Notable events of 2015 in comics. It includes any relevant comics-related events, deaths of notable comics-related people, conventions and first issues by title. For an overview of the year in Japanese comics, see 2015 in manga.
Eventsedit
Januaryedit
January 7: Charlie Hebdo shooting: In Paris, terrorists invade the office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and murder 12 people, injuring 11. They acted out of constant ridicule of the Prophet Muhammad in the magazine's pages. Among the cartoonists murdered that morning are Cabu, Charb, Philippe Honoré, Tignous and Georges Wolinski. The tragedy brings about a huge rally of national unity under the name Je suis Charlie. Two days later, the assassins are shot by the police.
Ken Bald makes the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest active comics artist in the world. He will break this record again on 8 May 2017.[4]
March 7–8: During the Stripdagen in Gorinchem, Marcel Ruijters wins the Stripschapprijs.[5][6] The Dutch comics magazine Tina wins the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs.[7] Thom Roep wins the Bulletje en Boonestaakschaal.[8]
Apriledit
April 1: Taylor Robins' webcomic Never Satisfied makes its debut.
June 9: Hergé's estate Moulinsart loses the court case against a Dutch Tintin fanclub, Hergé Society, because the court rules that the rights to the character are not theirs, but belong to Casterman.[13]
November 13: In Paris terrorist attacks take place at the Bataclan concert hall. One of the people to witness this tragic events at the theater is cartoonist Fred Dewilde, who will adapt the experience into the graphic novel Mon Bataclan one year later.[21]
Dutch illustrator Cor Blok releases his graphic novel The Iron Parachute at age 82, making him the second oldest man at that time to ever debut as a comics author.[23]
Anton Martin of the design agency Power & Glory releases a comic strip based on the lyrics of the song Badaboum by Hooverphonic. [24]
Ulli Bürer, Dutch comics artist and illustrator (Six Inch Stiletto's), dies at age 49.[34]
José Luis Moro, Spanish animator and comics artist (Hazañas del ratoncito Lepi, Roechapas, El Abuelo Jonás, Tip y Top), dies at age 88.[35]
January 20: Peter Pontiac, Dutch underground comics artist, illustrator and letterer (The Amsterdam Connection, Kraut), dies from liver disease at age 63.[36][37]
February 3: Géri, Belgian comics artist (Skblllz, Mr. Magellan), dies at age 80.[39]
February 4: Roland Garel, French comics artist (Galax, Les 4 As, Jack et Minuit, Chère Pauline, Les Pionniers de l'Impossible), dies at age 84 or 85.[40]
February 4: Dick Millington, British comics artist (Mighty Moth, I Don't Believe It) and writer (The Telegoons, Barney Bear), dies at age 81.[41]
February 6: Jacques Kamb, French comics writer (Teddy Ted) and artist (Le Mousquetaire Pardaran, Zor et Mlouf, Couik, Zup, Dicentim), dies at age 81.[42]
February 7: Ugurcan Yüce, Turkish painter, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 68.[43]
February 9: Lucia Steinbach, Dutch illustrator and comic artist (Tim Toeter Bij De Muziek), dies at age 92. [44]
February 20: Gérard Calvi, French composer (composed music for the Astérix animated feature films), dies at age 92.[48]
Marchedit
March 7: Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Japanese manga artist (Black Blizzard), credited with starting the gekiga style of alternative comics in Japan, dies from lung cancer at age 79.[49][50]
March 8: Göte Göransson, Swedish comics artist (Texas Jim, Tiger Lasse, comics based on Biggles), dies at age 94.[51]
March 29: Jim Whiting, American comic artist (Ad Libs, 'Vincent the Magician, continued Li'l Ones), dies at age 88. [58]
March 30: Roger Slifer, American comics writer (The Omega Men and co-creator of Lobo), dies at age 60 from the effects of a 2012 hit-and-run accident.[59]
Apriledit
April 1: Cynthia Powell, AKA Cynthia Lennon, British graphic artist and painter (made comic-like drawings for her autobiographical book A Twist of Lennon), dies at age 75. [60]
May 17: Robert Bressy, French comics artist (worked for Opera Mundi, Independent Associated Agency and made Disney comics), dies at age 90.[69]
May 30: Michele Wrightson (née Robinson), American underground cartoonist and superhero comic colorist, as well as the former wife of both Roger Brand and Bernie Wrightson, dies at age 73.[70]
Juneedit
June 19: Earl Norem, American magazine and comics illustrator known for his painted covers for Marvel Comics, dies at age 92.[71]
June 25: Fred Marcus, Dutch comics artist and illustrator (Het G.P.-mannetje, Joris en Jopie, Uit Het Barre Leven van Barend Buskruit, Bengeltje), dies at age 91 or 92.[72]
September 26: Liliane Funcken, Belgian comics artist and writer (Le Chevalier Blanc, Harald le Viking, Jack Diamond, Lieutenant Burton, Capitan and Doc Silver), dies at 88.[90]
October 9: Tony Rafty, Australian caricaturist and comics artist (Jimmy Rodney of the Secret Service), dies at age 99, just a few days before his 100th birthday.[93]
October 9: Zdravko Zupan, Serbian comics artist (Tom & Jerry comics, Disney comics) and comics journalist (founder of the fanzine Cepelin), dies at age 65.[94]
November 8: Félix Arburola Bustos, Costa Rican comics artist and children's book illustrator (Tricolín), dies at age 77 or 78 from lymphatic cancer.[98]
November 16: Ingvar Persson, Swedish comics artist (Frid och Fröjd, continued Agust och Lotta), dies at age 85.[99]
November 17: Henri Arnold, American comics artist (Bibs 'n' Tucker, This Man's Army, Meet Mr. Luckey), dies at age 91.[100]
November 28: Rosa Galcerán Vilanova, Spanish comics artist (Katy), editor and publisher (founder of the magazine Azucena), dies at age 98.[101]
^"Anton Marin". Lambiek.net. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
^"Jeannette Bougrab says she always knew Charlie Hebdo editor partner would be assassinated". News. January 10, 2015. Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
^"Fearless: Murdered French cartoonists welcomed controversy". Fox News Channel. January 7, 2015. Archived from the original on January 10, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
^"Georges Wolinski". lambiek.net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^"Ulli Bürer". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
^"Striptekenaar Peter Pontiac overleden". www.NOS.nl (in Dutch). January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
^"Peter Pontiac". lambiek.net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^"Iconic cartoonist R K Laxman passes away in Pune after a prolonged illness at the age of 94". India Today. January 26, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
^"Jim Berry". lambiek.net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^"Thomas Freeman Koch's Obituary on Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^"Jim Whiting". lambiek.net. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
^Arrant, Chris (March 30, 2015). "Lobo Co-Creator Roger Slifer Passes Away". Newsarama. Archived from the original on April 1, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
^"Cynthia Powell". lambiek.net. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
^"Cliff Voorhees". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
^"Jordi Macabich". lambiek.net. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
^Johnston, Rich (April 14, 2015). "Herb Trimpe Passes Away, Aged 75". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
^"Herb Trimpe". lambiek.net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^"Koo Kojima". lambiek.net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^"Marcel Steurbaut". Lambiek.net. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
^"Sixto Valencia Burgos". Lambiek.net. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
^"John Dixon". lambiek.net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^"Robert Bressy". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
^Alverson, Brigid. "Comics A.M. | Artist Michele Wrightson passes away," Comic Book Resources (June 2, 2015).
^Magrath, Shawn (August 12, 2015). "A mourning community says goodbye to its 'Better Half'". The Evening Sun. Norwich, New York: Snyder Communications.
^"Emmanuel Ratier". Lambiek.net. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
^Slotnik, Daniel E. (September 8, 2015). "Brad Anderson, Creator of 'Marmaduke,' Dies at 91". The New York Times. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
^"Brad Anderson". lambiek.net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^"The Pizz". lambiek.net. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
^Van Deusen, Tom. "Dennis P. Eichhorn, 1945–2015," The Comics Journal (October 13, 2015).
^"Dennis P. Eichhorn". lambiek.net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^"Tony Rafty". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
^"Zdravko Zupan". lambiek.net. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
^"Vince Musacchia". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
^Schelly, Bill (October 27, 2015). "Murphy Anderson, 1926 – 2015". The Comics Journal. Archived from the original on October 28, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
^"Murphy Anderson". lambiek.net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^"Félix Arburola Bustos". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
^"Ingvar Persson". lambiek.net. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
^"Henri Arnold". lambiek.net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
^"Rosa Galceran Vilanova". lambiek.net. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
^"The Life and Death of Shigeru Mizuki, 1922-2015 | The Comics Journal". www.tcj.com. December 9, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
^"Shigeru Mizuki". lambiek.net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.