Today in Comics History, May 15 and Miracle Monday: A Monday in celebration of two men named "L"!

It is very rare that two fantastic holidays fall on the same day. In most cases that's a good thing. You wouldn't want Hallowe'en to fall on the same day as Easter, would you? There would be less candy that way! Also, don't you feel sorry for those kids whose birthdays are on Christmas?

But every once in a while the moons come up at the right time and Jupiter is aligned with Mars or somethin' like that and we get two holidays on the same day that complement each other as well as peanut butter and chocolate, or cereal and marshmallows. May 15, 2006 is one of those days, and if you haven't taken the day off from work or school to celebrate, then you're jus' missin' out, bucko! 'Cos today, on May 15, we celebrate two important men, both with the name "L":

On this day in 1856, L. Frank Baum, the First Royal Historian of Oz, was born. Celebrate his life and work by reading an Oz book or comic book. Oh okay, you can watch "The Film" too if you want! Today is also an ideal day to check up on Eric Gjovaag's Wonderful Blog of Oz...it's fun any day of the year, but especially on May 15! (But please bring back the "Where's the Witch" feature, Eric!)


It is also Miracle Monday, which falls on the third Monday of every May, and is a day of celebration and joy in honor of Kal-El. (You may know him better as Superman!)


As Elliot S! Maggin writes (an' he should know, he's got a "!" in his name!):

"On that day...resort owners on the glaciers of Uranus raise ski-lift tickets for the influx of tourists. Teamsters driving slow-moving cargo transports to Earth from mining operations in the asteroid belt get drunk and silly like sailors crossing the Equator for the first time. In honor of Superman's chosen profession, even journalists can spend the holiday with their families. There are laughter, reflection, public celebration with barbecues and holographic light shows all over the solar system, merriments of all sorts. It's a big holiday."

On Miracle Monday throughout the DC Universe of the future—I imagine this is a big holiday for The Legion of Super-Heroes (does Brainy give you guys the day off?)—a place is set at the table in honor of—and preparing for the return of—Superman. Won't you set a place for him at your Miracle Monday dinner table today? I know I will! Hope you like chicken-'n'-dumplings, Kal-El! (And you don't have to eat your peas either. I won't tell!)