February 6:Marvel Enterprises andElectronic 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 ofCathy, Irving proposes to the titular character.
April 24:Nat Gertler and About Comics organize the first annual24 Hour Comics Day, after a 1990 initiative byScott McCloud.[4] On this day, comics creators around the world are invited to spend the day making a 24-hour comic. Manycomic 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.
May 9: Sam Linthout, son of Belgian cartoonistWilly Linthout, commits suicide at age 21. This will motivate Linthout to draw a graphic novel about his grief:Years of the Elephant.[7][8]
May 19: At the instigation ofKees Kousemaker, owner of the Amsterdam comics storeLambiek, the first buildings of theStripheldenbuurt in the Dutch cityAlmere are inaugurated. This is a district where all street names are named after famous comics characters and cartoonists.[9]
With issue #1595,Comics Buyer's Guide changes its format from a weekly tabloid to a monthly squarebound magazine. In addition, in hopes of enhancingnewsstand sales,CBG adds aprice 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 imprintMarvel Press. Three novels were scheduled for2004: the young adult novelMary Jane II would land on bookstore shelves in June, followed by an adult fantasyWolverine title in October and a middle gradeSpider-Man title in November.
September 29:Mark Retera wins theStripschapprijs.[12] Normally he would be awarded the prize during the Stripdagen inAlphen aan de Rijn a month later, but since he planned a holiday then he is given it during a broadcast of the TV showVara Laat.[13]
23-24 October: During theStripdagen inAlphen aan de Rijn Jan Joosse of the organisationBiblion wins the P. Hans Frankfurther Prize.[14] Nico van Dam, Bert Bus en Harry Balm receive the Bulletje en Boonestaakschaal.[15]
April 5:Gébé, French comics artist (L'An 01), dies from a tumor at age 74.[37]
April 8: Ernö Zórád, Hungarian comics artist, painter and illustrator, dies at age 93.[38]
April 10:Chester Commodore, American comics artist (The Sparks, continuedBungleton Green,The Ravings of Professor Doodle,So What?), dies at age 89.[39]
Gill Fox, American comics artist (Side Glances,Wilbert,Bumper to Bumper,Jeanie,Joe Magarar, worked onHi & Lois), dies at age 88.[50]
May 15: Robert Naylor, American animator and comics artist (assisted and continuedBarney Baxter,Embarrassing Moments,Jerry on the Job,Big Sister), dies at age 94.[51]
May 16: Remus Dimitrie Sbiera, aka Sool Sbiera, Romanian comics artist (Les Braconniers), dies at age 67.[52]
May 20: Marc Moallic, French comic artist (Ludovic,Jonas et Casimir), dies at age 97.[53]
August 2:François Craenhals, Belgian comics artist (Pom et Teddy,Primus et Musette,Les 4 As,Le Chevalier Ardent), dies at age 77.[64]
August 11: George Breisacher, American comics artist (Knobs, continuedMutt and Jeff), dies at age 64.[65]
August 26:Enzo Baldoni, Italian journalist and translator ofDoonesbury in the Italian magazineLinus, is kidnapped and murdered by terrorists inIraq at age 55.[11]
August 30:Bart Huges, Dutch activist and comics writer (Arnold Slak & de Slow Sisters op weg, Licht uit de put, Een wetenschappelijke sekte...? en Gnōthi seauton/Ken uzelf: erken uw oude engrammen[66]), dies at age 70.
December 22: Loek van Delden, Dutch comics artist (Smidje Verholen,Brigadier Piet), dies at age 86.[78]
December 22: Ben van Voorn, Dutch comics artist and animator (worked forMarten Toonder), dies at age 67.[79]
December 26: Pierre Dupuis, French comics artist (Les Grands Capitaines,La Seconde Guerre Mondiale, worked onL'oncle Paul series, continuedMam'zelle Minouche), dies at age 75.[80]
Dimitris Antonopoulos, Greek architect, painter, illustrator and comics artist (Ta Koróida oi Archaíoi, akaThe Ancient Losers), dies at age 71 or 72.[81]
Wim Hanssen, Dutch comic artist (comic adaptations ofDe Molenaar and1984), dies at age 45.[82]
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.[83]
Mehmet Tunali, Turkish painter and comic artist (Alparslan,Amsterdam Underwater), dies at age 48 or 49.[84]
September 15–December 10: "Gillray's Legacy," curated by Lucy Shelton Caswell (part of 8thFestival of Cartoon Art) (Philip Sills Gallery, William Oxley Thompson Library, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio)[85]
June 6:Stumptown Comics Fest (Portland, Oregon) — first inaugural event, hosted by the Old Church, a non-profit organization whose goal was to preserve an old church. 22 exhibitor tables, 150 attendees
^Rodman, Larry (Nov–Dec 2004). "SPX Realigned with ICAF and Extra-Politicized in 2004". Newswatch: Journal Datebook.The Comics Journal. No. 264. p. 42.
^Fischer, Craig (Nov–Dec 2004). "International Comic Arts Festival Draws International Creators, Theorists". Newswatch: Journal Datebook.The Comics Journal. No. 264. pp. 41–42.
