Events and publications Rough Cut Comics founded WildStorm founded the America's Best Comics imprint Kitchen Sink Press collapses January January 26: Belgian comic artist Marc Sleen is knighted by Albert II of Belgium. January 29: Dutch cartoonist Stefan Verwey wins the Inktspotprijs for Best Political Cartoon. He won the award the year before too. DC Comics completes the takeover of WildStorm Productions. February February 3: Dominique Bussereau hosts an official debate in Paris to determine whether the comic strip The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé was right-wing or left-wing? The debaters are unable to reach a determined conclusion. March The Incredible Hulk (1968 series) is canceled by Marvel with issue #474. April April 4: The Dutch comics magazine Sjosji Striparazzi which changed its name into Striparazzi, publishes its final issue, marking the end of a long history under many different names. April 14: The Belgian comics magazine Spirou (Robbedoes in Dutch) brings out a special issue: all the pages of issue #3183 are illustrated by one and the same artist: Philippe Bercovici. May Anarky, vol. 2 - DC Comics In Buffy the vampire slayer, the story arc Bad Blood begins. June June 18: The Agent 327 story Dossier Minimum Bug is presented to the public. It's the smallest comic book ever, being only 2,6 x 3,7 cm. A year later it lands its author, Martin Lodewijk, an official entry in the Guinness Book of Records. June 26: Alex Raymond's Rip Kirby (drawn by John Prentice since 1956) is concluded after 53 years of continuous syndication. July July 1: James Sanchez begins publishing the webcomic Bigtime Consulting. July 3: Graeme MacKay's newspaper comic Gridlock makes its debut. It will run until 2003. July 16: Words & Pictures Museum of Fine Sequential Art closes its doors to the public, becoming the Virtual Words & Pictures Museum. July 28: André Franquin's heirs and copyright holders win the trial against the Walt Disney Animation Studios over their animated TV series version of Franquin's comics character Marsupilami, citing breaches of its license contract: Disney had failed to produce thirteen half-hour episodes (instead producing six to eight minute shorts) or use its "best efforts" to secure a commitment from a network to air the show, and it launched its marketing campaign during a time when the show was not being broadcast. Marsu also accused Disney of fraudulent concealment; the judge noted that Disney had decided to