Bully Says: Comics Oughta Be Fun!

Sunday, September 01, 2013

Today in Comics History, August 28: Happy Birthday, Big Guy! (2013)

Yes, I do know it was the past week, but I wanted to wait until the end of the week to wish birthday greetings to one of the biggest names in comics. That's right...

Happy Birthday, Herbie!

Geez, comic book, I wouldn't even DARE call Herbie the Love Bug YELLOW.

Parents and teachers were shocked at this frank and serious discussion about suicide in a Disney comic book!

Panels from Walt Disney's The Love Bug one-shot (June 1969), pencils and inks by Dan Spiegle

I'm guessing that Herbie being colored yellow is just a comic book technique to prevent (like the originally proposed white costume for Jean grey's Phoenix) the images from the -page's other side from bleeding through. But no such problem for the 2005 comic story featuring Herbie and America's Sweetheart and Most Beloved Actress Ever: I'd definitely buy Herbie Fully Loaded if he were fully loaded with delicious nacho cheese.

I'd definitely buy Herbie Fully Loaded if he were fully loaded with delicious nacho cheese.

Then, Lindsay Lohan threw up in Herbie and passed out, showing everyone she was wearing no underwear.

Cover and panels from Disney Adventures Comic Zone #4 (Summer 2005); script, pencils, and inks by Art Baltazar, letters by Michael Stewart
What's that? Huh? It's Happy birthday Kirby?

...

I have made another one of my silly mistakes.

In reparation and to homage Jack "The King" Kirby on his ninety-sixth birthday, here's ten, count 'em, ten full-page Kirby panels!

Cosmic indigestion is like a giant cloud raging within Galactus.

Cosmic indigestion is like a giant cloud raging within Galactus.

Full-page panel from Thor #167 (August 1969), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta, letters by Artie Simek

'The Cave of the Talking Heads.' Pretty much what it says on the tin.

'The Cave of the Talking Heads.' Pretty much what it says on the tin.

Full-page panel from 1st Issue Special #5 [Manhunter] (August 1975), script and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks and letters by D. Bruce Berry

Q: Why is Professor Xavier jealous of this guy? A: Because he's Balder.

Q: Why is Professor Xavier jealous of this guy? A: Because he's Balder.

Full-page panel from Thor #164 (May 1969), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta, letters by Sam Rosen

That was an unfortunate nickname he got in grade school, and just because gRanny Goodness used to serve beans at every meal.

That was an unfortunate nickname he got in grade school, and just because gRanny Goodness used to serve beans at every meal.

Full-page panel from 1st Issue Special #6 [Dingbats of Danger Street] (September 1975), script and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks and letters by Mike Royer

Whoa, Rogue's father sure knows a lot about archeology.

Whoa, Rogue's father sure knows a lot about archeology.

Full-page panel from The Demon (1972 series) #1 (August-September 1972), script and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks and letters by Mike Royer

How does he play 'Rack-O' with those claws?!?

How does he play 'Rack-O' with those claws?!?

Full-page panel from Thor #154 (July 1968), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta, letters by Artie Simek

'AIEEEEE HE'S WEARING A DUCK ON HIS FACE!'

'AIEEEEE HE'S WEARING A DUCK ON HIS FACE!'

Full-page panel from The Demon (1972 series) #1 (August-September 1972), script and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks and letters by Mike Royer

Sadly, the Recorder had to retire when they stopped making his preferred method of storing data: Betamax tapes.

Sadly, the Recorder had to retire when they stopped making his preferred method of storing data: Betamax tapes.

Full-page panel from Thor #160 (January 1969), , script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta, letters by Sam Rosen

'But I shall also answer to the name...BIGFACE!'

'But I shall also answer to the name...BIGFACE!'

Full-page panel from Thor #165 (June 1969), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta, letters by Artie Simek

'Breaker, breaker, good buddy, this is Cragface, what's your twenty?'

'Breaker, breaker, good buddy, this is Cragface, what's your twenty?'

Full-page panel from Super Powers (1984 series) #5 (November 1984); co-plot and script by Joey Cavalieri, co-plot and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Greg Theakston, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Ben Oda

Whew! I'm glad I got that straightened out. Happy Birthday, Jack Kirby!

3 comments:

Chance said...: I did not know there was a time that Darkseid was basically a grey-colored version of "thug #1" from a terrible 1950s boxing picture and said things like "you bet your bloodied carcass, I'm ready."

It kind of takes the cosmic menace out of him, a bit.; 9/01/2013 4:14 PM
Erik Johnson Illustrator said...: Herbie the Love Bug, that's a name I haven't heard in a long time. Thanks for the nostalgia trip on both ends of the comics spectrum.; 9/01/2013 10:07 PM
Blam said...: Wow. David Byrne has really let himself go.; 9/11/2013 10:21 PM