Notable events of 1990 in comics.
Events
Year overall
- New Century Comics, Disney Comics, Millennium Publications, MU Press, Tundra Publishing, Valiant Comics, Drawn & 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.
- Time Inc. and Warner Communications, parent of DC Comics, merge under the name Time Warner.
January
- January 7: In the Disney comics magazine Topolino, the first chapter of The Search for the Zodiac Stone!: An Epic Yarn of Mice and Ducks!, written by Bruno Sarda and drawn by Massimo De Vita and Franco Valussi, appears in print for the first time. The story, in 12 chapters, is considered the longest Disney comic ever published and its issue lasts the whole year. It involves all the principal characters of the Donald and Mckey universes and sees the debut of PaperinikâÂÂs nemesis Spectrus.
- January 19: in Spriou, first episode of Spirou ÃÂ Moscou, by Tome and Janry.
- January 21: in Topolino, the first of the Racconti intorno al fuoco (Tales around the campfire), by Rodolfo Cimino and Giorgio Cavzrzano, is published; they are romantic tales, set in the Nineteenth-century America, told by Grandma Duck but unrelated to the duck universe.
- Baby Blues debuts.
- Charles M. Schulz is named Commandeur des Arts et Lettres.
- 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.
- First album of The Men in black series, by Lowell Cunningham and Sandy Carruthers (Aircel comics).
February
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.
- Le raid infernal, by Jean Michel Charlier and Colin Wilson, sixth chapter of La jeunesse de Blueberry; first chapter of the Great Locomotive Chase saga.
April
May
- Colere apache by Festin and Franz; 26<sup>th</sup> album of the Jerry Spring series (Alpen publishers).
June
- With issue 9, The Destroyer v1 is cancelled.
- In a supplement to the Italian magazine L'Eternauta, Le sconvolgenti origini del Rat-Man, (The Rat-ManâÂÂs shocking origins) by Leo Ortolani, the first adventure of the parodic super-hero.
July
August
September
October
November
December
Specific date unknown
- The first issue of the Belgian satirical comics and cartoons magazine Ubu-Pan is published.
- In the Spanish magazine Krazy comics, the dystopic series Brian the brain, by Miguel Angel Martin, makes its debut.
Deaths
January
- January 1: Charles Boost, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (drew comics for De Tijd), dies at age 82.
- January 7: Tom, A.K.A. Thomaz de Mello, Portuguese painter and comics artist (Rico, Pico e Sarapico), dies at age 83.
- January 8: Bernard Krigstein, American comics artist (Master Race, Mad), dies at age 71.
- January 14: Bohumil Konecny, aka Bimba, Czech comics artist, painter and illustrator (Amazona, aka Octobriana), dies at age 71.
- January 20: Claude Auclair, French comics artist (Simon du Fleuve), dies at age 46.
February
- February 22: Thomas Ochse Honiball, South African cartoonist and comics artist (Oom Kaspaas, Jakkals en Wolf), dies at age 84.
March
- March 4: Salvatore Deidda, Italian comics artist (Stark, continued Martin Mystère), dies at age 37.
- March 12: Woody Kimbrell, American comics artist (Little Lulu), dies at age 83.
- March 24: Ray Goulding, American comedian (Bob & Ray) and comics writer (Mad Magazine ), dies at age 68.
- March 30: João Mottini, Brazilian comics artist (QuintÃÂn Duval, continued Ellos), dies at age 66.
April
- April 24:
- Claude Henri, French comics writer and artist (Hourrah Freddi, Lynx Blanc, P'tit Joc, Charles Oscar), dies at age 74.
- André Fernez, Belgian comics writer, novelist and chief editor of Tintin between 1947 and 1959, dies at age 72.
- April 28: Edwina Dumm, American comics artist (Cap Stubbs and Tippie) dies at age 96.
May
- May 7: Pier Lorenzo De Vita, Italian comics artist (Tuffolino, Pecos Bill, Disney comics, Mopsi, Giso e Leo), dies at age 80.
- May 15: Porfiri Nikitich Krylov, Russian painter, illustrator and poster designer (member of the collective Kukryniksy), dies at age 87.
- May 25: William Overgard, American comics artist (continued Steve Roper and Mike Nomad and Kerry Drake), dies at age 64.
- May 31: William Timym, also known as Tim, Austrian-British animator and comics artist (The Boss, Caesar, Bengo the Boxer, Wuff, Tuff and Snuff, Bim, Bam and Boom, Oh, Johnny!, Bleep and Booster), dies at age 87.
