Notable events of 1988 in comics.
Events and publications
January January 16: The first episode of David Sutherland's gag comic Totally Gross Germs is published in The Beano.
February February 1: The first episode of Bud Grace's Piranha Club appears in print. The series will run until 2018. The first episode of Rick Detorie's newspaper comic One Big Happy is published. February 12: Belgian comic artist François Craenhals is knighted in the Order of the Belgian Crown. February 19: The Dutch comics magazine Eppo Wordt Vervolgd changed its name to Sjors en Sjimmie Weekblad, based on the popularity of their signature series Sjors en Sjimmie. It continued until 1994, after which it was renamed as Sjosji. In the first issue, Hanco Kolk and Peter de Wit's photo comic Mannetje en Mannetje makes its debut.
March March 14: Time features cover and interior art for Superman's 50th anniversary by John Byrne and Jerry Ordway. Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland, is published by DC Comics.
April April 7: Morris receives a medal from the World Health Organization for making Lucky Luke a non-smoker after so many decades. April 10: FoxTrot by Bill Amend is launched by Universal Press Syndicate. April 17: The final episode of Kevin McCormick's Arnold is published. April 23: The Journal of Luke Kirby series begins in 2000 AD #571 (IPC Media). Action Comics #599 features the first Bonus Book, a free insert showcasing the work of new comics creators.Action Comics #599 at the Grand Comics Database Teen Titans Spotlight is canceled by DC Comics with issue #21. Sfida al Pantanal by Guido Nolitta and Stefano and Domenico Di Vitto (Bonelli; Mister No series).
May May 12: Two criminals try to kidnap Peanuts cartoonist Charles M. Schulz's wife, but are scared away in their attempt. May 24: Action Comics, with issue #601, became a weekly anthology title. (This format lasted until issue #642, March 14, 1989.) Action Comics #600: Golden anniversary issue featuring Superman and Wonder Woman in "Different Worlds," by John Byrne and George Pérez. The Amazing Spider-Man #300: "Venom," by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane. Green Lantern Corps is canceled by DC with issue #224. May 28: Belgian comic artist Marc Sleen is declared an honorary citizen of Sint-Niklaas.
June The Evolutionary War crossover event takes place in Marvel Comics. La vittima senza nome by Claudio Nizzi and Gustavo Trigo, first album of the Nick Raider series (Bonelli) Tex il grande by Claudio Nizzi and Guido Buzzelli (Bonelli) ; first of Tex Willer's special albums (also called "Giant Tex " or "Texone") of large format and often made by artists outside the publishing house.
July July 1–3: The first annual Harvey Awards are organized and presented at the Chicago Comicon.Drevets, Tricia. "From Archie to Space Ghost," Chicago Tribune (01 July 1988), p. 15. Tales of the Teen Titans is canceled by DC with issue #91. Incubi by Tiziano Sclavi and Gallieno Ferri (Bonelli), the longest story of Zagor ever made; it is set in a parallel universe and shows the death of the hero himself.
August August 14: In the Italian Disney comics magazine Topolino Little Gum makes his debut in the story Paperinik e l’incredibile Little Gum by Giulio Chierchini. August 26: Belgian comics character Jommeke receives his first statue. It is revealed in front of the library of Beveren, but is destroyed by vandals a few years later.
October October 3: The first episode of Ray Billingsley's Curtis is published.Dean Mullaney, Bruce Canwell and Brian Walker, King of the Comics : One Hundred Years of King Features Syndicate. San Diego : IDW Publishing, 2015. (p. 259) The first episode of Bill Holbrook's newspaper comic Safe Havens is published. October 5: The first episode of Raoul Cauvin and Malik's gag comic Cupidon are published in Spirou. October 16: The final episode of Lee Holley's comic strip Ponytail is published. "Inferno", company-wide Marvel Comics crossover debuted, involving the mutant titles The Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, The New Mutants, and Excalibur, as well as the X-Terminators limited series and various other Marvel titles.
