Today in Comics History, July 9: What's Young Justice doin'? Just hangin' around.

from Young Justice (2011 series) #4 (July 2011), script by Art Baltaza and Franco Aureliani, pencils and inks by Mike Norton, colors by Zac Atkinson, letters by Carlos M. Mangual5

Today in Comics History, July 9: Go home, it's Friday night

from Young Justice (2011 series) #3 (DC, June 2011), script by Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani, pencils and inks by Mike Norton, colors by Alex Sinclair, letters by Carlos M. Mangual

Today in Comics History, July 9, 1936: It's a mistake to buy a used jacket from Dick Tracy

from "Gang War in Brooklyn" in Crime Cases Comics #27 [4] (Marvel/Atlas, March 1951), pencils and inks by Joe Maneely, colors by Stan Goldberg

Today in Comics History, July 9: Happy birthday, Virginia Romita!

Happy birthday today to Marvel's famous and beloved Production Traffic Manager Virginia Romita!


from Marvel Age #31, 55, 91, and 103 (Marvel, October 1985, October 1987, August 1990, and August 1991); text by Jim Salicrup (#31), Mike Carlin (#55) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#91 and 103); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Andy Yanchus (#31), Paul Becton (#54) and Renee Witterstaetter (#91 and 103)

Today in Comics History, July 9: "What was that? I forgot who you were."

from "Dead Man on Campus" in Action Comics Weekly #622 (DC, October 18, 1988), script by Martin Pasko, pencils by Frank Springer, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Albert DeGuzman

Today in Comics History, July 9: Happy birthday, Craig Anderson!

Born on this here today: Craig Anderson, Marvel Comics Managing Editor in the 1980s and '90s, and occasional scripter (Amazing Spider-Man, Savage Sword of Conan). He and Paty Cockrum created the hero Red 9! Also, I guess he wore plaid pants a lot!


from Marvel Age #31, 55, 91, and 103 (Marvel, October 1985, October 1987, August 1990, and August 1991); text by Jim Salicrup (#31), Mike Carlin (#55) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#91 and 103); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Andy Yanchus (#31), Paul Becton (#54) and Renee Witterstaetter (#91 and 103)

Today in Comics History, July 9, 1922: A Balm in Gilead

Remember last week when we saw when this guy died? Well, here's when he was born! ♬ It's the circle of life... ♬


from "Terror in the Swamp!" in Vault of Horror #15 (EC, October 1950); script, pencils, and inks by Al Feldstein; letters by Jim Wroten

Today in Comics History, July 9: Most common method of picking a superhero team member discovered

from Young Justice (2011 series) #3 (June 2011), script by Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani, pencils and inks by Mike Norton, colors by Alex Sinclair, letters by Carlos M. Mangua

Today in Comics History, July 9: Happy birthday, Hoshi Sato!

It's the birthday of Star Trek: Enterprise's communications officer and linguist Hoshi Sato today (in 2129), but she has never appeared in a comic book.


See?


from the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II" (UPN/Paramount Network Television, April 29, 2005[), script by Michael Sussman, directed by Marvin V. Rush
Sorry, Hoshi. And happy birthday.

By some curious cosmic coincidence (I blame the Great Bird of the Galaxy), it's also the birthday of actor Linda Park, who played Hoshi Sato. Huh! What're the odds of that?


Happy birthday too, Linda!

Today in Comics History, July 9: Happy birthday, Atom!

Born today: Earth 1's Ray Palmer, The Atom! At least Pre-Crisis, according to the Super DC Calendar '76!


from Super DC Calendar 1976 (DC, 1975), letters by Ben Oda

Today in Comics History, July 9, 2001: Apparently there was a time before there were seventeen X-Books a month

from The Invaders (2019 series) #4 (Marvel, June 2019), script by Chip Zdarsky, pencils and inks by Carlos Magno and Butch Guice, colors by Alex Guimarães, letters by Travis Lanham

Today in Comics History, July 9, 1850: President beheaded by two American flags

from "Zachary Taylor: Rough and Ready" in True Comics #79 (Parents' Magazine Press, October 1949), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, July 9, 1878: Bad Job Markets of the Olllllllld West

"Some Smoke" from Outlaws of the West (1957 series) #81 (Charlton, May 1970), creator uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, July 9, 12:55 AM Pacific/3:55 AM Eastern: Realistic-looking robot man still unable to express human love

from "The Sound of a Silent Heart" i n Action Comics Weekly #624 (DC, November 1, 1988), script by Martin Pasko, pencils by Frank Springer, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Albert DeGuzman

Today in Comics History, July 9: The packing containers move in on our heroes

from "Standard Allowable Abductions" in Action Comics Weekly #623 (DC, October 25, 1988), cript by Martin Pasko, pencils by Frank Springer, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Albert DeGuzman

Today in Comics History, July 9: Jenny from the Block is working undercover

from"Dead Man on Campus" in Action Comics Weekly #622 (DC, October 18, 1988), script by Martin Pasko, pencils by Frank Springer, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Albert DeGuzman

Today in Comics History, July 8: Bad news delivered by walrus

from "Guess What We Learned in School Today?" in Action Comics Weekly #621 (DC, October 11, 1988), script by Martin Pasko, pencils by Frank Springer, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Albert DeGuzman

Today in Comics History, July 8: First DC Universe appearance of Dr. Zaius

from Young Justice (2011 series) #3 (DC, June 2011), script by Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani, pencils and inks by Mike Norton, colors by Alex Sinclair, letters by Carlos M. Mangual

Today in Comics History, July 8: Two Washington DC buildings get into quite a conversation

from "Just a Little Bug That's Going Around" in Action Comics Weekly #620 (DC, October 4, 1988), script by Martin Pasko, pencils by Frank Springer, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Albert DeGuzman

Today in Comics History, July 8: Explosion makes clocktower go back in time

from "Dead Man on Campus" in Action Comics Weekly #622 (DC, October 18, 1988), script by Martin Pasko, pencils by Frank Springer, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Albert DeGuzman

Today in Comics History, July 8, 1969: Better watch out testifying, that helicopter has powerful friends in Congress

from The 'Nam #42 (Marvel, March 1990), script by Doug Murray, pencils by Wayne Vansant, inks by Stan Drake, colors by Rob Tokar, letters by Phil Felix

Today in Comics History, July 8, 1943-44: America is best there is at everything, as they're always sayin' they are

from The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour (Dead Reckoning, November 2021), script by Doug Murray, pencils and inks by Steven Sanders

Today in Comics History, July 8, 1954: Giants lift Willie up where he belongs

from The Amazing Willie Mays one-shot (Eastern Color, September 1954), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, July 8: Happy birthday, Irwin Hasen!

Born today in 1918: comics scripter and artist Irwin Hasen (Green Lantern, Our Army at War, Detective Comics, Wonder Woman, The Flash, All-American Western, Big Town, Johnny Thunder, Justice Society of America, and more) and the co-creator and artist of the long-running comic strip Dondi!


"A Dream Comes True" in Four Color #1176 [Dondi] (Dell, January 1961)
The first page of an extensive Hasen interview:


from Men of Mystery Comics #25 (AC, October 2000), by Christopher Irving
Happy birthday, Irwin!

Today in Comics History, July 8: We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold

from "Just a Little Bug That's Going Around" in Action Comics Weekly #620 (DC, October 4, 1988), script by Martin Pasko, pencils by Frank Springer, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Albert DeGuzman

Today in Comics History, July 8, 1777: Americans fail; this event is never again mentioned in American history textbooks

"Flying Colors" in Wonder Woman (1942 series) #2 (DC, Fall 1942); script, pencils, and inks by John M. Jenks

Today in Comics History, July 8: "No! That's just what he wants us to think!"

from "Once More Unto the Breach" in Action Comics Weekly #619 (DC, September 27, 1988), script by Martin Pasko, pencils by Frank Springer, inks by Frank McLaughlin, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Albert DeGuzman

Today in Comics History, July 8: Happy birthday, Whilce Portacio!

Born on this day: comics writer/artist Whilce Portacio, who's drawn Spawn (hey, that rhymes!), The Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, Punisher, Hulk, Alpha Flight, and co-created Bishop and the series Wetworks!



