Saturday, April 09, 2022

Today in Comics History, April 9, 1999, 6:58 PM: One entire comic book later, a radio show goes on the air


from Radio: An Illustrated Guide one-shot (WBEZ Alliance, 1999), co-script by Ira Glass; co-script, pencils, inks, and letters by Jessica Abel

Today in Comics History, April 9, 1999, 6:32 PM: Narrator: "There was not plenty of time."


from Radio: An Illustrated Guide one-shot (WBEZ Alliance, 1999), co-script by Ira Glass; co-script, pencils, inks, and letters by Jessica Abel

Today in Comics History, April 9, 1999, 6:29 PM: Two seconds to Ira


from Radio: An Illustrated Guide one-shot (WBEZ Alliance, 1999), co-script by Ira Glass; co-script, pencils, inks, and letters by Jessica Abel

Today in Comics History, April 9, 1999, 6:22 PM: "You roll off!"


from Radio: An Illustrated Guide one-shot (WBEZ Alliance, 1999), co-script by Ira Glass; co-script, pencils, inks, and letters by Jessica Abel

Today in Comics History, April 9: Happy birthday, Kelly Corvese!

Born this day: Kelly Corvese, Marvel editor and colorist on Marvel Comics Presents, Cage, What The--?! and more!


from Marvel Age #88 and 100 (Marvel, April 1990 and April 1991); text by Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter; pencils and inks by Ron Zalme, colors by Gregory Wright (#88) and Renee Witterstaetter (#100)




Today in Comics History, April 9: Happy birthday, Christian Cooper!

Please wish a very happy birthday today to Christian Cooper, science and comics writer and editor! He wrote scripts for Darkhold: The Book of Sins, Marvel Comics Presents, Star Trek, Ghost Rider, Excalibur and others, and edited several collections including the infamously wonderful Marvel Swimsuit Special!


from Marvel Age #115 (Marvel, August 1992)




Today in Comics History, April 9, 1940: Germany craves fjords


from "Cavalcade of England, Chapter VIII" in True Comics #49 (Parents' Institute Press, May 1946), script by Joseph H. Park, inks (and pencils?) by Charles Raab

Today in Comics History, April 9, 1865: Even the biggest Confederate General of 'em all admits it: "We lost."


from "The Gentleman from Virginia: Robert E. Lee" in Real Heroes #7 (Parents' Magazine Pess, November 1942), creators unknown

Oh cool! Robert E. Lee knows what he must do! Next panel: he commits harakiri and throws himself upon his sword!


Aw man, it's just only surrender? That's apt to cause a lot of problems further down the line.


Personally, I specifically blame Parents' Magazine Press for spotlighting Robert E. Lee in their popular comics Real Heroes, when they should have been cover-featuring him on its competing magazine Total Losers.

Today in Comics History, April 9, 1970: And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make


from Marvel Comics Super Special #4 [The Beatles] (1978), script by Dave Kraft, additional dialogue by Don McGregor, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Tom Orzechowski

Today in Comics History, April 9, 1968: Alfred Hitchcock wishes he could be banned from the Oscar for ten years


from Alfred Hitchcock: Master of Suspense (NBM, March 2022), script by by Noël Simsolo, translation by Monatan Kane, art by Dominique Hé, lettering by Ortho

Friday, April 08, 2022

Atlas April, Day 8: Don't be MAD about cheap imitations!

As we head into our second sensational week of body-building advertisements, let's glance away from Charles Atlas, leader in the field, to a competitor's ad that certainly isn't copying the approach of the Atlas comic strip come-on in the least, my goodness, no, they're entirely different. (cough)


Joe Weider advertisement from DC Comics cover-dated December 1974

Joe Weider might defend that ad as "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!" i hope that's also the case for this Mandrake the Magaician spoof from an issue of MAD so early on, it's still in color!


from "Manduck the Magician" in MAD #14 (EC, August 1954), script by Harvey Kurtzman, pencils and inks by Will Elder, colors by Marie Severin, letters by Ben Oda

Elder even managed to get his usual chicken fat reference in! Mmmm, chicken fat.

NOTE: This feature is to be discontinued after I was contacted by Charles Atlas, Inc. I'll delete these soon.

Today in Comics History, April 8: Happy birthday, Michele Wolfman!

