Notable events of 2001 in comics.
Events and publications
January
January 3: Jonathan (or Codename comrades), by Jane Espenson and Cliff Richards. January 16: Le manuscript, by Frank Giroud and Béhée, (Glenat), first chapter of the historical-religious saga Le décalogue; the story begins in 2001, in Oxford and continues backward until Hijrah. January 30: Dutch cartoonist Frits Müller wins the Inktspotprijs (edition 2000) for Best Political Cartoon. January 31: in Spirou, first chapter of The pagoda of the mists, by Roger Leloup. Uneasy allies by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber (DC comics), first chapter of the miniseries Batman: Turning points. Assassins et gentlemen, by Denis Bodart and Fabien Vehlmann, first episode of Green manor.
February February 13: Don Markstein establishes the website Don Markstein's Toonopedia, in which he provides encyclopedic articles about thousands of characters from the world of comics, cartoons and animation. Belgian cartoonist Baudouin de Duve is arrested on the accusation of making an illegal The Adventures of Tintin comic book, Tintin in Thailand in Thailand. He is later cleared from all charges, as he had no intent to plagiarize the franchise and illegal copies were made without his permission or control. The story The Tomorrow People by Mark Millar and Adam Kubert is first published, which marks the debut of the series Ultimate X-Men. In Italy, a reboot of the series PKNA is launched, with a new title (PK2), storyline and a supporting cast. In the first album (Ducklair, by Francesco Artibani and Claudio Sciarrone), the computer One, regular partner of the hero Paperinik and co-protagonist of the first series, is deactivated by his creator Everett Ducklair.
March March 1: Carl Barks, l’uomo dei paperi (the Ducks’men), (Disney Italia) homage to the great cartoonist by the Italian Disney authors; it includes Topolino e l’imperatore d’America (Mickey and the emperor of America), by Massimo De Vita, sequel to The golden helmet. March 10: Dutch comics artist Marten Toonder makes a suicide attempt. He survives and is brought back from his lonely home in Greystones, Ireland to a retirement home in Laren, North Holland. JL?, by Tom Peyer and Ethan Van Sciver, first chapter of the miniseries Justice Leagues (DC comics). Asterix and the actress, by Albert Uderzo; for the first time, Asterix and Obelix’s parents appear in a long story and the Gaulish hero has a love interest. La favorite, by Jean Dufaux and Ana Miralies (Darguad), first album of the historical-erotic series Djinn. The series MM Mickey Mouse Mystery Magazine (Disney Italia) ends. Il ranger dello spazio (The space ranger) (Bonelli) by Antonio Serra and Elena Pianta, first album of the unfortunate space opera series Gregory Hunter. The final Bungeishunjū Manga Award is handed out.
April
April 3: Halloween (Disney Italia), by Francesco Artibani, Elisabetta Gnone and Alessandro Barbucci; first album of the series W.I.T.C.H. Superboy's legion (Elsewords), by Mark Farmer and Alan Davis. In X-Men 111, Prelude to destruction, by Scott Lodbell and Leinil Francis Yu, first chapter of the crossover X-Men, eve of destruction. First issue of Ultimate Marvel team-up. In Italy, first issue of Black (Coconino press), magazine of underground comics.
May
May 23: in Anders & Co., The Beagle Boys vs. The Money Bin, by Don Rosa. La rose des sables (The rose of the sands) by Alna Maury and Luc Pathoens (Le Lombard); last story of Johann and Peewit. Western by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosiński (Le Lombard).
June
June 1: Big city girl, by Joss Whedon and Karl Moline (Dark Horse), first chapter of the miniseries Fray. June 15: in the French magazine Okapi, first table of the humoristic series, set in a provincial college, Zap College, by Tehem. The series Amelia Rules! begins. The little endless storybook by Jill Thompson (Vertigo). La mission by Jean Van Hamme and Christian Denayer (Dargaud); first album of the action series Wayne Shelton. Un diamant pour l’au de là (A diamond for the afterlife) – by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Francois Boucq; first album of the western series Bouncer, with a one-armed gunman as protagonist. USS Nebraska by Xavier Donson and Christopher Bec (Les humanoides associè), first chapter of the fantastic trilogy Sanctuaire. La scomparsa di Amanda Cross (Amanda Cross’ disparition), by Claudio Nizzi and Massimo Bonfatti (Bonelli); first album of the semiserious trilogy about the private eye Leo Pulp.
July July 10: In Topolino, Intrigo a Duckport (Intrigue in Duckport) by Alberto Savini and Silvio Camboni; first episode of the Bay tales saga. The series, autonomous from the duck universe, is set in the 19th century and tells the adventures of the two mariners and treasure seekers Moby and Fethry Duck; it lasts until 2005. July 13: French cartoonist Piem is inducted into the Légion d'Honneur. In New X-Men (Marvel), the story arc E is for extinction, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, begins.
August
First issue of The punisher (Marvel knights) In uncertain times, by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mezieres (Dargaud).
September September 22–23: During the Stripdagen in Den Bosch Daan Jippes wins the Stripschapprijs. The comics magazine Stripper receives the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs. September 24: The New Yorker publishes a seemingly completely black cover to commemorate the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks, which actually shows the silhouette of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. The design is by Françoise Mouly, based on an initial idea by Art Spiegelman. Inside the issue are no cartoons, out of respect for the victims, except for one solemn cartoon by George Booth, starring his character Mrs. Rittershouse. September 29: The strange encounter by Jean Van Hamme and Ted Benoit (Editions Blake et Mortimer); the story had been prepublished in Telerama.
October
October 22: In Kalle Anka & co, The crown of the crusader kings, by Don Rosa. In the Italian magazine W.I.T.C.H., Un giorno lo incontrerai (A day you will mett him) by Elisabetta Gnone and Alessandro Barbucci; debut of the Prince Phobos, the main villain of the series. Blue pills by Frederick Peeters (Atrabile)
November
First chapter of The Dark Knight Strikes Again, by Frank Miller (DC Comics) Harlequin Valentine by Neil Gaiman and John Bolton (Dark Horse) Dernier train pour Washington (Last train for Washington) by Francois Corteggiani and Michel-Blanc Dumont, twelfth album of Blueberry's youth (Dargaud). Le royame sous la sable (The kingdom under the sand) – by Jean Van Hamme and Grzegorz Rosiński, twenty-sixth album of the series Thorgal (Le Lombard).
December December 19: Marc Cuadrado's gag comic Parker & Badger debuts in Spirou. December 31: The final episode of Toon van Driel's gag comic Hullie appears in Algemeen Dagblad. First issue of the third Doom Patrol series and of The Legion (DC comics). First issue of the miniseries Lupin the Third Millennium (Kappa edizioni), realized by Italian authors under the supervision of Monkey Punch, creator of the character. Les Steenfort by Jean Van Hamme and Francis Valles (Glénat), last chapter of Les maitres de l’orge; the volume summarizes the events of the brewers’ family told in the miniseries, providing several insights.
Specific date unknown Milton Griepp founds online trade publication ICv2 in January."Who We Are: Milton Griepp," ICv2.com. Accessed October 15, 2009. Marvel Comics withdraws from the Comics Code Authority and established its own rating system for its publications. The merger of AOL and Time Warner, parent of DC Comics was completed, the merger name was AOL Time Warner. WildStorm founded its Eye of the Storm imprint. CMX established by DC Comics. The final episode of Ralph Dunagin's Dunagin's People is published. In the Syracuse University newspaper The daily orange, first strip of The Perry Bible fellowship, by Nicholas Gurewitch. Carnera, la montagna che cammina (Primo Carnera, the walking mountain) by Davide Toffolo (Biblioteca dell’immagine). Fourth and last episode of Milo Manara’s erotic series Click. Love Is Like a Hurricane, a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Tokiya Shimazaki, is launched. Gary Panter releases his graphic novel Cola Madnes. Jeroom creates his gag comic Tettenman.
Deaths
January January 6: Leo Nowak, American comics artist (Superman, Robotman) and political cartoonist, dies at age 93. Guido Scala, Italian comics artist (Disney comics), dies at age 64. January 9: Carol Voges, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (De Avonturen van Pa Pinkelman, Jimmy Brown, Sportheld nr. 1, Professor Créghel), dies at age 75. January 12: Gian Luigi Bonelli, Italian comics writer (Tex Willer, Zagor), dies at age 92. January 23: Fred Ray, American comics cover artist (Superman) and redesigner of Superman's "S" symbol, dies at age 80.
February February 3: Neg Cochran, American comics artist (continued Herky, Otto Honk, Out Our Way), dies at age 87. February 6: Douglas Borgstedt, American cartoonist and comics artist (The Pet Set), dies at age 90. February 7: Lazar Stanojević, Serbian comics artist (Svermironi), dies at age 69. February 10: Miné Okubo, American comics artist and writer (Citizen 13660), dies at age 88. February 14: Michel Crespin, French comic artist (Armalite 16, Élie), dies at age 45. February 19: Adolfo Mazzone, Argentine comics artist (Piantadino), dies at age 86.
March March 1: Torsten Bjarre, Swedish animator and comics artist (Flygsoldat 113 Bom, Lilla Fridolf, Oscar), dies at age 85. March 4: Fred Lasswell, American comics artist (drew Barney Google and Snuffy Smith between 1942 and 2001), dies at age 84. March 5: Necmi Riza Ayça, Turkish cartoonist, dies at age 86 or 87. March 15: Brasser, Belgian political cartoonist (Prik), dies at age 64. March 22: Pierre Brochard, French comic artist (Zéphyr, Le Chevalier de Saint-Clair, Alex et Eurêka), dies at age 79. William Hanna, American animator (Hanna-Barbera comics, Tom & Jerry, The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo), dies at age 90. Edith Oppenheim-Jonas, German-Swiss comics artist (Papa Moll), dies at age 94. March 26: Bill Yates, American comics artist (Professor Phumble, Benjy), writer (Redeye) and comic strip editor for King Features Syndicate, dies at age 79. March 31: Luciana Giussiani, Italian comics writer (Diabolik), dies at age 72.
April April 3: Ray Osrin, American cartoonist, animator and comics artist (worked for Archie Comics, Charlton Comics, Dell Comics and Gold Key Comics, assisted on Barney Google and Snuffy Smith and Morty Meekle), dies at age 72. April 4: Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, American artist, cartoonist, illustrator, pinstriper, custom car designer and builder (Rat Fink), dies at age 69. April 16: Mittéï (Hao), Belgian comics artist (Nine et Mitsou, Indésirable Désiré, Bonaventure, continued Modeste et Pompon between 1963 and 1975) and writer, dies at age 68. April 19: Henry Boltinoff, American comics artist (Stoker the Broker), dies at age 87. April 21: Bernard Venables, British comics artist (Mr. Digwell, Mr. Crabtree Goes Fishing), dies at age 94.
May May 14: Eric Bradbury, British comics artist (Tharg the Mighty, Charles Peace, The Leopard from Lime Street, The House of Dolmann), dies at age 80. May 27: Claude Bordet, aka Claudy, French comics artist, dies at age 80. May 29: Bill Bunce, American illustrator and comics artist (comics for Association of American Railroads), dies at age 97.
June June 1: Hank Ketcham, American comics artist and animator (Dennis the Menace), dies at age 81. June 14: Barb Rausch, American comics writer and artist (Barbie comics, Disney comics), dies at age 60. June 15: Hurey, Belgian comics artist (De Fratsen van Jan Heibel, Ketje & Co, continued De Lustige Kapoentjes and Piet Fluwijn en Bolleke, assisted Marc Sleen, Jean-Pol and Arthur Berckmans), dies at age 63.