June
- June 23: Howard Boughner, American comics artist (Mac, Hold Everything, writer of Penny and Dotty Dripple, assisted on Dumb Dora and Wash Tubbs), dies at age 81.
- June 30: Jacques Lob, French comics artist (Ténébrax, Blanche Epiphanie, Submerman, Superdupont), dies at age 67.
July
- July 15: Ben Abas, Dutch comics artist (Spot Morton, Lex Brand, Martin Evans), dies at age 63 or 64.
- July 17: George Waiss, American animator and comics artist (Disney comics), dies at age 83.
- July 18: Yves Chaland, French comics artist (Freddy Lombard), dies in a car accident at age 33.
- July 18: Georges Dargaud, French comics publisher (Dargaud), dies at age 79.
- July 25: Sam Grainger, American comics artist (Marvel Comics), dies at age 60.
August
- August 7: Phiny Dick, Dutch comics writer and artist (Miezelientje, Olle Kapoen, Birre Beer), also wife of Marten Toonder, dies at age 77.
- August 12: B. Kliban, American cartoonist (Playboy), dies of a pulmonary embolism at age 55.
- August 28: Willy Vandersteen, Belgian comics artist (Suske en Wiske, De Familie Snoek, De Vrolijke Bengels, <nowiki/>'t Prinske, De Rode Ridder, Bessy, Robert en Bertrand, De Geuzen), dies at age 77.
September
- September 5: Jerry Iger, American comics publisher (co-founder of Eisner & Iger) writer and artist, dies at age 87.
- September 20:
- Byron Aptosoglou, Greek illustrator and comics artist (The Superman, Mikrós ÃÂros (Little Hero), Tarzan comics), dies at age 67 or 68.
- Attilio Micheluzzi, Italian comics artist (Roy Mann, Petra Chérie, Johnny Focus), dies at age 60.
October
- October 14: Art Huhta, American comics artist (Dinky Dinkerton, Wild Rose, assisted on Mescal Ike, Lolly Gags and The Nebbs), dies at age 88.
- October 29: François Gianolla, Belgian poet, playwright, cartoonist, illustrator, musician, caricaturist and comics artist (Fred, Mile et Bob), dies at age 83.
- October 31: Roger Price, American humorist, writer, publisher and cartoonist (creator of droodles), dies at age 72.
- Specific date in October unknown: Dan DeCarlo Jr., American comic artist (Archie Comics), dies at age 52 from stomach cancer.
December
- December 21: Susi Weigel, Austrian illustrator, comics artist and animator (worked for Unsere Zeitung), dies at age 76.
- December 30: Tony Abruzzo, American comics artist (made romance comics for National Periodicals (later DC Comics), dies at age 74.
Specific date unknown
- Dennis Collins, British comics artist (The Perishers), dies.
- Cram, Belgian cartoonist (De Weyfelaers, Jan Pech), dies at age 51 or 52.
- Marcel Dehaye, Belgian journalist, novelist, comics writer and chief editor of Tintin (1959-1965), dies at age 82 or 83.
- Nicholas, aka Nick Firfires, American illustrator and comics artist (made realistically drawn comics for Disney and the celebrity comic based on Gene Autry), dies at age 72 or 73.
- Ye Hung-chia, Taiwanese comics artist (Chuko Szu-lang), dies at age 76 or 77.
- Walter Kellermann, German comics artist (Silberpfeil), dies at age 66 or 67.
- Leo Rawlings, British comic artist (Sergeant Bob Millar), dies at age 71 or 72.
- Maurice Roggeman, Belgian painter, illustrator, comic writer and artist (Proleetje & Fantast, scripted by novelist Louis Paul Boon), dies at age 77 or 78.
- Yu Takita, Japanese manga artist (Terajima-cho (The Terajima Neighborhood Mystery tales), dies at age 57 or 58.
