Hey Kids Comics Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Notable events of 2004 in comics. See also List of years in comics.



Events[]

February[]

  • February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes.
  • February 20: Erik Larsen becomes the new publisher of Image Comics, replacing Jim Valentino, who stepped down.

March[]

April[]

May[]

  • May 9: Sam Linthout, son of Belgian cartoonist Willy Linthout, commits suicide at age 21. This will motivate Linthout to draw a graphic novel about his grief: Years of the Elephant. [7] [8]
  • May 19: At the instigation of Kees Kousemaker, owner of the Amsterdam comics store Lambiek, the first buildings of the Stripheldenbuurt in the Dutch city Almere are inaugurated. This is a district where all street names are named after famous comics characters and cartoonists. [9]

June[]

  • With issue #1595, Comics Buyer's Guide changes its format from a weekly tabloid to a monthly squarebound magazine. In addition, in hopes of enhancing newsstand sales, CBG adds a price guide for contemporary comics as well as other new features intended to make the magazine more appealing to those with an avid interest in comic books as an investment.
  • June 3: Marvel Comics announces the creation of its first prose imprint Marvel Press. Three novels were scheduled for 2004: the young adult novel Mary Jane II would land on bookstore shelves in June, followed by an adult fantasy Wolverine title in October and a middle grade Spider-Man title in November.
  • June 18: CrossGen Entertainment files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the US Bankruptcy Court in Tampa, Florida. (Copy of filing(220 KiB)
  • Daniel Clowes' The Death-Ray is prepublished in Eightball.

August[]

  • August 22: The first episode of Bunny is posted.
  • August 26: Italian journalist and translator of Doonesbury in comics magazine Linus Enzo Baldoni is murdered by terrorists in Iraq. [10]

September[]

  • September 29: Mark Retera wins the Stripschapprijs. [11] Normally he would be awarded the prize during the Stripdagen in Alphen aan de Rijn a month later, but since he planned a holiday then he is given it during a broadcast of the TV show Vara Laat. [12]

October[]

  • October 6: Marvel Enterprises announces an agreement with Antefilms Production to produce a new animated television series based on The Fantastic Four.
  • 23-24 October: During the Stripdagen in Alphen aan de Rijn Jan Joosse of the organisation Biblion wins the P. Hans Frankfurther Prize. [13] Nico van Dam, Bert Bus en Harry Balm receive the Bulletje en Boonestaakschaal. [14]

November[]

December[]

Deaths[]

January[]

  • January 7: Jerzy Skarzynski, Polish theatre artist and comics artist (Janosik Sans Titre), dies at age 79. [15]
  • January 8: Eddy Ryssack, Belgian comics artist (Brammetje Bram, Opa), dies at age 75 from a heart attack. [16]
  • January 20: George Woodbridge, American comics artist (Mad Magazine), dies at age 73 from emphysema. [17]
  • January 31: Giorgio Cambiotti, Italian comics artist (Jacula, worked on Kriminal, Messalina and Reno Kid, continued Mandrake the Magician and The Phantom), passes away at age 72. [18]

February[]

  • February 1:
    • Josep María Madorell, Spanish comics artist (Jep i Fidel, Pere Vidal, En Massagran), dies at age 80. [19]
    • James Simpkins, Canadian animator and comics artist (Jasper the Bear), dies at age 93. [20]
  • February 3: Fiep Westendorp, Dutch illustrator and comics artist (Tante Patent), passes away at age 87. [21]
  • February 8: Julius Schwartz, American comics editor (DC Comics, Adam Strange) dies at age 88.
  • February 8: Norman Thelwell, British comics artist (Chicko), dies at age 80. [22]
  • February 16: Bill Oakley, American comics letterer (Marvel Comics, DC Comics) dies at age 39.
  • February 24:
    • Rudy Lapick, American comics inker (Archie Comics), passes away at age 77.
    • Jean-Marc Lelong, French comics artist (Carmen Cru, Monsieur Émile), dies at age 55. [23]
  • February 25: Albert Chartier, Canadian illustrator and comics artist (Bouboule, Onésime, Séraphin), dies at age 91. [24]