Born on this day: comic book colorist Michele Wolfman (Daredevil, Hawkman, Flash, Blue Devil, Tomb of Dracula, Captain America, Star Trek, and many more)!


from FOOM #8 (Marvel, December 1974)

Happy birthday, Michele!


from 1975 Mighty Marvel Convention Program Book (Marvel, 1975)

Today in Comics History, April 8, 1994: Tony Stark refrains himself from repulsor-blasting Larry King in the face



from "The Media Takes On Tony Stark" in Iron Man Annual (1976 series) #15 (Marvel, 1994), text by Len Kaminski and Scott Benson

Today in Comics History, April 8, 1947: Buying snappy green suit causes man to say "zowie!"


from Jackie Robinson #1 (Fawcett, Summer 1949), script by Charles Dexter, pencils by Clem Weisbecker, inks by John Jordan

Thursday, April 07, 2022

Today in Comics History, April 7: Happy birthday, Steve Skroce!

Born on this day: Steve Skroce comic book artist (Cable, X-Man, Amazing Spider-Man, Ektokid, Wolverine, co-creator of Doc Frankenstein, We Stand On Guard, and Maestros, etc.) and film storyboarder (The Matrix, V for Vendetta, Speed Racer, Cloud Atlas, and more)!


from Marvel Age #138 (Marvel, July 1994)

Happy birthday, Steve!

Atlas April, Day 7: Tears of a Clown

Just pick the kind of body you want?!? Why, it's a wonderland of selection!


Charles Atlas advertisement in Charlton Comics cover-dated February 1957
ad copyright ©1957 and 2022 Charles Atlas Ltd.

On the other hand, the hapless Fred the Clown (by the always-brilliant Roger Langridge) shows us the more probable outcome of an Atlas beach encounter. Duck, Fred, duck!


from Fred the Clown #1 (Hotel Fred Press, September 2001), by Roger Langridge

Today in Comics History, April 7: Happy birthday, Jody Houser!

A very happy birthday today to comics writer Jody Hauser, Eisner-nominated scripter for Faith, who's also scripter Stranger Things, StarCraft, Critical Role, Doctor Who, Mother Panic, Supergirl, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, Star Wars, Star Trek: Year Five, Spider-Girls, The Web of Black Widow and many more! Now...find Jody Houser!


from Faith (2016 series) #3 (Valiant, September 2016), script by Jody Houser, pencils and inks by Pere Pérez, colors by Andrew Dalhouse, letters by Dave Sharpe
(Click picture to San Diegosize)

Happy birthday, Jody!

Today in Comics History, April 7, 1891: First Ferengi on Earth dies


from "Presenting the Amazing P.T. Barnum" in Real Fact Comics #2 (DC, May 1946); script by Jack Schiff, Mort Weisinger, and/or Bernie Breslauer, pencils by Dick Sprang

Today in Comics History, April 7, 1995: Archie hoped Betty would forget

...because he double-booked a date with Veronica! Archie, will you never learn!


cover of Betty (1992 series) #26 (Archie, June 1995), pencils by Stan Goldberg, inks by Henry Scarpelli, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida

How can we tell it's April 7 even though the calendar isn't numbered? Because in 1995, that Friday was April 7!

Today in Comics History, April 7, 1994: Snoopy Train just waiting for someone to attach its ears and then it's ready to go


from "Eurohit '94" in The Punisher Annual #7 (Marvel, November 1994); script by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning; pencils by Doug Braithwaite; inks by Al Williamson, Fred Fredericks, and Art Nichols; colors by Christie Scheele; letters by Ken Lopez

Wednesday, April 06, 2022

Atlas April, Day 6: The Thin Man Strikes Back

There's quite a few variations on "97 lb. weakling" comic strip that we saw in the first round of Charles Atlas ads. Here's another popular variation that focuses not so much on the sand-kicking-in-the-face as it does the inherant skinniness of that One Guy who needs the mindset and training that Atlas can give him. Yes, the famous "Hey Skinny!" advertisement starring poor bony Mac! Hey, ya big bully, it's in to be slim!


Charles Atlas advertisement in DC Comics cover-dated April 1955
ad copyright ©1955 and 2022 Charles Atlas Ltd.

"Hey Skinny!" became such a ubiquitous phrase that a fun book on the history of comic book advertisements was actually titled that! Check it out; Bully recommends! (Amazon ad)



And now it's time for our parody Atlas ad, which pokes gentle, good-natured fun at...WHOA NELLY! This is the first one I'be seen that promised actual death! I'll just stick to the cupcakes, thank you.


"The Insult That Made A Corpse Out Of "Mac"" from Crazy #9 (Marvel, February 1975), script by Russ Maheras, pencils and inks by Marie Severin (?)

