Bully Says: Comics Oughta Be Fun!

Saturday, July 16, 2022

Today in Comics History, July 16, 189X: This isn't going well, as the captions continue to tell you

And so it goes since July 6...

We lost Gilligan?...Full speed ahead!

from Marvel Classics Comics #9 [Dracula] (Marvel, 1976), script by Naunerle Farr, pencils (and inks?) by Nestor Redondo
Next: July 24: It gets worse.

Today in Comics History, July 16, 1804: Month passes without incident

Whoever knows apes shall burn at the touch of the Kong-Thing!

from Manifest Destiny #12 (Image, December 2014), script by Chris Dingess, pencils and inks by Matthew Roberts, colors by Owen Gieni, letters by Pat Brosseau

Today in Comics History, July 16, 1957: Beatles debut before puzzled crowd

These were the days before Britain had invented colour.

from Lennon: The New York Years (IDW, May 2017), story by David Foenkinos, adaptation by Corbeyran, art by Horne, letters by Troy Little

Today in Comics History, July 16, 1940: Hundreds perish in tragic train wreck just so this guy can get a cool origin story

'Well, it could have been worse: I could have been smoking near heavy water.'

from "[The Origin of Green Lantern]" in All-American Comics (1939 series) #16 (DC/All-American Comics, July 1940), script by Bill Finger; pencils, inks, and letters by Martin Nodell
Here's that Earth-2 origin story retold in an eighties comic!

Aw, they spilled Nickelodeon green slime all over the tracks!

Aw, they spilled Nickelodeon green slime all over the tracks!

from "The Tale of the Green Lantern" in Secret Origins (1986 series) #18 (DC, September 1987), script by (who else?) Roy Thomas, pencils and inks by George Freeman, colors by Anthony Tollin, letters by Jean Simek
How do we know this happened on July 16? Why, thanks to this fly on the wall. OH YES THANK YOU VERY MUCH DOOMSDAY CLOCK rassing frassin Doomsday Clock

And then Johnny Thunder sat on him. Squish! No more Watchmen!

And then Johnny Thunder sat on him. Squish! No more Watchmen!

from Doomsday Clock #7 (DC/Black Label, November 2018), script by Geoff Johns, pencils and inks by Gary Frank, colors by Brad Anderson, letters by Rob Leigh
Well, I guess everything is okay herOH DOCTOR MANHATTAN YOU ARE A JERK

The Green Lantern is later found by Frank Sinatra. Oh yeah, baby, Frank is swingin' now!

The Green Lantern is later found by Frank Sinatra. Oh yeah, baby, Frank is swingin' now!

And so, Doctor Manhattan continues to be a jerk:

'I've changed this timeline until I'm blue in the face!'

from Doomsday Clock #9 (DC/Black Label, May 2019), script by Geoff Johns, pencils and inks by Gary Frank, colors by Brad Anderson, letters by Rob Leigh
OH COME ON NOW DOCTOR JERKHATTAN

'But hey, life is cheap in the Golden Age.'

'But hey, life is cheap in the Golden Age.'

MAKE UP YOUR FREAKIN' MIND

Dr. Manhattan clearly has deficit disorder.

from Doomsday Clock #12 (DC/Black Label, February 2020), script by Geoff Johns, pencils and inks by Gary Frank, colors by Brad Anderson, letters by Rob Leigh
And that's why Alan Scott was the first Green Lantern. DESPITE.

Today in Comics history, July 16, 1827: Thus was born the terrible crime duo of the Pirate and the Shark

from "Tardy the Terrible" in Crime Must Pay the Penalty #6 (Ace, February 1949), oencils and inks by Ken Battefield

Today in Comics History, July 16, 1969: Indicia fireproofed against rocket exhaust

Where'd they steal THAT logo from? I'm gonna tell Marv!

from Marvel: The Lost Generation #6 (Marvel, September 2000), co-plot and script by Roger Stern, co-plot and pencils by John Byrne, inks by Al Milgrom, colors by Matt Hicks, letters by Jack Morelli

Today in Comics History, July 16, 1945: United States military explodes the first Kirby Bomb

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published July 16, 2016.

'This seems like a lot of complication just to cosplay Cyclops, General.'

'This seems like a lot of complication just to cosplay Cyclops, General.'

from Marvel Treasury Special Featuring Captain America's Bicentennial Battles #1 one-shot (Marvel, September 1976), script and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by John Verpoorten, colors by Phil Rachelson, letters by John Costanza
And guess who else was there?

'I am become Death, the shatterer of OH GEEZ DEADPOOL GET OUTTA THERE'

'I am become Death, the shatterer of OH GEEZ DEADPOOL GET OUTTA THERE'

from You Are Deadpool #5 (Marvel, July 2018), script by Al Ewing, pencils and inks by Salva Espin, colors by Guru-eFX, letters by Joe Sabino
Whadda you have to say about this, cast of The Invisibles?

'Oh no, I'm not buying TWO birthday gifts.'

'Oh no, I'm not buying TWO birthday gifts.'

'A few steps for man and a marathon race for mankind...in...The Twilight Zone.'

from The Invisibles (1997 series) #2 (DC/Vertigo, March 1997), script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Phil Jimenez, inks by John Stokes, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein
"I am become Death, the shatterer of worlds." — Robert Oppenheimer

'Oh, if we MUST.'

from Real Life Comics #29 (DC, March 1946), creators uncredited and unknown

Friday, July 15, 2022

Today in Comics History, July 15, St. Swithin's Day: If the Prime minister is a jerk on St. Swithin's Day, he'll be a jerk for forty succeeding days (and probably more)

Could we have kippers for breakfast / Mummy dear, Mummy dear / They got to have 'em in Texas / 'Cause everyone's a millionaire

from "Forecasts and Foolery" in Real Fact Comics #19 (DC, March 1949)

from The Simpsons episode "Bart of Darkness" (Gracie Films/20th Television, September 4, 1994), written by Dan McGrath, directed by Jim Reardon

Today in Comics History, July 15: Happy birthday, Kelly Sue DeConnick!

