Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy birthday, Leon Schlesinger!

Born today in 1884: Leon Schlesinger, movie producer and founder of what became the Warner Bros. Cartoon Studio.

Also: Porky Pig's boss.



from the Porky Pig story in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Comics (1941 series) #2 (Dell, November 1941), pencils and inks by Chase Craig
In a relationship that will surprise no one, Schlesinger was also nepotistically related to the actual Warner Bros.

Schlesinger was also probably personally responsible for locking the Warner Bros. (and Dot) up in the WB Water Tower.




from Comic Book History of Animation #2 and 3 (IDW, December 2020-January 2021); script by Fred Van Lente; pencils, inks, and letters by Ryan Dunlavey; colors by Ryan Dunlavey and Adam Guzowski
Leon Schlesinger starred as himself in Friz Freleng's Looney Tunes short "You Ought to Be in Pictures" (1940). No, Mel Blanc did not do his voice.


Looney Tunes "You Ought to Be in Pictures (excerpt) (Warner Bros./Vitaphone, May 18, 1940), directed by Friz Freleng

Happy birthday, Leon!

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1963: Happy birthday! Now, live with this fear for the rest of your life!

from Fantastic Four (2023 series) #1/694 (Marvel, January 2023), script by Ryan North, pencils and inks by Iban Coello, colors by Jesus Aburtov, letters by Joe Caramagna

Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy birthday, Gardner Fox!

Born today in 1911: prolific and important writer Gardner Fox!, co-creator of The Atom, Doctor Fate, the Golden Age Flash, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, the JLA, Zatanna, and Snapper Carr (well, nobody's perfect).


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)

Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy birthday, Glitter!

Born on this date in 1956: the New Universe's Glitter! Not to be confused with that Mariah Carey movie. Boy, I bet they make a lot of jokes to her about that.


from D.P. 7 #24 (Marvel/New Universe, October 1988), pencils by Paul Ryan
Happy birthday, Ms. Harrington! Play us off, Mariah!


"Last Night a DJ Saved My Life" by Mariah Carey feat. Busta Rhymes, Fabolous and DJ Clue (Sony, 2001), written by Michael Cleveland

Today in Comics History, May 20, 2022: Newspapers gang up to pick on Peggy Carter, who saved our butts in World War II, I hope you remember that

...well, except for the one that's dated May 2, but I think that's a typo.


from Captain Carter #4 (Marvel, September 2022), script by Jamie McKelvie, pencils and inks by Marika Cresta, colors by Matt Milla, letters by Clayton Cowles

Today in Comics History, May 20: Where ever you get 'em, those green suits'll drive you crazy

from Crime Does Not Pay #37 (Lev Gleason, January 1945), script by Dick Wood, pencils and inks by Alan Mandel

Today in Comics History, May 19: Happy birthday, Grace Jones!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 19, 2022.

Born today: model, singer, and actor Grace Jones! Last year, I apologized for not being able to find any comic book appearances of her. I've since found/remembered a few and some friends chipped in!


cover of the pop culture and comics magazine Starlet #1/1980 (Semic (Finland), January 2, 1980)

Today in Comics History, May 18, 1980: Cartoon car's brakes fail, skids over panel gutter

from "Dig the Plant, Man!" in Secrets of Haunted House #43 (DC, December 1981), plot and pencils by Rodin Rodriguez, script by Robin Snyder, inks by Andy Mushynsky, colors by Jerry Serpe, letters by Pierre Bernard Jr.
But that's not the end of adventures for Doc Bill Poteet, uh uh! (No way!) Thanks to the all encompassing chronological nature of this terrifying tale, you'll see update on this panel all tgroughout this year (and into the next, wouldja believe?)! And it's all capped off with this super-scary cover by the Master, Joe Orlando!


cover of Secrets of Haunted House #43; pencils and inks by Joe Orlando
Stay tuned for more plantnanigans!

