Today in Comics History, April 4: Happy birthday, Bob Rozakis!

Born on this day: Bob Rozakis, DC Comics writer (Action Comics, The New Adventures of Superboy, Detective Comics, World's Finest comics, The Batman Family, 'Mazing Man, Freedom Fighters and lots more), editor, and "The Answer Man"; DC's Executive Director of Production, co-creator of Mister E, Bumblebee, 'Mazing Man, Hero Hotline, Quakemaster, and more!


from Amazing World of DC Comics #1 (DC, July 1974)

Today in Comics History, March 25: Happy birthday, Howard Cosell!

Born on this day in 1918: Howard Cosell, the 1970s' most unprevaricating, multiloquent, and periphrastic sportscaster!



from "The Return of Dr. Octopus" in Spidey Super Stories #11 (Marvel, August 1975), script by Jean Thomas, pencils by Win Mortimer. inks by Mike Esposito and Tony Mortellaro, letters by Ray Holloway

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)

Today in Comics History, September 29: Happy birthday, Trevor Howard!

Born on this day in 1913: actor Trevor Howard of Brief Encounter, The Third Man, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Battle of Britain, Ryan's Daughter, Sons and Lovers (Best Actor nominee), Gandhi and many more...including playing Captain Bligh in the Brando version of Mutiny on the Bounty, which of course means...



from "Mutiny on the Bouncy" in MAD #80 (July 1963), script by Larry Siegel, pencils and inks by Wally Wood
I have deleted some gay-panic dialogue in the second panel (sigh).
Howard also played The First Krypton Elder in Christopher Reeves's Superman (1978), in which he was excellent in the role of the guy who was "just asking some questions" of Jor-El. Hmm, wonder whatever happened to that guy? He woulda been io a comic book too, if DC hadn't negotitaed the worst deal in the universe and was prevented from adapting the movie's story into a comic. But at least we got this:


from All-New Collectors' Edition #C-62 [Superman: The Movie] (DC, March 1979)
Happy birthday, Trevor Howard!

Today in Comics History, September 13: Happy birthday, Mike Grell!

Born on this day: comics writer/artist Mike Grell (Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Warlord, Superboy, Action Comics, Jon Sable: Freelance, Legion of Super-Heroes, Starslayer, and much more)! He co-created Jon Sable, Warlord, Dawnstar, the Calculator, Shado, and Tyroc (we won't hold that last one against you, Mike).


from 1st Issue Special #8 [Warlord] (DC, November 1975), self-portrait by Mike Grell

Today in Comics History, June 15: Happy birthday, Neal Adams!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published June 15, 2022.

Born on this day in 1941: the recently passed (April 28, 2022) and still unsurpassed comics artist Neal Adams (Batman, The Spectre, X-Men, Strange Adventures, The Avengers, Superman vs. Muhammad Ali, National Lampoon, the award-winning Green Lantern/Green Arrow among many others). He's the co-creator of Ra's al Ghul, Man-Bat, Hellgrammite, Green Lantern John Stewart, Ms. Mystic, and more!


from (L) Mighty Marvel Memory Calendar 1977 (Marvel, 1976)
(right) 1975 Mighty Marvel Convention Program Book (1975), photograph by Michele Wiofman

Today in Comics History, November 25: Happy birthday, Noel Neill!

Born on this day in 1920: movie serial and television's Lois Lane, Noel Neill!


from Lois Lane (1958 series) #7 (DC, February 1959), creators un credited and unknown

Today in Comics History, November 23: Happy birthday, Sol Harrison!

Born on this day in 1917: Sol Harrison, longtime art director, production manager and colorist at DC Comics.


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)

Today in Comics History, October 8: Happy birthday, Kirk Alyn!

Born on this day in 1910: Kirk Alyn, the first actor to portray Superman in live action in two serials! He was Blackhawk in another movie serial!


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)

Today in Comics History, August 27: Happy birthday, Ilya Salkind!

Born on this day: film and movie producer Ilya Salkind, co-producer of the first three Christopher Reeve Superman movies and Supergirl, and the 1973 Three/Four Musketeers films!


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)
Happy birthday, Ilya! And thanks for not being involved with The Quest for Peace!



from (top) DC Comics cover-dated August 1978;
(bottom)All-New Collectors' Edition #C-62 [Superman: the Movie] (DC, March 1979)

Today in Comics History, August 9: Happy birthday, Bob McLeod!

Born on this day, so a very happy birthday to comic book penciller and inker Bob McLeod! Co-creator of The New Mutants, he's worked on a huge number of titles for Marvel, DC, and many indies like Action Comics, Amazing Spider-Man/Spectacular Spider-Man/Marvel Team-Up, Detective Comics, Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery, Crazy Magazine, The Phantom, Hulk! magazine, Showcase '93, Bold Adventures and more!


from Marvel Comics Memory Calendar 1977 (Marvel, 1976); Marvel Age #32 (Marvel, November 1985), text by Jim Salicrup, pencils and inks by Ron Zalm,; colors by Andy Yanchus; Marvel Age #56 (Marvel, Noivember 1987), text by Mike Carlin, pencils and inks by Ron Zalme, colors by Paul Becton; Marvel Age #104 (Marvel, September 1991); text by Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter; pencils and inks by Ron Zalme, colors by Renee Witterstaetter;
P.S.: today is not Thor's birthday. Quit bogarting that cake, Thor, that's for Bob!

