July 31: The Belgian city Middelkerke starts an annual project where statues of famous Belgian comics characters are placed at the dijk during the summer. The first one to be honoured this way is Jommeke.[3]
Marvel Comics' Flashback month: all issues were released with the number −1.
October
October 11–12: During the Stripdagen in Haarlem, the Netherlands, Peter Pontiac receives the Stripschapprijs.[4] Sunnya van der Vegt en René van Royen receive the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs for their book Asterix en de waarheid, about the historicity in Astérix.[5]
November
Mayo Kaan takes out newspaper ads claiming to be the original model for Superman,[6] although his allegations were later proven false.[7]
December
The final issue of the Belgian comics magazine À Suivre is published.
Marvel returns the Avengers and Fantastic Four to their main continuity in Heroes Reborn: The Return #1–4
Specific date unknown
The final album of the Belgian comics series Bessy, originally created by Willy Vandersteen, is published.
The final episode of the Belgian comics series Tif et Tondu is published, ending it just a year before its 60th birthday.[8]
February 3: Geoffrey Foladori, Uruguayan comics artist (El Professor Pistacho, Pelopincho y Cachirula, Don Gumersindo, Don Tranquilo y Flia), dies at age 88.[12]
April 11: Helge Kühn-Nielsen, Danish comics artist, teacher, painter and illustrator, dies at age 76.[20]
April 16: Roland Topor, French novelist, illustrator, cartoonist, comics artist, film script writer, TV script writer, animator and playwright (Hara-Kiri), dies at the age of 59.[21]
April 27: Víctor Arriazu, Spanish comics artist (assisted on El Jabato), dies at age 61 or 62.[22]
May
May 1: Sirius, Belgian comics artist (Timour), dies at the age of 86.[23]
May 4: Lou Stathis, American comics editor of DC's Vertigo line, dies of complications related to a brain tumor at age 44.[24]
June 6: Manny Stallman, American comics artist (various horror comics), dies at age 70.[26]
June 12: Rémy Bourles, French comics artist (Bob Mallard), passes away at age 91.[27]
June 15: Kim Casali, New Zealand cartoonist and comics artist (Love Is...), dies of bone and liver cancer at the age of 55.[28]
July
July 8: Clay Geerdes, American writer and photojournalist who extensively covered the underground comix movement, dies of liver cancer at age 63.
August
August 19: James Ringrose, Dutch comics artist (Tekko Taks, Blix Kater, Willie en Wop), dies at age 83.[29]
September
September 4: Nasjah Djamin, Indonesian illustrator and comics artist (drew a comic book about Hang Tuah), dies at age 72.[30]
September 15: Lode Pemmelaar, Dutch painter and comics artist (Romila the Velvet Girl), dies at age 54.[31]
September 25: Josep Toutain, Spanish comics artist and publisher (founder of Selecciones Ilustradas and Toutain-Editor), dies from lung cancer at age 64–65.[32]
December 8: Walter Molino, Italian illustrator and comics artist (Virus, Il Mago della Foresta Morta, Captain l'Audace, continued Kit Carson), dies at age 82.[40]
December 11: Heinz Schubel, German illustrator and comics artist (Lurchi), dies at age 91.[41]
^Dutrey, Jacques. "News Watch: Angoulême 1997," The Comics Journal #194 (Mar. 1997) , pp. 20-21.
^"Chaos! And the Crow Go to Church, 1997 Big Apple Comic Con Report," Comics Buyer's Guide (Mar. 21, 1997), p. 10.
^"Newswatch," The Comics Journal #193. (Feb. 1997). p. 27.
^"Spotlight," Orlando Sentinel (14 Mar 1997), p. 43.
^Ottaviani, Jim. "News Watch: Motor City Convention, March 21–23," The Comics Journal #195 (Apr. 1997), p. 25.
^"Comic Book Fans to Convene," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (18 Apr 1997), p. A.23.
^"Weekend Hot List," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (18 Apr 1997), p. 3.
^Press release. "NEWS: Small Press Expo Signing Tour in September," (July 26, 1997). Archived at Google Groups.
^Sangiacomo, Mike. "Superman Vet Had Write Stuff: Alviin Schwartz will make Rare Public Appearance and Discuss Years at DC," Cleveland Plain Dealer (Nov. 27, 1997).
