Today in Comics History, June 10, 1944: H-Day

World War II is pretty much the same today as yesterday...wait, what's Batman doin' here?!?


from "Every Day Is D-Day!" in All-American Men at War (1952 series) #74 (DC/National, October 1959), script by Hank Chapman, pencils and inks by Jack Abel
Maybe the Justice Society will show up tomorrow?

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, June 10: Happy birthday, Howlin' Wolf!

No, not this guy:


from "Watchdogged Wolf" in [Tex Avery's] Wolf & Red #2 (Dark Horse, May 1995), script by Henry Gilroy, pencils by Stephanie Gladden, inks and letters by Jim Massara, colors by Pamela Rambo
...but this man, born on this day in 1910: one of the greatest blues musicians of all time across his four-decade 20th century career, with blues classics like "How Many More Years," "Moanin' at Midnight," "Smokestack Lightning," "The Red Rooster," "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Killing Floor," "Spoonful" and many more.


from "Patton" in Zap Comix #11 (Last Gasp, February 1985), by Robert Crumb
Happy birthday. Mr. Wolf!

Today in Comics History, June 10: Happy birthday, Rich Hall!

Happy birthday today to one of my favorites: comedian, actor, writer, documentarian and musician Rich Hall (Fridays, Not Necessarily the News (the "Sniglet" creator!), Saturday Night Live, QI, One Crazy Summer, Arthur Christmas, Rich Hall's Fishing Show, Rich Hall's Cattle Drive (he took me in his convertible to see The Eagle Has Landed at the drive-in), Rich Hall's Inventing the Indian, and many more)!


from Simpsons Comics #130 (Bongo, May 2007), script by Ian Boothby, pencils by Phil Ortiz, inks by Mike DeCarlo, colors by Art Villanueva, letters by Karen Bates
Happy birthday, Rich!

Today in Comics History, June 10: Happy birthday, Gina Gershon!

Born on this day: actor Gina Gershon (Showgirls, Bound, Red Heat, Demonlover, Riverdale and other things I'm not allowed to watch). Of course, being an actor gets you into the pages of MAD magazine...even drawn by Mort Drucker!


from "CrockTale" in MAD #285 (March 1989), script by Dick DeBartolo, pencils and inks by Angelo Torres


from "F*!@/Off" in MAD #363 (November 1997), script by Dick DeBartolo, pencils and inks by Mort Drucker
Happy birthday, Gina!

Today in Comics History, June 10: Happy birthday, Henry Morton Stanley!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published June 10, 2022.

Born on this day in 1841: Henry Morton Stanley, reporter and explorer who supposedly uttered the phrase "Dr. Livingston, I presume?" And we all know that when you presume, you make a pres out of you and me. As I depict these events using comic books, feel free to read along in safety...all panels of African natives calling Stanley "bwana" have been excised!


from "Historical Almanac" in Real Fact Comics #21 (DC, July 1949), pencils and inks by Joe Kubert

Today in Comics History, June 10, 1940: Steven Spielberg casts Nazi Princess Leia in the new Indiana Jones movie

from "Sky-Wolf!" in Marvel Fanfare (1982 series) #17 (Marvel, November 1984), script by Marv Wolfman, pencils by Dave Cockrum, inks by Joe Sinnott, colors by Andy Yanchus, letters by Rick Parker

Today in Comics History, June 9, 1952: "Peter de Diable! have you been out late again with your Diary of Whores!?!"

Yesterday, we learned that Peter de Diable was transformed into an old man!


from Diary of Horror #1 (Avon, December 1952), writer unknown, pencils and inks by Alvin Hollingsworth
I'm pretty sure that second entry is supposed to be "June 10," but hey, I'm as happy to wrap this thing up as you are.









Wait...what did that all have to do with the cover?!?


cover of Diary of Horror #1 (Avon, December 1952), pencils and inks by Alvin Hollingsworth

Today in Comics History, June 9, 1944: G-Day

You pretty much knew that's what today would be like after yesterday, didn't you?


from "Every Day Is D-Day!" in All-American Men at War (1952 series) #74 (DC/National, October 1959), script by Hank Chapman, pencils and inks by Jack Abel
Better tomorrow? What do you think?

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, June 8, 1952: Wait a minute, judging from the first sentence, shouldn't this be 1953?

After getting all psyched up for the Diary of Horror from yesterday, are you prepared for today's super shock twist? I bet you're not!


from Diary of Horror #1 (Avon, December 1952), writer unknown, pencils and inks by Alvin Hollingsworth
Tune in tomorrow? Eh, why not. I haven't got anything else better to do.

Today in Comics History, June 8, 1944: F-Day

Hey, how's that US soldier doin', the grunt who swore every day would get better after D-Day? Let's check in on his now-easy life since yesterday!


from "Every Day Is D-Day!" in All-American Men at War (1952 series) #74 (DC/National, October 1959), script by Hank Chapman, pencils and inks by Jack Abel
Aw, I bet the poor guy gets a day off tomorrow.

