Today in Comics History, July 14: Happy birthday, Mike Esposito!

Born on this day in 1927: comic book penciller and inker Mike Esposito, who also worked under a dizzying assortment of pen names like Mickey Demeo, Mickey Dee, Michael Dee (you may be seeing a pattern here), and Joe Gaudioso (wha?!?). Mike worked (often with penciller Ross Andru) on books like The Amazing Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Captain America, Our Army at War, Marvel Team-Up, Spidey Super Stories, Star Spangled War Stories, Iron Man, many Archie books, Metal Men, The Avengers, Sub-Mariner and lots more!


from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 (Marvel 1975-1979)
We weren't just celebrating his birthday only in the 1970s, either!


from Marvel Age #55 and 91 (Marvel, October 1987 and and August 1990); text by Mike Carlin (#55) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#91); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Paul Becton (#5) and Renee Witterstaetter (#91)
But who is Mike Esposito?


from Showcase #62 (DC/National, May 1966)
That's not too helpful, is it? So click this here button with my ugly puss on to read more!



Hey, Mike, go help a Sub-Mariner out, willaya?



from Sub-Mariner (1968 series) #19 (Marvel, November 1969), script by Roy Thomas, pencils and colors by Marie Severin, inks by Johnny Craig, letters by Artie Simek
Speaking of sea-soaked sensational shrillers...I mean, thrillers...here's Mike (yellow shirt) and longtime collaborator and partner Ross Andru (green shirt) on assignment with the Sea Devils as the artist for their comic book...




from Sea Devils #13 (DC, September 1963), script by Ed Herron, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito
Mike 'n' Ross are being whipped into shape by Wonder Woman writer Robert Kanigher just after he's fired most of Wondy's supporting cast. Wonder Tot, we hardly knew ye!


from Wonder Woman (1942 series) #158 (DC, November 1965), script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito, letters by Gaspar Saladino
Mike and Ross founded 3 short-lived comics companies including Mikeross Publications. Here's a (fairly ridiculous) text story about how the company was founded!



from Get Lost #1 (Mikeross, March 1954), creators uncredited and unknown
Another Dynamic Duo: Mike with Danny Crespi over at Marvel:


from FOOM #2 (Marvel, May 1973)
Happy birthday, Mike Esposito!


from (left) 1975 Mighty Marvel Convention Program Book (Marvel, 1975), photo by Michele Wolfman,
The Amazing World of DC Comics (DC, September 1977), photo by Jack C. Harris