargaud, French comics publisher, passes away at age 79.
• July 25: Sam Grainger, American comics artist, dies at age 60.

  August

• August 7: Phiny Dick, Dutch comics writer and artist, also wife of Marten Toonder, passes away at age 77.
• August 12: B. Kliban, American cartoonist, dies of a pulmonary embolism at age 55.
• August 28: Willy Vandersteen, Belgian comics artist, dies at age 77.

  September

• September 5: Jerry Iger, American comics publisher writer and artist, dies at age 87.
• September 20:
• * Byron Aptosoglou, Greek illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 67 or 68.
• * Attilio Micheluzzi, Italian comics artist, dies at age 60.

  October

• October 14: Art Huhta, American comics artist, dies at age 88.
• October 29: François Gianolla, Belgian poet, playwright, cartoonist, illustrator, musician, caricaturist and comics artist, dies at age 83.
• October 31: Roger Price, American humorist, writer, publisher and cartoonist, died at age 72.

  December

• December 21: Susi Weigel, Austrian illustrator, comics artist and animator, dies at age 76.
• December 30: Tony Abruzzo, American comics artist, dies at age 74.

  Specific date unknown

• Dennis Collins, British comics artist, passes away.
• Cram, Belgian cartoonist, passes away at age 51 or 52.
• Marcel Dehaye, Belgian journalist, novelist, comics writer and chief editor of Tintin, dies at age 82 or 83.
• Nicholas, aka Nick, Firfires, American illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 72 or 73.
• Harry Haenigsen, American comics artist, dies at age 89.
• Ye Hung-chia, Taiwanese comics artist, dies at age 76 or 77.
• Yu Takita, Japanese manga artist, dies at age 57 or 58.
• Tom, aka Thomaz de Mello, Portuguese comics artist, dies at age 83 or 84.

  Exhibitions and shows

Conventions

• January 6–7: Great Eastern Conventions
• January 24–28: Angoulême International Comics Festival
• February 17–18: Motor City Comic Con — guests include Erik Larsen, Gary Kwapisz, Jeff Albrecht, John Ostrander, Kim Yale, Marshall Rogers, Matt Feazell, Mike Grell, Norm Breyfogle, Rob Liefeld, and Tim Dzon
• April: Glasgow Comic Art Convention — presentation of the Speakeasy Awards
• April 1: Great Eastern Conventions
• April 8: Great Eastern Conventions
• April 29: Great Eastern Conventions
• May 6: Great Eastern Conventions
• May 12: Great Eastern Conventions
• Summer: FantaCon
• June: Heroes Convention
• June 1–3: Great Eastern Conventions
• June 29–July 1: Dragon Con/Atlanta Comics Expo/Origins Game Fair — 6,900 attendees; guest of honor: Tom Clancy; other guests include Todd McFarlane, Jim Salicrup, and Bob Budiansky
• July 6–8: Chicago Comicon — 5,000+ attendees; featured guests: Van Williams, Gerard Christopher, Harvey Kurtzman, and Erik Larsen; other guests: Mark Gruenwald, Jim Starlin, Tom DeFalco, Len Strazewski, John Ostrander, Kim Yale, Chuck Fiala, P. Craig Russell, Charlie Athanas, Dick Locher, Max Allan Collins, Rick Obadiah, and Tony Caputo.
• July 13–15: Dallas Fantasy Fair — official guests include Harvey Kurtzman, Neil Gaiman, Todd Klein, Tom Orzechowski, Sergio Aragonés, Chester Brown, Bob Burden, Kurt Busiek, Will Eisner, Kerry Gammill, Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez, Adam Hughes, Jim Lee, P. Craig Russell, Mark Schultz, Julius Schwartz, Bill Sienkiewicz, Jim Starlin, John Totleben, Bill Willingham, and Roger Zelazny
• July 13–15: Las Vegas International All Collectibles Show — guests include Stan Lee, Todd McFarlane, and Fabian Nicieza
• August 2–5: San Diego Comic Con — 13,000 attendees; official guests: Peter David, Will Eisner, Kelly Freas, Michael Kaluta, Mel Lazarus, Carl Macek, Grant Morrison, John Romita Jr., and Van Williams
• August 4–5: Comix Fair '90 — eighth annual show; guests include Bill Hinds, Jeff Millar, and Doug Hazlewood
• August 17–19: Atlanta Fantasy Fair XVI — official guests include Jack Kirby, John de Lancie, Sandahl Bergman, Catherine Hicks, Julius Schwartz, Sharon Green, Linda Thorson, Martin Caidin, Greg Theakston, Boris Vallejo, and Carl Macek
• September 22–24: United Kingdom Comic Art Convention — presentation of the Eagle Awards
• October–November: FIBDA — inaugural edition; guests include Morris
• October 20–21: Toronto Comic and Sequential Art Exposition
• October 27–28: Killer Con — guests include Bill Reinhold, Mark Bagley, Sam Kieth, Keith Pollard, William Messner-Loebs, Doug Rice, Flint Henry, Chuck Dixon, Beau Smith, Gary Kwapisz, Matt Feazell, and Tim Dzon

