Today in Comics History, May 26: Happy birthday, James Arness!

Born today in 1923: James Arness, film/TV actor, known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, TV's longest-lasting western! Also: in that very same comic book!





from Gunsmoke (1957 series) #6 (Dell, November 1957), script by Paul S. Newman, art by Jim McLaughlin
He also once met Ben Grimm, which makes my Six Degrees of Separation connection to Arness only two points!!

(Pictured, L-R: Amanda Blake and Arness of Gunsmoke, Alfred Hitchcock, possibly director André DeToth.)


from Fantastic Four (1961 series) #9 (Marvel, December 1962), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers, colors by Stan Goldberg, letters by Artie Simek
Happy birthday, James!


from "Guest Shots" in MAD #61 (March 1961), script by Tom Koch, pencils and inks by Mort Drucker
Hey wait, this means I'm only three points away from Peter Graves! And I didn't even go to the University of Minnesota!