Today in Comics History, March 7: Happy birthday, Luther Burbank!

Born on this day in 1849: groundbreaking botanist Luther Burbank, star of more comic book features than you can shake a white blackberry at!


from "Historical Almanac" in Real Fact Comics #20 (DC, May-June 1949), creators unknown
So he was great, hmm? But did he get a biography in Classics Illustrated? How can you say someone is great who's never had his biography in Classics Illustrated?


from Classics Illustrated #47 [20,000 Leagues Under the Sea] (Gilberton, May 1948), creators unknown
Even aside from all his guest appearances as Superman's nemesis, Luther Burbank got a lot of comic book press. Here's a whole comic book story devoted to him and his wacky plant-breeding schemes! Oh, Luther, you nut!

He got his start the very same way I did: taste-testing jelly.


from "Heroes of Science: Luther Burbank" in Treasure Chest of Fact and Fun v.9 #6/152 (Pflaum, November 1953), script by Frances Crandall, pencils and inks by Patty Karch
"Oh, no, son, please don't show me any more of your potato seed balls."


Luther Burbank: founder of Apple Club™. Kids love seven different kids of apples from the same apple shrub!


THEY LOVE THEM


And of course, on this very day in 1911, they named one of California's most prominent cities after him: Luther, California!*

(*This may be a lie.)


What? *Another* Luther Burbank comic book biography? Wow, I'm spoiling you guys, aren't I? Who says this isn't the Bountiful Age of Bully Business!?


from "Wizard of Nature" in True Comics #2 (Parents' Magazine, June 1941), pencils and inks by Harry George
So on this day, the occasion of his momentous birth, please help us celebrate Luther Burbank, noted pea-burner.


Walnuts, won't you? Walnuts.


Happy birthday, Luther Burbank!