Notable events of 1993 in comics. Events January January 11 Raider of the Copper Hill by Don Rosa. January 24 – March 18: Hanco Kolk and Peter de Wit host a TV documentary series about cartooning on Teleac, which will often been repeated in the years that follow. Doom Patrol #63: "The Empire of Chairs," Grant Morrison's final issue as Doom Patrol writer. First appearance of Ghost Rider 2099 – The Punisher War Journal # 50 Jan 1993 Asterix and the Class Act, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. In the first issue of Dylan Dog gigante, Totentanz, by Tiziano Sclavi and Giampiero Casertano. Beginning of Il segreto del Morisco (The Morisco's secret), the longest Tex Willer story, lasting 6 albums and 586 tables, and strongly influenced by the archaeologic adventures of Indiana Jones and Martin Mystere.
February Action Comics, with issue #686, suspends publication following "The Death of Superman." (DC Comics) Clive Barker's Hellraiser is canceled by Epic Comics (Marvel) with issue #20. Hardware #1 (cover-dated April) debuts under Milestone brand. Created by Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan, Hardware is the first character and book published by Milestone to debut.
First issue of Palestine by Joe Sacco (Phantagraphic Books).
In the magazine Sturmtruppen, fist strip of L'ultima burba (The last newbies) by Leo Ortolani; the series ironizes about the author's experiences as conscript.
March March 7: The final episode of the daily comic series Flash Gordon is published. The Sunday comics will continue until 2003. March 15: The New Laird of Castle McDuck by Don Rosa. March 27: The first edition of the Fantasy Anime Comics Toys Space, aka F.A.C.T.S. festival is organized in Ghent, Belgium. DC Comics debuts its new Vertigo imprint with the publication of Death: The High Cost of Living #1. Existing DC titles Swamp Thing #129, Hellblazer #63, Sandman #47, Doom Patrol #64, Animal Man #57, and Shade, the Changing Man #33 all become Vertigo titles as well. Hawkworld canceled by DC with issue #32. Introduction of the hero X in Dark Horse Comics #8. (Dark Horse Comics) Introduction of Deathblow in Darker Image #1 and Stormwatch in Stormwatch #1. (Image Comics) I killer venuti dal buio (The killers from the dark) by Claudio Chiaverotti and Luigi Siniscalchi, with Dylan Dog.
April April 1: News is spread that archeologists have found the ancient ruins of Astérix' village. This later turns out to be an April fools' joke. Adventures of Superman #500 (dated "Early June") is released and the Reign of the Supermen! begins with four Supermen. The Martin Mystere's arc called "Italian mysteries" begins with the album Nea Heliopolis, by Alfredo Castelli and Giancarlo Alessandrini; the hero leaves temporarily New York and, for two years, settles in Florence.
May May 3: The Terror of the Transvaal, by Don Rosa. Cable is released by Marvel Comics as a monthly title. Peter Parker, Spectacular Spider-Man #200: "Best of Enemies!" by J.M. DeMatteis and Sal Buscema. (Marvel Comics) Web of Spider-Man #100 by Terry Kavanagh, Alex Saviuk and Joe Rubinstein. (Marvel Comics) Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. is canceled by Marvel with issue #47. The Tick vol. 1 is canceled by New England Comics with issue #12. Marvel's "Maximum Carnage" Spider-Man storyline begins. The first edition of Scott McCloud's book Understanding Comics is published by Tundra Publishing. The book went on to win 1994 Harvey Awards for Best Writer; Best Graphic Album of Original Work; and Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation. It also won the 1994 Eisner Award for Best Comics-Related Book. Le maître dell'illusion (The master of illusion) by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet. The first official issue of Sonic the Hedgehog by Archie Comics is released.
