Today in Comics History, May 21: Man's creepy obsession with a young woman ends in the worst way possible

from Spectacular Spider-Man (1976 series) #149 (Marvel, April 1989), script by Gerry Conway, pencils and inks by Sal Buscema, colors by Bob Sharen, letters by Rick Parker
Which means we can assign this a date of May 20:


from Amazing Spider-Man #121 (June 1973), script by Gerry Conway, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by John Romita Sr. and Tony Mortellaro, colors by David Hunt, letters by Artie Simek
See how it all fits in together? Comics!

Today in Comics History, May 21: What If?™...Edgar Allan Poe had Become a Research Scientist?

from "Heartline" in Chamber of Chills Magazine #23 (Harvey, May 1954), pencils by Manny Stallman, inks by John Giunta, letters by Joe Rosen

Today in Comics History: May 21, 1945: Bucky on ice is nice

from Captain America (2005 series) #11 (Marvel, November 2005), script by Ed Brubaker, pencils and inks by Steve Epting, additional inks by Mike Perkins, colors by Frank D'Armata, letters by Randolph Gentile

Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy Birthday, Jane Wiedlin!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 20, 2012.

Born on this day: Singer/songwriter/subject of my affection Jane Wiedlin! Hi Jane!

Today in Comics History, May 20, 2016: War Wheel runs amok in Manhattan

from Yellow Cab (IDW, May 2022), by Christophe Chabouté, based on the novel by Benoît Cohen

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1763: Boswell and MacPherson find the Honeycomb Hideout

from "Excerpts from Boswell's London Journal 1762-1763" in Weirdo #3 (Last Gasp, Fall 1981), by Robert Crumb

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1498: Vasco da Gama claims India through the cunning use of flags

from "The Stories of John Cabot and Vasco da Gama" in All-American Comics #62 (DC, December 1944), script by Max Gaines and W. W. D. Sones, pencils and inks by Allen Simon

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1805: "Guess I'll have to stay here with all the nymphs!"

from Manifest Destiny #42 (Image, March 2020), script by Chris Dingess, pencils and inks by Matthew Roberts, colors by Owen Gieni, letters by Pat Brosseau

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1999: Okay, seriously now, stop sending me these creepy emails

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #8 (DC/Vertigo, August 1999), script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Sean Phillips, inks by Jay Stephens, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1942: Oh geez, please let that be a rhetorical question

from Young All-Stars #12 (DC, May 1988), script by Roy Thomas and Dann Thomas, pencils by Howard Simpson, inks by Malcolm Jones III, colors by Gene D'Angelo, letters by Jean Simek

Today in Comics History, May 19, 1763: James Boswell cheaps out on floozies

from "Excerpts from Boswell's London Journal 1762-1763" in Weirdo #3 (Last Gasp, Fall 1981), by Robert Crumb

Today in Comics History, May 19: Down and Out with Len Wein

from Starman (1988 series) #1 (DC, October 1988), script by Roger Stern, pencils by Tom Lyle, inks by Bob Smith, colors by Julianna Ferriter, letters by Bob Pinaha

Today in Comics History, May 19, 1988: Some people stop at nothing if you're searching for something

from Spider-Man: Breakout #2 (Marvel, July 2005), script by Tony Bedard, pencils by Manuel Garcia, inks by Raul Fernández, colors by Chris Sotomayor, letters by Cory Petit



"Breakout" by Swing Out Sister (Mercury, 1986), written by Andy Connell, Corinne Drewery, and Martin Jackson
Yes, this entire post is riffing on the title of a song I like. And...?

Today in Comics History, May 19, 1945: Betty's Captain Marvel Decoder Ring has not yet arrived

from "Dear Betty" in Rocketeer Adventures (2011 series) #1 (IDW, May 2011), script by Kurt Busiek, pencils and inks by Mike Kaluta, colors by Dave Stewart, letters by Chris Mowry

Today in Comics History, May 19, 1805: Either they've landed in St. Louis or there's half a McDonalds ahead

from Manifest Destiny #39 (Image, December 2019), script by Chris Dingess, pencils and inks by Matthew Roberts, colors by Owen Gieni, letters by Pat Brosseau

Today in Comics History, May 19, 1962: "Ooh! You're a real dreamboat, [mechanical voice] Adrian Veidt."

from Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #4 (DC, January 2013), script by Len Wein, pencils and inks by Jae Lee, colors by June Chung, letters by John Workman

Today in Comics History, May 19: At home with Bill Cullen

from "The 12 Faces of Crime!" in Gang Busters #39 (DC, April 1954), pencils and inks by Leonard Starr

Today in Comics History, May 19, 2021: When you see an email like this, hit SPAM as fast as possible

from The Nice House on the Lake #1 (DC/Black Label, August 2021), script by James Tynion IV, pencils and inks by Álvaro Martínez Bueno, colors by Jordie Bellaire, letters by AndWorld Design

Today in Comics History, May 18: Happy (another) birthday, Queen Hippolyta!

Born on this day in (mumblemumbleclearsthroat), the woman the kids call Mrs. Wonder Woman's Mom: Queen Hippolyta!


from "The Shrinking City!" in Wonder Woman (1942 series) #93 (DC, October 1957), script by Robert Kanigher, pencils and inks by Harry Peter

Today in Comics History, May 18: Happy birthday, Perry Como!

Born on this day in 1912, crooner Perry Como!, the most relaxed man in show business!

