Notable events of 2000 in comics.
Events Year overall German website Comicforum goes live Rebellion Developments takes over 2000 AD from Fleetway. The merger of AOL and Time Warner is announced. In Bologna, the cartoonist Igort and the editor Carlo Barbieri found Coconino press, a publishing house specialized in authorial comics; the firm takes its name from the Arizona county, which served as the setting of Krazy Cat’s strips. Jeroom creates his gag comic Ridder Bauknecht.
January January 3: The final daily episode of Charles M. Schulz' Peanuts appears in print. The Sunday comics continue one month longer. January 4: The British comics magazine Buster ends its run after 40 years. The Voronov plot, di Yves Sentie e Andrè Juliard, fourteenth episode of the series Blake and Mortimer. Beginning of Apocalypse: The twelve, a cross-over involving all the X-Men comic books. Sotto un nuovo sole (Under a new sun) by Alessandro Sisti and Corrado Mastrantuono, marks a turning point for the PKNA series, with the destruction of the evil Evronian empire by the super-heroine Xadhoom and the final sacrifice of the same, for her people's sake. In the following months, the main PKNA storylines end and many characters of the series (allies or enemies) leave the scene. B D. Meurtres, by Andrè-Paul Duchateau and Tibet. La piste des maudits (The trail of the damned), by Francois Corteggiani and Michel Blanc-Dumont, eleventh episode of La jeunesse de Blueberry.
February February 13: After nearly half a century of publication the final episode of Charles M. Schulz's long-running and best-selling newspaper comic Peanuts is published. Schulz had announced his retirement a month earlier. The episode happens to coincide with Schulz' death, a day before the final episode is published. Both events make headlines all over the world. The state of California declares Peanuts Day. The final episode of Daniel Clowes' David Boring is prepublished in Eightball.
March Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 3 is canceled by DC with issue #125. The discontinuation of Big Panda results in the formation of Keenspot. First issue of Batman: Gotham Knights. Edward Reiser, director of the Alpha Agency and superior of Nathan Never, is killed in the album Il patto (The deal), by Antonio Serra and Roberto De Angelis. His death (that in the following years turns out to be a setup) causes significant revelations and changes in the series, with the emerging of the new super-villain Mister Alpha. Le prophete, by Morris and Patrick Nordmann. In Buffy the vampire slayer, Old friend, by Andi Watson and Cliff Richards, ending of the Bad bloods saga.
April
Il figlio del diavolo (The devil's son) by Mauro Boselli and Majo; first issue of the series Dampyr, with the debut of the principal characters (the vampire hunters Harlan Draka and his sidekicks Kurjak and Tesla.) In the following album, La stirpe della notte (The race of the night), the vampyre Draka, nemesis (as well as father) of the hero, makes his debut. Shenzhen by Guy Delisle. First issue of the limited series The punisher (or Welcome back, Frank), by Garth Ennis. First issue of Powers, by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming.
May May 27: The final episode of Mort Walker's Boner's Ark is published. Dozens of U.S. cartoonists pay tribute to the final episode of Peanuts on the same day. Originally intended as a tribute, it becomes an unintential in memoriam since Schulz died unexpectedly earlier this year. May 28: After 87 years of publication Bringing Up Father (originally created by George McManus in 1911) is terminated. First issue of Swamp Thing (third series) by Brian K. Vaughan Last day in Vietnam, by Will Eisner. in the Danish magazine Anders & Co., Riverside Rovers, by Paul Halas and Francisco Rodriguez Peinado; debut of Felicity Fieldmouse, mother of Morty and Ferdie and sister of Mickey Mouse.
June
Frontiere sanglante (Bloody frontier) – by Jean Giraud and Michel Rouge, final album of the Marshall Blueberry series.
