Notable events of 2012 in comics. It includes any relevant comics-related events, deaths of notable comics-related people, conventions and first issues by title.
Eventsedit
Januaryedit
January 2: The first episode of Norm Feuti's Gil is published.[1]
January 8: The long-running gag comic Ferd'nand publishes its final episode.
January 17: Siegfried Woldhek wins the Inktspotprijs for Best Political Cartoon. [2]
March 10–11: During the Stripdagen in HaarlemEric Heuvel is awarded the Stripschapprijs, while Ron Poland, known for the distribution company Strips In Voorraad, wins the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs.[4] Patty Klein wins the Bulletje en Boonestaak Schaal.[5]
December 3: The long-running British comics magazine The Dandy publishes its final issue in print. It continues as an online comic the same day, but within six months it ends there too.[20]
March 3–4: STAPLE! (Marchesa Hall and Theater, Austin, Texas) — special guests: Kevin Eastman, Jason Neulander, Brian Hurtt, Cullen Bunn, Monica Gallagher, Liz Prince, Kagan McLeod, and MariNaomi
March 10–11: Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Event (Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
May 12–13: Comic Expo (Passenger Shed of Brunel Old Station, Bristol, UK) — guests include Paul Cornell, Ian Churchill, and Mark Buckingham; guest of honor Dennis O'Neil unable to attend. The show attracts only 300 attendees, with many exhibitors reporting losses; there is speculation the show might not survive.[26]
October 11–14: New York Comic Con (Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City, US) —116,000 attendees; notable guests include Clark Gregg, Adam West
October 13–14: Alternative Press Expo (Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco, California, US)
February 13: Francesco Gamba, Italian comics artist (continued Yorga, Pecos Bill, Zagor, Tex Willer, Terry, Yado, Il Piccolo Ranger), dies at age 85.[41]
May 25: Bert Witte, Dutch comic artist (Bas Toverball, Speez, also drew the celebrity comic based on the TV show Oppassen!), dies at age 68 or 69. [60]
May 26: Jim Unger, British-Canadian comics artist and cartoonist (Herman), dies at age 75.[61]
Juneedit
June 5: Ray Bradbury, American novelist and screenwriter, whose stories were frequently adapted into comic book stories by EC Comics with his permission, dies at age 91.[62]
June 6: Jean-René Le Moing, French comics artist and advertising illustrator (Malabar chewing gum comics, continued L'Oncle Paul), dies at age 73.[63]
June 20: LeRoy Neiman, American illustrator and comics artist (Playboy, designed the Femlin characters), dies at age 91.[65]
June 21: Otto Schwalge, German comics artist (Oskar, der freundliche Polizist), dies at age 91.[66]
June 24: Iwan Lemaire, aka Yvan Lemaire, Belgian comics artist, animator, photographer and painter, dies at age 78.[67]
Julyedit
July 6: Bart van Erkel, Dutch illustrator, designer and comics artist (De Kat in Katendrecht), dies at age 63.[68]
July 12: Kenneth Landau, American animator and comic artist (Lucky, worked on the Dragnet newspaper comic, drew horror and romance comics for Lev Gleason and the American Comics Group, drew Hanna-Barbera comics), dies at age 86. [69]
July 24:
R.A. Kosasih, Indonesian comics artist (Sri Asih, Siti Gahara, Sri Dewi), dies at age 93.[70]
Themo Lobos, Chilean comics writer and artist (Máximo Chambónez, Ferrilo, Nick Obre, Alaraco, Mampato), dies at age 83.[71]
July 29: Guus Kool, Dutch comics artist (Mannus, Drs. Katz), dies at age 71.[72]
November 2: Gösta Gummesson, Swedish comics artist (Åsa-Nisse), dies at age 84.[80]
November 13:Ray Zone, American film historian, author and illustrator, best known for making 3-D versions of comics, dies at age 65 from a heart attack.[81]
November 16: Mario Fantoni, Italian comics artist, dies at age 86.[82]
November 20: Arnoldo Franchoni, aka Francho, Argentine comics artist (Cándido, Album De Familia, Camotito, Historias De Cinco Guitas, Los Tres Malditos, made comics for Cracked and Mad) dies at age 83 or 84.[83]
November 28: Spain Rodriguez, American underground comics artist (Trashman), dies at age 72 from cancer.[84]
November 29: Franco Urru, Italian comics artist, dies at age 53.[85]
^"Gil, A New Strip by Norm Feuti, Debuts Nationwide". Comics Beat. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
^"Siegfried Woldhek wint Inktspotprijs voor beste politieke tekening". 17 January 2012.