Born on this day: comics writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, co-creator of Pretty Deadly and Bitch Planet, and writer on such series as Captain Marvel, Avengers Assemble, Osborn, Aquaman, Ghost, and more! She was a consultant on the 2019 Captain Marvel movie and had a cameo in the film. She's also the translator of several manga, including Fruits Basket, Black Cat, Demon Diary, Kare First Love, and Sensual Phrase. How do you even find time to have some birthday cake today, Kelly Sue?

Can you spot Kelly Sue at this comic book convention? Bonus points for all the other creators you can find! Hint: most of 'em have nameplates!

Yeah, that right! Give Ryan Stegman what he's got coming to him!

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 top picture to Oh no, I'm not gonna say "Faith" here-size)
Happy birthday, Kelly Sue DeConnick!

I totally didn't recognize her with that excellent disguise!

I totally didn't recognize her with that excellent disguise!

from "Horsepower: Dark Horse Heroes" in Dark Horse Comics cover-dated February 2013

Today in Comics History, July 15, 1868: For an EC text story, I expected more ghosts

'One could scarely blame the policeman, for he had contributed much to the development of brutality and the inhumane task of causing pain.'

"The Pain Killer" from M.D. (1955 series) #1 (EC, April 1955), creator uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, July 15: Happy birthday, Johnny Greene!

Today's the birthday of comic book inker and colorist Johnny Greene (Deadpool, Spider-Man, The Vision, War Machine and more)! When you find him in this picture of the Marvel Bullpen, give him a big birthday hug from me!

I found him using a magnifying glass and my mutant powers of finding Johnny Greene. Granted, it's not much of a mutant power, but I'm still allowed on Krakoa..

Johnny, may I please have a little slice of your birthday cake? I'm a growing bull who needs more...cake.

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

Today in Comics History, July 15: Rest in Peace, John and Mary Grayson...hey, wait a minute!

Today is the date that John and Mary Grayson were murdered, falling to their deaths before a live audience at the Haley's Circus...or was it?

'Why did you put corrsoive acid on the ropes, dear?' 'Wasn't me, darling. Must have been one of the clowns. Ah well.'

'Why did you put corrsoive acid on the ropes, dear?' 'Wasn't me, darling. Must have been one of the clowns. Ah well.'

from Super DC Calendar 1976 (DC, 1975), letters by Ben Oda
Maybe that's the Pre-Crisis date that they died, because here at Comics Oughta Be Fun! we always celebrate (wrong word?) that anniversary on June 27 (from the below Post-Crisis comic), one day after the death of Batman's parents. Well, not in the same year. That means the Dynamic Duo can get all their mourning over with in one weekend. Bat-efficient!

Seriously, Dick, are you smuggling hams in your pant legs?

Seriously, Dick, are you smuggling hams in your pant legs?

from Nightwing (1995 series) #1 (DC, September 1995), script by Dennis O'Neil, pencils by Greg Land, inks by Mike Sellers, colors by Cathi Bertrand, letters by John Costanza
Click here for more depictions of the fateful day!

Today in Comics History, July 15: Happy birthday, Jack Abel!

Born on this day in 1927: comic book penciller/inker Jack Abel (occasionally aka Garry Michaels)! Inker extraordinaire on books like Tales of Suspense, Daredevil, Tomb of Dracula, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Master of Kung Fu, Superman, Teen Titans, The Flash, Our Army at War, Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery, Grimm's Ghost Stories, The Twilight Zone, Ghost Manor, Ghostly Haunts, Haunted, Midnight Tales, IronJaw, Morlock 2001 and lots more! Also: co-creator of the DC Western heroine Cinnamon!

I like to think that the last two calendar boxes were Jack still telling the same stories, twelve months later.

I like to think that the last two calendar boxes were Jack still telling the same stories, twelve months later.

from Marvel Comics Memory Album Calendar 1977 (Marvel, 1976); and 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 15, 1958: Rest in Peace, Julia Lennon

Her hair of floating sky is shimmering / Glimmering in the sun / Julia, Julia / Morning moon touch me / So I sing the song of love / Julia

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

Today in Comics History, July 15, 1950: We now return to Mike Sterling's "THEN...KOREA," already in progress

Hey, when did this comic get retitled to THE 'REA?

from The 'Nam #45 (Marvel, June 1990), script by Doug Murray, breakdowns by Wayne Vansant, finishes by Tony DeZuñiga, colors and letters by Phil Felix
Context.

Today in Comics History, July 15, 1588: They failed miserably, proving no one should promote a duck to the admiralty

December 1941 maybe ain't the BEST time in the world to be talkin' about victories at sea, comic book.

from "Sir Francis: Drake Ruler of the Sea" in Real Cife Comics #2 (Pines, December 1941), letters by Ed Hamilton

Today in Comics History, July 15, 2023: Do you want Identity Crisis? Because that's how you get Identity Crisis.

Biden better hurry up and Build Back Better these buildings, is all I can say.

from "The End!" in Weird Fantasy (1951 series) #13 (EC, May 1952), script by Al Feldstein, pencils and inks by Wally Wood, colors by Marie Severin, letters by Jim Wroten
Come on by next year and see if all this really happens!

Today in Comics History, July 15, 1918: Shouldn't you have the guy with the bayonet in the front of the charge?

from "July 15, 1918" in Battlefield Action #21 (Charlton, October 1958), script by Joe Gill (?), pencils and inks by Sam Glanzman, letters by Jon D'Agostino