July
July 1: Comics character Abraham Tuizentfloot receives a statue in Wuustwezel, Belgium. July 19: The Flemish newspapers Het Laatste Nieuws and De Nieuwe Gazet change the title of their weekly children comics supplement De Plopkrant, based on the popular TV show Kabouter Plop, into De Plopsakrant, based on the theme park Plopsaland. I coraggiosi, by Michele Masiero and Lina Buffolente, final adventure of Comandante Mark. Reinventing Comics: How Imagination and Technology Are Revolutionizing an Art Form, by Scott McCloud.
August August 1: In the Italian Disney magazine Topolino, the first chapter of the Mickey Mouse story Topolino e le cronache della frontiera (Mickey and the frontier chronicles) by Giorgio Pezzin is published. It's a long space opera starring characters of the Mickey Mouse universe. August 25: The death of Donald Duck comics artist Carl Barks makes global headlines, but predominantly in Europe and Latin America where his comics are far more beloved than in his home country. August 30: Ring of fire, by Doug Petrie and Ryan Sook. Sotto il ponte di pietra (Under the stone bridge) by Mauro Boselli and Luca Rossi; debut of two recurring characters in the Dampyr series, both living in Prague: the angel Caleb Lost and the amiable devil Nikolaus.
September The final issue of the Flemish comics magazine Stipkrant, a weekly children's supplement of the newspapers Het Nieuwsblad, De Standaard, Het Handelsblad, De Gentenaar and De Landwacht, is published. First issue of the Italian magazine Euramaster tuttocolori (Eura), focused on the French comics. Pedro and me, graphic novel by Judd Winck. September 27: The first episode of Kim Duchateau's comics series Esther Verkest is published in P-Magazine. September 29: The first episode of Hanco Kolk and Peter de Wit's comic strip S1NGLE appears in the newspaper Het Parool.
October 5 October: In the Danish Disney comics magazine Anders And & Co. the first episode of The Three caballeros ride again! by Don Rosa is published. 17 October: In the Italian Disney comics magazine Topolino, the first episode of Paperino e il seguito della storia (Donald and the continuation of the history), by Luciano Bottaro is published. It's a sequel to the 1958 story Il Dottor Paperus.. 23–24 October: During the Stripdagen in Den Bosch, the Netherlands, cartoonist Willem wins the Stripschapprijs. Karin van Wylick of the library of Rotterdam wins the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs. The story of a childhood, first volume of Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi (L’association). Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda, by Jean-Philippe Stassen (Dupuis). Giles: beyond the pale, by Christopher Golden, Tom Sniegoski and Eric Powell (Dark Horse). First issue of Ultimate Spider-Man (Marvel). Top secret by Jean Van Hamme and William Vance, fourteenth album of the XIII series. La Sorcière... mal aimée (The unloved witch) by André-Paul Duchâteau and Tibet.
November
November 10: Quelque part entre les ombres, by Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido, first album of the Blacksad series (Dargaud). Dentiblù (nickname of the two authors Stefano Bonfanti and Barbara Barbieri) publishes amateurishly Zannablù e il segreto della besciamella (Blue fang and the secret of the béchamel sauce), first album of Zannablù, an anthropomorphic animals series with demented humor. La città gialla (The jellow city) by Alessandro Barbucci and Barbara Canepa, first album of the series Sky Doll. In Dylan Dog gigante, L’esercito del male (The army of the Evil), by Robin Wood and Giovanni Freghieri, the longest Dylan Dog story written until then (236 pages). Les quatre fleuves (The four rivers) by Fred Vargas and Edmond Baudoin.
December
December 8: The kids are alright, by Chynna Clugston Flores (ONI press), first album of the Blue Monday series. Minor Miracles, by Will Eisner. Cairo! by Jean and Philippe Graton; Michel Vaillant participates in the Dakar rally. Golden Gate, by Jean Van Hamme and Philippe Francq. Dutch comic artist Peter Pontiac publishes his autobiographical graphic novel Kraut, about his father's past as a Nazi collaborator and his mysterious death several decades later. The book will be updated twice, in 2005 and 2011.
