Today in Comics History, November 4: Thinking is a free action

from Daredevil (1964 series) #130 (Marvel, February 1976), script by Marv Wolfman, breakdowns by Bob Brown, finishes by Klaus Janson, colors by Michele Wolfman, letters by John Costanza (credited)
This panel was brought to my attention on Twitter by pal Gracious Greg A! Thanks, Greg!

Today in Comics History, November 2: Happy birthday, Steve Ditko!

Born on this day in 1927: comics writer/artist Steve Ditko, who created and co-created "a few" characters along the way of his lengthy career...


"DC Profiles #58" from DC Comics cover-dated April 1980

Today in Comics History, November 2, 1957: I got really excited at first because I thought that read "Panic at Legoland"

from "Panic at Levelland" in UFO Flying Saucers #1 (Western/Gold Key, October 1968), script by Leo Dorfman, pencils and inks by Luis Dominguez

Today in Comics History, November 2, 19XX: Looks like Lex's red fountain pen got away from him

cover of Superman (1987 series) #131 (DC, January 1998), pencils by Ron Frenz, inks by Joe Rubinstein, colors by Patrick Martin
Oh, and yeah, happy birthday, Lena Luthor!

Today in Comics History, November 2, 1736 and 1741: The chilling tale of the college guy who just wouldn't stop trying to party with his frat bros after graduation

The tale of a club membership signed...in blood! Awwooooooooooooo! Pretty scary if you ask me, because they all caught hepititus.


from "The Immortals Club" in Ripley's Believe It or Not! #60 (Western/Gold Key, February 1976), script by Paul S. Newman
Just like the Columbia House Record Club, though, once you sign up for the Immortals Club, you just cannot get off their mailing list.

Today in Comics History, November 2, 2020: Villainous Russian's jetstream erases panel borders

from "The Hook" in James Bond: Reflections of Death (Dynamite, September 2020), script by Andy Diggle, pencils and inks by Luca Casalanguida, colors by Celeste Woods, letters by Ariana Maher

The 1989 2023 Love and Rockets Calendar: [Ñañita] November

"November" from Love and Rockets 1989 Calendar (Fantagraphics, 1988), main artwork by Gilbert Hernandez, calendar block artwork by Jaime Hernandez
(Click picture to you-know-what-size)

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: November Nonagenarian Nuptials

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published November 1, 2017.

Not only is it this month in which Spidey pops the clutch and tells the cops to eat his dust...er, snow...


Panel from Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #130 (March 1974), script by Gerry Conway, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Frank Giacoia and Dave Hunt, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Artie Simek
...it's Wedding Bells for Aunt May Parker and...WHA HUH?!


Yes, it's that time when Aunt May got married to Doctor Octopus!

"November Is Nearly Tender Nupials!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (1977); pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito, colors by George Bell
(Click picture to bridezilla-size)
It's too bad their honeymoon had to be cancelled — they planned to walk on the beach hand in hand in hand in hand in h


Splash page of Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #131 (April 1974), script by Gerry Conway, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Frank Giacoia and Dave Hunt, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Artie Simek
Of course, it went off just about as successfully as nearly every wedding ceremony in the Marvel Universe.


Why is she calling her fiancé "Doctor Octavius?" Should that be "Otto baby?" Ah well, back to Tinder for her.

Also in this calendar's month: clones galore!


And HEY WAIT THAT'S THE JLA COMPUTER from the DC Super-Spectacular Disasters calendar! What're you doin' here, dude?

The 1978 2017 2023 DC Calendar of Super-Spectacular Disasters: November NFL

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published November 1, 2017.

"November: Wonder Woman" in The 1978 Calendar of Super-Spectacular Disasters; artwork by José Delbo and Vince Colletta
(Click picture to giant-pigskin-size)
Hey, what's the bright idea, calendar? All of 2017 should be Wonder Woman month, not just November. Eh, okay, we'll allow this one. Especially since there's nothing that goes better than our Amazing Amazon and the organized sport of...football?


Because if there's one thing that goes with Wonder Woman and and Thanksgiving, it's the Army/Navy game Coast City game. Wha? And traditional WW foe Quakemaster! Oh c'mon, DC, just admit you got to the end of the year and you're just throwing these together randomly, okay?


We've just changed the AAA batteries in its remote control, so roll through the month and tell us how much closer we are to identifying the Master Supervillain Criminal Overmind Evil Guy&tradel;, JLA TRS-80 computer!


While that's still ticking away and spewing punch-cards into Batman's meat loaf and gravy dinner, let's check our secondary, more overt clue, shall we?


How cow! No one would have suspected Wonder Twin Zan!

Memorize this calendar for November 2023! Or, clip it out and put it in your pocket!

In 2023, November starts on a Wednesday, so I can finally roll out this panel I've been saving where there's a...well, November calendar that begins on a Wednesday.


from "Mental Marvel" in Real Fact Comics #5 (DC, November 1946); script by Jack Schiff, Mort Weisinger, and/or Bernard Breslauer; pencils and inks by Nat Edson
Dumbass there is standing over half of it, so it probably won't be the best calendar to hang up on your wall. That's why you wanna wait an hour or two to get the Marvel and DC Calendars that work in 2023, right here on this very blog! Don't say Bully never gave ya anything on the first of November!

