Saturday, February 20, 2021

Today in Comics History, February 20, 1943: Senator Ted Cruz (bottom, center) Goes to Mexico


from "Peril at Paricutin" in Real Fact Comics #18 (DC, January 1949), script by Jack Schiff, Mort Weisinger, and/or Bernie Breslauer

Today in Comics History, February 20: Batman reads the Twilight series


from Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #73 (DC, July 1995), script by James Robinson, pencils and inks by John Watkiss, colors by Digital Chameleon, letters by Willie Schubert

Friday, February 19, 2021

Today in Comics History, February 19, 1936: Joe Don Baker movie sequel takes a strange turn


from "General 'Billy' Mitchell" in Real Life Comics #2 (Pines, December 1941), pencils and inks by Maurice Gutwirth, letters by Ed Hamilton

Today in Comics History, February 19: Denny Colt and Commissioner Dolan go out to play in the snow



from "The Unseen Clue!" in Gang Busters #54 (DC, October 1956), pencils and inks by Howard Purcell

Monday, February 15, 2021

Today in Comics History, February 14: Wow, Elvis Costello is pissed


from Batman: The Long Halloween #13 (DC, December 1997), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, February 15, 1898: Yosemite Sam didn't blow that match out in time


from "Scoops...Pictures to Remember" in Real Fact Comics #9 (DC, July 1947), pencils and inks by George Roussos


from "Bucaneer Bunny" (1948), directed by Friz Freleng

Today in Comics History, February 15, 1804: I'm not entirely certain this new Star Trek series represents the franchise correctly


from "The Story of Stephen Decatur" in Real Life Comics #1 (Pines, September 1941), script by Otto Binder, pencils and inks by Jack Binder

Today in Comics History, February 15: J. Jonah Jameson refuses to follow the AP Stylebook guidelines for spelling "Spider-Man"



from Amazing Spider-Man: Who Am I? #1 one-shot (Marvel, May 2014), script by Joshua Hale Fialkov, pencils and inks by Juan Bobillo, colors by Andres Mossa, letters by Chris Eliopoulos

It doesn't get any better even when Peter changes history.


Say, Peter, what does the general public think of you?


Sunday, February 14, 2021

Today in Comics History, February 14: Two-Face purchases half-price candy


from Batman: The Long Halloween #5 (DC, April 1997), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, color separation by Heroic Age, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, February 14: Mvsevm is bvrgled by cvnning bvt cvrvaceous cvtie


from "Can't Buy Me Love" in DC's Crimes of Passion #1 one-shot (DC, April 2020), script by Liz Erickson, pencils and inks by Abel, colors by John Kalisz, letters by Tom Napolitano

Today in Comics History, February 14: Oh Greg, this is yet another wacky plot that Dharma got you into


from Batman: The Long Halloween #5 (DC, April 1997), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, color separation by Heroic Age, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, February 14: Very tall thin comic book is published


from "Reflections of the Heart" in DC's Crimes of Passion #1 one-shot (DC, April 2020); script by Ram V; pencils, inks, and colors by John Paul Leon; letters by AndWorld Design

Today in Comics History, February 14: The Tingler slowly attacks a Whitman's Sampler


from Batman: The Long Halloween #7 (DC, June 1997), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, February 14: Barbie vandalizes wall; is sentenced to two months of community service


cover of Barbie #28 (Marvel, April 1993), pencils by Amanda Conner, inks by Jeff Albrecht

Skipper dreams of going to the Valentine's Ball wearing on of Barbie's gowns! Yeah, it's like that when you can't afford all the newest Mattel fashions.


from "Funny Valentine!" in Barbie #28, script by Lisa Trusiani, pencils by Barb Rausch, inks by John Lucas, colors by Mike Worley, letters by Steve Dutro

Unfortunately the dress got switched at the cleaner's with Pennywise the Clown's laundry. And, apparently he didn't notice. Huh. Thanks, Barbie comics, for this enchantng visual image!


Skipper's dream date for the Valentine's Ball turns out to be...AIEEEEE IT'S THE CLOWN RUN EVERYONE


Special We Girls Can Do Anything™ Bonus Page: Barbie has an Etsy store now, apparently?


How does this make you feel about Valentines' Day now?

Today in Comics History, February 14: Happy birthday, Carol Kalish!

Born on this day in 1955: Carol Kalish, one of the absolutely most important people to work for Marvel in the 1980s.


from Marvel Age #50, 87 and 98 (Marvel, May 1985, May 1987, April 1990, and March 1991), text by Mike Carlin (#50), and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#87 and 98); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Gregory Wright (#87) and Renee Witterstaetter (#98)

As Sales Manager and later VP of New Product Development, she championed the direct market and helped bring Marvel to so much huge success during the '80s. She passed away suddenly in September 1991 at the age of 36.



from (top) Marvel Age #108 (Marvel, January 1992), and
Wolverine: Global Jeopardy one-shot (Marvel, December 1993)

She and Peter David created a major publisher-published magazine that brought interviews, history, profiles, and hype direct to the fans: Marvel Age.


from Marvel Age #120 (Marvel, March 1993)

Oh! And lest we forget, she once tried to kill the Kingpin.


from Peter Parker, The Spectcaular Spider-Man (1976 series) #109 (Marvel, December 1985), script by Peter David, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Brett Breeding, colors by Nel Yomtov, letters by Phil Felix

We miss ya, Carol, and happy birthday.

Today in Comics History, February 14: Patsy Walker is muy enojada at Don Diego de la Vega



from "The Perfect Valentine" in The Flying Nun #2 (Dell, May 1968), pencils and inks by Henry Scarpelli

Sing along with me !You know the tune! ♫ How do you solve a problem like Sal-ly Field? ♫



Guest-starring The Narrator from Fun in Balloonland!





It's always special when a comic book has an ending set to the theme of The Benny Hill Show.


"YOU LIKE ME! YOU REALLY LIKE ME!"


Today in Comics History, February 14: Happy birthday, Alberto Falcone! How did you enjoy New Year's Da...oh.

Born on this day: crime guy Alberto Falcone, beloved som.


from Batman: The Long Halloween #4 (DC, March 1997), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, color separations by Heroic Age, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, February 14: And now, Archie in a diaper



from "Valentine's Day Dilemma" in Betty and Veronica Double Digest #209 (Archie, March 2013), script by Greg Crosby, pencils by Pat Kennedy, inks by Jon D'Agostino

Today in Comics History, February 14: Bruce Wayne shaves his lips


from Batman: The Long Halloween #5 (DC, April 1997), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, color separation by Heroic Age, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, February 14: Perpetual bachelor Alfred shames married men


from Batman: The Long Halloween #5 (DC, April 1997), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, color separation by Heroic Age, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, February 14: Have a heart

Were you wondering how yesterday's thrilling phone-tag adventure was going to end? Fair not, fear readers...here's the heart-breaking conclusion!



from "Dear Valentine!" in Adventures into Terror #31 (Marvel/Atlas, May 1954), pencils and inks by Al Hartley