Today in Comics History, February 13: Happy birthday, Kim Novak!

Born on this day: film and telvision actor Kim Novak (Picnic, The Man with the Golden Arm, Pal Joey, Vertigo, Bell, Book and Candle, Strangers When We Meet, Of Human Bondage, and lots more!)

And now, Kim Novak as drawn by Wally Wood. Please do not drool on my blog.


from "Scenes We Never Got To See" in MAD #42 (November 1958), script by Albert Meglin, pencils and inks by Wally Wood



How do we know that Kim Novak was one of the biggest names in Hollywood? Why, because of the Second Rule of Comics Oughta Be Fun!: You ain't nobody 'til you've been drawn by Mort Drucker! Here you'll find her as "Marilyn Van Mansfield," with other caricatures (Ava Gardner as Bibi Va Voom, Carroll Baker as Zelda Va Voom, and Phil Silvers as Dr. Thaddeus S. "Rusty" Venture King Gazan).


from "The Producer and I" in MAD #60 (January 1961), pencils and inks by Mort Drucker, natch
When the Mitchells (of The Menace, Dennis fame) go to Hollywood...


from Dennis the Menace Giant #7 [Dennis the Menace in Hollywood] (Hallden/Fawcett, Winter 1959), screipt by Fred Toole, pencils and inks by Al Wiseman
...yes, Hollywood...Alice sees the star she loves, and Henry sees the star he loves. (No word on if Dennis saw Cowboy Bob.)


My favorite appearance of Kim Novak in comic books, though, is from a startling source...Robert Crumb?!?


from "Meatball" in Zap Comics #0 (Apex Novelties, 1968); script, pencils, inks, and letters by Robert Crumb
So wish Kim Novak a happy birthday by watching one of her movies tonight! Or, possibly, one of Tippi Hendren's.


from "Sandman: Fear of Falling" in Vertigo Preview #1 one-shot (DC/Vertigo, February 1993), script by Neil Gaiman, pencils and inks by Kent Williams, colors by Sherilyn Van Valkenburgh, letters by Todd Klein