1999 in comics

Events and publications

Rough Cut Comics founded

WildStorm founded the America's Best Comics imprint

Kitchen Sink Press collapses

January

DC Comics completes the takeover of WildStorm Productions.

March

The Incredible Hulk (1968 series) is canceled by Marvel with issue #474.

May

Anarky, vol. 2 - DC Comics

July

July 1: James Sanchez begins publishing the webcomic Bigtime Consulting.

July 16: Words & Pictures Museum of Fine Sequential Art closes its doors to the public, becoming the Virtual Words & Pictures Museum.

August

100 Bullets, by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso, debuts under the Vertigo imprint (cover date).

November

Strange Adventures vol. 2, #1 - Vertigo

February

February 3: Vin Sullivan, American comics editor, dies at age 87.

February 26: John L. Goldwater, American comics publisher, co-founder and long-time editor-of-chief of Archie Comics, dies at age 83.

March

March 8': Giovan Battista Carpi, Italian comics artist (Disney comics, Rolf Kauka comics), dies at age 71.

March 14: John Broome, American comic book writer (DC Comics), dies at age 85.

April

April 12: Ricardo Barreiro, Argentine comic book writer (Bárbara, El Eternauta), dies at age 49.

May

May 12: Saul Steinberg, Romanian-American cartoonist, dies at age 84.

May 30: Paul S. Newman, American comics writer (Turok), dies at age 75.

June

June 15: John Glashan, Scottish painter, illustrator, playwright and comics artist (Genius), dies at age 71.

August

August 8: Yolanda Vargas Dulché, Mexican comics writer (Memín Pinguín), died at age 73.

August 10: Henri Gillain, Belgian comics writer (Spirou et Fantasio, Tif et Tondu), passes away at the age of 85-86.

August 13: John Geering, British comics artist (Puss 'n' Boots, Smudge and Bananaman), dies at age 58.

August 30: Raymond Poïvet, French comics artist (Les Pionniers de l'Espérance), dies at age 89.

September

September 14: Joel Beck, American underground cartoonist (Lenny of Laredo, Marching Marvin, The Profit), dies from complications from alcoholism at age 56.

October

October 29: Greg, Belgian comics artist and writer (Achille Talon, Bernard Prince, Comanche, Bruno Brazil), dies at age 68.

December

December 15: Rune Andréasson, Swedish comics artist (Bamse), dies at age 74.

Conventions

February 27–28: Alternative Press Expo (San Jose, California)

March 5–7: MegaCon (Orlando, Florida)

April 2–4: Comics 99 (Watershed Media Center and Swallow Royal, Bristol, England, U.K.) — first iteration of Comic Festival; 2,500 attendees; presentation of the National Comics Awards; guests include Phil Winslade, Steve Pugh, Steve Dillon, Scott Dunbier, Peter Hogan, Grant Morrison, Charlie Adlard, Kev Sutherland, Glenn Fabry, Metaphrog, Al Davison, Dave Gibbons, Bryan Talbot, Shelly Roeberg, Kyle Baker, John McCrea, Rich Johnston, Gary Spencer Millidge, and Jamie Delano

April 16–18: WonderCon (Oakland Convention Center, Oakland, California)

April 23–25: Pittsburgh Comicon (Pittsburgh Expomart, Monroeville, Pennsylvania) — 7,500 attendees; guests include Martin Nodell, Alley Baggett, Lou Ferrigno, George Steele, and Steve Lieber

May 7–9: New York Comic and Fantasy Creators Convention (Madison Square Garden Expo Center, New York City)—300 exhibitors, including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Harris Comics, Crucial Comics, Visage Studios, and Wizard Entertainment; guests include Joe Simon and John Romita, Jr.

May 14–16: Motor City Comic Con I (Novi Expo Center, Novi, Michigan)

Summer: "Space CAPTION 99" (Oxford Union Society, Oxford, England) — guests include Bryan Talbot

June 18–20: Heroes Convention (Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, North Carolina)

July 1–4: Dragon Con (Hyatt Regency Atlanta/Atlanta Merchandise Mart/Atlanta Apparel Mart, Atlanta, Georgia)—19,000 attendees

July 9–11: Wizard World Chicago (Rosemont, Illinois)

August 13–16, Comic-Con International (San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California)—42,000 attendees; special guests include Tom Batiuk, Chuck Cuidera, Samuel R. Delany, Paul Dini, Arnold Drake, Neil Gaiman, Sam Glanzman, Larry Gonick, Irwin Hasen, Patrick McDonnell, Mike Mignola, Mark Mothersbaugh, Jerry Robinson, Art Spiegelman, Jim Steranko, Jill Thompson, Bruce Timm, and Barry Windsor-Smith

August 27–29: Fan Expo Canada (Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada)—9,620 attendees; guests include Jeri Ryan, Kevin Smith, Kenny Baker, Warwick Davis, Lou Ferrigno, Joe Quesada, Michael Turner, Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Yu, Keu Cha, and C.B. Cebulski

September 17–19: Small Press Expo (Holiday Inn Select, Bethesda, Maryland) — guests include Charles Burns, Eddie Campbell, Jeff Smith, Jason Lutes, and James Kochalka. Held in conjunction with SPX are the fifth annual International Comic Arts Festival (ICAF) and PACER, the Professional Association of Comics Entertainment Retailers

October 23–24: Motor City Comic Con II (Detroit, Michigan) — guests include David W. Mack, Tim Vigil, David Quinn, Vincent Locke, Jill Thompson, Guy Davis, Mark Waid, Devin Grayson, and William Messner-Loebs

November 12–14: National Comic Book, Comic Art, and Toy Show (New York City)

November 27–28: Mid-Ohio Con (Adam's Mark Hotel, Columbus, Ohio)

First issues by title

100 Bullets

Release: August by Vertigo. Writer: Brian Azzarello Artist:Eduardo Risso

E.V.E. Protomecha

Release: by Top Cow. Writers: Chris Lichtner and Aron Lusen Artist: Ale Garza

Exit

Release: by Albin Michel. Writer & Artist: Bernard Werber

The Mythology Class

Release: by Tala Comics Publishing. Writer & Artist: Arnold Arre

Strange Adventures

Release: November by Vertigo.

Vampire Girl

Release: by Shodensha. Writer & Artist: Fujiwara Kaoru