"Who Is Whilce Portacio" in Marvel Age #97 (February 1991), by Lee Benaka
Happy birthday, Whilce!

Today in Comics History, July 8: Mobile Organism Designed Only for Kid-Splaining

from Young Justice (2011 series) #2 (DC, May 2011), script by Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani, pencils and inks by Mike Norton, colors by Zac Atkinson, letters by Travis Lanham

Today in Comics History, July 8, 1940: The Gorton's Fisherman congratulates commandos

from "Launch vs. Battleship" in Fightin' Navy #81 (Charlton, January 1958), script by Joe Gill (?), pencils (and inks?) by Bill Molno, letters by Jon D'Agostino

Today in Comics History, July 8, 1951: Amazon invents non-urinating warehouse worker

from "The Men Who Lived Forever" in Mystery in Space (1951 series) #1 (DC, April 1951), script by John Broome, pencils by Alex Toth, inks by Bernard Sachs, letters by Gaspar Saladino

Today in Comics History, July 8: Happy birthday, Stan Woch!

Born on this day: comics penciller/inker Stan Woch (Robin, Black Orchid, Doom Patrol, Sandman, Airboy, Batman, the Buck Rogers comic strip and more)!


from New Talent Showcase (DC, 1984 series) #2 (February 1984)
Happy birthday, Stan!

Today in Comics History, July 8: The JLA subscribe to Luthor of the Month Club

from Young Justice (2011 series) #2 (DC, May 2011), script by Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani, pencils and inks by Mike Norton, colors by Zac Atkinson, letters by Travis Lanham

Today in Comics History, July 8, 1910: Even on his deathbed, Benton continues to have a one-track mind

from "The Train That Wasn't There!" in Journey into Mystery #27 (Marvel/Atlas, October 1955), pencils and inks by Bob Powell

Today in Comics History, July 8, 1982: Road to "Through the Night with Miracleman"

from "Blue Murder" in Miracleman #2 (Eclipse, October 1985), script by Alan Moore, pencils and inks by Alan Davis, colors by Ron Courtney, letters by G. George

Today in Comics History, July 8: Batman tries to hide during team portrait

from Young Justice (2011 series) #1 (April 2011), script by Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani, pencils and inks by Mike Norton, colors by Alex Sinclair, letters by Travis Lanham
(Click picture to justisize)

Today in Comics History, July 8: The millionaire, his wife, and the rest form Justice League Island

from Young Justice (2011 series) #0 (DC, March 2011), script by Kevin Hopps and Greg Weisman, pencils and inks by Mike Norton, colors by Alex Sinclair, letters by Travis Lanham

Today in Comics History, July 7, 1917: Happy birthday, Johnny Thunder!

Born today in 1917, in the DC Universe: Johnny Thunder, master of the genie Thunderbolt!


from Super DC Calendar 1976 (DC, 1975), letters by Ben Oda

Today in Comics History, July 7, 1928: Alfred Hitchcock can't stand the sight of blood

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

Today in Comics History, July 7: Happy birthday, Ringo Starr!

Born on this day in Liverpool, England: Richard Starkey, better known as Ringo Starr: singer, songwriter, actor, and drummer for a little band known as The Beatles.


from Beatles with an A: Birth of a Band (Fanfare, July 2014), script and art by Mauri Kunnas


from The Beatles: Their Story in Pictures (ITV, 1982), script by Angus P. Allan, art by Arthur Ranson (collected from the strip in (Look-In)


from The Beatles one-shot (Dell, September 1964), pencils and inks by Joe Sinnott
I know it's your birthday and you're getting older, Ringo, but that's no reason to be MAD about it!


from "American Confetti" in MAD #166 (April 1974), script by Larry Siegel, pencils and inks by Mort Drucker
Peace and love and happy birthday, Ringo!


from "The Origin of...Stuporman" in Not Brand Echh #7 (Marvel, April 1968), script by Roy Thomas, pencils and inks (and colors?) by Marie Severin, letters by Artie Simek
Oh, and congratulations to you and Sophia Loren on your marriage!


from The Adventures of Bob Hope #103 (DC, February 1967), script by Arnold Drake, pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Mike Esposito, letters by Gaspar Saladino