Today in Comics History, February 2: Happy birthday, Fred Apostoli!

Born on this day in 1913: Fred Apostoli, world champion middleweight boxer (1937) and inductee into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame, the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame. That's almost as much fame as Irene Cara! The below feature was originally published in the syndicated Sport Features Sunday pre-1937, so when King Comics reprinted it, they oughta have crossed out that "near!"


"Near Champs" from King Comics #30 (David McKay, September 1938), pencils and inks by Jack Burnley
With a pedigree like that (Fred, not Seabiscuit), you'da thought he'd appear a lot in comic books, right? Well, he did appear in the prestigious Action Comics...but just as a reference to another boxer named Fred, Freddie Steele.


from "Odds 'n Ends" in Action Comics (1938 series) #8 (DC, January 1939), pencils and inks by Sheldon Moldoff
Even tho' you didn't get to box against Superman, Fred, have a happy birthday!