This is a list of comics-related events in 2011. It includes any relevant comics-related events, deaths of notable comics-related people, conventions and first issues by title.
Events
DC Comics and Archie Comics both drop the Comics Code Authority seal, DC Comics however used a rating system, and Archie Comics did not ever use a rating system.
January
January 4: Axel Alonso is named editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, replacing Joe Quesada. January 11: Dutch cartoonist Peter van Straaten wins his fourth Inktspotprijs (edition 2010) for Best Political Cartoon. January 13: Tunisian cartoonist Nadia Khiari creates Willis the Cat, who will rise to become a symbol of opposition during the Arab Spring in Tunisia. January 29: Belgian comic writer Jean Van Hamme is named Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres.
February
February 24: Scripps Company strikes a distribution deal with Universal Uclick (now known as Andrews McMeel Syndication) for syndication of United Media's 150 comic strip and news features, which becomes effective on June 1. In Melbourne, Australia, Mitch Davies and Troy Varker found the comics store All Star Comics Melbourne.
March
March 12–13: During the Stripdagen in Gorinchem Minck Oosterveer receives the Stripschapprijs. He will tragically die in a motor accident in September. The magazine Stripschrift wins the P. Hans Frankfurtherprijs. Eiso Toonder, son of Marten Toonder, receives the Bulletje en Boonestaak Schaal. Catawiki, an online compendium of collector's catalogues, becomes available in English.
April
April 29: Martin Lodewijk is knighted in the Order of Orange-Nassau. Mark Millar, Leinil Francis Yu, Frank Quitely, Dave Gibbons, John Romita Jr., Paul Cornell, Andy Diggle, Jock, Duncan Fegredo, Sean Phillips and over fifty other comic book creators collaborate at the inaugural Kapow Comic Convention and enter the Guinness World Records twice for creating the fastest comic book ever produced and the biggest number of creators working on a single comic, namely Superior. The Superior World Record Special was written, penciled, inked and lettered in less than 12 hours and sold as a limited 10,000 copy book with all proceeds from its sales going to Yorkhill Sick Children's Hospital in Scotland.
June
June 4: Belgian comic artist Marc Sleen is declared a honorary citizen of Hoeilaart. The comic character Kari Lente receives a statue in Brasschaat, Belgium.
July
July 19: Stage show Batman Live premiers in Manchester Evening News Arena
August
August 27: Signe Wilkinson's Family Tree ends after three and a half years. As part of their The New 52 publishing scheme, DC Comics cancels all their ongoing titles.
September
September 9: Dutch comic artist Peter Pontiac receives the Marten Toonderprijs award. During the month, DC Comics releases 52 brand-new titles as part of their The New 52 publishing scheme.
October
October 25: U.S. cartoonist Dave Simpson is caught with plagiarism and instantly announces his retirement from the cartooning industry.
November
November 8: Israeli-French cartoonist Michel Kichka is knighted as Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Deaths
January
January 6: Jacques van der Smissen, Dutch painter, graphic artist and comics artist (made gag comics for Aloha magazine), dies at age 68. January 18: Marcel Marlier, Belgian illustrator (Martine), dies at age 80. January 28: Gaspare de Fiore, Italian comics artist (assistant of Sergio Rosi), dies at age 84. January 29: Orhan Halil Tolon, Turkish comics artist, illustrator and caricaturist (Zipzip Ali'nin Oyunlari, Eciş & Bücüş, Lük-Lük, Çetin Kaptan, Tektel Amca), dies at age 88 or 89.
February
February 6: Ahmed Bouanani, Moroccan film director and comics artist (made a newspaper comic for the paper Al Maghrib), dies at age 72. February 21: Dwayne McDuffie, American comic book writer (Milestone Media, Marvel Comics, DC Comics), dies at age 49 of complications from emergency heart surgery. February 24: Anant Pai, Indian comics writer and artist (Indrajal Comics, Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle), dies at age 73.
March
March 4: Eduardo Ferro, Argentine comics artist (Don Pitazo, Asserín y Pan Rallado, Langostino, Bólido, Tara Service, Pandora, Pampa Barbara, Chapaleo, continued El Fantasma Benito), dies at age 93. March 21: Gustav Krum, Czech painter, illustrator and comics artist (comics adaptations of literary novels), dies at age 86.