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, June 8: Happy birthday, Ian Boothby!

Born on this day: Ian Boothby, comics writer, nominated for multiple Shuster, Harvey, and Eisner Awards (and winner of an Eisner)! He was the lead writer for Simpsons Comics (more issues written than any other scripter) and Futurama Comics at Bongo Comics, as well as writing for MAD and several children's TV series and specials. can you spot him in the Big Bongo Line-Up of Superstars below? Oh, wait...yes you can — I've already circled him in red.


from "The Bongo Beat" in Bongo Comics cover-dated September 2013
Happy birthday, Ian!

Today in Comics History, June 8, 1973: Maybe Bruce let Robin become a little too liberal

from Superman: Space Age #2 (DC, November 2022), script by Mark Russell, pencils and inks by Mike Allred (credited as Michael Allred, colors by Laura Allred, letters by Dave Sharpe

Today in Comics History, June 8: Happy birthday, Van Lingle Mungo!

Born on this day: Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants All-Star pitcher Van Lingle Mungo! Born in 1911, he would be really old today! What am I saying...they considered him old way back then!


from "[Old Timers]" in King Comics #119 (David McKay, March 1946), pencils and inks by Jack Burnley
Happy birthday, Rip Van Lingle Mungo!

Today in Comics History, June 7: Happy birthday, Karl Urban!

Celebrate his birth today in both settings rural and urban: It's the birthday of actor Karl Urban, out of The Bourne Surpemacy, Pete's Dragon, Doom, Thor: Ragnarok, The Lord of the Rings, Xena: Warrior Princess and many more, including (or course), roles of...Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy in the Kelvinverse Star Trek films!:


photo covers featuring Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy on Star Trek (2011 series) #42 and 50 (IDW, February and October 2015)
...as William "Billy" Butcher in The Boys...


cover of The Boys Omnibus v.2 (Dynamite, June 2019)
...and as cinema's only Judge Dredd in the cult favorite movie Dredd:


from "Thrill-Power Overload: 40th Anniversary Update! Judgement Time" in Judge Dredd Megazine #379 (Rebellion, 17 January 2017), text by Karl Stock
Happy birthday, Karl Urban! And your less important twin, Karl Suburban.

Today in Comics History, June 7, 1952: Advice to women: dump this loser

From yesterday, the Diary of Horror continues!


from Diary of Horror #1 (Avon, December 1952), writer unknown, pencils and inks by Alvin Hollingsworth
Why not check out what happens next by reading this here tomorrow? What are ya, chicken? buck buck buck buck

Today in Comics History, June 7, 1980: Alec Holland's vacation to the Alps is rudely interrupted

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.
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, June 7, 1944: E-Day

Hey, remember that Army grunt yesterday who complained all the way through D-Day (So gauche! All those clashing colors!) and just kept wishing on his fairy godmother (who was down on the beaches mowing down Ratzis with a machine gun) that the day would just be over? Sure you remember...you're a conscientious reader of Comics Oughta Be Fun and you don't forget nuthin'!


from "Every Day Is D-Day!" in All-American Men at War (1952 series) #74 (DC/National, October 1959), script by Hank Chapman, pencils and inks by Jack Abel
Welllllllllll...


Huh. Well, maybe Thursday will be better.

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, June 6, 1952: "Peter de Diable? Of the Narragansett de Diables?"

Remember yesterday when all was happiness and light and it seemed as if there was not a care in the world, and then I made you read the June 5 section of Diary of Horror? IOh yeah, you rememjber that.

Well, guess what I have for you tonight.


from Diary of Horror #1 (Avon, December 1952), writer unknown, pencils and inks by Alvin Hollingsworth
Tomorrow: What, more? Yes, more.

Today in Comics History, June 6, 1944: D-Day: Back then when they knew how to treat Nazis

from "Tough 'Ombres...Battle Story of the 90th Infantry Division!" in Our Army at War #73 (DC/National, August 1958), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, June 6, 1:40 PM: First Rock Group on the Moon

from Tintin v.14: Explorers on the Moon (Little Brown, September 1976), script, pencils, and inks by Hergé; translation by Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper and Michael Turner

Today in Comics History, June 6: Happy birthday, Jason Isaacs!

