1994 in comics

• Huge changes in the marketplace (mostly due to the collapse of the speculation market) force many retailers and small publishers out of business. Aircel Comics, Apple Comics, Attic Books, Axis Comics, Blackball Comics, Comic Zone Productions, Continuity Comics, Continüm Comics, Dagger Enterprises, Eternity Comics, Fantagor Press, NOW Comics, Revolutionary Comics, Imperial Comics, Innovation Corporation, Majestic Entertainment, Ominous Press, Silver Moon Comics, and Triumphant Comics all cease publishing.[1] All the same, a number of publishers debut, including Axis Comics, Big Bang Comics, Chaos! Comics, Crusade Comics, Event Comics, Les 400 coups, Mojo Press, Ominous Press, Re-Visionary Press, and Sirius Entertainment.

• January 2: Peter de Wit's gag-a-day comic Sigmund, which debuted a year earlier in the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws under the different title Mijnheerke Psi, is now published in the Dutch newspaper Het Parool, where it will remain a mainstay for decades to come. [2]
• January 14: Eagle (1982 series), with issue #574, canceled by Fleetway.
• Iron Man #300: The Iron Legion vs. Ultimo, written by Len Kaminski.
• Kyle Rayner is introduced as new Green Lantern
• Avengers West Coast is canceled by Marvel with issue #102.

• Captain America #425 is the debut of the 12-part storyline "The Fighting Chance."
• She-Hulk vol. 2 is canceled with issue #60. The caption on the cover reads: "O.K., kids, we had a deal.... now hand over those X-Men comics!"

• X-Men vol. 2, #30: Scott Summers marries Jean Grey. (Marvel Comics)
• Marc Spector: Moon Knight is canceled by Marvel with issue #60.
• X-Men crossover "Child's Play" begins.

• X-Men crossover Child's Play concludes.
• Starblast concludes, both as a limited series and as a crossover.

• The Incredible Hulk issue #417 features Rick Jones’ infamous stag party in which the Marvel heroes discover that Jones’ fiancée was an adult film star.
• early webcomic NetBoy is first uploaded to the World Wide Web.

• Action Comics #700: 68-page anniversary issue. "The Fall of Metropolis" ("Triangle" chapter 24). One of Curt Swan's final Superman jobs.
• Conan the Barbarian returns to comics with two titles: Conan the Adventurer and Conan Classic (reprinting the early stories from the 1970s)
• The Incredible Hulk issue #418 is Rick and Marlo's wedding issue with an appearance by DC Comics’ character Death. Written by Peter David, with art by Gary Frank and Cam Smith.
• Thor reaches issue #475 and re-introduces Dr. Don Blake, Thor's first secret identity, and romantic interest Jane Foster. Thor also gets a new armor and costume.
• A second attempt to launch a Lucky Luke monthly magazine is made, which will run until January 1995. [3]

• The Spider-Man Clone Saga begins. (Marvel Comics)
• Quasar is canceled by Marvel with issue #60.

• August 29: The Dutch comics magazine Sjors and Sjimmie Weekblad changes its name again into Sjosji. It will continue until 1998, after which it becomes Striparazzi.[4]
• DC Comics launches the Zero Month promotion.
• The Incredible Hulk #420: "Lest Darkness Come," by Peter David, Gary Frank, and Cam Smith. Jim Wilson dies of AIDS.

• L.E.G.I.O.N. is canceled by DC with issue #70.
• Justice League International vol. 2 is canceled by DC with issue #67.
• "Phalanx Covenant," an X-Men crossover storyline, begins.

• October 15–16: During the Stripdagen in Breda, the Netherlands, Don Lawrence (Storm, Trigië), receives the Stripschapprijs.[5][6] Peter Kuipers and Mat Schifferstein of publishing company Sherpa receive the Jaarprijs voor Bijzondere Verdiensten (nowadays the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs).[7]
• Daniel Clowes' The Sensual Santa is prepublished in Eightball.

• Marvel Comics abolishes the position of editor-in-chief, replacing Tom DeFalco with five group editors-in-chief. Rather than name a successor, the company appoints five "Editors-in-Chief," each of whom oversees a certain number of titles, collected into broad groups: the X-Men titles (Bob Harras), the Spider-Man titles (Bob Budiansky), so-called "Marvel Universe" titles (Mark Gruenwald), the newly created Marvel Edge (Bobbie Chase), and licensed-property titles (Carl Potts).
• Marvel Tales (1966 series), the long-running reprint title (primarily of Spider-Man stories), is canceled with issue #291.
• November 3: Marvel Comics purchases Malibu Comics[8]

• X-Men #41 is the prologue to the Age of Apocalypse with Legion murdering Professor X.
• G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, published by Marvel Comics, is canceled with issue #155.
• December 28: Marvel Comics purchases distributor Heroes World Distribution.[9][10]

• January 5: Joop Du Buy, Dutch animator, textile salesman and comics artist (Appie Kim, Nimfke en de Nonnenneuker), dies at age 59.[11]
• January 17: Reamer Keller, American cartoonist and comics artist (Kennesaw, Medicare), dies at age 89.[12]
• January 25: Filip Fermin, Dutch comics artist (Robur & Hanekamp), dies at age 46.[13]

• February 6: Jack "King" Kirby, American comics artist (Captain America, The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, The Silver Surfer, Black Panther, Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, Iron, New Gods, Fourth World, Kamandi, Manhunter, Newsboy Legion), dies at age 76.[14]

• March 10: Aurelio Galleppini, Italian comics artist (Tex Willer), dies at the age of 76.[15]
• March 10: Reuben Timmins, American animator and comics artist (comics starring Laurel & Hardy), dies at the age of 84.[16]
• March 19: René Deynis, French illustrator, comics artist and writer (wrote Les Espadons, drew Oscar Mittoman, Albator, continued Jean et Jeanette, Jacques Flash), dies at age 63.[17]
• March 22: Walter Lantz, American comics artist and animator (Woody Woodpecker), dies at age 94.[18]
• March 31: José Escobar Saliente, Spanish animator, comics writer and artist (Carpanta, Zipi y Zape), dies at age 85.[19]
• Specific date unknown: Jack Dunkley, British comics artist (The Larks, Patsy, Mr. Digwell), dies at age 87. [20]

• April 5: Kurt Cobain, American rock singer and guitarist (made some comics in his diaries, which were posthumously released), commits suicide at age 27.[21]
• April 9: Keith Watson, British comics artist (Dan Dare, Roel Dijkstra), dies at age 59.[22]

• May 1: John Milton Morris, American political cartoonist and comics artist (Neighbourly Neighbors), dies at age 87.[23]
• May 6: Murray Boltinoff, American comics writer and editor (DC Comics), dies at age 83.
• May 9: Reinhold Escher, German comics artist (Mecki), dies at age 89.[24]
• May 16: Dorul van der Heide, Dutch painter and comics artists (worked for Rolf Kauka), passes away at age 90.[25]
• May 22: Mitacq, Belgian comics artist (La Patrouille des Castors), dies at age 66.[26]
• May 23: Don Thompson, American comics writer, critic, collector and co-editor of the comics magazine Comics Buyer's Guide, dies at age 58.
• May 24: Julien Hébert, Canadian architect, industrial designer and comics artist (Mouchette), passes away at age 76.[27]
• May 26: Nico Oeloff, Dutch painter and comics artist (Kopkewoartel), dies at age 75. [28]

• June 1: Bob Leguay, French illustrator and comics artist (worked for Publi-Vog and Bédé Adult), dies at age 67.[29]
• June 10: Jack Hannah, American animator and comics artist (Donald Duck), dies at age 81.[30]
• June 21: Neal Pozner, American comics writer and editor (DC Comics), dies at age 38 or 39 from AIDS. [31]
• June 23: Piet van Elk, Dutch comics artist and animator (De Avonturen van Bim, Dokie Durf), dies at age 74.[32]
• June 28: Richard Bickenbach, American animator and comics artist (Hanna-Barbera comics), dies at age 86.[33]

• July 4: Alfred Harvey, American comics artist and publisher (Harvey Comics), passes away at age 80.[34]
• July 21: Marijac, French comics artist and writer (Jim Boum), dies at age 85.[35]
• July 23: Owen Fitzgerald, American animator and comics artist (celebrity comics based on Martin & Lewis and Bob Hope, continued Dennis the Menace, Disney comics), dies at age 77.[36]

• August 1: Augstí Ascensio Saurí, aka Asen, Spanish animator and comics artist (Nicasso, Pintor Moderno, Tarzán 1990, Los Birimboyas), dies at age 45 in a car accident. [37]
• August 13: Richard Klokkers, Dutch comics artist (Marten Toonder Studios), dies at age 70.[38]
• August 23: Jean-Claude Gal, French comics artist (Les Armées du Conquérant), passes away at age 52.[39]
• August 26: Werner Klemke, German illustrator and comics artist (Burattino im Puppentheater des Carabas Barabas), dies at age 77.[40]

• September 5: Yvette Lapointe, Canadian comics artist (Les Petits Espiègles), passes away at age 82.[41]
• September 11: Ben Jansen, Dutch comics artist (De Glunderende Gluurder, a sex parody of Suske en Wiske [42]), dies at the age of 39.[42]
• September 12: Dick De Wilde, aka W. Gerritsen or W. Gerr, Dutch comics artist, illustrator and graphic designer (assistant of Hans G. Kresse, made his own comic Victo van Turenne), dies at age 89.[43]
• September 21: Jef De Wulf, French comics artist (published in the magazine Junior Adventures), dies at age 78.[44]
• September 22: Bud Sagendorf, American comics artist (Popeye), dies from brain cancer at age 79.[45]

• October 5: Doug Wildey, American comics artist and animator (Jonny Quest), dies at age 72.[46]
• October 5: Frank Ridgeway, American comics artist and writer (Mr. Abernathy, Lancelot), passes away at age 63 or 64.[47]
• October 14: Jack Tippit, American comics artist (Doctor Bill, Sergeant Pepper, continued Amy and Henry), dies at age 70.[48]
• October 17: Rik van Bentum, Dutch painter and comics artist (made an obscure comic strip, New Comic Strip Scandal 2000, together with novelist Jan Cremer), dies at age 57.[49]
• October 18: Manoel Messias De Mello, Brazilian comics artist (Pão Duro, Gibimha, Audaz, o Demolidor), passes away at age 88.[50]
• October 26: Francis, Belgian comics artist (Marc Lebut et son Voisin, Capitaine Lahuche, Les Soldats de Plomb), passes away at age 57.[51]

• November 2: Martin Taras, American animator and comics artist (made comics based on Famous Studios characters), dies at age 80.[52]
• November 8: Michael O'Donoghue, American comics writer, TV writer, novelist and publisher (The Adventures of Phoebe Zeit-Geist, National Lampoon), passes away at age 54.
• November 15: Janet Ahlberg, British illustrator and comics artist, passes away from breast cancer at age 50. [53]
• November 28: Frank Robbins, American comics artist and writer (Johnny Hazard), dies at age 77.[54]

• December 1: Romain Deconinck, Belgian actor, comedian and theatre director (co-scripted the comic book De Roâste Wassger [55]), dies at age 78.[56]
• December 2: Tony Weare, British comics artist (Matt Marriott), dies at age 82.[57]
• December 8: Sidney A. Quinn, American illustrator, painter and comics artist (continued The Timbertoes and Goofus and Gallant), dies at age 79 or 80. [58]
• December 14: Lucien Nortier, French comics artist (various realistically drawn comics, continued Bob L'Ardent), dies at age 62.[59]
• December 18: Albert-Georges Badert, French comics artist (continued Les Pieds Nickelés), dies at age 79.[60]

• Bob Forgione, American comics artist (comics for Fawcett Comics, Charlton Comics, Dell Comics and DC Comics), dies at age 64 or 65.[61]
• Rein van Looy, Dutch comics artist and illustrator (Dick Parker), passes away.[62]
• Jan van Reek, Dutch comics artist, (Wipperoen), passes away.[63]

• Anima
• Aquaman
• Batman: Castle of the Bat – Elseworlds
• Detective Comics Annual #7
• Damage
• Deathstroke Annual #3
• Gunfire
• R.E.B.E.L.S. '94
• Shadow Cabinet – Milestone Comics imprint
• Starman
• Superman: The Feral Man of Steel
• Worlds Collide – Milestone Comics imprint
• Xombi – Milestone Comics imprint
• Zero Hour

• The Invisibles

• Boof

Force Works

Release: July. Writers: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. Art: Tom Tenney and Rey Garcia. Summary: The West Coast Avengers are reborn as Force Works. Financed by Iron Man, the group welcomes a new member called Legacy.

Generation X

Release: October. Writer: Scott Lobdell. Artists: Chris Bachalo and Mark Buckingham. Summary: Banshee and Emma Frost bring new, young mutants to Xavier's School for Higher Learning. Veteran but young X-Men member Jubilee is part of the group along with fresh faces: Gateway, M, Skin, Husk, Chamber, Synch, and Penance.

Marvels

Nightwatch

• The Biologic Show, by Al Columbia, Fantagraphics Books
• Underwater, by Chester Brown, Drawn and Quarterly. First issue: August
• César and Jessica, in France

Chorus

Release: May.