^Cho, Frank (February 5, 2012). "Apes and Babes forum". Apes and Babes. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
^De Stripdagen 2012 programmaboek Stripschap (in Dutch)
^Bekendmaking van de P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs 2012 Stripdagen (in Dutch)
^Gardner, Alan. "Nicole Hollander Retires Sylvia After 33 Years" The Daily Cartoonist (March 28, 2012).
^Jefferson Graham (July 15, 2012). "Talking Your Tech: Stan Lee launches YouTube channel". USA Today. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
^"Phoebe and Her Unicorn". GoComics. Universal Uclick. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
^Carlo Scaringi (April 15, 2013). "Rosco e Sonny, due simpatici poliziotti". Af News. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
^Luca Crovi (2002). Tutti i colori del giallo. Marsilio, 2002. ISBN 978-8831779135.
^Zitz, Michael (May 9, 2012). "'Crock' strip coming to its end". The Free Lance–Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
^"Matt Groening". lambiek.net. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
^Newman, Andrew Adam (November 29, 2012). "Change Comes to Playground Funny Papers". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
^Johnston, Rich (June 22, 2012). "Faust Chapter 14 For October, Chapter 15 For November". Bleeding Cool. Avatar Press. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
^"Dandy owner DC Thomson to end comic's printed edition", BBC News, 16 August 2012, retrieved 16 August 2012
^"Julia Gfrörer". lambiek.net. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
^"KARMA-CON: COMIC ARTISTS SPIN THE WHEEL OF LIFE! FRIDAY, 2.24.12 – SUNDAY, 3.18.12," Rubin Museum of Art official website. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
^"Exhibition - Frank Stack at 75". Missouri Life. Archived from the original on 2016-08-14. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
^"Asbury Park Comic Con Comes to New Jersey". Comic Book Resources. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
^Johnston, Rich. "Tim Pilcher Says Too Many Cons, Not Enough Pros," Bleeding Cool (May 14, 2012).
^Hammerstein, B J. "Artists, wrestlers and stars of yore," Detroit Free Press (17 May 2012), p. Z.24.
^Henrickson, Eric. "'Uhuru' beaming in for Comic Con," Detroit News (May 17, 2012).
^Peters, Monica. "Celebrating blacks' work with comics: Two-day convention in Philly," Philadelphia Inquirer (18 May 2012), p. W.28.
^Christoph, Ella."Let Them Eat C.A.K.E. Chicago Alternative Comics Expo puts the independents up front," New City Lit (JUNE 13, 2012).
^Berlatsky, Noah. "Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE), June 16-17, 2012," The Hooded Utilitarian (May 18, 2012).
^The Beat (2012-09-27). "This Weekend: Asbury Park Comic Con II". Comics Beat. The Beat. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
^Hopkins, David. "Mark Walters: Leader of the Geeks," Archived 2012-11-14 at the Wayback Machine D Magazine (Sept. 19, 2012)
^Dana Shukartsi On Alpha Girl From Image Bleeding Cool
^ abMarvel Announces New Adventures Line[permanent dead link], Multiversitycomics.com, January 24, 2012
^ abcdefKushins, Josh (January 12, 2012). "DC Comics in 2012-–-Introducing the "Second Wave" of DC Comics The New 52". The Source. DC Comics. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
^‘The New Deadwardians’: If vampires, zombies visited ‘Downton Abbey’ LA Times
^"Dark Horse Announces Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi".