2015 in comics

Events

March 4: American Gothic Press is founded.

Deaths

January 7: Charlie Hebdo shooting:

Charb (Stéphane Charbonnier), editor-in-chief, killed at age 47.

Cabu (Jean Cabut), long-time staff cartoonist, killed at age 76.

Philippe Honoré, long-time staff cartoonist, killed at age 73.

Tignous (Bernard Verlhac), long-time staff cartoonist, killed at age 57.

Georges Wolinski, long-time staff cartoonist, killed at age 80.

January 20: Peter Pontiac, Dutch cartoonist and letterer, dies at age 63 after a lengthy battle with liver disease

January 26: R. K. Laxman, creator of The Common Man, dies at age 93.

February 16: Brett Ewins, British comic book artist, dies at age 59

March 7: Yoshihiro Tatsumi, credited with starting the gekiga style of alternative comics in Japan, dies from lung cancer at age 79.

March 13: Irwin Hasen, creator of Dondi, dies at age 96

March 30: Roger Slifer, writer of The Omega Men and co-creator of Lobo, dies at age 60 from the effects of a 2012 hit-and-run accident.

April 13: Herb Trimpe, the seminal 1970s artist on The Incredible Hulk, dies at age 75.

June 19: Earl Norem, magazine and comics illustrator known for his painted covers, dies at age 89.

July 16: Alan Kupperberg, newspaper and comic strip writer/artist, dies of thymus cancer at age 62.

July 20: Tom Moore, long-time artist for Archie, dies at age 86.

August 11: Randy Glasbergen, nationally syndicated cartoonist, dies from cardiac arrest at age 58.

August 30: Brad Anderson, creator of the comic strip Marmaduke, dies at age 91.

October 8: Dennis Eichhorn, comics writer/editor and creator of Real Stuff, dies of pneumonia at age 70.

October 22: Murphy Anderson, long-time inker in the comics industry, dies at age 89.

November 30: Shigeru Mizuki. creator of GeGeGe no Kitarō, dies at age 93.

Exhibitions

May 14 – September 21: The Type Directors Club (New York City) — "The Super Type of Ira Schnapp", curated by Arlen Schumer

Conventions

January 29–31: Salt Lake Comic Con FanXperience (Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, Utah) — guests include Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Billie Piper, Carrie Fisher, Christopher Lloyd, Felicia Day, Tom Felton, Steven Yeun, Emily Kinney, Laurie Holden, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Brandon Routh, Ray Park, Paul Wesley, Phoebe Tonkin, Nichelle Nichols, Anthony Michael Hall, Mark Pellegrino, Alaina Huffman, Ralph Macchio, Glenn Morshower, RJ Mitte, Jim Cummings, Jess Harnell, Rob Paulsen and over 100 other guests

January 29 – February 1: Angoulême International Comics Festival (Angoulême, France)

March 7: New York Comic Book Marketplace (Hotel New Yorker, New York City) — guests include Jason David Frank, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Rich Buckler, Bill Plympton, Bob Camp, and Johnny Brennan

March 7–8: STAPLE! (Marchesa Hall and Theater, Austin, Texas)

March 27–29: Emerald City Comicon (Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, Washington)

March 28: Towson Black Comic Mini-Fest (Towson University Liberal Arts Building, Towson, Maryland)

April 3–5: WonderCon (Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California)

April 10–12: MegaCon (Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida)

April 11–12: MoCCA Arts Festival (Center 548, New York City) — guests of honor: Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Scott McCloud, Raina Telgemeier, and J. H. Williams III

April 11–12: East Coast Comicon (Meadowlands Exposition Center, Meadowlands, New Jersey)

April 24–26: C2E2 (McCormick Place Complex, Chicago, Illinois)

May 9–10: Toronto Comic Arts Festival (Toronto Reference Library, Toronto, Canada) — featured guests include Lucy Knisley, Matt Holm, Scott McCloud, Jennifer Holm, Ed Luce, and Hunt Emerson

May 15–17: Motor City Comic Con (Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi, Michigan)

May 16: East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (Enterprise Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

May 22–24: St. Louis Comicon (America's Center, St Louis, Missouri)

May 28–31: Phoenix Comicon (Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona) — guests include Summer Glau, Jason Momoa, Paul Cornell, Mike Zeck, Edward James Olmos, Charisma Carpenter, Renee Witterstaetter, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jim Beaver, William Tucci, Scott Sigler, Lou Ferrigno, Weston Ochse, Yvonne Navarro, Van Jensen, Michael Shanks, Alexis Denisof, Alyson Hannigan among others.

