Bully Says: Comics Oughta Be Fun!

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Today in Comics History, August 27, 1776: No, wait, you still can't look at the picture yet

from "The Story of the War of Independence" in Picture Stories from American History #2 (EC, 1946), script by M. C. Gaines and W. W. D. Sones, pencils and inks by Allen Simon

Today in Comics History, August 27, 1965: A Grand Day Out

The Fab Four meet the King!

'Okay, Paul:d you put the bag of dog poop on his doorstep, Gerorge: you set it on fire, Ringo: you ring the bell, then we'll all scarper.'

'Okay, Paul:d you put the bag of dog poop on his doorstep, Gerorge: you set it on fire, Ringo: you ring the bell, then we'll all scarper.'

'I know what'll liven up the procedures. Y'all boys ever heard o' amphetamines?'

Ever have those moments when you wish you were a fly on the wall?

'Well, thank ya verra much, Paul, but your head is jus' too enormously wide for me.'

from The Beatles in Comics! (NBM, November 2018); script by Richard Di Martino; translation by Joe Johnson; pencils, inks, and colors by Bloop; letters by Ortho

Today in Comics History, August 27, 1966: Sean Connery warned Doc Savage Jr. to wear his earmuffs

Today is the anniversary of the day that Doc Savage's son went to a famous concert at Shea Stadium:

On the other hand, Doc Jr. REALLY loved the Shea Stadium Nathan's Foot Long Chili Cheese Dog.

On the other hand, Doc Jr. REALLY loved the Shea Stadium Nathan's Foot Long Chili Cheese Dog.

from Doc Savage (1987 miniseries) #2 (DC, December 1987), script by Dennis O'Neil, pencils by Andy Kubert, inks and letters by Adam Kubert, colors by Petra ~~Kubert~~ Scotese
You have no taste, Son of Man of Bronze!

Today in Comics History, August 27, 1967: Rest in Peace, Brian Epstein

And if I say / I really knew you well / What would your answer be? / If you were here today / Well knowing you / You'd probably laugh / And say that we were worlds apart / If you were here today

from The Beatles in Comics! (NBM, November 2018); script by Richard Di Martino; translation by Joe Johnson; pencils, inks, and colors by Piero Ruggeri and Filippo Neri; letters by Ortho

But as for me / I still remember how it was before / And I am holding back the tears no more

But as for me / I still remember how it was before / And I am holding back the tears no more

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

What about the time we met? /Well, I suppose that you could say that we were playing hard to get / Didn't understand a thing / But we could always sing

What about the time we met? /Well, I suppose that you could say that we were playing hard to get / Didn't understand a thing / But we could always sing

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 Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story (Dark Horse, November 2013); written by Vivek J. Tiwary; pencils, inks, and colors by Andrew C. Robinson; letters by Steve Dutro
(Click picture to enlarge)

Today in Comics History, August 27, 1910: The message was "Guess where I'm texting you from?"

'Your in-flight movie: 'Rose O'Salem-Town'!'

from "Hop Harrigan's History of American Aviation" in All-American Comics #22 (DC, January 1941); text, pencils, and inks by Jon L. Blummer

Today in Comics History, August 27: Happy birthday, Richard Kadrey!

Happy birthday today to Richard Kadrey, co-creator and writer of Vertigo's Accelerate and writer of of arcs on Lucifer and Hellblazer!

It's the comic bok that reads faster the further you go along! Y'know, like the lead-up to the Death of Superman.

It's the comic bok that reads faster the further you go along! Y'know, like the lead-up to the Death of Superman.

"On the Ledge" from DC/Vertigo comics cover-dated August 2000

Today in Comics History, August 27, 1917: Sure, they were great in WWI, but in WWII that one guy spent the whole war yakkin' on the telephone

It was nice of the artist to sign his work so we know his name: Kpow.

from "Fidelity and Service" in Our Fighting Forces #90 (DC, February 1965), script by Julius Schwartz, pencils by Morris Waldinger, inks by Tom Nicolosi

Today in Comics History, August 27: Happy birthday, Don Perlin!

Born today: comics writer and artist (and Assistant Art Director at Marvel) Don Perlin (The Defenders, Werewolf by Night, Ghost Rider, Moon Knight, Transformers, Man-Thing, Captain America, Spidey Super Stories, co-creator of Valiant's Bloodshot and much more)!

'But tonight I say: we must move forward, not backward; upward, not forward; and always twirling, twirling, towards freedom!'

'But tonight I say: we must move forward, not backward; upward, not forward; and always twirling, twirling, towards freedom!'

from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1979 and 1980 (Marvel, 1978-1979); Marvel Age #32 (Marvel, November 1985), text by Jim Salicrup, pencils and inks by Ron Zalme, colors by Andy Yachu
Happy birthday, Don!

Their heads are so tiny! I'm squishing their heads!

Their heads are so tiny! I'm squishing their heads!

from Marvel Age #55 (Marvel, October 1987)

Today in Comics History, August 27: Happy birthday, Kelly Freas!

Born on this day in 1922: famous SF/Fantasy artist Kelly Freas, whose paintings graced the covers of pulp magazines for decades!

He also created that robot that killed Queen.

'A-no-ther one bites the dust.'

Freas also illustrated many issues of MAD magazine, including iconic covers and this self-denigrating ad parody.

'Why, his description is what's on MY business card!

'Why, his description is what's on MY business card!

from MAD #56 (July 1960), by Kelly Freas
Happy birthday to you, Kelly Freas!

'Thank you for your support! I hereby vow to create many more robots that will kill rock 'n roll groups.'

'Thank you for your support! I hereby vow to create many more robots that will kill rock 'n roll groups.'

from Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #2 (Marvel b/w magazine, March 1975)

Today in Comics History, August 27: Happy birthday, Ilya Salkind!

Born on this day: film and movie producer Ilya Salkind, co-producer of the first three Christopher Reeve Superman movies and Supergirl, and the 1973 Three/Four Musketeers films!

However, he di NOT play the role of Supersonic Man.

However, he di NOT play the role of Supersonic Man.

from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)
Happy birthday, Ilya! And thanks for not being involved with The Quest for Peace!

By the time the reception was over, the ice sculpture had melted completely.

By the time the reception was over, the ice sculpture had melted completely.

Wow, great hair runs in the family! See that, Luthor? That's what you should have had.

from (top) DC Comics cover-dated August 1978;
(bottom)All-New Collectors' Edition #C-62 [Superman: the Movie] (DC, March 1979)

Today in Comics History, August 27: Sometimes flickering sometimes bright / Sometimes burning up the night / Hair today and gone tomorrow

On this day (mumble mumble) years ago, an accidental laboratory fire and a rescue by Superboy leaves the teenage Lex Luthor bald and vowing revenge for every single one of his lost follicles!

'I swear vengeance upon you, Ben Oda!'

from Super DC Calendar 1976 (DC, 1975), letters by Ben Oda
Perhsp you can recall the early, happy carefree days of Superboys's Pal, Boy Luthor, the Boy Who was Boy Pals with Superboy! And his luxurious head of...brown hair?

'Say, pal, how do you feel about conquering the earth and becoming ruler of all mankind?' 'Oh, I wouldn't care for that one bit.' 'Oh... okay.'

'Say, pal, how do you feel about conquering the earth and becoming ruler of all mankind?' 'Oh, I wouldn't care for that one bit.' 'Oh... okay.'

from "How Luthor Met Superboy!" in Adventure Comics #271 (DC, April 1960), script by Jerry Siegel, pencils by Al Plastino
"My hair! My beautiful head of comics' Lex's hair!"

And the world's most brilliant man nvere invested hair restorer.