366 Days with J. Jonah Jameson, Day 282/Today in Comics History: This could never happen in these enlightened times

Page from Daily Bugle #1 (December 1996), script by Paul Grist, pencils by Karl Kerschl, inks by Greg Adams, letters by Jim Novak
Speaking of pretty good, often-overlooked J. Jonah Jameson stories, the 1996 miniseries The Daily Bugle is a lovely short series focusing on the journalists of that fine metropolitan newspaper, with nary an appearance by our friendly neighborhood web-slinger. It's about as real as Marvel Comics get, including that issue of Punisher: War Journal where Frank had to wait in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles for a whole issue.


Cover of Daily Bugle #1 (December 1996), pencils by Karl Kerschl, inks by Greg Adams
Like your local newspaper somewhere back in the twentieth century, the whole series is in glorious black and white, which gives it a cool-real noir look. And the script's by Paul Grist — I like his comics artwork a lot, especially Doctor Who and St. Swithin's Day, as well as being the writer and artist on the absolutely wonderful Jack Staff. Artwork here is by Karl Kerschl and Greg Adams:



As far as I know, The Daily Bugle #1-3 have never been collected into a trade, and I'm not sure if they're currently on Marvel Unlimited. But this little stuffed comics guy gives the miniseries two hooves up, and they're well worth hunting down in the back issue boxes of your local comic book shop. Tell 'em J. Jonah Jameson sent you, and also demand photographs of Spider-Man!

366 Days with J. Jonah Jameson, Day 256: Today in Comics History

One of the greatest Amazing Spider-Man Annuals ever published is 1981's #15. It might even possibly be considered the greatest, and I'm saying that even as a huge fan of ASMA #1, with its full-page Ditko fight-sequences. Nor (nor!) do I say this simply because it's written by the great Denny "There Is No Hope in Crime Alley" O'Neil. Or even that the wonderful art is done by pre-Crisis Frank Miller and Klaus Janson. Yea unto you, as Stan Lee woulda toldja, it is not e'en because, as the cover clearly shows us, it's a story about the Spectacular Spider-Man battling the Pernicious Punisher while the Dastardly Doctor Octopus drinks his Sinister Starbucks.


Cover of Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964 series) #15 (1981), pencils by Frank Miller, inks by Klaus Janson
It's not even because it takes place Today in Comics History, thirty-five years to the day:


No, it's because (as you may have guessed from the subject of this post), it's the single greatest story about J. Jonah Jameson choosing what will run on the Daily Bugle's front page.


Page from Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964 series) #15 (1981), script by Denny O'Neil, breakdowns by Frank Miller, finishes by Klaus Janson, colors by Bob Sharen, letters by Jim Novak
Luckily for Peter Parker, Spider-Man's Press Agent, an even more newsworthy story comes in: that Peter Parker shoots photographs using such ultra-highspeed film he can capture the gaseous track a bullet makes through the atmosphere! Kodak stocks are about to go through the roof. They'll never go out of business!


But that's knocked off the front page only shortly later by the kissably soft lips of The Punisher! (see The Kissably Soft Lips of the Punisher #16, August 1979: "Kill me Baby, One More Time!")


Well, things can't get much worse than that in New York City...oh.


But, thanks to a little Spider-Mannin', all's well that ends well, and Jameson finally gets to use that photograph of him taken by his dentist, Doctor Frederick von Doom (no relation), D.D.S.


So, back to the drawing board for the final edition, I guess. That's our Jonah!


(sadtrombone.mp3)

366 Days with J. Jonah Jameson, Day 251: Summon the executioner

Panels from Spider-Man (1990 series) #66 (March 1996); script by Howard Mackie; pencils by John Romita, Jr.; inks by Al Williamson, Dick Giordano, and Al Milgrom; colors by Kevin Tinsley; color separations by Malibu's Hues; letters by Richard Starkings
Who is JJJ sending for as defense against this sinister "Spider-Man"? Gotta be someone really dangerous and deadly, like The Punisher or the Suicide Squad or Lobo the Duck, right?


Oh, these guys again.

366 Days with J. Jonah Jameson, Day 247: Appearance of black Spider-Man confounds press, confuses panel reading order

Panels from Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #3 (September 2014), script by Brian Michael Bendis, pencils and inks by David Marquez, colors by Justin Ponsor, letters by Cory Petit

366 Days with J. Jonah Jameson, Day 177: Today in JJJ History

Continued from yesterday: the court case of Spider-Man v. Daily Bugle!


Panels from She-Hulk (2004 series) #4 (August 2004), script by Dan Slott, pencils by Juan Bobillo, inks by Marcelo Sosa, colors by Chris Chuckry, letters by Dave Sharpe
Yep, that's Peter Parker's popular book of photos of Spider-Man, Webs, which was a major plot point throughout the Spider-titles in the summer of '88. And, according to ol' Pete, it's still selling for the original list price! Do you absolutely swear to that, Peter? Remember: you're under oath!


Panels from "All the World's a Stage" in The Many Loves of the Amazing Spider-Man one-shot (July 2010), script by Roger Stern, pencils by Ron Frenz, inks by Victor Olazaba, colors by Andrew Dalhouse, letters by Dave Sharpe
Oh, it's been remaindered. Whoops! Sic transit gloria monday an' all that, Peter.

Besides, it's not like anyone else at the Daily Bugle ever wrote and published a book, is it?


Panels from [Peter Parker,] The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976 series) #259 (July 1998), co-plot by Roger Stern, co-plot and script by Green Greenberg, pencils by Luke Ross, inks by Al Milgrom, colors by John Kalisz, letters by Richard Starkings and Liz Agraphiotis
NOW CUT THAT OUT, COMICS

(Oh! And there's JJJ in the last panel. Just like it says on the tin.)

366 Days with J. Jonah Jameson, Day 130: Sometimes late at night / I can see the streets like no one else can / There’s a lot of things going on here / That even newspapers don’t understand

I'm pretty sure this is the first comic book I read that painted J. Jonah Jameson as a responsible, fierce journalist rather than a buffoon. I still like this scene a lot.


Panels from Daredevil (1964 series) #177 (December 1981), script and breakdowns by Frank Miller, finishes by Klaus Janson, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Joe Rosen
"Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half." — Gore Vidal