Today in Comics History, October 10, 1941: He was actually writing to the Hostess Donette company

from All-Star Squadron #5 (January 1982), script by Roy Thomas, pencils and inks by Rich Buckler, inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Ben Oda

Today in Crisis History, July 13, 1985: I was born to bring trouble wherever I'm at / With the number "13" tattooed on my neck

Well, it's July 13, and luckily it doesn't fall on a Friday. For that we can thank Roy Thomas Pope Gregory XIII for our current calendar, although hey, while we're here, let's just put any blame on Mxyzptlk. He's probably responsible!

Crisis on Infinite Earths is a complicated crossover event, so let's review the plot to date:


Crisis on Infinite Earths #3
Well, that about sums it up.

Today in Comics History, December 31, 1941, New Year's Eve: I just called to say "Wheet! Wheet!"

from All-Star Squadron #9 (DC, May 1982), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Adrian Gonzales, inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, December 31, 1941, New Year's Eve: King is dissed

from All-Star Squadron #9 (May 1982), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Adrian Gonzales, inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by John Costanza
Well, that didn't end well!


from All-Star Squadron #46 (June 1985), script by Roy Thomas and Dann Thomas, pencils by Arvell Jones, inks by Pablo Marcos, colors by Gene D'Angelo, letters by David Cody Weiss

Today in Comics History, December 30, 1941: Baron Blitzkrieg plans a blast of a New Year's Celebration

from All-Star Squadron #8 (DC, April 1982), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Adrian Gonzales, inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, December 30, 1941: No time to shoot Winston Churchill, only time to talk about it

from All-Star Squadron #8 (DC, April 1982), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Adrian Gonzales, inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, December 24, 1941, Christmas Eve: FDR promises America one thing: Hawkeye ain't gettin' anywhere near this tree

from All-Star Squadron #7 (DC, March 1982), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Adrian Gonzales, inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, December 22, 1941: All I want for Christmas is the A.S.S.

from All-Star Squadron #7 (March 1982), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Adrian Gonzales, inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, December 12, 1941: Churchill flees war-torn England to, I dunno, kick some Zulus, maybe?

from All-Star Squadron #7 (DC, March 1982), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Adrian Gonzales, inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, December 10, 1941: Nazis and Mayans? Oh, not that old cliché again!

from All-Star Squadron #6 (DC, February 1982), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Adrian Gonzales, inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Ben Oda

Today in Comics History, December 6, 1941: Time Storm finally begins to clear up; Per Degaton puts away his rubber time boots

from All-Star Squadron #2 (DC, October 1981), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by John Costanza
Yes, I know the panel takes place on December 7.

Today in Comics History, November 28: Happy birthday, Jerry Ordway!

Born on this day: all-around comics Renaissance man Jerry Ordway: scripter, penciller, inker, and/or colorist for a whole she-bang of titles starting in the '80s: All-Star Squadron, Infinity Inc., The Power of Shazam! (co-creator), plus Zero Hour, JLA, Wonder Woman, Infinite Crisis, Tom Strong, Weird Worlds, Human Bomb, and much more, not to mention issues of The Avengers and Fantastic Four across the street at Marvel! Jerry also co-created characters like Bibbo Bibbowski, Doomsday, Firebrand II, Cat Grant, Professor Emil Hamilton, Atom Smasher, Jade, and Obsidian.


from All-Star Squadron #19 (DC, March 1983)

Today in Comics History, November 15: Happy birthday, Martin Nodell!

Born on this day in 1915: comic book artist Martin Nodell, co-creator (with Bill Finger) of the Golden Age Green Lantern!


from Green Lantern (1941 series) #1 (Fall 1941)

Today in Comics History, October 31, 1941: Oh, we can already guess what kind of kinky movie camera you're building in there, Bob Crane

from (top) All-Star Squadron #63 (DC, November 1986), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Mike Bair, inks by Mike Machlan, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by David Cody Weiss;
(bottom) All-Star Squadron #17 (DC, January 1983), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Adrian Gonzales, inks by Rick Hoberg, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Adam Kubert

Today in Comics History, September 8, 1939: American Bureaucracy: The Comic Book

from All-Star Squadron #61 (September 1986), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Mike Harris, inks by Tony DeZuñiga, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by David Cody Weiss

Today in Comics History, September 3, 1939: C.C. Beck continues to steadily revolve in his grave

from All-Star Squadron #36 (DC, August 1984), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Richard Howell, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by David Cody Weiss

Today in Comics History, June 22, 1941: Sandman plagiarizes terrible costume

from All-Star Squadron #18 (DC, February 1983), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Adrian Gonzales, inks by Rick Hoberg, colors by Gene D'Angelo, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, June 9: Happy birthday, Robert Cummings!

Born on this day in 1910: film and TV actor Robert Cummings (Kings Row, Saboteur, Dial M for Murder, The Devil and Miss Jones, The Bob Cummings Show, and others)!



from Miss Beverly Hills of Hollywood #4 (DC, September 1949), pencils and inks by Bob Oksner
As good pal Andrew Weiss, paragon of pop culture, pointed out to me, Bob also starred alongside future Catwoman Julie Newmar in the 1964 CBS comedy My Living Doll, "a show that paralleled the Doc Magnus/Platinum relationship," Andrew says.



Say!



"Cue to Cummings" in Sweet Sixteen #12 (Parents' Magazine Press, December 1947), text by Kay Deane"
How popular is Bob Cummings? So popular that even Batman is a fan!


from All-Star Squadron Annual #3 (DC, September 1984), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Don Newton, inks by Mike Machlan, colors by Gene D'Angelo, letters by David Cody Weiss and L. Lois Buhalis
Happy birthday, Bob!

Today in Comics History, June 7: Happy birthday, Rick Hoberg!

Born on this day: Rick Hoberg, comics artist (The Strangers, All-Star Squadron, Batman, Eternity Smith, Green Arrow, Star Wars, New Gods, Roger Rabbit, Power Girl, What If?, and more!) and animator (Godzilla, Super Friends, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Justice League, X-Men, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and yes, more here too)!


from The Strangers #7 (Malibu, December 1993), script by Steve Englehart, pencils by Rick Hoberg
Happy birthday, Rick!


from All-Star Squadron #32 (DC, April 1984)

Today in Comics History, May 10, 1940: Quixote Squadron attacks windmills

from All-Star Squadron #61 (DC, September 1986), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Mike Harris, inks by Tony DeZuñiga, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by David Cody Weiss