Today in Comics History, August 5: Happy birthday, Steve Mitchell!

Put your hands or hoofs together to give birthday appleause for Steve Mitchell, production manager, illustrator and comic book inker (Batman/Detective Comics, Static, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, Green Lantern, more)!


from DC Comics cover-dated September 1978

Today in Comics History, August 4: Happy birthday, Mike Gold!

Born on this day: comics writer, editor and publisher (co-founder of First Comics!), PR person and activist Mike Gold, here giving advice to Abel on how to spike awareness of the House of Secrets:



from "Is Anyone Listening?" in House of Mystery (1951 series) #255 (DC, November, 1977), script by Jack C. Harris, pencils by Ric Estrada, inks by Wayne Howard

Today in Comics History, July 24: Happy birthday, Trevor Von Eeden!

Born on this day: Trevor Von Eeden! (The extra "E" is for "Eeden!") You'll find his distinct artwork on Black Lightning, Batman, World's Finest Comics, Black Canary, the 1983 Green Arrow miniseries, Power Man and Iron Fist, Spider-Woman, and much more! i first discoevred his work when he did a couple fill-in issues on Batman and the Outsiders and I fell in love with his style immediately. What I didn't know then was thet he was only 25 at that time! In fact, he was only 16 when he started at DC (great shades of Jim Shooter!) and 17 when he co-created Black Lightning with Tony Isabella! (Tony isabella has a little quibble with this billing: he prefers to be billed as "creator" and Trevor as "co-creator." Hmmm, who drew the character, without which he wouldn't be a comic book hero?) Von Eeden also created DC's Thriller with Robert Loren Fleming, and Von Eeden created the excellent Original Johnson graphic novel series.


from the letters column of Black Lightning (1977 series) #2 (DC, May 1977), by Mike Gold

Today in Comics History, July 10: Happy birthday, Joe Shuster!

Born on this day in 1914: Joe Shuster, who...well, without him, we probably wouldn't still have comic books today, period.


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)

Today in Comics History, July 1: Happy birthday, Jack Adler!

Born on this day in 1917: longtime innovative DC Comics cover artist, colorist, and production manager Jack Adler! You'll see his work in Action Comics, House of Mystery, Sea Devils, Sensation Comics, Green Lantern, G.I. Combat, and many, many more! He did the color separation for Action Comics #1, and eventually becaome DC's Vice President of Production.


from DC Comics cover-dated June 1977

Today in Comics History, June 19: Happy birthday, Joe Letterese!

Born on this day in 1917: the man with the most appropriate name in comics, letterer Joe Letterese (Adventure Comics, Action Comics, World's Finest Comics, G.I. Combat, Kid Colt Outlaw, Batman, Strange Tales, and dozens more)!



from The Amazing World of Superman (DC, March 1973)
Spot Joe Letterese at the Superman/Ali prize fight, won't you?

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)
Oh yeah? Well, then how about finding him on this back cover, smart guy, huh?




back cover of The Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #5 (DC, May 1980), pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Dick Giordano
Happy birthday, Joe!

Today in Comics History, June 17: Happy birthday, Wally Wood!

Born on this day in 1927: comics artist, writer, publisher Wally Wood, one of EC's greatest creators (Weird Fantasy, Weird Science, Tales from the Crypt, Shock SuspenStories, Two-Fisted Tales, Aces High and others) and a major figure at Marvel (Daredevil, Astonishing Tales, Tower of Shadows, more), DC (All Star Comics, The Unexpected, All-American Men of War, etc.), Warren (Creepy, Ererie, Blazing Combat, Vampirella, others) and in commercial art. He co-created Stilt-Man, THUNDER Agents and NoMan, Tigra, Power Girl, the Ani-Men, Sally Forth and Cannon — plus the famous "22 Panels That Always Work"!


from "Flight into Fear!" in Tower of Shadows #5 (Marvel, May 1970); script, pencils, and inks by Wally Wood; letters by Sam Rosen

Today in Comics History, June 14: Happy birthday, Paul Kupperberg!

Born on this day: comics writer and editor, book author, co-creator of Arion, Dorothy Spinner, Ch'p and more: Paul Kupperberg! His comics credits include Arion, Lord of Atlantis, Checkmate, The Superman Family, DC Comics Presents, the Daring New Adventures of Supergirl, Green Lantern, 2000 AD, Life with Archie, and dozens more, plus superhero, SF, and general prose fiction and non-fiction and comic strips!


from Showcase #95 (DC, October 1977)

Today in Comics History, June 7: Happy birthday, Larry Hama!

Let's all say happy birthday today to comic-book writer, artist, actor, and musician Larry Hama! He co-created Bucky O'Hare, the Nth Man, Obnoxio the Clown, Lady Deathstrike, Colleen Wing and more, and his writing credits are vast: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and assorted spinoffs and continuations, Wolverine, Elektra, Kitty Pryde, Iron Fist, lots of Venom miniseries, Mort the Dead Teenager, Generation X, and much, much more!


from Marvel Age #30, 54, and 90 (Marvel, September 1985, September 1987, and July 1990); text by Jim Salicrup (#30), Mike Carlin (#54) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#90); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Andy Yanchus (#30), Paul Becton (#54) and Renee Witterstaetter (#90) Look, it's Larry! (And some guy named Roy. I dunno, s'posed to be good for you.)


cover of Marvel Age #93 (Marvel, October 1990), pencils by Paul Ryan, inks by Tom Palmer