March[]

  • March 8: Mario Uggeri, Italian painter, sculptor and comics artist, dies at age 70. [25]
  • March 11:
    • Ladislaus Elischer, German comics artist (Bummel, Mexycano, Die Spreenixen), dies at age 68 or 69. [26]
  • March 30: Doug Tainsh, Australian cartoonist, gag writer, screenwriter and comics artist (Speewah Jack, Cedric), dies at age 82. [27]

April[]

  • April 5: Gébé, French comics artist (L'An 01), passes away from a tumor at age 74. [28]
  • April 10: Chester Commodore, American comics artist (The Sparks, continued Bungleton Green, The Ravings of Professor Doodle, So What?), passes away at age 89. [29]
  • April 11: Irv Novick, American comics artist (DC Comics) artist, passes away at age 93. [30]
  • April 14: Pepe Huinca, Chilean comics artist (Artemio), dies at age 61 in a car accident. [31]
  • April 15: Mitsuteru Yokoyama, Japanese manga artist (Tetsujin 28-go, Giant Robo, Sangokushi), passes away at age 69 in a home fire.[32] [33]

May[]

  • May 1: Jørgen Mogensen, Danish comics artist (Alfredo, Poeten og Lillemor, Roselil og hendes mor), passes away at age 82. [34]
  • May 10: Henry Kiefer, American comics artist and illustrator (various realistically drawn comics, among them for Classics Illustrated), passes away at age 67. [35]
  • May 12: Syd Hoff, American cartoonist and comics artist (Tuffy, Laugh It Off), dies at age 91. [36]
  • May 15:
  • May 16: Remus Dimitrie Sbiera, aka Sool Sbiera, Romanian comics artist (Les Braconniers), dies at age 67. [39]

June[]

  • June 6: Kate Worley, American comics writer (Omaha the Cat Dancer), dies of cancer at age 46.
  • June 7: Karel Biddeloo, Belgian comics artist (continued De Rode Ridder), passes away from cancer at age 60. [40]
  • June 17: Todor Dinov, Bulgarian animator and comics artist (Malkoto Anche), dies at age 84. [41]
  • June 24: Heinz Rammelt, German comics artist (Der Insel der Ferianer, Chi-Chi), passes away at age 92. [42]

July[]

  • July 2: John Cullen Murphy, American comics artist (Big Ben Bolt, worked on Prince Valiant), dies at age 85. [43]
  • July 8: Chlodwig Poth, German comics artist (Amadeus Knüll), dies at age 74. [44]
  • July 25: Joe Buresch, American comics artist (Dinah Mite), dies at age 87. [45]
  • July 26: Oğuz Aral, Turkish comics artist (Hafiyesi Mahmut, Hayk Mammer, Utanmaz Adam, Avanak Avni), dies at age 68. [46]
  • Specific date in July unknown: Mario Capaldi, British comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 69. [47]

August[]

  • August 2: François Craenhals, Belgian comics artist (Pom et Teddy, Primus et Musette, Les 4 As, Le Chevalier Ardent), passes away at age 77. [48]
  • August 11: George Breisacher, American comics artist (Knobs, continued Mutt and Jeff), dies at age 64. [49]
  • August 26: Enzo Baldoni, Italian journalist and translator of Doonesbury in the Italian magazine Linus, is kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Iraq at age 55. [10]
  • August 30: Bart Huges, Dutch activist and comics writer (Arnold Slak & de Slow Sisters op weg, Licht uit de put, Een wetenschappelijke sekte...? en Gnōthi seauton/Ken uzelf: erken uw oude engrammen [50]), passes away at age 70.

