Today in Comics History, January 7: Happy birthday, Bob Wiacek!

Born on this day in 1953: Bob Wiacek, comics inker extraordinaire! Bob's inked Man-Thing, Uncanny X-Men, Star Wars, Iron Man, Orion, Alpha Flight, Power Pack, Strange Tales, Sensational She-Hulk, X-Factor, The Brave and the Bold, Excalibur, Archer & Armstrong, and more!


from Marvel Age #26, 49, 86 and 97 (Marvel, May 1985, April 1987, March 1990, and February 1991); text by Jim Salicrup (#26), Mike Carlin (#49), & Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#86 and 97); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Paul Becton (#49), Gregory Wright (#86), and Renee Witterstaetter (#97)
If Bob Wiacek was on a trading card, here's the kind of data you'd read on the back side! The card's back side, that is, not Bob's...back side.


from Power Pack (1984 series) #1 (Marvel, August 1984), pencils by Walt Simonson
And here's Bob with his X-Men collaborators facing off against Mojo! From L-R: editor Bob Harras, inker Bob Wiacek, colorsist Glynis Oliver, penciller Art Adams, writer chris Claremont, and letterer Tom Orzechowski! Stop riling him, Claremont!


from "I Want My X-Men!" in [Uncanny] X-Men Annual (1970 series) #12 (Marvel, 1988), script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Art Adams, inks by Bob Wiacek, colors by Glynis Oliver, letters by Tom Orzechowski
When you find Bob Wiacek amongst the crowd of recognizable faces at the title bout between Superman and Ali (and I bet you can), wish him a happy birthday from me!

cover of All-New Collectors' Edition #C-56 (DC, March 1978), layout by Joe Kubert, pencils by Neal Adams, inks by Neal Adams (?) and/or Cory Adams (?), logo design by John Workman
(Click top picture to GOAT-size)