This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, May 18, 1372: Past events like these will influence Batman stories in the future

Good morning! Here's a cheerful comic book for you to start out the day with!


from Batman: Killing Time #3 (DC, July 2022), script by Tom King, pencils and inks by David Marquez, colors by Alejandro Sánchez, letters by Clayton Cowles

Today in Comics History, May 17, 1942: New 1942 model car crumples into wreck upon hitting newsprint

from "[Jon Wells Dies in Auto Crash]" in Heroic Comics #17 (Eastern Color, March 1943), script by Stephen Douglas (?)

Gargamel Supports Transvestism

comic panels from "A Kiss for Smurfette" in 65th Smurfs Anniversary (Free Comic Book Day 2023) (Papercutz, May 2023); script and art by Peyo; smurflations by Joe Johnsn and Nanette McGuinness; letters by Janice Chiang, Justin Birch, and Bryan Senka

Today in Comics History, May 17, 1941: Uncle Sam prepares fast-moving bicycles for Pearl Harbor defense

from "Bike-Ology," Bendix Corporation advertisement in National Comics #43 (Quality, August 1944), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, May 16, 1732 and 1932: Mysterious supernatural events only recur on their exact anniversary

Really, why don't hauntings ever happen, say, thirteen years, six weeks and two days after their first occurrence?


"True Tales Of The Supernatural #22" from The Beyond #11 (Ace Magazines, May 1952), creators uncredited and unknown
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, May 16, 1905: Hundreds killed in tragic accident when trolley does not go "clang clang clang"

from "George Westinghouse" in True Comics #50 (Parents Magazine Press, July 1946), pencils (and inks?) by Sam Glankoff

Today in Comics History, May 16, 1925: Happy birthday, John Norris! Hope you survive the...oh.

from "If the Coffin Fits...Get In!" in Mysterious Adventures #4 (Story, October 1951), pencils and inks by "Palette"
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, May 15, 1941: There's absolutely no way that 1941 can be sad now!

from "The Clipper Bows Out: The Real Story of Joe DiMaggio" in Baseball Thrills #3 (Ziff-Davis, Summer 1952), script by Ed Silverman (?), pencils and inks by Alex Kotzky (?), letters by Ben Oda

Today in Comics History, May 14, 1810: To back up his verdict, the judge gestures at the caption box

from "The Banshee Bride of Ballybrooke" in Ghosts (1971 series) #94 (DC, November 1980), script by Mimai Kin, pencils and inks by Win Mortimer, colors by Jerry Serpe, letters by Shelly Leferman
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, Mother's Day: Mr. Wilson actually has no mother, having been ripped from the thigh of Zeus

from "Maybe Yes Maybe No" in Dennis the Menace Bonus Magazine Series #151 [Dennis the Menace Yearbook] (Hallden/Fawcett, April 1976), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, Mother's Day: Mother's Day in Gotham City

This is an expanded and updated version of posts originally published May 13, 2012 and May 8, 2022.


cover of Batman: The Long Halloween #8 (DC, July 1997), pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright (?)

Today in Comics History, Mother's Day: Well, it beats divin' off a bridge

from Gwen Stacy #2 (Marvel, May 2020), script by Christos Gage, pencils and inks by Todd Nauck, colors by Rachelle Rosenberg, letters by Joe Caramagna

Today in Comics History, Mother's Day: Wow, Alcmene is ticked off that Herc forgot her present

from "All in the Family, Part 1: Mother Day" in Marvel Comics Presents (1988 series) #39 (Marvel, December 1989); script, pencils, and inks by Bob Layton; colors by Brad Vancata; letters by John Workman

Today in Comics History, May 14, 1965: Criminal gang prepares to thwart Alan Scott

from House of Secrets (1996 series) #12 (DC/Vertigo, September 1997), script by Steven T. Seagle, pencils and inks by Guy Davis, colors by Kevin Somers, color separations by Heroic Age, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, Mother's Day: Kansas mom enjoys holiday

from Super DC Calendar 1976 (DC, 1975), letters by Ben Oda