September[]

  • September 5: Carlos Leopardi, Argentine comics artist (Atila, worked on Nippur de Lagash), dies at age 57. [51]

November[]

  • November 2: Theo van Gogh, Dutch film director and comics writer (wrote comics in collaboration with Eric Schreurs[52]), is murdered at age 47. [53]
  • November 6: Lars Hillersberg, Swedish caricaturist and comics artist, dies at age 67. [54]
  • November 12: Harry Hargreaves, British comics artist, illustrator and animator (Hayseeds, assisted on Pansy Potter and Panda, the bird in Punch), dies at age 82. [55]
  • November 13: Harry Lampert, American comics artist (co-creator of The Flash), dies at age 88. [56]
  • November 25: Bob Haney, American comics writer (DC Comics, co-creator of the Teen Titans), dies at c. age 78.
  • November 29: Irwin Donenfeld, American comics executive ( National Periodicals (DC Comics)), dies at age 78.

December[]

  • December 3: Hans Nordenström, aka Brul, Swedish cartoonist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 77. [57]
  • December 22: Loek van Delden, Dutch comics artist (Smidje Verholen, Brigadier Piet), passes away at age 86. [58]
  • December 22: Ben van Voorn, Dutch comics artist and animator (worked for Marten Toonder), dies at age 67. [59]
  • December 26: Pierre Dupuis, French comics artist (Les Grands Capitaines, La Seconde Guerre Mondiale, worked on L'oncle Paul series, continued Mam'zelle Minouche), dies at age 75. [60]

Specific date unknown[]

  • Dimitris Antonopoulos, Greek architect, painter, illustrator and comics artist (Ta Koróida oi Archaíoi, aka The Ancient Losers), passes away at age 71 or 72. [61]
  • Lucien Meys, Belgian comics artist (Le Beau Pays d'Onironie, Chroniques de l'Heureux Zélu) and comics writer (Signor Spaghetti, Modeste et Pompon, Mongwy), dies at age 67 or 68. [62]

Exhibitions[]

  • September 15–December 10: "Gillray's Legacy," curated by Lucy Shelton Caswell (8th Festival of Cartoon Art, Philip Sills Gallery, William Oxley Thompson Library, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio)[63]

Conventions[]

First issues by title[]

DC Comics[]

JSA Strange Adventures
Release: October.

Marvel Comics[]

Guardians
Release: July 14. Writer: Marc Sumerak. Artist: Casey Jones.
Loki
Release: July 7. Writer: Robert Rodi. Artist: Esad Ribić.
Man-Thing
Release: July 21. Writer: Hans Rodionoff. Artist: Kyle Hotz.
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Avengers 2004
Release: July 7. Cover by: Salvador Larroca.
Starjammers
Release: July 7.Writer: Kevin J. Anderson. Artist: Francisco Ruiz Velasco.
Witches
Release: June. Writer: Brian Walsh. Artist: Will Conrad.

Other publishers[]

Capitão Brasil
Osiedle Swoboda
Release: June by Niezależna Prasa. Writer & Artist: Michał Śledziński

Initial appearances by character name[]

Years in comics
Speech balloon.svg
19th Century
1900s
1900 · 1901 · 1902 · 1903 · 1904
1905 · 1906 · 1907 · 1908 · 1909
1910s
1910 · 1911 · 1912 · 1913 · 1914
1915 · 1916 · 1917 · 1918 · 1919
1920s
1920 · 1921 · 1922 · 1923 · 1924
1925 · 1926 · 1927 · 1928 · 1929
1930s
1930 · 1931 · 1932 · 1933 · 1934
1935 · 1936 · 1937 · 1938 · 1939
1940s
1940 · 1941 · 1942 · 1943 · 1944
1945 · 1946 · 1947 · 1948 · 1949
1950s
1950 · 1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954
1955 · 1956 · 1957 · 1958 · 1959
1960s
1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964
1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969
1970s
1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974
1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979
1980s
1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984
1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989
1990s
1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994
1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999
2000s
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004
2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
2010s
2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
2020s
2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024
2025 · 2026 · 2027 · 2028 · 2029

Footnotes[]