June June 14: The Dreamtime Duck of the Never Never by Don Rosa. June 29: Cancellation of the Belgian comics magazine Tintin, after nearly half a century of publication. Adventures of Superman #500 by Jerry Ordway, Tom Grummett and Doug Hazlewood. Action Comics, with issue #687, resumes publication after a four-month hiatus following "The Death of Superman" and "Funeral for a Friend" storylines. With issue #51, Justice League Europe changes its name to Justice League International vol. 2. (DC Comics) Malibu Comics launches the Ultraverse line of comics in which it states that "Writers are the true enhancements in comics" (a pointed reference to the trend of publishing and marketing foil-stamped covers). Said writers include Steve Englehart, Gerard Jones, and Steve Gerber. Variant editions of the first issues are published with hologram covers. The conclusion to Marvel Comics' "Infinity Trilogy" is launched with Infinity Crusade. The first episode of Daniel Clowes' Ghost World is prepublished in Eightball. in Italy, first issue of Minni & company, Disney magazine aimed to the female public. Johnny Freak by Tiziano Sclavi and Andrea Venturi, one of the most moving and beloved Dylan Dog's stories. Two Blueberry's albums appear simultaneously: Mission Sherman, by Jean Giraud and William Vance, second chapter of the arc Marshall Blueberry, and Trois hommes pour Atlanta (Three men for Atlanta) by Francois Corteggiani and Colin Wilson, first part of a diptych where a young Blueberry takes part to the battle of Atlanta.
July July 12: In Spirou, first chapter of the final La Patrouille des Castors story La Pierre de foudre by Mitacq is published. July 19: The Argonaut Of White Agony Creek by Don Rosa. July 29 : Sonic The Comic launched. in Uncle Scrooge Adventures, Guardians of the Lost Library, by Don Rosa. Premiere issue of Hero Illustrated. The start of the "Summer Offensive" in 2000 AD when control was handed over to Grant Morrison and Mark Millar. With issue #8422000 AD #842 at Barney the magazine launches a raft of new features, including Really & Truly, Slaughterbowl, Big Dave, and Maniac 5 as well as Morrison's run on Judge Dredd with "Inferno." DC Comics releases Batman #500, in which Azrael becomes the new Batman. Image Comics and Valiant Comics stage an intercompany crossover called Deathmate. Fatal Attractions begins. Fuga da Skynet (Escape from Skynet), by Guido Nolitta, Alfredo Castelli, Stefano and Domenico Di Vitto and Roberto Diso; only team-up of Martin Mystere and Mister No. Sergio Bonelli inaugurates officially the Almanacs series, with the Crime Almanac 1993 (with Nick Raider) and the Science-fiction Almanac 1993 (with Nathan Never); however, the formula (a story with a Bonelli hero, matched with reviews and in-depth articles) had been already experimented since 1987, with the Mystery Almanacs (with Martin Mystere). Doppia identità (Double identity) by Ade Capone and Giancarlo Olivares; first issue of the Lazarus Leed's regular series. Last issue of the Italian magazine Corto Maltese; it contains the short watercolor story Corto a Cordoba, last appearance of the Hugo Pratt's seaman.
August 2000 AD "Summer Offensive" draws to a close with issue #849. The New Titans #100: "The Darkening, Part Four: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something... Dead," by Marv Wolfman, Tom Grummett, and Bill Jaaska. Deadpool #1 is released by Marvel Comics "The Fall from Grace" storyline debuts in Daredevil #319. Comic book radio show " 'Nuff Said! " debuts on WBAI-FM, New York City, on the 28th as part of Jim Freund's "Hour of the Wolf" science fiction program. 'Nuff Said! Guest List Page 1 First issue of the Italian Disney magazine Paperinik.
September The 'Nam is canceled by Marvel with issue #84. September 15: First issue of the Flemish comics magazine Suske en Wiske Weekblad. September 24: First page of Doctor Fun is uploaded on the World Wide Web.