November November 4-5-6: During the Stripdagen in The Hague Toon van Driel wins the Stripschapprijs. Wilbert Plijnaar, Jan van Die and Robert van der Kroft win the Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten (nowadays the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs). Creator's Bill of Rights signed in Northampton, Massachusetts, by Steve Bissette, Craig Farley, Gerhard, Mark Martin, Larry Marder, Michael Zulli, Ken Mitchroney, Scott McCloud, Dave Sim, Rick Veitch, Peter Laird, Kevin Eastman, and the artists of Mirage Studios. Black Orchid #1 (of 3), the first American comic written by Neil Gaiman, published by DC Comics. Star Trek is canceled by DC Comics with issue #56. The Draft, a New Universe one-shot, is published by Marvel Comics. Concrete vol. 1 is canceled by Dark Horse with issue #10.
December December 11: In the Italian Disney comics magazine Topolino, Arizona Goof and his rival Kranz made their debut in The Lost Temple, by Bruno Sarda and Maria Luisa Uggetti. December 27: The gag comic Schanulleke, a spin-off of Suske en Wiske, is launched in Okki by Willy Vandersteen, written by Patty Klein and drawn by Eric De Rop. Aristocratic Xtraterrestrial Time-Traveling Thieves is cancelled by Comics Interview with issue #12. Mazinger by Go Nagai is published by First Comics. New Teen Titans vol. 2 changes its name to The New Titans with issue #50. Silver Surfer #1 (of 2), an out-of-continuity mini-series by Stan Lee and Moebius, are published by Marvel. The Warlord is canceled by DC Comics with issue #133. "Semper Fi" #1 is published by Marvel Comics.
Specific date unknown The final episode of Peter Pontiac's punk comic Gaga is printed. Gary Panter releases the graphic novel Jimbo: Adventures in Paradise. Brought to Light, a political anthology of two nonfiction stories, is published by Eclipse Comics. Both are based on material from lawsuits filed by the Christic Institute against the U.S. Government. The two stories are "Shadowplay: The Secret Team," by Alan Moore and Bill Sienkiewicz; and "Flashpoint: The LA Penca Bombing," documented by Martha Honey and Tony Avirgan and adapted by Joyce Brabner and Tom Yeates. Someplace Strange a graphic novel written by Ann Nocenti, with artwork by John Bolton, is published by the Marvel Comics imprint Epic Comics. Marvel Graphic Novel #34: Cloak and Dagger: Predator and Prey, by Bill Mantlo and Larry Stroman is published by Marvel.
Deaths
January January 4: Henfil, Brazilian comics artist (Zeferino, Bode Orellana, Os Fradins, Orelhão, Urubu, Pó de Arroz, Bacalhau, Ubaldo, Paranóico, Graúna), dies at age 43 from AIDS. January 30: Homer Brightman, American animation screenwriter and comics writer (original scriptwriter of Al Taliaferro's Donald Duck comic strip ), dies at age 86.
February February 11: Lino Landolfi, Italian comics artist (Procopio), dies at age 62. February 25: Dori Seda, American underground comics artist (Lonely Nights Comics: Stories To Read When the Couple Next Door Is Fucking Too Loud), dies of respiratory failure at age 37."Lonely Nights Artist Dori Seda Dead At 37," The Comics Journal #121 (April 1988). February 4: Frank Giacoia, American comics artist (worked on The Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America), dies at age 63. February 13: Ron Embleton, British comics artist (Wulf the Briton, Oh, Wicked Wanda) dies of a heart attack at age 57.
March March 2: Enrodi István, Hungarian designer and comics artist, dies at age 67. Leslie Turner, American comics artist (continued Wash Tubbs, which eventually became Captain Easy), dies at age 88. March 6: Jack Binder, American comics artist (Daredevil), dies at age 86. March 8: Jan Kraan, Dutch illustrator, animator and comics artist, dies at age 87. March 26: Rit-Ola, Swedish comics artist (Biffen och Bananen), dies at age 82. March 31: Georges Lévis (Jean Sidobre), French comics artist, dies at age 63.
