1995 in comics

Events and publication

Year overall

• Publishers Broadway Comics, Tekno Comix, Class Comics, Fantasy Flight Publications, Moonstone Books, A is A, and Ace Comics all debut; WildStorm introduces its Homage Comics imprint; Defiant Comics ceases publishing
• Marvel reintroduces the Amazing Fantasy comic book with #16 with a December 1995 date. It was cancelled with a March 1996 date. All three issues feature Spider-Man.

  January

• After Xavier: The Age of Apocalypse is launched. All X-titles change to different names for the next four months.
• Thor marks his 400th appearance in Marvel Comics with issue #482.
• Silver Surfer vol. 2 #100: by Ron Marz, Joe Phillips, and Tom Grindberg.
• The final issue of the second attempt to launch a Lucky Luke monthly magazine is published.

  February

• Doom Patrol vol. 2 is canceled by DC Comics with issue #87.

  March

• Jerry Ordway launches The Power of Shazam for DC Comics. The title has a March 1995 cover date.
• Marvel Comics Presents vol. 1 is canceled by Marvel with issue #175.
• March 9: Marvel Comics buys trading card manufacturer SkyBox International for $150 million.

  April

• The Amazing Spider-Man #400: "A Death In the Family." Die-cut embossed cover..
• April 1: In Sioux City, Iowa Fran and Kevin McGarry found the comics store ACME Comics & Collectibles.
• April 30: DC Comics announces its products will be distributed exclusively by Diamond Comics Distribution, Inc.

  May

• Fantastic Four #400: "Even the Watchers Can Die!" by Tom DeFalco, Paul Ryan, and Dan Bulanadi.
• is released and the X-titles revert to their normal continuity.
• Loki makes an appearance in issue #21 of the Malibu Ultraverse title Hard Case.
• Superman #100: "The Death of Clark Kent," by Dan Jurgens.

  June

• June 5 Dragon Ball Z comes to an end with the Majiin Boo saga finally done

  July

• July 24: Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics announce they will be exclusively distributed by Diamond Comic Distributors.
• Savage Sword of Conan, with issue #235, is cancelled by Marvel.
• Marvel cancels all three Punisher titles due to poor sales:
• * The Punisher vol. 2 is canceled with issue #104
• * Punisher War Journal is canceled with issue #80
• * The Punisher War Zone is canceled with issue #41

  August

• Deadline is canceled by Deadline Publications Ltd with issue #70.
• Johnny the Homicidal Maniac debuts.

  September

• Malibu Comics relaunches its Ultraverse titles with the Infinity promotion. The most popular characters, such as Prime, Mantra, Exiles, and Rune, come back with all-black covers and an infinity symbol on the cover.
• Marvel's Marvel Edge imprint debuts, featuring the titles Daredevil, Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, Ghost Rider, and Incredible Hulk

  October

• October 21–22: During the Stripdagen in Breda, the Netherlands, Wilbert Plijnaar, Robert van der Kroft and Jan van Die, aka De Wiroja's, receive the Stripschapprijs. The magazine Zone 5300 wins the Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures is canceled by Archie Comics with issue #72.

  November

• November 4: The final episode of José Miguel Heredia's Perro Mundo is published.
• Marvel launches The Punisher #1 under the Marvel Edge imprint
• Animal Man is canceled by DC Comics with issue #89.

  December

• December 31: The final episode of Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes is published.

  Deaths

January

• January 1: Nans van Leeuwen, Dutch illustrator, novelist and comics artist, passes away at age 94.
• January 12: George Price, American cartoonist, dies at the age of 93.
• January 16: Nin, Spanish comics artist, dies at age 62.
• January 24: Frank Emery, American mural artist, jazz musician, photographer, animator, illustrator, and comics artist, dies at age 37.
• January 31: Alfredo Cardona Peña, Costa Rican-Mexican novelist and comics writer, dies at age 77.

  February

• February 4: Odette Fumet, Canadian illustrator, novelist and comics artist, dies at age 94.
• February 11: Sharon Alston, New Zealand comics artist, painter and illustrator, dies at age 46 from breast cancer.
• February 13: Bill Perry, American comics artist, passes away at age 89.
• February 19: Paul Jamin, aka Jam, Alfred Gérard and/or Alidor, Belgian comics artist and cartoonist, dies at age 83.
• February 23: Don Heck, American comics artist, dies at age 66.
• Specific date unknown: Hugh Morren, British comics artist, dies at age 74.

