Today in Comics History, April 22: Happy birthday, Steve Englehart!

Born on this day: Steve Englehart, comics writer and co-creator of Shang-Chi, Nomad, Star-Lord, Mantis, Night Man, Coyote, The Avengers/Defenders War, and writer of a zillion comic book stories for both DC and Marvel!


from Marvel Age #28 and 52 (Marvel, July 1985 and July 1987); text by Jim Salicrup (#28) and Mike Carlin (#52); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by George Roussos (#28) and Paul Becton (#52)
His work on Detective Comics, Justice League of America, Avengers and West Coast Avengers, Captain Marvel, Green Lantern Corps, Doctor Strange, and Vision and the Scarlet Witch are rightfully hailed as classics. Chances are one of your favorite stories or arcs is by Englehart!


from FOOM #6 (Marvel, June 1974)
Steve talks The Defenders!


from FOOM #19 (Marvel, September 1977)
Steve's no stranger to hangin' out on Earth-616 or on Earth-1, either. Or both! One of the most famous Rutland Halloween stories is an unofficial Marvel/DC crossover!


from Amazing Adventures #16 (Marvel, January 1973), script by Steve Englehart, pencils by Marie Severin and Bob Brown, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Charlotte Jetter
Here in part 1, Steve (in the orange tank top, with fellow creators Gerry Conway and Len and Glynis Wein) pick up a hitchhiking Beast! His junker car gets stolen by Juggernaut!



The Gang™ crosses paths later that night with...the Justice League!



from Justice League of America (1960 series) #103 (DC, December 1972), script by Len Wein, pencils by Dick Dillin, inks by Dick Giordano, letters by Ben Oda
...and then with Thor and Loki, everybody conveniently missing each other by a few minutes! (Maybe Colletta erased them meeting!)





from Thor #207 (Marvel, January 1973), script by Gerry Conway, pencils by John Buscema and Marie Severin, inks by Vince Colletta and Marie Severin, colors by Glynis Oliver, letters by Denise Wohl
Steve Engelhart Explains the Ultraverse to You™:


from The Strangers #7 (Malibu, December 1993), script by Steve Englehart, pencils by Rick Hoberg
Englehart (as "Jonathan Harkness") found his ideas on Fantastic Four were often overwritten by editorial (see his website for some fascinating background) but he still hung around to wrap it all up.


from Fantastic Four #333 (Marvel, November 1989), script by Steve Englehart as Jonathan Harkness, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Romeo Tanghal, colors by George Roussos, letters by Bill Oakley
Happy birthday, Steve Englehart, one of our favorite creators!