Conventions
- January 6âÂÂ7: Great Eastern Conventions (New York City)
- January 24âÂÂ28: Angoulême International Comics Festival (Angoulême, France)
- February 17âÂÂ18: Motor City Comic Con (Dearborn Civic Center, Dearborn, Michigan) â 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 (Glasgow City Chambers, Glasgow, Scotland) â presentation of the Speakeasy Awards
- April 1: Great Eastern Conventions (Albany Marriott, Albany, New York)
- April 8: Great Eastern Conventions (Sheraton S.F. Airport Hotel, San Francisco, California)
- April 29: Great Eastern Conventions (Holiday Inn Ashley Plaza, Tampa, Florida)
- May 6: Great Eastern Conventions (Colony Square Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia)
- May 12: Great Eastern Conventions (57 Park Plaza Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts)
- Summer: FantaCon (Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York)
- June: Heroes Convention (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- June 1âÂÂ3: Great Eastern Conventions (New York Penta Hotel, New York City)
- June 29âÂÂJuly 1: Dragon Con/Atlanta Comics Expo/Origins Game Fair (Atlanta Hilton & Towers/Atlanta Radisson Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia) â 6,900 attendees; guest of honor: Tom Clancy; other guests include Todd McFarlane, Jim Salicrup, and Bob Budiansky
- July 6âÂÂ8: Chicago Comicon (Ramada O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois) â 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 13âÂÂ15: Dallas Fantasy Fair (Dallas, Texas) â 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 13âÂÂ15: Las Vegas International All Collectibles Show (Las Vegas, Nevada) â guests include Stan Lee, Todd McFarlane, and Fabian Nicieza
- August 2âÂÂ5: San Diego Comic-Con (Convention and Performing Arts Center and Holiday Inn, San Diego, California) â 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 4âÂÂ5: Comix Fair '90 (Holiday Inn Medical Center, Houston, Texas) â eighth annual show; guests include Bill Hinds, Jeff Millar, and Doug Hazlewood
- August 17âÂÂ19: Atlanta Fantasy Fair XVI (Omni Hotel & Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia) â 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 22âÂÂ24: United Kingdom Comic Art Convention (UKCAC) (UCL Institute of Education, London, UK) â presentation of the Eagle Awards
- OctoberâÂÂNovember: FIBDA (Amadora, Portugal) â inaugural edition; guests include Morris
- October 20âÂÂ21: Toronto Comic and Sequential Art Exposition (Arts, Crafts Hobbies Building, Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
- October 27âÂÂ28: Killer Con (Ferndale Community Center, Ferndale, Michigan) â 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
- October 28âÂÂNovember 4: Salone Internazionale dei Comics (Palazzo dello Sport, Lucca, Italy) â 18th edition of the festival
Awards
Eisner Awards
Presented in 1991 for comics published in 1990.
- Best Story or Single Issue: Concrete Celebrates Earth Day, by Paul Chadwick, Charles Vess, and Jean "Moebius" Giraud (Dark Horse)
- Best Continuing Series: Sandman, by Neil Gaiman and various artists (DC)
- Best Black and White Series: Xenozoic Tales, by Mark Schultz (Kitchen Sink)
- Best Finite Series: Give Me Liberty, by Frank Miller and Dave Gibbons (Dark Horse)
- Best Graphic AlbumâÂÂNew: Elektra Lives Again, by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley (Marvel)
- Best Graphic AlbumâÂÂReprint: ' by Neil Gaiman and various artists (DC)
- Best Writer: Neil Gaiman, Sandman (DC)
- 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
For independent and small-press comics; presented in June 1990 by Zine Zone chairperson Terry Hooper. (Zine Zone was based in Bristol, UK.)
- Best Science Fiction Writer: Tom Elmes
- Best Science Fiction Artist: Petri Hiltinen
- Best Science Fiction Zine: Tahti Vaeltaja <small>(Finland)</small>
- Best Horror Writer: Rob Gott
- Best Horror Artist: David Stephenson
- Best Horror Zine: Lippe 10 <small>(Germany)</small>
- Best Adventure Writer: Ludwig Kreutzner
- Best Adventure Artist: Rudolph Perez
- Best Adventure Zine: Zebra <small>(Germany)</small>
- Best Funny Animal Comic: Blues Bar by Bernd Gronenberg <small>(Germany)</small>
- Best Action Comic: Stormwatcher by Ian Abbinnett and Alan Cowsill <small>(UK)</small>
- Best Erotic Comic: Johnny Condom by Steve Harrison <small>(UK)</small>
- Best Slice of Life Comic: Love and Rockets
- Best Text Feature: Small Press World by Hal Hargit (Amazing Heroes)
- 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 <small>(Finland)</small>
- Best Mini-Comic: Testosterone City by Peter Bagge
- Best Indie Artist: Matt "D'Israeli" Brooker
- Best Small Press Album: Heroes from the Black Lagoon <small>(Germany)</small>
- Best European Artist: Martin Frei <small>(Germany)</small>
- Most Promising Newcomer: Terry Ford <small>(UK)</small>
- Person Doing the Most for UK Comics History: Denis Gifford
- Greatest Influence in Comics: Jack Kirby
First issues by title
DC Comics
Justice League Quarterly
Release: Winter.