Today in Comics History, October 31, Halloween: "Until then... pleasant... dreams?"

from "The Crypt of Shadows" in Crypt of Shadows (2022 series) #1 one-shot (Marvel, December 2022), script by Al Ewing, art by Ramon Bachs, colors by Rain Berado, letters by Travis Lanham

Today in Comics History, October 31, Halloween: "Archie Comics Are Fun Comics!"

from Afterlife with Archie #1 (Archie, September 2013); script by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa; pencils, inks, and colors by Francesco Francavilla, letters by Jack Morelli

Today in Comics History, October 31, Halloween: Go home, Spider-Man and Human Torch: let the professionals handle Halloween

from "Down Came the Rain" in Crypt of Shadows (2022 series) #1 one-shot (Marvel, December 2022), script by Chris Condon, art by Fran Galan, colors by Jim Campbell, letters by Travis Lanham

Today in Comics History, October 31, Halloween: Once Upon a Halloween

from "The Flock" in Dark Knights of Steel: Tales from the Three Kingdoms #1 one-shot (DC, November 2022), script by Jay Kristoff, pencils and inks by Sean Izaakse, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr., letters by Wes Abbott

Today in Comics History, October 31, Halloween: Atlanta Attacks

from "Neither Big Nor Bad" in Crypt of Shadows (2022 series) #1 one-shot (Marvel, December 2022), script by Danny Lore, art by Karen S. Darboe, colors by Cris Peter, letters by Travis Lanham

Today in Comics History, October 31, Halloween: There are no exceptions, especially on Halloween, Phantom Stranger

from "The Longest Night" in DC's Terrors Through Time #1 one-shot (DC, December 2022), script by Paul Levitz, pencils and inks by Raúl Fernández, colors by Santiago Arcas, letters by Josh Reed

Today in Comics History, October 31, 1959, Halloween: Vicious robot gruesomely rips off top of man's head

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, October 31, Halloween: Look, some of us manage to get through Halloween without being Donny Downer, dude

from "The October Game" in Shock SuspenStories (1952 series) #9 (EC, June 1953), original story by Ray Bradbury, script adaptation by Al Feldstein, pencils and inks by Jack Kamen, colors by Marie Severin, letters by Jim Wroten
Sheesh, did you forget to take your meds this morning, pal?


Also, some of us manage to get through Halloween without turning on the lights:

Today in Comics History, October 31, 1964, Halloween: Disaster supposedly caused by UFOs was actually caused by monsters

from "Who Is Murdering Our Astronauts?" in UFO Flying Saucers #3 (Western/Gold Key, November 1972), pencils and inks by Luis Dominguez

Today in Comics History, October 31, 1951, Halloween: JSA refuse to take off their masks because it's Halloween

"Not until you give us the yummy candy, Senator."


from The New Golden Age #1 one-shot (DC, January 2023), script by Geoff Johns; pencils, inks, and colors by one or two or three of these creators; letters by Rob Leigh

Today in Comics History, October 31, Halloween: Okay, I sorta see why John Byrne might have wanted to revert the Vision's personality

Technically this panel takes place on Mardi Gras, but it references Halloween, and I can never pass up an opportunity to spotlight the Rutland Halloween Parade in comics!


from Vision and the Scarlet Witch (1985 series) #4 (Marvel, June 1986), script by Steve Englehart, pencils by Richard Howell, inks by Frank Springer, colors by Adam Philips, letters by Bill Oakley
Which of course reminds me that I never completed my my full series of One Night in Rutland posts. Yes! I will do them! Just...not today.

Today in Comics History, October 31, Halloween: Nancy's afraid, that's who

a Nancy Sunday strip (United Feature Syndicate, date unknown) by Ernie Bushmiller, as reprinted in Tip Top Comics v.8 #6 [#90] (United Feature, November 1943)

Today in Comics History, October 31, Halloween: Invitation to a Real Murder

from Realworlds: Justice League of America #1 one-shot (DC, July 2000), script by J. M. DeMatteis, painted art by Glenn Barr, letters by Bob Lappan

Today in Comics History, October 31: That means you, Shelly T. Otter!

from Justice Warriors #4 (AHOY, October 2022), co-script and letters by Matt Bors, co-script and art by Ben Clarkson, colors by Felipe Sobeiro
Shelly's birthday is tomorrow, so I'm just kidding. There will be otter cake and otter balloons and decorations! Of otters!

Today in Comics History, October 31: Harley Quinn invents scratch 'n' sniff comic books

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published October 31, 2014.


from Batman: Arkham City digital comic #4 (DC, September 2011), story by Paul Dini, script by Derek Fridolfs, pencils and inks by Roger Robinson, colors by Randy Mayer, letters by Travis Landham
...and then, she did it!

The American edition features a cannabis leaf on the cover and smells like marijuana...so I'm told! Not because I'm international, but because I'm seven.


from Harley Quinn Annual (2014 series) #1 (DC, December 2014), pencils and inks by Amanda Conner, colors by Paul Mounts
And the international edition smells like fresh-cut grass and has a Christmas tree on the cover. Uhm, why doesn't it smell like a Christmas tree, then?


Anyway, it's Halloween, and feet shall be smelt today.