  Awards

Eisner Awards

• Best Story or Single Issue: Concrete Celebrates Earth Day, by Paul Chadwick, Charles Vess, and Jean "Moebius" Giraud
• Best Continuing Series: Sandman, by Neil Gaiman and various artists
• Best Black and White Series: Xenozoic Tales, by Mark Schultz
• Best Finite Series: Give Me Liberty, by Frank Miller and Dave Gibbons
• Best Graphic Album—New: Elektra Lives Again, by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley
• Best Graphic Album—Reprint: ' by Neil Gaiman and various artists
• Best Writer: Neil Gaiman, Sandman
• Best Writer/Artist or Writer/Artist Team: Frank Miller and Geof Darrow, Hard Boiled
• Best Artist: Steve Rude, Nexus
• Best Inker: Al Williamson
• Hall of Fame''': R. Crumb, Alex Toth

  Zine Zone Awards

• Best Science Fiction Writer: Tom Elmes
• Best Science Fiction Artist: Petri Hiltinen
• Best Science Fiction Zine: Tahti Vaeltaja
• Best Horror Writer: Rob Gott
• Best Horror Artist: David Stephenson
• Best Horror Zine: Lippe 10
• Best Adventure Writer: Ludwig Kreutzner
• Best Adventure Artist: Rudolph Perez
• Best Adventure Zine: Zebra
• Best Funny Animal Comic: Blues Bar by Bernd Gronenberg
• Best Action Comic: Stormwatcher by Ian Abbinnett and Alan Cowsill
• Best Erotic Comic: Johnny Condom by Steve Harrison
• Best Slice of Life Comic: Love and Rockets
• Best Text Feature: Small Press World by Hal Hargit
• Journal Most Helpful to Small Press: Amazing Heroes
• Best Indie/Small Press Journal: Comics F/X
• Best Column: Trade Secrets by Kyle Miller
• Best Original Strip: The Desert Peach by Donna Barr
• Best Humor Writer: Donna Barr
• Best Packaged Title: Kannus
• Best Mini-Comic: Testosterone City by Peter Bagge
• Best Indie Artist: Matt "D'Israeli" Brooker
• Best Small Press Album: Heroes from the Black Lagoon
• Best European Artist: Martin Frei
• Most Promising Newcomer: Terry Ford
• Person Doing the Most for UK Comics History: Denis Gifford
• Greatest Influence in Comics: Jack Kirby

  First issues by title

DC Comics

Limited series

One-shots

Marvel Comics

Limited Series

One-shots

Shogakukan

Independent titles

Limited series

Initial appearance by character name

DC Comics

• Atlan in The Atlantis Chronicles #5
• Atom IV in Suicide Squad #44
• Auberon in The Sandman #19
• The Beefeater in Justice League Europe #20
• Blaze in Action Comics #655
• Crimesmith II in Batman #443
• Danny the Street in Doom Patrol v2 #35
• Delirium in The Sandman #21
• Doctor Diehard in Justice League Europe #15
• Jack Drake in Batman #455
• Tim Drake as Robin III in Batman #442
• Dreamslayer in Justice League Europe #15
• Dybbuk in Suicide Squad #45
• Echo III in Justice League Quarterly #1
• Firestorm II in Firestorm the Nuclear Man v2 #100
• Laurel Gand in Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #5
• Gorgon in Justice League Europe #15
• Hank Henshaw in Adventures of Superman #465
• Timothy Hunter in The Books of Magic v1 #1
• Willoughby Kipling in Doom Patrol v2 #31
• Legion in ' #2
• Manfred Mota in The Flash 50th Anniversary Special
• Neon in Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #6
• NKVDemon in Batman #445
• 'The Orishas in Firestorm the Nuclear Man v2 #95
• Reflex in Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #6
• Kent Shakespeare in Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #12
• Titania in The Sandman #19
• Tracer in Justice League Europe #16
• Trinity in New Titans Annual #6
• Yuga Khan' in New Gods v3'' #17

  Marvel Comics

• Abominatrix in Sensational She-Hulk #21
• Agamemnon in The Incredible Hulk
• Ahab in Fantastic Four Annual #23
• Blackout II in Ghost Rider v2 #2
• Bliss in Uncanny X-Men #261
• Bloodlust I in Marvel Comics Presents #48
• Bloodwraith in Black Knight #2
• Cable in New Mutants #87
• Captain Atlas in Quasar #9
• Cardiac in The Amazing Spider-Man #342
• Deathlok III in Deathlok #1
• Deathwatch in Ghost Rider v2 #1
• Dittomaster in Damage Control v2 #4
• Stacey Dolan in Ghost Rider v2 #1
• Jack D'Uria in Ghost Rider v2 #4
• Kearson DeWitt in Iron Man Annual #13
• Foolkiller III in Foolkiller v1 #1
• Gambit in Uncanny X-Men Annual #14
• Ghost Rider II in Ghost Rider v2 #1
• The Lifeform in Punisher Annual #3
• Midnight's Fire in New Warriors #2
• Mindblast in The Amazing Spider-Man #340
• The Monster Pretenders in The Transformers #67
• Julius Rassitano in The Mighty Thor v1 #426
• The Mutant Liberation Front in The New Mutants #86
• * Dragoness in New Mutants #93
• * Forearm
• * Kamikaze in New Mutants #93
• * Reaper
• * Strobe
• * Stryfe
• * Tempo
• * Thumbelina
• * Wildside
• * Zero
• Psionex in New Warriors #4
• * Asylum I
• * Coronary
• * Dwight Hubbard
• * Heidi P. Franklin
• * Mathemanic
• Silhouette in New Warriors #2
• Whiplash II in Marvel Comics Presents #46

  Independent titles

• Armoured Gideon in 2000AD
• Garganta in Femforce #30
• Madman in Creatures of the Id

  Newspapers

• Peggy Jean in Peanuts
• The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles