1994 in comics

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Notable events of 1994 in comics. See also List of years in comics.

Events and publications by release date

Year overall

• 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, Eclipse Comics, Eternity Comics, Fantagor Press, Imperial Comics, Innovation Corporation, Majestic Entertainment, NOW Comics, Ominous Press, Silver Moon Comics, and Triumphant Comics all cease publishing.^[1]

• Late in the year, Marvel Comics purchases Malibu Comics.

January

• Avengers West Coast is cancelled by Marvel with issue #102.

February

• 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!”

March

April

May

• The Incredible Hulk issue #417 features Rick Jones’ infamous stag party in which Marvel heroes discover that Jones’ fiancée was an adult film star.

June

• 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 & 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.

July

• The Spider-Man Clone Saga begins

August

• DC Comics launches the Zero Month promotion.

September

October

November

December

• X-Men #41 is the prologue to the Age of Apocalypse with Legion murdering Professor X.
• December 28: Marvel Comics purchases distributor Heroes World Distribution

Deaths

• Charles Crumb, older brother of R. Crumb and a cartoonist in his own right, dies at c. age 50.

February

• February 6: Jack "King" Kirby dies at age 76.

October

• October 5: Doug Wildey passes away at age 72.

November

• November 28: Frank Robbins dies at age 77.

Exhibitions and shows

Conventions

• 1994 Chicago Comic Book Convention

First issues by title

DC Comics

• 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

Vertigo Comics

• The Invisibles

Generation X

Release: Fall 1994 by Marvel Comics. Writer: Scott Lobdell. Art by: Chris Bachalo and inked by 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.

Image Comics

• Boof

Marvel Comics

• Nightwatch

Force Works

Release: Summer 1994 by Marvel Comics. Writer: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. Art by: Tom Tenney and inked by Rey Garcia. Summary: The West Coast Avengers are reborn as Force Works. Financed by Iron Man, the group welcomes a new member called Legacy.

Independent titles

• The Biologic Show

References