Friday, May 20, 2022

Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy Birthday, Jane Wiedlin!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 20, 2012.

Born on this day: Singer/songwriter/subject of my affection Jane Wiedlin! Hi Jane!





...so I want to wish her a very happy birthday! Yay, Jane!

In past years I have celebrated Jane's Birthday by showing you some of her music videos...


"Rush Hour" by Jane Wiedlin (EMI-Manhattan, 1988), written by Jane Wiedli and Peter Rafelson

...but I figgered I'd do something different this year and show you her many and varied comic book appearances! Here she is as Joan of Arc in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure:



from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure one-shot (DC, 1989), script by Bob Rozakis, pencils and inks by Angelo Torres, colors by Barry Goldberg, letters by Jon D'Agostino

...and reprising the role in one of my favorite comic series of all time, Bill and Ted's Excellent Comic:


from Bill and Ted's Excellent Comic Book #1 (Marvel, December 1991), script and pencils by Evan Dorkin, inks by Stephen DeStefano, colors by Robbie Busch

...a comic book that gave the effervescent Ms. Arc a totally happy ending!


from Bill and Ted's Excellent Comic Book #12 (Marvel, November 1992), script and pencils by Evan Dorkin, inks by Marie Severin, colors by Robbie Busch and Evan Skolnick, letters by Kurt Hathaway

Of course, who can forget Jane's very own comic book (and you can tell because her name's in it), Jane Wiedlin's Lady Robotika!


from Lady Robotika #1 (Image, July 2010), script by Jane Wiedlin and Bill Morrison, pencils by Bill Morrison and Tone Rodrigues, inks by Bill Morrison and Dan Davis, colors by Rachelle Rosenberg, letters by Tony Fleecs

Here's a tiny-print interview with Jane about the comic book:

"Getting Comical with Jane Wiedlin" from Heavy Metal v.33 #4 (Heavy Metal, July 2009), interview by Steve Ringgenberg
(Click picture to big crush on Jane-size)

In the comic, Jane plays a perky punky rock grrrl (so, not really flexing her comic book dramatic chops here).


Out in the crowd she spots a mysterious handsome sexy stranger who immediately captures her attention and affection. (Note: the following two panels might have been very slightly edited for content.)


Yes Jane, lay off the greyhounds!

Later, Jane is mysteriously abducted by aliens! With a special guest appearance by Homer Simpson! It's a Bongo Comics Crossover!


Anyway, Jane is kidnapped by aliens and she's given a cybernetic arm! Who among us can say that's never happened to us? Sit down, Bucky.


The story continues in Lady Robotika #2, which I can't find my copy of. But then the comci endswit ha cliffhanger! Bring back Lady R., Jane! The world cannot wait any longer! Well, mostly me.

Speaking of science fiction, everybody knows that Jane was in Star Trek IV: The One with the Whales!...


Jane Wiedlin as Trillya in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (Paramount, I.R.S., 1982), directed by Leonard Nimoy

...and she should have been in the comic book adaptation of the movie, in this very scene, but they left her out (probably for fear that she totally out-awesomed Shatner). Here's the scene in which she appeared, but no, she's not in the comic. I call that a crime.


from Star Trek Movie Special #2 [Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home] (DC, 1987), script by Mike W. Barr, pencils by Tom Sutton, inks by Ricardo Villagran, colors by Michele Wolfman, letters by Agustin Mas

Jane Wiedlin and the Simpsons: you've already see they're two great things that go together. But didja know that Jane wrote a Simpsons Comics story?!? You do now!


from Treehouse of Horror #17 (Bongo, September 2011), script by Jane Wiedlin, pencils and inks by Tom Hodges, colors by Nathan Hamill, letters by Karen Bates

Look, she's a nerd just like us! Just like us!


So there you go. Happy Birthday, Jane Wiedlin! Please enjoy the day.

Then, get back to writing your comic book series, willya?





More Jane Wiedlin posts here... ...and you'll find references to Jane pretty much all over the blog! Click on the "Jane Wiedlin" tag just below to see more!

(H.B.J.!)

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