But what does Mr. Como have to do with comic books, you ask? Hmmmm...




advertisement from DC Comics cover-dated September 1958
Well, for one, here he is, RIGHT ON A FREAKIN' COMIC BOOK COVER. That's what!


cover of Penny #6 (Avon, September 1947), pencils and inks by Harry Haenigsen

Today in Comics History, May 18: Happy birthday, Linda Lee Danvers! (This time for sure!)

"Born" on this day and at least two others this year, Linda Lee Danvers, aka Kara Zor-El: Supergirl!
I shall explain.


from "Supergirl's Busiest Day!" in Action Comics #270 (DC, November 1960), script by Jerry Siegel, pencils and inks by Jim Mooney

Today in Comics History, May 18: Happy birthday, James Fry!

Say a heraty happy birthday to comic book penciller and inker James W. Fry: he's worked on Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, Star Trek, Blasters, Moon Knight, Elvira, Shadowhawk, Sonic and more; he's the co-creator of Slapstick and The Liberty Project!


from Marvel Age #29 and 89 (Marvel, August 1985 and June 1990); text by Jim Salicrup (#29) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#89); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Renee Witterstaetter (#89)
Can you find him on this cover featuring the Marvel Bullpen? Of course you can! I have confidence in you!




cover of Marvel Age #35 (Marvel, February 1986) by James Fry and Tom Morgan
Happy birthday, James!

Today in Comics History, May 18: Happy birthday, Alan Kupperberg!

Born on this day: comic book/strip scripter and artist Alan Kupperberg (The Invaders, The Defenders, What If...?, Marvel Two-in-One, Thor, Crazy Magazine, Spider-Ham, Hostess ads, and more)!


from Marvel Age #29, 53, 89, and 101 (Marvel, August 1985, August 1987, June 1990, and June 1991); text by Jim Salicrup (#29), Mike Carlin (#53) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#89 and 101); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Paul Becton (#53) and Renee Witterstaetter (#89 and 101)

Today in Comics History, May 18: Happy birthday, Bill Everett!

Born on this day in 1917: comics writer and artist Bill Everett, creator of Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner and Hydroman; co-creator of Daredevil, Simon Garth the Zombie, Moondragon, Stingray, Foggy Nelson, Karen Page, Battlin' Jack Murdock, Namorita, and more!


from Fantastic Four Annual #7 (Marvel, November 1969)

Today in Comics History, May 18, 1922: Maurice W. Moe implores Alan Moore to stop writing to him

back cover of Providence #1 (Avatar, May 2015), script by Alan Moore

Today in Comics History, May 18, 1994: The greatest crime of Tony Stark: using Comic Sans

from Iron Man #306 (Marvel, July 1994), text by Len Kaminski

Today in Comics History, May 18, 1956: Ernie Kovacs Presents Jokes from Your Dad

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

Today in Comics History, May 18, 1947: Jackie Robinson hits pencils

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

Today in Comics History, May 18, 1940: This is the worst episode of The Fred Allen Show ever

from "Underground Girl!" in Famous Stars #3 (Ziff-Davis, 1950), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, May 17: Happy birthday, George Kashdan!

Born on this day in 1928: comics/animation writer/editor George Kashdan (Action Comics, Adventure Comics, The Unexpected, G.I. Combat, Weird War Tales, Rip Hunter: Time Master, The Twilight Zone, Grimm's Ghost Stories, Flash Gordon, Star Trek comics, and The Mighty Hercules and The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure cartoons, among others): George Kashdan! He co-created Tommy Tomorrow!


from "The Man Who Lost His Spirit" in Ghosts #95 (DC, December 1980), script by George Kashdan, pencils and inks by Tor Infante, colors by Jerry Serpe
I'm not going to include the rather mean-spirited appearance of George in Inferior Five #6. (Read more about it on Tom Breevoort's blog if you'd like!)

Let's just leave with this panel from the story above.


Happy birthday, George!

Today in Comics History, May 17, 1993: This is the worst recipe blog introduction ever

from (L) "V for Vendetta: Book One, Chapter Ten: Venom" in Warrior #10 (Quality Communications, April 1983), script by Alan Moore, pencils and inks by David Lloyd, letters by Jenny O'Connor;
(R) from V for Vendetta #3 (DC, November 1988); colors by David Lloyd, Siobhan Dodds, and Steve Whitaker

Today in Comics History, May 17: Happy birthday, Steve Geiger!

Born on this day: 1990s Marvel Art Director and comics artist Steve Geiger (The Incredible Hulk, Spitfire and the Troubleshooters, Web of Spider-Man, Doctor Solar, Samuree, Scion, and more) and founder of the entertainment development company Evil Geiger Empire!


from Marvel Age #89 and 101 (Marvel, June 1990 and June 1991); text by Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter; pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Renee Witterstaetter
You know the drill: Find Steve Geiger in the Marvel Bullpen!

from Marvel Age #120 (Marvel, January 1993), art by Rick Parker
(Click top picture to Bullpen-size)
Happy birthday, Steve!


from Marvel Age #112 (Marvel, May 1992)

Today in Comics History, May 17: This should probably be on August 17, but hey, go with the date in the panel

from Legends of the Dark Knight (2021 series) #5 (DC, November 2021), script by Brandon Thomas, pencils and inks by Giannis Milonogiannis, colors by Jordie Bellaire, letters by Deron Bennett

Today in Comics History, May 17, 1949: CDC warns against licking small bears

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