Bully Says: Comics Oughta Be Fun!

Sunday, July 17, 2022

Today in Comics History, July 17: Happy birthday, J. Michael Straczynski!

Born on this day: film, TV and comic book writer J. Michael Straczynski, who's written such a diverse number of titles as Amazing Spider-Man, Thor, Rising Stars, Terminator: Salvation, Superman and Superman: Earth One, The Twilight Zone, Wonder Woman, Squadron Supreme, Fantastic Four, Bullet Points, Ultimate Power, and many more. JMS has even had hven his own imprint at Image, "Joe's Comics," which published his own creations: Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, Dream Police, Protectors, Inc., and Sidekick. He's the co-creator of She-Ra: Princess of Power and has written for many TV shows: The Real Ghostbusters, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, The Twilight Zone, Jake and the Fatman, Murder, She Wrote, Walker: Texas Ranger, and more.

Here he is popping into his LCS on New Comics Day! He's just like us!

'Well then, you should stock more wonderful 'Joe's Comics'!'

'Well then, you should stock more wonderful 'Joe's Comics'!'

from Captain Marvel (2000 series) #30 (Marvel, May 2002), script by Peter David, pencils by Chris Cross, inks by Anibal Rodriguez and Rich Perotta, colors by Chris Sotomayor, letters by Richard Starkings and Albert Deschesne

JMS is also the creator of the popular TV SF series Babylon 5, which spun off both a comic book series and miniseries for DC that he wrote or plotted:

It's the 11-issue series that wrapped up its planned storyline in issue 9!

It's the 11-issue series that wrapped up its planned storyline in issue 9!

Babylon 5? Who'd watch that?

'Say, you ever get the foreboding sensation that the Rhino or Lizard are gonna bust in on us here at work?' 'Naw. What makes ya say that?'

'Say, you ever get the foreboding sensation that the Rhino or Lizard are gonna bust in on us here at work?' 'Naw. What makes ya say that?'

from Amazing Spider-Man (1999 series) #34/475 (Marvel, October 2001), script by J. Michael Straczynski, pencils by John Romita, Jr., inks by Scott Hanna, colors by Dan Kemp, color separations by Avalon Studios, letters by Richard Starkings and Wes Abbott
Here's another Joe self-portrayal (with artist/co-creator Chris Weston on the left): checkin' out all the threatening and menacing Spider-Man news in the Daily Bugle!

Yes, a June 2012 #12 book concluding a monthly series that began in February 2008! It's was just a mistake, though: he thought 'The Twelve' referred to years.

Yes, a June 2012 #12 book concluding a monthly series that began in February 2008! It's was just a mistake, though: he thought 'The Twelve' referred to years.

from The Twelve #12 (Marvel, June 2012), script by J. Michael Straczynski, pencils and inks by Chris Weston, colors by Chris Chuckry, letters by Jimmy Betancourt
So after all this long career in comics, J. Michael Straczynski, got any regrets?

Promising that this comic would sell one million copies?

Promising that this comic would sell one million copies?

'Also, I told JRJR to make Doctor Doom cry.'

from "What Do You Regret?" in Marvel Comics #1000 one-shot (Marvel, October 2019), script by J. Michael Straczynski, pencils by Ed McGuinness, inks by Mark Morales, colors by Val Staples, letters by Joe Caramagna
It's your birthday, Joe! Have a great one! And seeing as it's your birthday, we'll forgive you this:

'Please don't tug off my Gwen Stacy fashion wig!'