Today in Comics History, February 29: Happy birthday, Willi Smith!

Born on this day in 1948: Willi Smith, noted designer and innovator in the fashion industry.

What does Willi have to do with comics? Well...



covers of Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21 (Marvel, September 1987), pencils and inks by John Romita, Sr.

Today in Comics History, April 26: Happy birthday, George Tuska!

Born on this day in 1916: comic book and strip artist George Tuska, whose long career includes Iron Man, Captain Marvel, The World's Greatest Superheroes strip, Luke Cage, Crime Does Not Pay, Buck Rogers, Planet of the Apes, The Unexpected, The X-Men, Teen Titans, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and lots more!


from Fantastic Four Annual #7 (Marvel, November 1969)

Today in Comics History, October 11: Happy birthday, Joe Simon!

Born on this day in 1913: comics legend (writer, artist, editor, publisher) Joe Simon, co-creator of Captain America and Bucky, the Newsboy Legion and Boy Commandos, Boys' Ranch, Prez, Brother Power the Geek...


from Boys' Ranch #1 (Harvey, October 1950)

Today in Comics History, April 22: Happy birthday, Sol Brodsky!

Born on this talent-blessed day in 1923: Sol Brodsky, writer, artist, production manager, and one of the trues greats and an immeasurable creative legend behind the Marvel Universe.


from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1979 and 1980 (Marvel, 1978 and 1979)
Sol drew covers and stories for Timely/Atlas/Marvel, including Battlefield, Millie the Model, Combat Kelly, Crime Can't Win, Patsy Walker, Adventures into Terror, Tales to Astonish, Marvel Tales, Girl Comics, Crime Exposed, Mystery Tales, the giveaway comic Adventures of the Big Boy, and many others.


from Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir (Simon & Schuster, January 2019), script by Peter David and Stan Lee, art by Colleen Doran
He designed the logos for Fantastic Four (also inking #3-4) and Amazing Spider-Man with Artie Simek, among many other feats. And he co-founded Skywald Comics! Whew!


Jack Kirby thought pretty highly of him, too.



from Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics (Ten Speed, July 2020), script and art by Tom Scioli
I can scarcely sum up even a fraction of Brodsky's contribution to comics here. I highly recommend picking up a backissue of Marvel Age #22, a great obituary and history with lots of fond memories from his friends and co-workers of Sol Brodsky and his work.





from Marvel Age #22 (Marvel, January 1985)
Here's a couple of brief obituary-salutes to Sol from other issues of MARVEL AGE. The second one is written by Jim Shooter.



from Marvel Age #20 and 21 (Marvel, November and Decemebr 1984)
Of course, as I try to feature in these birthday threads, Sol Brodsky appeared in Marvel Comics as well. Check him out here shocked by the beached Namor! Can you find 'im?



from Sub-Mariner (1968 series) #19 (Marvel, November 1969), script by Roy Thomas, pencils and colors by Marie Severin, inks by Johnny Craig, letters by Artie Simek
But Sol's best-known appearance within the comics was as Earth-1228's Human Torch, along with his co-workers as the Fantastic Four!





from What If...? (1976 series) #11 (Marvel, October 1978); script and pencils by Jack Kirby; inks by Mike Royer, Bill Wray, Scott Shaw!, and Dave Stevens; colors by Carl Gafford; letters by Mike Royer
We miss you, and Happy Birthday, Sol Brodsky!



from from Marvel Tales Annual #1 (Marvel, September 1964)
Fantastic Four Annual #7 (Marvel, November 1969), and
1975 Mighty Marvel Convention Program Book (Marvel, 1975), photograph by Michele Wolfman

Face It Tiger February, Day 18: Face front, true believer, you hit the excelsior

from Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir (Simon & Schuster, January 2019), script by Peter David and Stan Lee, art by Colleen Doran

Today in Comics History, February 18: Happy birthday, Joe Maneely!

Born on this date in 1926: Joe Maneely, the comics artist who co-created the Black Knight, the Ringo Kid, the Yellow Claw, and Jimmy Woo. He worked on many Timely and Atlas titles until his untimely death in 1958.

Stan Lee's autographical graphic novel and Tom Scioli's GN biography of Jack Kirby both spotlight Joe:



from Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir (Simon & Schuster, January 2019), script by Peter David and Stan Lee, art by Colleen Doran

Today in Comics History, January 18: Happy birthday, Martin Goodman!

Born on this day in 1908: publisher Martin Goodman, but we ought to also say born on this day: Marvel Comics, because without Goodman there wouldn't be no Captain America, