Notable events of 2018 in comics. It includes any relevant comics-related events, deaths of notable comics-related people, conventions and first issues by title.
February 13: A legal declaration on behalf of Stan Lee's attorney Tom Lallas accuses Lee's daughter, Joan Celia Lee, and attorneys Jerry Olivarez, Keya Morgan and Kirk Schenck of "continuing attempts to control Lee's life and exercise undue influence over his property, assets and business affairs."[2] In April, Lee is, however, filmed denying the accusations, yet confirming that he signed the statement, despite not being able to properly read it due to macular degeneration.[2]
February 16: Stan Lee's tour manager, Max Anderson, is removed by the police for aggressive behaviour towards Lee. The report is filed by Keya Morgan and denied by Anderson.[2]
February 18: Guy Gilchrist quits drawing Nancy after continuing the series for 22 years.[3]
Anne Guillard's comic book On A Chopé la Puberté in her Les Pipelettes series causes controversy on the accusation that it is sexist and confirms stereotypes about young women being lust objects. A petition is signed to remove it from shops. The publishing company agrees to not reprint it. Guillard writes an open letter the next month, effectively terminating her series there and then.[4]
March 31- April 1: During the Stripdagen in Utrecht[8]Peter van Dongen wins the Stripschapprijs.[9] Comics journalists Rob van Eijck, Willem van Helden and Joost Pollmann win the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs.[10][11] Peter Middeldorp receives the Bulletje en Boonestaakschaal.[12]
April 13: Stan Lee files a lawsuit against his former manager Jerardo Olivarez, alleging fraud, financial abuse of an elder and misappropriation of his name and likeness.[15]
May 15: Stan Lee sues POW! Entertainment for "manufacturing a fraudulent intellectual property agreement, which granted POW! the exclusive right to use Lee's name, identity, image and likeness on a worldwide basis in perpetuity".[2][15]
June 13: Stan Lee's former business manager Keya Morgan is arrested for filing a false report of an emergency and two counts of filing a false report of a crime, along with a probation violation. Two days later a restraining order is filed against him too. He denies the accusations.[18][19][15]
August 6: In Ghent, Belgium, cartoonist Mauro Padovani and his husband Thomas become victim of gay bashing. They have to be brought to a hospital. The culprits are later arrested.[22][23]
August 10: In an interview Stan Lee confirms that he made some bad decisions regarding his financial matters, but denies any bad relations with his daughter.[24]
August 29: In the British comic magazine The Beano the character Gnasher is announced to have disappeared, but in the next issue, printed on 5 September, it turns out to have been a publicity stunt for the animal welfare society Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. [25]
September 25: Dutch cartoonist Tjeerd Royaards wins the Inktspotprijs for Best Political Cartoon. [29][30][31]
September 28: French comics artist Bastien Vivès causes controversy with the graphic novel Petit Paul, about a ten-year-old boy who is stalked for his huge penis by adult women. A petition is signed to ban the book, which some stores effectively do.[32][33]
January 25: Torvald Sundbaum, Swedish comics artist (continued Buster Perk, worked for the Swedish edition of Mad Magazine, made a comics version of the radio series Osynliga Klubben), dies at age 89.[43]
February 1: Pat Tourret, British comic artist (Tiffany Jones), dies at age 88 or 89. [46]
February 2: Servais Tiago, Portuguese comics artist and animator, dies at age 92.[47]
February 22: Forges, Spanish film director, television director and cartoonist (Blasillo, La Foca Concha and Romerales), dies at age 76 from pancreatic cancer.[48][49]
