Today in Comics History, October 29: Happy birthday, Winona Ryder!

This is an expanded and updated version of the classic post "Comic Book Winona Ryder!," originally published November 1, 2013.

Born on this day: Winona Laura Horowitz, but she lets me call her Winona Ryder.

Is she in any comic books? Hmmm...



from Alien Resurrection #1 (top) and #2 (bottom) (Dark Horse, October-November 1997), script by Jim Vance, pencils and inks by Eduardo Risso, colors by Dave Stewart, letters by Gary Fields

Today in Comics History, October 29, 1929: The Burp Heard Round the World

from "I Shrink, Therefore I'm Small" in Simpsons Comics #8 (Bongo, January 1985), script by Gary Glasberg, pencils by Luis Escobar, inks by Tim Bavington, colors by Nathan Kane, color separartions by Electric Crayon, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, October 29, 1936: Polly's initial plan of just not telling Helen and hoping she doesn't notice is quickly discarded

from "Conquest of Darkness" in Real Heroes #13 (Parents' Magazine Press, March 1946), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, October 29: Happy birthday, James Boswell!

Born on this day in 1740: James Boswell, writer, diarist, Scottish laird and biographer of his friend Samuel Johnson.



"Script Sleuths" from Batman (1940 series) #66 (DC, August 1951), text by Barbara Fairbanks, art by Raymond Perry
Happy birthday, Boz!



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

Today in Comics History, October 29, 1987: Early newsprint experiments in second color printing go poorly

from "Introducing the Dove Corps" in Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular one-shot (August 2020), script by Denny O'Neil, pencils by José Luis García-López, inks by Joe Prado, colors by Marcelo Maiolo, letters by Clem Robins

Today in Comics History, October 29: Happy birthday, Batton Lash!

BoTD in 1953: comics writer and artist Batton Lash, creator of Wolff and Byrd (Supernatural Law), with work in Paradox's Big Book series and Archie comics, including writing the classic Archie Meets the Punisher!


from Marvel Age #138 (Marvel, July 1994)
Happy birthday, Batton!


from "A Con to Remember" in Archie #538 (Archie, September 2003), script by George Gladir, pencils by Stan Goldberg, inks by Bob Smith, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida

Today in Comics History, October 29, 1853: Pirate captain forgot to write his final word: 'Arghhhhhhhhhh!'

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 29: Happy birthday, Tom King (but not the one you're thinking of)!

Born on this day: comics' Tom King! No, no, not that one: the other guy, the Bongo artist for Simpsons Comics and Futurama Comics, seen here (in red) with editor Bill Morrison (in yellow)!


from "Backstage at Bongo" in Bongo Comics [Free-for-All] Free Comic Book Day 2006 (Bongo, May 2006), creators uncredited and unknown
Happy birthday, Tom King!

Today in Comics History, October 29, 1987: Simon bends over backwards to work blue

from Survivors' Club #3 (DC/Vertigo, February 2016), script by Lauren Beukes and Dale Halvorsen, pencils and inks by Ryan Kelly, colors by Eva de la Cruz, letters by Clem Robins

Today in Comics History, October 29: Oh come on, comics, they're sixteen

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 29: 1957's kids have not yet invented the concept of simply "lying" to their parents

from "The Trick Is to Treat All the World's Children!" PSA in DC Comics cover-dated December 1957

Today in Comics History, Octover 29, 1986: Biggest news story of the year, and they buried it on the sports page

This is an updated version of a post originally (post-)dated October 29, 1986.

We warned you on October 9!


from Strange Adventures #117 (DC, June 1960), script by John Broome, pencils and inks by Murphy Anderson

Today in Comics History, October 27, 1985: Elvis Presley fondly remembers his days as a pirate of the high seas

from Watchmen #8 (April 1987); script by Alan Moore; pencils, inks, and letters by Dave Gibbons, colors by John Higgins

Today in Comics History, October 27, 1853: Cap'n Crunch meets his soggy fate

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 27, 1985: Doc Brown immediately flies into Hurricane Juan, steals five Monets and two Renoirs, and fires Yankee manager Billy Martin

from Back to the Future: Tales from the Time Train #1 (IDW, December 2017), script by John Barber, art by Megan Levens, colors by Charlie Kirchoff, letters by Shawn Lee

Today in Comics History, October 27, 2017, 3:30 PM: Nothing can possiblie go worng

from Back to the Future (2015 series) #18 (IDW, March 2017), co-plot by Bob Gale, co-pot and script by John Barber, pencils by Marcelo Ferreira, inks by Maria Keane, colors by José Luis Río, letters by Shawn Lee

Today in Comics History, October 27, 1997: Racistly named team still inspires comic book writer

from Heartthrobs #2 (DC/Vertigo, February 1999)

Today in Comics History, October 27, 1985: Dr. Malcolm Long and Rorschach play their final game of Hungry Hungry Hippos

from Watchmen #6 (DC, February 1987); script by Alan Moore; pencils, inks, and letters by Dave Gibbons, colors by John Higgins

Today in Comics History, October 26, 2019: Instead of the subway walls, The Daily Planet writes the words of a prophet

from Superman: Year One #3 (DC/Black Label, December 2019), script by Frank Miller, pencils by John Romita, Jr., inks by Danny Miki, colors by Alex Sinclair, letters by John Workman

Today in Comics History, October 26, 1985: Also what we have here: a failure to communicate

from Watchmen #6 (DC, February 1987); script by Alan Moore; pencils, inks, and letters by Dave Gibbons; colors by John Higgins

Bully Eats Food: Meatballs!