  1. Hoffman, Eric; Grace, Dominick (18 March 2013). Dave Sim: Conversations. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN 9781617037818. https://books.google.com/books?id=IeoDB7jx4wEC&pg=PR22&lpg=PR22&dq=cerebus+the+aardvark+end+march+2004#v=onepage&q=cerebus+the+aardvark+end+march+2004&f=false. Retrieved 7 April 2018. 
  2. (in French) Beleidsplan van het Nederlands Stripmuseum Archived 2014-03-18 at the Wayback Machine., Nederlands Stripmuseum. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  3. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/leroux_f.htm
  4. Mertes, Micah (October 14, 2008). "Rest up now to take part in 24 Hour Comics Day Saturday". Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska). Archived from the original on September 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180923235257/https://journalstar.com/lifestyles/article_d9b6ed01-b9c1-56f3-83a0-9f174684d504.html. Retrieved August 16, 2012. 
  5. Frank O. King. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  6. Joost Swarte. Retrieved on September 19, 2020.
  7. Inmemoriam. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  8. Willy Linthout. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  9. The History of Lambiek (2003-2005).
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Profile: Enzo Baldoni". BBC News. 2004-08-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3604820.stm. Retrieved 2012-09-06. 
  11. Adformatie, Redactie (Sep 29, 2004). Retera wint Stripschapprijs. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  12. WE HAVE A WINNER!. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  13. https://www.stripschap.nl/pages/stripschapprijzen/p.-hans-frankfurtherprijs/complete-lijst.php
  14. Makers stripbladen geëerd met prijzen. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  15. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/skarzynski_jerzy.htm
  16. Eddy Ryssack. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  17. George Woodbridge. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  18. Giorgio Cambiotti. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  19. Josep Maria Madorell. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  20. James Simpkins. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  21. Fiep Westendorp. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  22. Norman Thelwell. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  23. Jean-Marc Lelong. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  24. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/c/chartier_albert.htm
  25. Mario Uggeri. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  26. Ladislaus Elischer. Retrieved on September 14, 2020.
  27. Doug Tainsh. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  28. Gébé. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  29. Chester Commodore. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  30. Irv Novick. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  31. Pepe Huinca. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  32. Mitsuteru Yokoyama dies. Anime News Network (2004-04-15). Retrieved on 2012-12-10.
  33. Mitsuteru Yokoyama. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  34. Jørgen Mogensen. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  35. Henry Kiefer. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  36. Sydney Hoff. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  37. Jack Bradbury. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  38. Gill Fox. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  39. Sool Sbiera. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  40. Karel Biddeloo. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  41. Todor Dinov. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  42. Heinz Rammelt. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  43. John Cullen Murphy. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  44. Chlodwig Poth. Retrieved on September 14, 2020.
  45. Joe Buresch. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  46. Oğuz Aral. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  47. Mario Capaldi. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  48. François Craenhals. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  49. George Breisacher. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  50. Eveline van Dijk. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  51. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/leopardi_carlos.htm
  52. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/scheurs.htm
  53. "Controversial filmmaker shot dead". The Independent (London). 2 November 2004. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/controversial-filmmaker-shot-dead-18345.html. Retrieved 29 April 2010. 
  54. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/hillersberg_lars.htm
  55. Harry Hargreaves. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  56. Harry Lampert. Retrieved on 7 April 2018.
  57. Brul. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  58. Loek van Delden. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  59. Ben van Voorn. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  60. Pierre Dupuis. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  61. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/antonopoulos_dimitris.htm
  62. Lucien Meys. Retrieved on May 11, 2020.
  63. McCreery, Cindy. "A Genius on the Edge: James Gillray and Caricature in Late Georgian Britain" (Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library, 2004).
  64. 64.0 64.1 64.2 Press release. "Wizard Announces Successful Debut for Wizard World Los Angeles," Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. website (2004). Accessed Jan. 30, 2016.
  65. O'Driscoll, Bill. "Angel With A Dirty Face," Pittsburgh City Paper (28 April 2004), p. 32.
  66. "Comicon Coming," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (8 April 2004), p. D-3.
  67. Breithaupt, Christy L. "Pow! Comic Con drops into Novi," Detroit News (May 14, 2004), p. E1.
Advertisement