Today in Comics History, April 4: Happy birthday, Joe Orlando!

Born on this date in 1927: artist, writer, editor and publisher Joe Orlando, whose extensive work at EC, DC, MAD, and Atlas have cemented his status as a grand master of comics art.


from Weird Fantasy (1951 series) #12 (EC, March 1952), written by Al Feldstein



As one of EC Comics' galaxy of star creators (his artwork can be seen in Shock SuspenStories, Weird Fantasy, Weird Science, MAD, M.D. and more), Joe was frequently featured in the line's portrayals of its talented madmen:


from "The Night Before Christmas" in Panic (1954 series) #1 (EC, February 1954), pencils and inks by Bill Elder, colors by Marie Severin, letters by Jim Wroten

"The Board of Educational Comics" EC subsciption advertisement by Will Elder
(Click picture to adult-education-size)
Also, Joe was an artist at Atlas and early Marvel Comics, including Astyonihsing, Strange Tales, Mystical Tales, Journey into Mystery, Strange Tales , Daredevil, and lots others, which earned him an entry in Marvel's '64 yearbook!


from Marvel Tales Annual #1 (Marvel, September 1964)
Orlando eventually moved exclusively to DC Comics, where he worked for many years. So what was the deal with that, huh?


"DC Profiles #63" from DC Comics cover-dated August 1980
Orlando co-created Huntress, the Inferior Five, Bat Lash, the owl, the Purple Man, Scalphunter, mystery hosts Cain and Abel, and is famous (Cain might say infamous) for his work on DC's long-running House of Mystery and House of Secrets.




from (top) Limited Collectors' Edition #C-23 (DC/National, Winter 1973);
(middle) Limited Collectors' Edition #C-43 (DC/National, February 1976); and
(bottom) All-New Collectors' Edition #C-54 (DC, January 1978)
Break out your magnifying glass: can you find Joe Orlando in the crowd for the Superman/Muhammad Ali fight? Hint: he's wearing glasses!

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)
Why yes, that does mean Joe lived on Earth-1, home of Clark Kent. Here, he's interviewed by one of Clark's contemporaries, gossip-columnist Rona Barrett Lola Barnett!


from Action Comics (1938 series) #467 (DC/National, January 1977)
"Editor Joe Orlando and writer Mike Friedrich haunt Gil Kane until Kane finally kills them." Now that's a story!





from "His Name Is...Kane" in House of Mystery (1951 series) #180 (DC/National, May 1969), script by Mike Friedrich, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Wally Wood, letters by Milt Snapinn (?)
When the House of Mystery is threatened with demolition, Joe and DC Publisher Jenette Kahn pay a visit to Abel's House of Secrets to see if they can co-op(t) it.




from "The House of Secrets Speaks...Out" in House of Mystery (1951 series) #252 (DC, May 1977), script by Jack C. Harris, pencils by John Calnan, inks by Jack Abel, letters by John Workman ?
And when the House of Mystery closes for good in its final issue, Orlando suggests some new roles for Cain. Get Neil Gaiman on the line, stat!


from "This Property Is Condemned!" in House of Mystery (1951 series) #321 (DC, October 1983), script by Dan Mishkin and Gary Cohn, pencils and inks by Adrian Gonzales
Joe "on set" at the site of the actual House of Misery Mystery!

from "Do You Dare Enter The House of Mystery?" in House of Mystery (1951 series) #226 (DC/National, August 1974), script by Paul Levitz, pencils and inks by Sergio Aragonés (?)
(Click picture to macabre-size)
Here, ecitor Jack Miller explains how they roped Joe into pencilling the Inferior Five!


from "The Inferior Five Dead Letter Office" in Showcase #62 (DC/National, May 1966), text by Jack Miller
Joe Orlando appears in other comics than DC ones, of course. He's on the far right inside the wagon here (with Sid Check; Wally Wood, and Victor Fox. Marty Rose is in the foreground).


cover of Judy Canova #3 (Fox, September 1950), pencils by Joe Orlando, inks by Wally Wood
Within the Watchmen universe, Joe's famous for a comic book to chill your bones and thribble your niblets: Tales of the Black Freighter. Yes, that art here is really by Joe Orlando!



from "Treasury Island Treasury of Comics, Chapter 5: A Man on Fifteen Dead Men's Chests" in Watchmen #5 (DC, January 1987), text by Alan Moore, artwork by Joe orlando
Joe Orlando retired in 1996...


"Watch This Space" from DC comics cover-dated September 1996
...and passed away in 1998. He left behind an amazing body of work to discover, read, enjoy, and love.


"On the Ledge" from DC/Vertigo comics cover-dated April 1999, text by Karen Berger
Clockwise from left: Len Wein, Joe Orlando, Bernie Wrightson, unidentified muck-encrusted mockery of man.


from Roots of the Swamp Thing #5 (November 1986), art by Joe Orlando
Happy birthday, Joe Orlando! You're much missed.