Today in Comics History, November 23: Happy birthday, Sol Harrison!

Born on this day in 1917: Sol Harrison, longtime art director, production manager and colorist at DC Comics.


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)








photos from Amazing World of Superman (DC, 1973)
What did Sol do at DC? Well, I'm glad ya asked! Here's some info, so read more about Sol!



(top) from Amazing World of DC Comics #1 (DC, July 1974);
the very first "DC Profiles," from DC Comics cover-dated May 1977, by Mike Gold
More about the "Junior Bullpen Program," mentioned above, that Sol spearheaded to get new young creators into the field! As shown in his obituary here, one of those brought on board was Pat Broderick!



from (top) DC Comics cover-dated July 1973;
(bottom) DC Comics cover-dated February 1990
Sol was also (literally) the creator of the famous "DC Comicmobile," leasing and designing the van, filling it with DCs, and taking it out on the streets to sell comics!



(top) from DC Comics cover-dated January 1974
And, he met America's only Superman, Christopher Reeve, during the final picks for the Great Superman Movie Contest Winner. (Alas, t'wasn't me.)


from DC Comics cover-dated January 1978
Sol's entertaining and informative memories of his early days at DC and some of the technical aspects of production:



from Amazing World of DC Comics #1 (DC, July 1974), by Allan Asherman
Can you spot Sol Harrison in this shining spotlight of sensational DC super-stars?




back cover of The Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #5 (DC, May 1980), pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Dick Giordano
You did? Oh yeah? Well, can you find him in the crowd of the celebrities ringside at the famous Superman/Muhammad Ali boxing match?

cover of All-New Collectors' Edition #C-56 (DC, March 1978), layout by Joe Kubert, pencils by Neal Adams, inks by Neal Adams (?) and/or Cory Adams (?), logo design by John Workman
(Click top picture to GOAT-size)
A very happy birthday to you, Sol Harrison (left, with relative unknowns Diana Prince, Zatanna Zatara, and Barry Allen)!


from "Enter Justice League Prime" in DC Retroactive: JLA: The '70s #1 (September 2011), script by Cary Bates, pencils by Gordon Purcell, inks by Jose Marzan Jr., colors by Carlos Bzadilla, letters by Wes Abbott