2015 in comics

This is a list of comics-related events in 2015. 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.

Events

• CM Punk's contribution to Thor Annual #1 will be revealed when it is released in February.^[1]

• March 4: American Gothic Press is founded.^[2]

Deaths

January

• January 7: Charlie Hebdo shooting:
  • Charb (Stéphane Charbonnier), editor-in-chief, killed at age 47.^[3]
  • Cabu (Jean Cabut), long-time staff cartoonist, killed at age 76.^[4]
  • Philippe Honoré, long-time staff cartoonist, killed at age 73.^[5]
  • Tignous (Bernard Verlhac), long-time staff cartoonist, killed at age 57.^[6]
  • Georges Wolinski, long-time staff cartoonist, killed at age 80.^[7]

• January 26: R. K. Laxman, creator of The Common Man, dies at age 93.^[8]

February

• February 16: Brett Ewins, British comic book artist, dies at age 59^[9]

March

• March 13: Irwin Hasen, creator of Dondi, dies at age 96^[10]

April

• April 13: Herb Trimpe, the seminal 1970s artist on The Incredible Hulk, dies at age 75.^[11]

July

• July 20: Tom Moore, long-time artist for Archie, dies at age 86.^[12]

August

• August 30: Brad Anderson, creator of the comic strip Marmaduke, dies at age 91.^[13]

October

• October 8: Dennis Eichhorn, comics writer/editor and creator of Real Stuff, dies of pneumonia at age 70.^[14]

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^[15]
• 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^[16][17][18]
• 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.^[19]
• 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 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/2000AD. Writer: Rob Williams Artist: Dom Reardon

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

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

References

1. "CM Punk Makes his Marvel Writing Debut on 'Thor Annual' #1". Comic Book Resources. November 10, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
2. "Famous Monsters To Launch Comic Book Line". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
3. "Jeannette Bougrab says she always knew Charlie Hebdo editor partner would be assassinated". News. January 10, 2015.
4. Obituary in the Daily Telegraph, January 7, 2015.
5. "Attentat contre " Charlie Hebdo " : Charb, Cabu, Wolinski et les autres, assassinés dans leur rédaction". Le Monde (in French).
6. "Charlie Hebdo victims". BBC. January 8, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
7. "Fearless: Murdered French cartoonists welcomed controversy". Fox News Channel. January 7, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
8. "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.
9. Johnston, Rich. "Brett Ewins, Co-Creator Of Deadline, And Legendary 2000 AD Artist Dies, Aged 59," Bleeding Cool (February 17, 2015).
10. Sacks, Ethan "DC Comic artist Irwin Hasen, creator of Dondi and the Wildcat, is dead at 96," New York Daily News (March 13, 2015).
11. 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.
12. Anderson, Lindsey. "El Paso artist, 'Archie' cartoonist Tom Moore dies". El Paso Times.
13. Slotnik, Daniel E. (September 8, 2015). "Brad Anderson, Creator of ‘Marmaduke,' Dies at 91". The New York Times. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
14. Van Deusen, Tom. "Dennis P. Eichhorn, 1945–2015," The Comics Journal (October 13, 2015).
15. "FanXperience 2015 Guest Finder". Salt Lake Comic Con. February 9, 2015.
16. Spurgeon, Tom. "MoCCA Announces Move Into Center548; Initial Guests," The Comics Reporter (September 24, 2014).
17. Reid, Calvin. "MoCCA Moves to Chelsea; Names First 2015 Guests," Publishers Weekly (September 24, 2014).
18. "MoCCA Arts Festival partners with the historic High Line Hotel to host weekend programming!," MoCCA Fest official Tumblr site (January 22, 2015).
19. "Guests," Phoenix Comicon official website.