Today in Comics History, April 6, 1940: Plane turns back into pumpkin at midnight


from "Flying Cinderella" in Calling All Girls #2 (Parents' Magazine Press, December 1941), creators unknown

Today in Comics History, April 6, 1972: Worst Easter ever (much worse than the one all the eggs melted)

Tne beginning of the 1972 Easter Offensive in the Vietnam War:


from "Ruff-Puffs" in The 'Nam #74 (Marvel, November 1992), script by Don Lomax, pencils and inks by Wayne Vansant, colors and letters by Phil Felix

Meanwhile, Stateside, things weren't going well either:


from "Once a Sergeant" in The 'Nam #74; script by Don Lomax, pencils by Mike Harris, inks by Jimmy Palmiotti, colors by John Kalisz, letters by Phil Felix

Today in Comics History, April 6, 1999: "Um" is fixed*


from Radio: An Illustrated Guide one-shot (WBEZ Alliance, 1999), co-script by Ira Glass; co-script, pencils, inks, and letters by Jessica Abel

*No, seriously. That's exactly what this is.

Today in Comics History, April 6, 1805: Spring has spring / The grass is riz / I wonder where / The flesh-eating monsters is


from Manifest Destiny #37 (Image, October 2019), script by Chris Dingess, pencils and inks by Matthew Roberts, colors by Owen Gieni, letters by Pat Brosseau

Today in Comics History, April 6, 1909: White man begrudgingly gives partial credit


from "Scoops...Pictures to Remember" in Real Fact Comics #1 (DC, March 1946), pencils and inks by George Russos



from "North to the Pole" in Real Heroes #14 (Parents' Magazine Press, May 1946), credtors unknown

Today in Comics History, April 6, 1897: Another Great Tale of the Sea and the Men Who Sail It and Are Sick Upon It


from "Strangely Believe It!" in MAD #38 (March 1958); text by Ernie Kovacs; pencils, inks, and letters by Wally Wood

Today in Comics History, April 6, 1964: Most vile villain of all time torments heroic, innocent bull


from Daredevil (1964 series) #5 (December 1964), script by Stan Lee, pencils and inks by Wally Wood, colors by Stan Goldberg (?), letters by Sam Rosen

Today in Comics History, April 6, 1981: Sun comes up, and it all pretty much goes downhill after that.


from Avengers (1963 series) #209 (Marvel, July 1981), script by J. M. DeMatteis, pencils by Alan Kupperberg, inks by Dan Green, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Janice Chiang

Tuesday, April 05, 2022

Today in Comics History, April 5, 2063: There goes the neighborhood


from Star Trek: First Contact one-shot (Marvel/Paramount, November 1996), script by John Vornholt, pencils by Terry Pallot and Rod Whigham, inks by Philip Moy, color design by Shannon Blanchard, colors by Malibu, letters by Edd Fear

Today in Comics History, April 5, 1862: Civil War Army men burst into flames under a crescent moon


from "General U. S. Grant" in Real Life Comics #6 (Pines, July 1942), pencils by Maurice Gutwirth

Atlas April, Day 5: Are you a man...or a mouse?

There's a lot of text (in Chuck's own handwriting!) in the below Charles Atlas comic book ad. But read it carefully, as there will be a quiz following!


Charles Atlas advertisement in DC Comics cover-dated November 1960
ad copyright ©1960 and 2022 Charles Atlas Ltd.

Okay, here's your quiz question: where does it say in the rulebook that a mouse can't use the Atlas program?!?


from "Muggs Mouse" in All Great Comics (1945 series) one-shot (Fox, 1945), by Ab Newton

It doesn't say that anywhere. But...it probably should.

Today in Comics History, April 5, 1999: Ira Glass chairs a meeting*


from Radio: An Illustrated Guide one-shot (WBEZ Alliance, 1999), co-script by Ira Glass; co-script, pencils, inks, and letters by Jessica Abel

*No, seriously. That's exactly what this is.

Today in Comics History, April 5, 1972: No sleep 'til Quảng Trị


from "Siege" in The 'Nam #73 (Marvel, October 1992), script by Don Lomax, pencils and inks by Wayne Vansant, colors and letters by Phil Felix

Monday, April 04, 2022

Atlas April, Day 4: Charles Atlas has also invented an amazing shrinking technology. He calls them "Atlas particles."

Real Charles Atlas ad!:


Charles Atlas advertisement in DC Comics cover-dated July 1950
ad copyright ©1950 and 2022 Charles Atlas Ltd.

Parody Charles Atlas comic page:


from "Just One Word Made Me a Man" in The Spirit (Register and Tribune Syndicate, January 18, 1948); script, pencils, and inks by WillEisner, background pencils and inks by Jerry Grandenetti, letters by Abe Kanegson

Today in Comics History, April 4, 2063: The Enterprise crew must help a pig win a medal to avoid Borg conquest



from Star Trek: First Contact #1 one-shot (Marvel/Paramount, November 1996), script by John Vornholt, pencils by Terry Pallot and Rod Whigham, inks by Philip Moy, color design by Shannon Blanchard, colors by Malibu, letters by Edd Fear