Today in Comics History, October 19: At long last Glenville High School finally changes its team name from "The Slippery Liechtensteiners"

from Human Torch (2003 series) #1 (Marvel/Tsunami, June 2003), script by Karl Kesel, pencils by Skottie Young, inks by Joe Seung and Pierre-Andre Dery, colors by Studio F, letters by Cory Petit

Today in Comics History, October 19: Happy birthday, Dick DeBartolo!

Hey, let's all wish MAD's Maddest Writer, Dick DeBartolo, a very happy birthday! C'mon...I double dare ya!


from the letters column of MAD #285 (March 1989)
Happy birthday, Dick!

Today in Comics History, October 18: Happy birthday, Steve Epting!

It's the birthday of comics artist Steve Epting (The Avengers, Captain America, Crux, Sara, El Calzador, X-Factor, Thor, more)! He co-created CrossGen's all-too-short-lived pirate comic El Cazador!


from Marvel Age Avengers Anniversary Magazine #1 one-shot (Marvel, November 1993)

Today in Comics History, October 18: Happy birthday, Jim Massara!

Born on this day: Jim Massara, comics editor, artist, and letterer in the 1980s-90s (The Defenders, Marvel Comics Presents, Hulk, Power Pack, Twilight Man, Cartoon Network Starring, Bartman, Droopy, Aliens, Transformers, and more)!


from Marvel Age #94 (Marvel, November 1990), text by Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter, pencils and inks by Ron Zalme, colors by Renee Witterstaetter

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1988: The third Summers brother is kind of a bum

from Hot Valley Days and Cocaine Nights #3 (Antarctic, February 2021), script by Matthew Spradlin, pencils and inks by Farid Karami, colors by Andrew Crossley

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1983: Hawkeye and Trapper John get busted for having a still in their tent

from "Peacekeepers" in Semper Fi #7 (Marvel, June 1989), script by Michael P. Palladino, pencils and inks by John Severin, colors and letters by Phil Felix

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1944: Captain mulls buying a smaller Moleskine diary next year

from "The Coast Guard Lady" in Real Fact Comics #4 (DC, September 1946), script by Jack Schiff, Mort Weisinger, and/or Bernie Breslauer; artist uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, October 18: We return yet once again another time to Josephine Baker, P.I., continuously even now still in progress even one more additional occasion beyond those previously listed

from Miss Don't Touch Me (NBM, October 2014), script and colors by Hubert, translation by Joe Johnson, pencils and inks by Kerascoët, letters by Ortho

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1804: X-Men-hunting expedition continues

from Manifest Destiny #22 (Image, August 2016), script by Chris Dingess, pencils by Matthew Roberts, inks by Tony Akins and Stefano Gaudiano, colors by Owen Gieni, letters by Pat Brosseau

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1896: Born on this day: The COMIC STRIP!

Yes, without today we wouldn't have Heathcliff and his ham helmet.



from The Comic Book History of Comics #1 (IDW, November 2016), script and letters by Fred Van Lente, pencils and inks by Ryan Dunlavey, colors by Adam Guzowski

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1968: Ah, this never gets old

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

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1988: All Star Batman and Robin begins

from Hot Valley Days and Cocaine Nights #2 (Antarctic, January 2021), script by Matthew Spradlin, pencils and inks by Farid Karami, colors by Andrew Crossley

Today in Comics History, October 17: In-a-rush jeweler figures it won't matter not putting knots between the pearls on this one

from Batman: The Long Halloween Special #1 one-shot (DC, December 2021), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Brennan Wagner, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, October 17, 1853: Pirates of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains, arrr.

from "Ghost Ship!" in Crypt of Terror (1950 series) #19 (EC, August 1950); script, pencils, and inks by Al Feldstein, letters by Jim Wroten

Today in Comics History, October 16, 1985: Rorschach hums "Everybody's Talkin' at Me" to himself

from Watchmen #2 (DC, October 1986); script by Alan Moore; pencils, inks, and letters by Dave Gibbons; colors by John Higgins


"Everybody's Talkin'" by Harry Nilsson (RCA Victor, 1968), written by Fred Neil, from the movie Midnight Cowboy (United Artists, 1969), screenplay by Waldo Salt, directed by John Schlesinger
(I don't much like that suitcase he has there.)

Beach Blanket Bouncing Boy

Tonight we're watching Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, with special guest stars Linda Evans, Don Rickles, Paul Lynde and Buster Keaton!

But can you spot the uncredited cameo appearance by the stretchable superhero, Plastic Man?

Today in Comics History, October 16: Furby invented

from "The Bouncing Ball of Doom!" in Strange Tales #131 (Marvel, April 1965), co-plot and script by Stan Lee, co-plot and pencils by Bob Powell, inks by Dick Ayers

Today in Comics History, October 16: Happy birthday, Joe Sinnott!

Born on this day in 1926: comics artist (best known as an inker) Joe Sinnott, who should always be included within the names that built the Marvel Age. He inked extensive runs on Fantastic Four, The Avengers, The Defenders, Thor, and has worked on pretty nearly every major Marvel title.


from Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1976-1979 (March, 1975-1978)
Joe was arguably the finest inker on Jack Kirby's Fantastic Four (and Thor!), and, I'd propose, on John Byrne's FF run too!

Aw geez, that pun in the last panel.


from Marvel Age #34, 58, and 94 (Marvel, January 1986, January 1988, and November 1990); text by Jim Salicrup (#34), Mike Carlin (#58), and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#94); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Adam Philips (#34), Paul Becton (#58), and Marie Javins (#94)

Today in Comics History, October 16: Happy birthday, Bob Hall!

Born on this day: comics artist and writer Bob Hall! He's drawn Emperor Doom, Batman: Joker Time, Spider-Man (Amazing and Spectacular), The Avengers, Squadron Supreme, Weird War Tales, Super-Villain Team-Up, Shadowman and more)! He's the co-creator of West Coast Avengers and the sole creator of the Armed and Dangerous series from Valiant!



from (top) Marvel Age #94 (Marvel, November 1990), text by Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter, pencils and inks by Ron Zalme, colors by Renee Witterstaetter
; (bottom) "Bullpen Bulletins" in Marvel Comics cover-dated August 1988
Hey look! In this Dennis the Menace story which features comics creators Owen Fitzgerald and Al Wise as hootin' hollerin' rodeo stars...


from "Welcome to the Rodeo, Folks!" in Dennis the Menace (1959 series) #61 (Hallden/Fawcett, August 1962), script by Fred Toole, pencils and inks by Owen Fitzgerald
...could this possibly be our Bob Hall here, bronco-bustin' a bull that's obviously OUT OF HIS MIND on freakin' COCAINE?


Happy birthday, Bob!

Today in Comics History, October 16, 1846: New innovation completely takes all the fun out of surgery

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

Today in Comics History, October 16, 1985: Clyde Wynant goes to a funeral

from Watchmen #4 (DC, December 1986); script by Alan Moore; pencils, inks, and letters by Dave Gibbons; colors by John Higgins