Today in Comics History, October 12, 1985: I could never vote in a phone poll to kill off someone who likes hot chocolate.

from "Dear Pen Pal..." in Blue Devil #19 (DC, December 1985), plot and pencils by Alan Kupperberg, script by Gary Cohn and Dan Mishkin, inks by Rick Magyar, colors by Michele Wolfman, letters by Bob Lappan

Today in Comics History, June 25, 1876: In the dictionary, this is the picture next to the phrase "famous last words"

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published June 25, 2022.


from Picture Stories from American History #4 (EC, Summer 1947), script by Jerry Coleman, pencils and inks by Allen Simon

Today in Comics History, December 31, New Year's Eve: Spoiler Warning: If you have not yet read Batman: The Long Halloween...then what's your problem, dude? It came out 25 years ago!

from Batman: The Long Halloween #7 (DC, June 1997), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, December 25, Christmas: Through the years we all will be together, if the fates allow / Hang a shining star upon the highest bow...

And have yourself a Merry Little Christmas now.


from Batman: One Bad Day: Mr. Freeze #1 one-shot (DC, January 2023), script by Gerry Duggan, pencils and inks by Matteo Scalera, colors by Dave Stewart, letters by Deron Bennett

Today in Comics History, December 25, Christmas: We now return to the heartwarming conclusion of Jingle All the Way, starring Thomas Wayne

from "Holidays Beyond" in DC's Very Merry Multiverse #1 one-shot (DC, February 2021); co-script by Derek Fridolfs; co-script, pencils, and inks by Dustin Nguyen; colors by John Kalisz; letters by Travis Lanham

Today in Comics History, December 25, Christmas: Another Christmas shaggy dog story

from "Good Boy" in Batman Annual (2017 series) #1 (DC, January 2017), script by Tom King, pencils and inks by David Finch, colors by Gabe Eltaeb, letters by Deron Bennett

Today in Comics History, December 25, Christmas: Clay Mann's tiny cat seizes original Batman art

from Batman/Catwoman #12 (DC/Black Label, August 2022), script by Tom King, pencils and inks by Clay Mann, colors by Tomeu Morey, letters by Clayton Cowles

Today in Comics History, December 25, Christmas: By January 7, Wayne Manor will be buried three feet deep in pizza boxes

from Batman: Gotham Nights (2020 digital series) #22 (DC, December 2020), script by Mark Russell, pencils and inks by Scott Koblish, colors by Nick Filardi, letters by Troy Peteri

Today in Comics History, December 25, Christmas: No way is Alfred gonna let Catwoman get all the Eggos first

from Batman/Catwoman Special #1 one-shot (DC, March 2022), script by Tom King, breakdowns by John Paul Leon, finishes by Bernard Chang and Shawn Crystal, colors by Dave Stewart, letters by Clayton Cowles

Today in Comics History, December 24, Christmas Eve: Catwoman wastes her time

from Batman: Dark Victory #3 (DC, February 2000), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, color separations by Heroic Age, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, December 24, Christmas Eve: "Her?"

from Batman #285 (DC, March 1977), script by David Vern, pencils by Romeo Tanghal, inks by Frank Springer

Today in Comics History, December 14: Bruce sends Alfred out shopping for some dog glue

from "Good Boy" in Batman Annual (2017 series) #1 (January 2017), script by Tom King, pencils and inks by David Finch, colors by Gabe Eltaeb, letters by Deron Bennett

Today in Comics History, December 1: Bruce never should have bought Alfred that donut-scented cologne

from "Good Boy" in Batman Annual (2017 series) #1 (DC, January 2017), script by Tom King, pencils and inks by David Finch, colors by Gabe Eltaeb, letters by Deron Bennett

Today in Comics History, November 17: Batman finally deduces who stole Ace's favorite chew toy

from "Good Boy" in Batman Annual (2017 series) #1 (DC, January 2017), script by Tom King, pencils and inks by David Finch, colors by Gabe Eltaeb, letters by Deron Bennett

Today in Comics History, October 24: Batman Begins...to regret putting steaks in Alfred's pockets

from "Good Boy" in Batman Annual (2017 series) #1 (January 2017), script by Tom King, pencils and inks by David Finch, colors by Gabe Eltaeb, letters by Deron Bennett

Today in Comics History, October 7: Ace tries to tell Alfred that green isn't really his color, and that jacket is only comfort-rated to merely 10 below

from "Good Boy" in Batman Annual (2017 series) #1 (January 2017), script by Tom King, pencils and inks by David Finch, colors by Gabe Eltaeb, letters by Deron Bennett

Today in Comics History, September 25: Bruce, trying to balance his checkbook, yells for Alfred to get his ass in here

from "Good Boy" in Batman Annual (2017 series) #1 (DC, January 2017), script by Tom King, pencils and inks by David Finch, colors by Gabe Eltaeb, letters by Deron Bennett

Today in Comics History, July 14, 1982, 11:00 AM: Batman preps for his one-man stage show "Bruce Wayne, Bruce Wayne, Bruce Wayne"

from Batman Annual (1961 series) #8 (DC, October 1982), script by Mike W. Barr, pencils and inks by Trevor von Eeden, colors by Lynn Varley, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, Chinese New Year: These days, she says, "I feel my life / Just like a river running through" / The year of the bat

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

Happy Chinese New Year! Now begins the Year of the Tiger, as heard in that popular music song by Survivor. I'm sure I'll still be writing "Year of the Bull" on my checks for a couple more months. Yes, I loved the Year of the Bull in 2021 and I'm looking forward to when it comes around again in 2033 (I'll be 7), but please enjoy helping Batman solve the mystery of "The Crimes of Jade!" Aw, Miz Jezebel, you said you were gonna go straight, shame on you.



from "The Crimes of Jade" in Detective Comics (1937 series) #139 (DC, September 1948), cover by Win Mortimer, script by Bill Finger, pencils by Dick Sprang, inks by Charles Paris

Today in Comics History, January 1, 1945: So that's why it's called Detective Comics

from Batman and Robin comic strip (syndicated, December 29, 1944), script by Bill Finger, pencils by Jack Burnley, inks by Chares Paris, letters by Ira Schnapp