'
Release: February
Limited series
The Atlantis Chronicles
Release: March. Writer: Peter David. Artist: Esteban Maroto.
The Books of Magic v1
Release: Writer: Neil Gaiman. Artists: John Bolton, Scott Hampton, Charles Vess & Paul Johnson.
Breathtaker
Release: July Writer: Mark Wheatley. Artist: Marc Hempel.
Hawkworld (3 issues, later became an ongoing)
Release: June. Writers: John Ostrander and Timothy Truman. Artist: Graham Nolan.
Twilight
Release: December. Writers: Howard Chaykin. Artist: José Luis GarcÃÂa-López.
World Without End
Release: January. Writers: Jamie Delano. Artist: John Higgins.
One-shots
'
Release: 1990 Writer/Artist: Pepe Moreno.
Marvel Comics
Camp Candy
Release: May.
Ghost Rider v2
Release: May. Writer: Howard Mackie. Artists: Javier Saltares & Mark Texeira.
Guardians of the Galaxy v1
Release: June.
Knights of Pendragon
Release: July by Marvel UK. Writers: Dan Abnett and John Tomlinson. Artist: Gary Erskine.
'
Release: August. Writer & Artist: Todd McFarlane
Issued with regular and silver ink covers, second printing with gold ink cover.
RoboCop
Release: March. Writer: Alan Grant. Artists: Lee Sullivan & Kim DeMulder.
Marvel Super-Heroes v2
Release: May.
Mighty Mouse
Release: October.
Namor the Sub-Mariner
Release: April
New Warriors
Release: July. Writer: Fabian Nicieza. Artists: Mark Bagley & Al Williamson.
Nomad
Release: November. Writer: Fabian Nicieza. Artists: James Fry & Mark McKenna.
Tomorrow Knights
Release: June by Epic Comics.
Zorro
Release: December.
Limited Series
Alien Legion: On The Edge
Release: November.
Atomic Age
Release: November by Epic Comics. Writer: Frank Lovece. Artists: Mike Okamoto & Al Williamson.
Black Knight
Release: June.
Brute Force
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs
Release: November by Epic Comics.
Darkman v1
Release: August.
Deathlok v1
Release: July.
Critical Mass
Release: January by Epic Comics. Writer: D. G. Chichester and Margaret Clark.
Elsewhere Prince
Release: May by Epic Comics. Writer/Artist: Moebius.
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser
Release: October by Epic Comics. Writer: Howard Chaykin. Artist: Mike Mignola.
Foolkiller v1
Release: October.
'
Release: May.
Hollywood Superstars
Release: November by Epic Comics. Writer: Mark Evanier. Artist: Dan Spiegle.
Impossible Man Summer Vacation Spectacular
Release: August
The Last American
Release: December by Epic Comics. Writers: John Wagner & Alan Grant. Artist: Mike McMahon.
New Adventures of Cholly & Flytrap
Release: December by Epic Comics.
Punisher Armory
Release: July. Writer:
RoboCop 2
Release: August.
Saga of the Original Human Torch
Release: April. Writer: Roy Thomas.
X-Men Spotlight On... Starjammers
Release: May
Stalkers
Release: April
Steeltown Rockers
Release: April. Writer: Elaine Lee. Artist: Steve Leialoha.
The Thanos Quest
Release: September. Writer: Jim Starlin. Artist: Ron Lim.
One-shots
The Return of Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu: Bleeding Black
Release: February.
Shogakukan
Basara
Release: September on Betsucomi. Author: Yumi Tamura.
Independent titles
Classics Illustrated v2
'
Release:
Hate
Release: April by Fantagraphics. Writer/Artist: Peter Bagge.
Judge Dredd Megazine
Release: October by Egmont UK.
Logan's Run
Release:
Limited series
Big Numbers (2 issues before cancellation)
Release: April by . Writer: Alan Moore Artist: Bill Sienkiewicz.
Bratpack
Release: August by King Hell Press. Writer & artist: Rick Veitch.
Cages
Release: December by Tundra Publishing. Writer/Artist: Dave McKean.
Give Me Liberty
Release: June. Writer: Frank Miller. Artist: Dave Gibbons.
Hard Boiled
Release: September. Writer: Frank Miller. Artist: Geoff Darrow.
The Men In Black
Release: January. Writer: Lowell Cunningham. Artist: Sandy Carruthers
'
Release: March. Writer: Ron Fortier. Artist: Alex Ross.
The Terminator: Tempest
Release: August by Dark Horse Comics.
Initial appearance by character name
DC Comics
Marvel Comics
Independent titles
Newspapers
References