Wish a happh birthday today to actor Jason Isaacs from The Patriot, Black Hawk Down, Hotel Mumbai, The Death of Stalin, Brotherhood, Event Horizon and many more! Including, you betcha, the role of sleek baddie Lucius Malfoy (boo!) in the Harry Potter films based on the novels of J.K. Rowling (even louder boo!):


from "Harry Plodder and the Lamest of Sequels" in MAD #424 (December 2002), script by Desmond Devlin, pencils and inks by Tom Richmond
He was also, of course, Captain Gabriel Lorca on the first season of Star Trek: Discovery! That's him at the bottom. He never got to be a large figure on a cover because, like in Harry Potter, he was a baddie from an evil universe. Geez, Jason, and you wonder why children and little stuffed bulls shriek and run away from you? I added the red circle so you can spot more quickly who he is (and run away from him quickly, like tribbles and little stuffed space bulls.


cover of Star Trek: Discovery Annual 2018 (IDW, March 2018), pencils and inks by George Caltsoudas
Still, Jason Isaacs can't be all bad! Here he is at least pretending to like MAD magazine!


from the letter column of MAD #460 (December 2005), submitted by Ross Feinburg
Happy birthday, Mr. Jason Isaacs please don't hurt me.

Today in Comics History, June 6, 1944, D -Day: Hey, remember that film The Longest Day? Boy, they weren't kidding.

No no, not The Longest Yard. That's a football film in prison with Burt Reynolds (or, on Earth-C, Bird Reynolds) and Eddie Albert. This one is about D-Day and the Normandy Invasion and how tough it was. Sure, the Army may get more done before nine AM than you or me, but they have to work the rest of the day too, with probably very few coffee breaks.




from "Every Day Is D-Day!" in All-American Men at War (1952 series) #74 (DC/National, October 1959), script by Hank Chapman, pencils and inks by Jack Abel
Well, finally June 6th is over and done with, and I expect this disgruntled grunt will be a lot happier when the new day rolls around, right?...DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT!

Tune in tomorrow, day-counters!

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, June 5, 1952: Well, that's a rude way to get us to read the text pages

Do you want to read the startling story behind this comic book cover? Sure, we all do!


from Diary of Horror #1 (Avon, December 1952), pencils and inks by Alvin Hollingsworth
Well, it ain't gonna be that simple. The creators of Diary of Horror ("The only diary that comnes with a guy's skull sitting on top of it!") is determined to make you work for it, by reading a two-page text story of the story behind the cover's...story. So I shall serialize this...shall we say...Diary of Horror...night by night, section by section, until we're all dead or Avon Comics goes out of business. Avon Comics! The only comics delivered door to door by your local (ding dong!) Avon Lady Calling.



from "The Story Behind the Cover" in Diary of Horror #1; writer unknown, pencils and inks by Alvin Hollingsworth
Geez, is it any wonder that Diary of Horror got cancelled after issue #1? See ya tomorrow, suckers!

Today in Comics History, June 5, 7:20 PM: Tintin conquers the moon with superior tank power

from Tintin v.14: Explorers on the Moon (Little Brown, September 1976), script, pencils, and inks by Hergé; translation by Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper and Michael Turner

Today in Comics History, June 5: Happy birthday, Owen Cathcart-Jones!

Born on this day in 1901: Owen Cathcart-Jones, aviator, actor and script advisor (Desperate Journey and Captains of the Clouds), and author of the 1934 autobiography Aviation Memories!


from "Hall of Fame of the Air" in King Comics #30 (David McKay, September 1938), script by Eddie Rickenbacker, pencils and inks by Clayton Knight; reprinted from the 1937 Hall of Fame of the Air Sunday comic strip
He also designed the 1941 board game Be an Airman!


You can find PDFs of the board and the instructions at these links! And much more here!

Saluting Captain Cathcart-Jones on his birthday! Keep them flying!

Today in Comics History, June 5: Happy birthday, Federico García Lorca!

There's no actual appearances that I can find of today's cumpleañero, the Spanish playwright, poet, artist and director Federico García Lorca, born on this day in 1898! Oh, huh, Federico, you wrote Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter, Gypsy Ballads, Sonnets of Dark Love, The Butterfly's Evil Spell Buster Keaton Goes for a Stroll and lots more, but you never found the time to pop into a Detective Comics or Sub-Mariner, huh? that's okay: Sergio Aragonés has got ya covered!


from "It's Always Hard at the Beginning! or My First Three Nights in N.Y." in Solo #11 (DC, August 2006); script, pencils, and inks by Sergio Aragonés; letters by Stan Sakai
Happy birthday, Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca! Whew, that'sa lotta names.

Today in Comics History, June 4, 9:50 PM: Hergé is so excited to be on the moon he can hardly draw

from Tintin v.14: Explorers on the Moon (Little Brown, September 1976), script, pencils, and inks by Hergé; translation by Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper and Michael Turner

Today in Comics History, June 4, 1971: She's leaving home, bye-bye...the nice version

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, June 4, 8:30 AM: Explorers on the Moon; alcoholics on the Earth

from Tintin v.14: Explorers on the Moon (Little Brown, September 1976), script, pencils, and inks by Hergé; translation by Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper and Michael Turner