Today in Comics History, October 11: Happy birthday, Joe Simon!

Born on this day in 1913: comics legend (writer, artist, editor, publisher) Joe Simon, co-creator of Captain America and Bucky, the Newsboy Legion and Boy Commandos, Boys' Ranch, Prez, Brother Power the Geek...


from Boys' Ranch #1 (Harvey, October 1950)



...the Green Team, the 1970s Sandman, the Golden Age Vision, Red Raven, and the Red Skull. AND MORE.


from Captain America (2011 series) #19 (Marvel, December 2012), script by Ed Brubaker, pencils and inks by Steve Epting, colors by Frank D'Armata, letters by Joe Caramagna
Here's Joe (tall, wearing Army helmet) along with Jack Kirby (green pants) and co-publisher Jack Liebowitz grey suit: in a Boy Commandos meta-story.


from "Satan Wears a Swastika" in Boy Commandos #1 (DC, Winter 1942), script and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Simon
Stan Lee's autobiographic-novel tells how Joe hired and created the most terrifying menace of comics history: Stan Lee himself!





from Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir (Simon & Schuster, January 2019), script by Peter David and Stan Lee, art by Colleen Doran
The Jack Kirby bio GN also portrayed Simon as the major influence he was.

Look out! Joe Simon's got a gun! (shrieks, panic)





from Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics (Ten Speed, July 2020), script and art by Tom Scioli
Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey's excellent Comic Book Comics (aka Comic Book History of Comics) weaves Simon's career through their a full industry- and genre-narrative...





from Comic Book Comics (2008 series) #1-2 (Evil Twin, March-October 2008); script by Fred Van Lente; pencils, inks, and letters by Ryan Dunlavey
...and their movement across the various comic book companies, from Fox to Timely to National to Harvey...





from Comic Book Comics #2
...right through to Wertham, the Comics Code, and the bitter end of the Golden Age.



from Comic Book Comics (Evil Twin, 2008 series) #3 (February 2009 2008); script by Fred Van Lente; pencils, inks, and letters by Ryan Dunlavey
Yes, Joe Simon! The only guy who, playing a cop on this photo cover, was man enough to arrest Jack Kirby as the burglar. (A rare exception to the ACAB rule!)


photo cover to Headline Comics (Prize, September 1949)
Joe Simon! We salute you, and your weird matching orange tie/slacks combo!


house ad from Boy Commandos (1943 series) #2 (DC, Spring 1943), artist unknown
Happy birthday, Joe. The industry, and all us fans, owe you a world of thank yous.