May 29–31: Dallas Comic Con (Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, Texas) — guests include Stan Lee, Amanda Conner, Alex Maleev, Esad Ribić, Kaare Andrews, Greg Pak, Steve Epting, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Bob Layton

June 6–7: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo [CAKE] (The Center on Halstead, Chicago, Illinois) — special guests: Eleanor Davis, Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez, Keiler Roberts, Zak Sally, Dash Shaw, Jillian Tamaki, and Lale Westvind

June 19–21: Heroes Convention (Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, North Carolina)

July 9–12: San Diego Comic-Con International (San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California)

July 18–19: Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (Northland Performing Arts Center, Columbus, Ohio)

August 20–23: Wizard World Chicago (Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Illinois)

September 4–7: Dragon*Con (Atlanta, Georgia)

September 18–20: Wizard World Ohio Comic Con (Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio)

September 19–20: Small Press Expo (Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, North Bethesda, Maryland)

September 25–27: Baltimore Comic-Con (Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland)

October 1–3: Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) (Columbus, Ohio) — featured guests include Jeff Smith, Kate Beaton, Art Spiegelman, Craig Thompson, Bill Griffith, Francoise Mouly, and animation historian Jerry Beck

October 8–11: New York Comic Con (Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City)

October 17–18: Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (Lesley’s University Hall, Porter Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts)

October 31 – November 2: Comikaze Expo (Los Angeles Convention Center) — scheduled guests include Stan Lee, Elvira, Kevin Smith, Kevin Conroy, Burt Ward, Gwendoline Christie, Alfie Allen, Stephen Moyer, Kristin Bauer, Barbara Eden, Mindy Sterling, John Barrowman, Jewel Staite, Tara Strong, Howie Mandel, James Hong, Eric Roberts, Original Power Rangers (David Yost and Walter Emanuel Jones), Cast of AMC's Comic Book Men (Bryan Johnson, Mike Zapcic, Ming Chen, Robert Bruce), and Tommy Wiseau

November 6–8: Rhode Island Comic Con (Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island)

November 7–8: CAB/Comics Art Brooklyn (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church & Wythe Hotel, Brooklyn, New York)

December 5–6: NY Winter Comic & Sci-Fi Expo (Resort World Casino, Jamaica, New York)

First issues by title

Accelerators: Momentum

Release: May 20 by Blue Juice Comics. Writer: R. F. I. Porto Artist: Gavin Smith

Arcadia

Release: May 6 by Boom! Studios. Writer: Alex Paknadel Artist: Eric Scott Pfeiffer

Archie vs. Predator

Release: March 25 by Archie Comics with Dark Horse Comics. Writer: Alex de Campi Artist: Fernando Ruiz

Convergence

Release: April 1 by DC Comics. Writer: Jeff F. King Artists: Ethan Van Sciver, Jason Paz, and Carlo Pagulayan

The Grievous Journey of Ichabod Azrael (and the Dead Left in His Wake)

Release: February 25 by Rebellion Developments/2000AD. Writer: Rob Williams Artist: Dom Reardon

Harrow County

Release: May by Dark Horse. Writer: Cullen Bunn Artist: Tyler Crook

Hellbreak

Release: by Oni Press. Writer: Cullen Bunn Artist: Brian Churilla

Invisible Republic

Release: March 18 by Image Comics. Writers: Corrina Bechko & Gabriel Hardman Artist: Gabriel Hardman

James Bond 007

Release: November by Dynamite Entertainment. Writer: Warren Ellis Artist: Jason Masters

King Tiger

Release: August 12 by Dark Horse Comics. Writer: Randy Stradley Artist: Doug Wheatley

Metal Locus

Release: April 22 by Cosmic Times. Writer: Stephan Nilson Artist: Larry Watts

Pastaways

Release: March 25 by Dark Horse Comics. Writer: Matt Kindt Artist: Scott Kolins

Pisces

Release: April 29 by Image Comics. Writer: Kurtis J. Wiebe Artist: Johnnie Christmas

Postal

Release: February 4 by Top Cow. Writer: Matt Hawkins Artist: Bryan Hill

Resident Alien: The Sam Hain Mystery

Release: April by Dark Horse. Writer: Peter Hogan Artist: Steve Parkhouse

Reyn

Release: January 21 by Image Comics. Writer: Kel Symons Artist: Nathan Stockman

Secret Wars

Release: May 6 by Marvel Comics. Writer: Jonathan Hickman and Artist: Esad Ribic

Star Wars

Release: January 14 by Marvel Comics. Writer: Jason Aaron and Artist: John Cassaday

Surface Tension

Release: May 27 by Titan Comics. Writer and Artist: Jay Gunn

Tokyo Ghost

Release: September 16 by Image Comics. Writer: Rick Remender Artist: Sean Murphy

The Violent

Release: December by Image Comics. Writer: Ed Brisson Artist: Adam Gorham