April April 3: Milton Caniff, American comics artist (Terry and the Pirates, Dickie Dare, Steve Canyon, Male Call), dies at age 81 from lung cancer. April 8: Clem Gretter, American comics artist (Sue to Lou, assisted Harry "A" Chesler and Ripley's Believe It or Not), dies at age 83. April 9: Benoît Jaminon (Marée Basse), Belgian comic artist, dies at age 29 in a house fire. April 10: Gene Fawcette, American comics artist (worked on Our New Age), dies at age 68. April 16: Siauw Tik Kwie, Indonesian comics artist (Sie Djin Koei, Kang Lam Hiap Soe), dies at age 74.
May May 17: Al Wiseman, American comics artist (assisted on Dennis the Menace comic books, Belvedere), dies at age 69.
June June 6: Willi Kohlhoff, German illustrator and comics artist (comics based on Robinson Crusoe), dies at age 82. June 7: Octave Joly, Belgian comics writer (Les Belles Histoires de l'Oncle Paul), dies at age 78. June 16: Andrea Pazienza, Italian comics artist (Massimo Zanardi), dies at age 32 from a heroin overdose. June 25: Evert Werkman, Dutch journalist, poet, columnist and comics writer (Kapitein Rob, Frank, de Vliegende Hollander ), dies at age 73.
July Specific date unknown: Julius Stafford Baker II, British comics artist (continued Tiger Tim), dies at age 84.
August August 7: Wilfred Jackson, American animator (Walt Disney Company), dies at age 82.
September September 6: Roger Bussemey, French comics artist (Moky et Poupy), dies at age 67. September 11: Roger Hargreaves, British illustrator and comics writer/artist (Mr. Men, Little Miss), dies at age 53 from a stroke. September 12: Mars Ravelo, Filipino comics artist (Darna, Dyesebel, Captain Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying, Varga, Wanted: Perfect Mother, Hiwaga, Maruja, Mariposa, Roberta, Rita, Buhay Pilipino, Jack and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny Tony, and Dragonna), dies at age 71. September 14: Frits Kloezeman, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (made comics based on Judge Dee and Rick de Kikker, worked for Marten Toonder Studios), dies at age 64. September 25: Barrie Phillip Nichol, American novelist, poet and comics artist (Scraptures, Grease Ball Comics), dies at age 43. September 27: Paul Reinman, American comics artist and inker for Jack Kirby, dies at age 78. September 28: Charles Addams, American cartoonist and comics artist (The Addams Family), dies from a heart attack at age 76.
October October 25: Eric Larson, American animator (Walt Disney Company), dies at age 83.
November November 7: Bill Hoest, American comics artist (The Lockhorns), dies at age 62 from cancer.
December December 3: Jean David, French illustrator, cartoonist and comics artist (Les Amours de Barbara Smith), dies at age 82 or 83. December 11: Frank S. Pepper, British comics writer (Roy of the Rovers, Captain Condor, Jet-Ace Logan), dies at age 78. December 12: Tarpé Mills, American comics artist (Miss Fury), dies at age 73. December 17: Alberto Solsona (Agar-agar, Arturito King, Cartulino), dies at age 41. December 19: Robert Bernstein aka R. Berns, American comics writer, playwright and concert impresario (DC Comics, EC Comics), dies from heart failure at age 69.Robert Bernstein (no middle initial), Social Security Number 084-14-9274, at the United States Social Security Death Index via FamilySearch.org. Retrieved on March 12, 2012. Archived from the original on November 28, 2014. December 26: Herluf Bidstrup, Danish comics artist and cartoonist, dies at age 76.
Specific date unknown Leo Bothas, German illustrator (made Nazi propaganda comics during World War II), dies at 84 or 85. Dan Gormley, American comics artist (comics for Dell Publishing, Disney comics, worked on Nancy), dies at age 69 or 70.
Exhibitions and shows June 27–August 10: Galería Esquina de la Libertad (San Francisco) — "Spain: a View from the Bottom: Posters, Comic Strips, Caricatures and More."