Publications by release date Year overall ===February=== Strange Adventures vol. 2, #4, final issue cover-dated February (Vertigo)
October JSA Annual #1 (DC Comics)
Births
Deaths January January 1: Chon Day, American cartoonist (Brother Sebastian), dies at age 92. January 5: Goseki Kojima, Japanese comics artist (co-creator of Lone Wolf and Cub), dies at age 71. January 6: Don Martin, American comics artist (Mad, Captain Klutz), dies at age 68. January 14: Pat Boyette, American comics artist (co-creator of The Peacemaker), dies at age 76. January 19: Antonio Palacios, Spanish-Argentine comics artist (Mac Coy, Garin), dies at age 78. January 26: Keith Willingham, American comics artist (Blast Blair), dies at age 74. January 31: Gil Kane, Latvian-American comic book artist (Detective Comics, Green Lantern, Mystery in Space, Spider-Man), dies at age 73.
February February 1: Bill Holroyd, British comics artist (Alf Wit the Ancient Brit, Plum McDuff, Wuzzy Wiz, Magic Is His Biz, Screwy Driver, Boy With Iron Hands, Spunky And His Spider, Jack Silver, Wandering Willie, Ding Dong Belle, Danny Longlegs, The Fighting Frasers), dies at age 80. February 12: Charles M. Schulz, American comics artist (Peanuts, Young Pillars, It's Only a Game), dies at age 77. February 18: Steven Hughes, American comics artist (Chaos! Comics, Lady Death, Evil Ernie), dies at age 46. February 18: Will, Belgian comics artist (Isabelle, continued Tif et Tondu), dies at age 72. February 19: George Roussos, American comics inker and colorist (DC Comics, EC Comics), dies at age 84. February 20: Elliot Caplin, American comics writer (The Heart of Juliet Jones, Dr. Bobbs, Peter Scratch, Big Ben Bolt, Abbie an' Slats, Long Sam, Little Orphan Annie) dies at age 86. Fred Rhoads, American comics artist (Gizmo and Eightball, continued Sad Sack), dies at age 78. February 26: György Szitás, Hungarian comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 73.
March March 3: Nicole Van Goethem, Belgian cartoonist, animator and film director (A Greek Tragedy), dies at age 58. March 10: John Henry Rouson, American painter, cartoonist and comics artist (Little Sport, Boy and Girl, Ladies Day), dies at age 91. March 14: Don Komisarow, American comics artist (The Thropp Family, assisted on Superman, Abbie an' Slats), dies at age 85. March 20: Johan Anthierens, Belgian journalist, columnist, critic, writer, publisher and comics writer (De Geheime Avonturen van Kapitein Matthias with Eddy Ryssack ), dies from cancer at age 62.
April April 8: Alfredo Alcala, Philippine comics artist (Ukala, Voltar), dies at age 74 from cancer. April 15: Edward Gorey, American novelist, illustrator and comics artist (The Doubtful Guest, The Object-Lesson, The Gashlycrumb Tinies) dies at age 75. April 16: Jorge Bernuy, Peruvian comic artist (Novac, Yahuar El Guerrero), dies at age 51 or 52. April 17: Nikolai Sokolov, Russian painter, illustrator and poster designer (member of the collective Kukryniksy), dies at age 96. April 22: Toon Hermans, Dutch comedian and cabaret artist (made humorous cartoons under the title Clownerietjes), dies at age 83. April 23: Shigeru Sugiura, Japanese manga artist (Jiraiya the Ninja Boy, Sarutobi Sasuka), dies at age 92.
May May 3: Dario Guzzon, Italian comic artist (member of EsseGesse, co-creator of Captain Miki, Il Grande Blek, Comandante Mark, Kinowa and Alan Mistero), dies at age 74. May 10: Dick Sprang, American comics artist (Batman), dies at age 84. May 13: Fred Schwab, American comics artist (Lady Luck), dies at age 82.