  March

• March 22: Hein Auke Kray, Dutch comics artist, dies at age 93.
• March 29: Mort Meskin, American comics artist dies at age 78.
• March 29: Willy Schermelé, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 90.

  April

• April 19: Reg Wootton, British comics artist, died at age 86.
• April 29: Ingrid Wallerström, Swedish novelist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 102.

  May

• May 5: Ye Qianyu, Chinese comics artist, passes away at the age of 88.
• May 26: Friz Freleng, American animator and cartoonist, dies at age 88.

  June

• June 5: Raye Horne, American underground comix artist, dies at the age of 50.

  July

• July 16: Harry Buckinx, Dutch comics artist, passes away from cancer at the age of 51.
• July 20: George Caragonne, American comics writer and editor, commits suicide at c. age 30.
• July 22: Rick Yager, American comics artist, dies at age 85.
• July 25: Balthasar Lippisch, German illustrator, caricaturist, animator and comics artist, dies at age 74 or 75.

  August

• August 1: Daniel Chauvin, French comics artist, dies at age 56 from stomach cancer.
• August 1: Noel Gloesner, French comics artist, dies at age 77.
• August 20: Hugo Pratt, Italian comics artist, dies at age 68.

  September

• September 7: Russell Johnson, American comics artist, passes away at age 101.
• September 9:
• * Toon Rammelt, Dutch comics artist, illustrator and radio executive, dies at age 84.
• * Pim van Boxsel, Dutch illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 71 from heart failure.
• September 13: Walter Goetz, German-British comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 83.
• September 30: Nestor Redondo, Filipino comics artist, dies at age 67.

  October

• October 21: Jesús Blasco, Spanish comics artist and writer, dies at age 75.
• October 21: Manuel Vázquez Gallego, Spanish comics artist, passes away at age 65 from a stroke.

  November

• November 2: Ollie Harrington, American comics artist, dies at age 83 in Berlin, Germany.

  December

• December 4: Petar Gligorovski, Macedonian painter, comics artist, animator and animated film director, dies at age 57.
• December 5: L. B. Cole, American comics artist, dies at age 77.
• December 10: Ganes T.H., Indonesian comics artist, dies at age 60.
• December 15: Willy Smit, Dutch comics artist, dies at age 94.

  Specific date unknown

• Benigani, Spanish comics artist, dies at age 92 or 93.
• Alex Cubie, Scottish comics artist and animator, dies at age 83 or 84.
• José De Lemos, Portuguese comics artist, dies at age 85.
• Óskar, aka Oskar Pinto Lobo, Portuguese comics artist, dies at age 81 or 82.
• Don Tobin, American animator and comics artist, dies at age 78 or 79.

  Exhibitions

• August 1–October 27: "See You in the Funny Papers: American Life as Reflected in the Newspaper Comic Strip," curated by Lucy Shelton Caswell in conjunction with the Festival of Cartoon Art
• December 7, 1995 – February 11, 1996: "Classic Comics — A Selection of Stories from EC Comics," featuring the work of, among others, John Severin

