2004 in comics

Comics related events during 2004

Notable events of 2004 in comics.

The Canadian publisher Arcana Studio is founded.

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 14: In an episode of Cathy, Irving proposes to the titular character. February 20: Erik Larsen becomes the new publisher of Image Comics, replacing Jim Valentino, who stepped down.

March 10: After 27 years of continuous publication Dave Sim's Cerebus the Aardvark ends 300 issue run.

April 21: Top Cow Productions launches its new property, Proximity Effect, with the first of two free online issues (at Best Indoor Signs Houston, TX | Interior Signs Retail, ADA, & More); the second issue was to premiere on May 26. A 96 page trade paperback collecting the series, with additional anthology stories and a new cover by Marc Silvestri, would be released June 30. April 21: In Groningen, the Netherlands, the Dutch Comics Museum (Nederlands Stripmuseum) opens its doors. It will exist until 2019. April 24: Nat Gertler and About Comics organize the first annual 24 Hour Comics Day, after a 1990 initiative by Scott McCloud. On this day, comics creators around the world are invited to spend the day making a 24 hour comic. Many comic book stores support this event by setting up space for participating artists to work on their comic. It attracts many writers and artists, working both in print and web media. April 26: Cartoonist Jim Scancarelli has the character Phyllis Wallet, wife of Walt, pass away in Gasoline Alley. April 30: Dutch comics artist and illustrator Joost Swarte is knighted in the Order of Orange Nassau.

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. 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.

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. ( 
Daniel Clowes' The Death Ray is prepublished in Eightball.

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.

September 29: Mark Retera wins the Stripschapprijs. 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.

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. Nico van Dam, Bert Bus en Harry Balm receive the Bulletje en Boonestaakschaal.

November 30: Artist Michael Ryan (New X Men: Academy X, Mystique) signs an exclusive 3 year contract with Marvel Comics.

December 1: Colorist Frankie D'Armata (Ultimate Nightmare, The New Avengers, Captain America) signs an exclusive 3 year contract with Marvel Comics. December 2: Artist Michael Lark (Gotham Central) and colorist Morry Hollowell (Ultimate Secret, Marvel Knights 4, Meridian) sign exclusive contracts with Marvel Comics. December 3: Artist Mark Brooks (Amazing Fantasy, Marvel Age Spider Man) signs a 3 year exclusive contract with Marvel Comics.

French comic artist Jean Graton is honored as a Commandeur in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Gary Panter releases the graphic novel Jimbo in Purgatory.

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), dies from cancer at age 60. June 17: Todor Dinov, Bulgarian animator and comics artist (Malkoto Anche), dies at age 84. June 24: Heinz Rammelt, German comics artist (Der Insel der Ferianer, Chi Chi), dies at age 92.

July 2: John Cullen Murphy, American comics artist (Big Ben Bolt, worked on Prince Valiant), dies at age 85. July 8: Chlodwig Poth, German comics artist (Amadeus Knüll), dies at age 74. July 25: Joe Buresch, American comics artist (Dinah Mite), dies at age 87. July 26: Oğuz Aral, Turkish comics artist (Hafiyesi Mahmut, Hayk Mammer, Utanmaz Adam, Avanak Avni), dies at age 68. July 28: Eugenio Zoppi, Argentine comics artist (Alain y Crazy, Misterix), dies at age 81. Specific date in July unknown: Mario Capaldi, British comics artist and illustrator, dies at age 69.

August 2: François Craenhals, Belgian comics artist (Pom et Teddy, Primus et Musette, Les 4 As, Le Chevalier Ardent), dies at age 77. August 11: George Breisacher, American comics artist (Knobs, continued Mutt and Jeff), dies at age 64. 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. ), dies at age 70.

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

November 2: Theo van Gogh, Dutch film director and comics writer (wrote comics in collaboration with Eric Schreurs), is murdered at age 47. November 6: Lars Hillersberg, Swedish caricaturist and comics artist, dies at age 67. November 7: Mariel Dauphin, French comic artist (made comic adaptations of literary works), dies at age 96. November 9: Hans Nordenström, A. K. A. Brul, Swedish architect, cartoonist, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 77. 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. November 13: Harry Lampert, American comics artist (co creator of The Flash), dies at age 88. 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 22: Loek van Delden, Dutch comics artist (Smidje Verholen, Brigadier Piet), dies at age 86. December 22: Ben van Voorn, Dutch comics artist and animator (worked for Marten Toonder), dies at age 67. 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.

Dimitris Antonopoulos, Greek architect, painter, illustrator and comics artist (Ta Koróida oi Archaíoi, aka The Ancient Losers), dies at age 71 or 72. Wim Hanssen, Dutch comic artist (comic adaptations of De Molenaar and 1984), dies at age 45. 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. Mehmet Tunali, Turkish painter and comic artist (Alparslan, Amsterdam Underwater), dies at age 48 or 49.