February 25: Howard Sparber, American painter, sculptor and comics artist (Timmmy, Crax and Jax, The Byrd House, Trix of the Trade), dies at age 97.[50]
February 27:
William Gezzio, Uruguayan comics artist (Charoná, Campito, Humornautas), dies at age 73.[51]
Bill Lignante, American comics artist, courtroom sketch artist and animator (continued The Phantom), dies at age 91.[52]
March 1: Hans Räde, German graphic artist, painter and comics artist (Colli's wundersame Reise), dies at age 96.[53]
March 15: Robert Grossman, American painter, caricaturist, sculptor, filmmaker, poster designer, comics artist, cartoonist and animator (Zoonooz, Twump & Pooty, political-satirical comics for The New Yorker), dies at age 78.[54][55]
March 19: Murray Karn, Canadian comics artist (Thunderfist, Jeff Waring), dies at age 92 or 93.[56]
March 25: Fred Boatman, American cartoonist and graphic artist (made cartoons for CARtoons), dies at age 83.[57]
Specific date unknown: Gérald Gorridge, French comics artist (Histoire Sans Titre, Olycka, La Dame de Lettonie, Les Tristes Conséquences d'un Échec du Sire de Bougainville), dies at age 60.[59]
April 8: Gunnar Persson, Swedish comics artist (Gus, continued Kronblom, created the spin-off Ur Klackamo Dagbok), dies at age 85 after injuries from a fall.[60]
April 9: Phil Collins, Canadian comics artist (Leonardo), dies at age 86.[61]
Antonio Lupatelli aka Tony Wolf, Oda Taro, L'Alpino and Antony Moore, Italian illustrator, writer and comics artist (Ciccio Sprai, Robi e Robo, continued Hayawatha, Freddie Frog, Fun in Toyland, Little Sooty, Moony Moon, illustrated The Woodland Folk book series and the Pingu, Pandi and Teddy the Bear book adaptations), dies at age 88.[66]
May 27: Julio Ribera, aka Jules McSide, aka Bop, Spanish comics artist (Le Vagabond des Limbes (The Vagabond of Limbo), Le Grand Manque, Le Grand Scandale, Dracurella, Montserrat), dies at age 91.[69]
June 2: Nick Meglin, American comics writer, theatre lyricist, screenwriter and editor-in-chief (Mad Magazine, Superfan), dies from a heart attack at age 82.[70]
June 11: Rumen Petkov, Bulgarian animator and comics artist (Choko & Boko), dies at age 70.[71]
June 28: Harlan Ellison, American novelist; screenwriter and comics writer (EC Comics), dies at age 82.
August 5: John Blair Moore, American cartoonist and comics artist (Invaders From Home, Disney comics, Live Bait - The Chronicles of Drumf), dies at age 69 or 70.[80][81]
August 21: Vincino, Italian cartoonist and journalist, dies at age 73.[82]
September 6: Edouard Aidans, aka Jok, Joke, Delcroix and Hardan, Belgian comics artist (Bob Binn, Tounga, Marc Franval, Les Panthères, La Toile et la Dague, Tony Stark, continued Bernard Prince, Les Saintes Nitouches), dies at age 88.[88]
September 7:
Szarlota Pawel, Polish comic artist (Jonka, Jonek i Kleks, Kubus Piekielny), dies at age 70. [89]
Carlos Ceesepe, Spanish painter, illustrator and comics artist, dies at age 60 from leukemia.[90]
November 15: Mike Noble, British comics artist (The Twins Simon and Sally, worked on comics based on TV series, among them Fireball XL5), dies at age 88.[111]
November 15: Werner Wejp-Olsen, Danish-American comics artist (Peter og Perle, Felix, Inspector Danger's Crime Quiz, Granny and Slowpoke, The Tales of Hans Christian Andersen), dies at age 80.[112]
November 19: Larry Pickering, Australian cartoonist and caricaturist, dies at age 76.[113]
December 24: Grazia Nidasio, Italian comics artist (Valentina Mela Verde, Steffi), dies at age 87.[119]
December 27: Børge Ring, Danish animator, jazz musician and comics artist (Distel, Kobus en Kachelmans, Fleurtje, worked on Pelle Svanslös and Disney comics), dies at age 97.[120]
December 28: Paul Wheelahan, Australian comics artist (The Panther, Rex Strong, The Raven), dies at age 88. .[121]