  Conventions

• January 15: Albuquerque Comic Con — guests include Sheldon Moldoff and Tom Grindberg
• January 22: Great Eastern Conventions Boston — c. 750 attendees
• January 26–29: Angoulême International Comics Festival — 22nd annual festival
• February 19: Spirits of Independence — featuring organizers Dave Sim and Gerhard, and Martin Wagner
• February 24–26: The New York Comic Book Spectacular
• Spring: MegaCon — guests include Gil Kane, Dick Giordano, and Howard Chaykin
• March: Motor City Comic Con I
• March 25: Spirits of Independence — guests include Dave Sim and Gerhard, Paul Pope, Steve Bissette, and M'Oak
• April: Pittsburgh Comicon
• April 15–16: Dallas Fantasy Fair I — guests include Adam Hughes, Susie Owens, and Mark Goddard
• April 15: Spirits of Independence — featuring organizers Dave Sim and Gerhard, and Drew Hayes
• April 21–23: WonderCon — held in conjunction with Pro/Con
• May 19: Alternative Press Expo
• Summer: CAPTION
• June 23–25: Atlanta Fantasy Fair — final iteration of this show; official guests include Claudia Christian, Dirk Benedict, Dwight Schultz, Jeff Pittarelli, Don Hillsman II, Wayne Vansant, Joe Phillips
• June 23: Small Press Expo — second annual show
• June 30–July 2: Chicago Comicon — 20,000 attendees; guest of honor: Peter David; special guests: Sal Buscema, Roy Thomas, John Romita Sr., Chris Claremont, Jim Shooter, and Julius Schwartz
• July: Heroes Convention — special guest: Todd McFarlane
• July 1: Spirits of Independence — featuring organizers Dave Sim and Gerhard, and Stephen R. Bissette
• July 13–16: Dragon Con/International Starfleet Conference — 14,312 attendees; guests of honor: George Alec Effinger, Harlan Ellison, Timothy Zahn, Michael Whelan, and Bjo Trimble
• July 27–30: Comic-Con International — 34,000 attendees; special guests include Mike Baron, Simon Bisley, Charles Burns, Alan Davis, Ramona Fradon, Neil Gaiman, James Gurney, Greg Hildebrandt, Tim Hildebrandt, Ryoichi Ikegami, Gil Kane, Stan Lee, Irv Novick, Harvey Pekar, Stan Sakai, Joe Sinnott, Tom Sito, Jeff Smith, and Andrew Vachss. Comic-Con officially changes its name to Comic-Con International, and introduces its new "eye" logo designed by Richard Bruning
• August 12: Spirits—Chicago Independent Comics Expo — guests include Jessica Abel, Stephen R. Bissette, Joe Chiapetta, Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, Matt Feazell, Troy Hickman, David Lapham, Larry Marder, Mark Oakley, Paul Pope, Alex Robinson, Andrew Robinson, Dave Sim & Gerhard, Jim Valentino, and Joe Zabel
• August 11–13: Dallas Fantasy Fair II — presentation of the Harvey Awards; keynote speaker and master-of-ceremonies: Jim Starlin; official guests include Sergio Aragonés, Kurt Busiek, Rob Liefeld, Terry Moore, David W. Mack, Martin Nodell, Julius Schwartz, Mark Schultz, Jeff Smith, William Stout, Chris Ware, Al Williamson, and Jim Woodring
• August 12–13: Canadian National Comic Book Exposition, — c. 1400 attendees; guests include J. Scott Campbell, Kelley Jones, Joe Jusko, Bill Sienkiewicz, Bernie Wrightson, Brian Hotton, Stephen Platt, Ken Lashley, and Ty Templeton
• August 25–26: Festival of Cartoon Art — 5th edition; official guests include Garry Trudeau, Jeff MacNelly, Lynn Johnston, Bill Amend, Robb Armstrong, Stephen Bentley, Bruce Beattie, and Bill Griffith
• September 9–10: Great Eastern Conventions New York II
• September 1: Spirits of Independence — featuring organizers Dave Sim and Gerhard, and Don Simpson
• October 7–8: Motor City Comic Con II
• October 7: Spirits of Independence — featuring organizers Dave Sim and Gerhard, and James A. Owen
• November 4: Spirits of Independence — featuring organizers Dave Sim and Gerhard
• November 25–26: Dallas Fantasy Fair III — guests include Julie Newmar
• November 25–26: Mid-Ohio Con — Special guest: Barry Windsor-Smith; other guests: Mark Evanier, Roger Stern, William Messner-Loebs, John Byrne, Sergio Aragonés, Brian Michael Bendis, Martin Egeland, Dick Giordano, David Mack, Joe Pruett, Beau Smith, Jim Shooter, Jeff Smith, and Bernie Wrightson

  First issues by title

DC Comics

• Power of Shazam
• Sovereign Seven

  Delcourt

• De cape et de crocs

  Malibu Ultraverse

• Godwheel

  Marvel Comics

• Amazing X-Men
• Astonishing X-Men
• Avengers: The Crossing
• Gambit and the X-Ternals
• Generation Next
• Prime
• Skrull Kill Crew
• Weapon X
• X-Calibre
• X-Men: Omega

  Vertigo Comics

• Preacher

  Independent

• Astro City
• Dark Town by Mad Monkey Press Writer:Kaja Blackley Artist: Vanessa Chong
• Stray Bullets