Today in Comics History, July 27: Happy birthday, Ernie Chan!

A very happy birthday to artist Ernie Chan (sometimes credited as Ernie Chua), born on this day in 1940! Ernie has drawn a large number of comics including Conan the Barbarian, Savage Sword of Conan, Batman, Detective Comics, Claw the Unconquered (his co-creation with David Michelinie), House of Mystery, House of Secrets, The Unexpected, Weird War Tales, and many more!


from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1979 and 1980 (Marvel, 1978-1979)



Ernie pops up as a self-caricatured "editorial cartoonist" in Jessica Drew's early Spiderventures. The guy with the green vest makes it a little weird, but otherwise, hi, Ernie!


from Spider-Woman (1978 series) #29 (Marvel, August 1980), script by Michael Fleisher, breakdowns by Ernie Chan, finishes by Frank Springer, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Diana Albers
Here, Conan delicately cuts a slice of birthday cake for Ernie! Don't worry, it's not Ernie's 200th birthday (Conan's neither) — it's celebrating their 200th issue!



from The Savage Sword of Conan (1974 magazine series) #200 (Marvel, August 1992), pencils and inks by Dave Simons
Happy birthday, Ernie!


from The Savage Sword of Conan (1974 magazine series) #23 (Marvel, October 1977), text by Chris Padovano, photograph by Bob Pinaha