Having dinner at Polpette, home of Nicky Meatballs!


MEAT BALLS!


It was really, really good.

Today in Comics History, Two Weeks to Election Day: "Obsessed? But you're the one who keeps showing me dirty surgery diagrams!"

from Catwoman: Lonely City #3 (DC/Black Label, June 2022); script, pencils, inks, colors, and letters by Cliff Chiang

Today in Comics History, October 25, 2008: "Obsessed? But you're the one who keeps showing me dirty origami!"

from The Invisibles (1997 series) #21 (DC/Vertigo, January 1999), script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Chris Weston, inks by Ray Kryssing, colors by Daniel Vozzom, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, October 25: Happy birthday, Al Hartley!

Born on this day in 1921: comics writer and artist Al Hartley, who worked for Standard/Nedor/Pines and Marvel/Timely/Atlas, including more than a decade on the Patsy Walker books!


from "Meet the Gang in the Merry Marvel Bullpen" in Marvel Tales Annual #1 (Marvel, September 1964)

Today in Comics History, October 25, 1985: "Obsessed? But you're the one who keeps showing me dirty pictures!"

from Watchmen #6 (DC, February 1987); script by Alan Moore; pencils, inks, and letters by Dave Gibbons; colors by John Higgins

Today in Comics History, October 24, 1951: And that's how Jimmy Neutron wound up testifying before the January 6 Committee

from "7 Year Old Genius!" in Weird Fantasy (1951 series) #7 (EC, May 1951), co-plot by Bill Gaines; co-lot, co-lot, script, pencils and inks by Al Feldstein; letters by Jim Wroten
Of course Al Feldstein would pick October 24 on which to set this story: it's his birthday! (Next year: a full birthday post, I promise, Al!)

Today in Comics History, October 24, 1947: Hey Walt, you suck

from Comic Book History of Animation #3 (IDW, January 2021); script by Fred Van Lente; pencils, inks, and letters by Ryan Dunlavey; colors by Adam Guzowski

Today in Comics History, October 24, 1937: Orson Welles still can't remember the name of that Greer Garson movie about Dunkirk

from The Twilight Zone: The Shadow #2 (Dynamite, May 2016), script by David Avallone, pencils and inks by Dave Acosta, colors by Omi Remalante, letters by Taylor Esposito

Today in Comics History, October 24: Happy birthday, Mindy Newell!

Born on this day: comic book writer, editor and Illustrator Mindy Newell (Amethyst, Catwoman, Wonder Woman, Legionnaires 3, Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Lois Lane, lots more)!


from New Talent Showcase (1984 series) #5 (DC, May 1984)

Today in Comics History, October 24: Solomon Grundy hunts everywhere for those bags of little candy pumpkins

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 24: Happy birthday, Leo Morey!

Happy birthday today to Leo Morey, born 1899: pulp magazine illustrator (Amazing Stories, Analog, Astounding, Detective Novel Magazine, Dime Sports, Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine, Science Fiction Quarterly and many more) and comics artist (Outlaws, Sick, Startling Comics, Yellowjacket Comics, Adventures into the Unknown, Exciting Comics, Sinister Tales, Forbidden Worlds, Beware! and much more)!


from "The Biggest Man in the World!" in Unknown Worlds #4 (ACG, December 1960), script by Richard Hughes as Shane O'Shea, pencils and inks by Leo Morey
Don't get him confused with professional buffoon Steve Lombard's college pal (altho' this character might have been named after Leo!):


from Superman (1939 series) #384 (DC, June 1983), script by Cary Bates, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Dave Hunt, colors by Anthony Tollin, letters by Ben Oda
Happy birthday, Leo!

Kitty Pryde 🐈‍⬛: Just Another Mellow Monday

Kitty Pryde 🐈‍⬛ has the Can't find the Last Treat Blues:

Today in Comics History, October 24: Network 23 grows ever closer to finding the elusive Max Headroom

from Spectacular Scarlet Spider #2 (Marvel, December 1995), script by Todd DeZago, pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Bill Sienkiewicz and Jimmy Palmiotti, colors by John Kalisz, color separations by Malibu, letters by Clem Robins

Today in Comics History, October 24, 1990: Extremely obvious diary entry is made

from The Incredible Hulk (1968 series) #389 (Marvel, January 1992), script by Tom Field, pencils by Gary Barker, inks by Mark Farmer, colors by Glynis Oliver, letters by Joe Rosen

Today in Comics History, October 24, 20XX: If you follow this logic, Doom shoulda been ruling earth in 2002

from Doctor Doom #2 (Marvel, January 2020), script by Christopher Cantwell, pencils and inks by Salvador Larroca, colors by Guru-eFx, letters by Cory Petit