Today in Comics History, March 7: Happy birthday, Alan Weiss!

Born on this day: Alan Weiss, comics book and artist (Steelgrip Starkey, Our Love Story, My Love, Tom Strong, The Avengers, Daredevil, Sub-Mariner, Amazing Spider-Man, KISS, Daring Escapes, National Lampoon and more)!


from (left) The Mighty Marvel Calendar 1979 (Marvel, 1978);
(right) from Marvel Age 51 and 87 (Marvel, June 1987 and April 1990); text by Mike Carlin (#51) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#87); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Paul Becton (#51) and Gregory Wright (#87)



In the pages of Batman Alan met Dick Grayson (and eventually, Robin the Boy Wonder). Alan's wearing the orange safari jacket, and at the Rutland Halloween Parade with Bernie Wrightson (green tee) and Gerry Conway (orange sweater). Dick Grayson, of course, has his little green undiues and pixie boots on under his green shirt, brown vest, and tan pants. Sheesh, Dick, did Bruce teach you nothing of sartor?

from "Night of the Reaper!" in Batman (1940 series) #237 (DC/National, December 1971), script by Denny O'Neil, ideas by Bernie Wrightson and Harlan Ellison, pencils by Neal Adams, inks by Dick Giordano, letters by John Costanza
(Click picture to Great Pumpkin-size)
Alan also met...DEATH! So, y'know, not an uneventful night.


Alan (in the brown jacket now) and his two creative pals actually hang around for a couple issues in an attempt to become regular characters and get their portraits in Who's Who in the DC Universe:



from "Soul-Pit" im Batman (1940 series) #239 (DC/National, February 1972), script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Dick Giordano, letters by Ray Holloway (?)
Then, in sharp contrast to the Grim Reaper in that last story, Alan now meets some long-haired friends of Jesus in a chartreuse Microbus.



And of course, Alan was ringside (well, more ringside than you or me) at the Muhammad Ali/Superman prize fight! Can you spot him in the illustrious crowd?

cover of All-New Collectors' Edition #C-56 (DC, March 1978), layout by Joe Kubert, pencils by Neal Adams, inks by Neal Adams (?) and/or Cory Adams (?), logo design by John Workman
(Click top picture to GOAT-size)
Happy birthday, Alan!