October October 3: In Gisteren Zondag, a newspaper made to promote the TV talk show Morgen Maandag by Mark Uytterhoeven, Fritz Van den Heuvel's gag comic Luchien is published. It will run until the final episode of the TV show, on 26 December, which also means the end of Gisteren Zondag. October 14: The theme park built around the comic strip Li'l Abner, Dogpatch USA, closes down. October 16–17: During the Stripdagen in Breda Kamagurka receives the Stripschapprijs. The Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten (nowadays P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs) is awarded to colorist Wilma Leenders.Het Stripschap – Complete lijst Batman #500: 64-page giant—"Knightfall" chapter 19, written by Doug Moench. Green Lantern takes part in the Reign of the Supermen in issue #46 Mike Carlin and Dan Jurgens relaunch the Metal Men with a four-issue limited series Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic "dies" in Fantastic Four #381 Stephen Platt debuts on Moon Knight #55 and becomes extremely popular due to his art style resembling Todd McFarlane. X-Men 2099 #1 – Marvel 2099 The first full colour issue of The Beano, it was issue 2674 dated October 16, 1993. Business blues, by Jean Van Hamme and Philippe Francq. La source et la sonde, by Francois Bourgeon and Claude Lacroix, first album of the Cyann cycle.
November November 11: The Billionaire of Dismal Downs, by Don Rosa. November 12: in Gazzetta di Parma, first strip of the series Quelli di Parma (The Parma ones) by Leo Ortolani. Green Lantern #47 marks the reunion of Green Lantern and Green Arrow. Avengers West Coast #100: 64-page anniversary issue; the death of Mockingbird. Wolverine #75 represents a turning point in Wolverine's life as the adamantium is separated from his body by Magneto. Marvel's X-Men "Fatal Attractions" X-Men storyline concludes, only for "Bloodties" to begin. La forteresse invisible (The invisible fortress) – by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosiński, nineteenth Thorgal's album. At Lucca Comics, the number zero of Arthur King, parodic sci-fi series by Lorenzo Bartoli and Andrea Domestici, is presented.
December Conan the Barbarian is canceled with issue #275 The Punisher (Marvel Comics) debuts the "Suicide Run" storyline with issue #85 "Emerald Twilight" storyline debuts in Green Lantern #48 Hellboy makes his first mainstream comic book appearance, in Next Men #21. Lobo gets a monthly title from DC Comics Malibu Ultraverse launches "Break-Thru," the first company-wide crossover. Last issue of Tiramolla; after forty years, the character leaves definitively the scene.
Specific date unknown A tumultuous year in publishing: Topps Comics, Claypool Comics, Alternative Comics, Bongo Comics, Hall of Heroes, Lightning Comics, Azteca Productions, ANIA Publishing, Dagger Enterprises, Majestic Entertainment, Triumphant Comics, and Michael Hunt Publishing all enter the marketplace; while First Comics, Eclipse Comics, Disney Comics, Vortex Comics, Innovation Comics, Personality Comics, and Comic Chronicles all cease publishing. DC Comics introduces its Vertigo, Paradox Press, and Milestone Media imprints. Early webcomics start to appear on the World Wide Web, effectively starting the history of webcomics. Rip Off Press publishes Savage Henry #30, the final issue of volume one of that series. Ted Hearn's Fuzz & Pluck debuts, which will run until 2017. Jan Bucquoy is sued by Morris' estate for making a pornographic parody comic of Lucky Luke. In the Italian magazine Cyborg, AWOP-BOP-ALOOBOP ALOP-BAM-BOOM,Citation from the beginning of Tutti frutti. by Massimo Mattioli, demented adventures of a cat whose girlfriend has been abducted by the Aliens. Amanda, by Robin Wood and Alfredo Falugi, for Editorial Columbia; serial, inspired by the Nineteenth Century feuilletons, about the adventures of an orphan girl. Spaghetti Bros, by Carlos Trillo and Domingo Mandrafina, saga of five Italo-American brothers in the roaring Twenties. Jean-Pol, Wim Swerts and Luc Van Asten develop a celebrity comic strip based on the popular children's TV show Samson en Gert. It will run until 2005. Little Archie #10, comeback reprints of the original Little Archie. Dutch cartoonist Gummbah makes his debut.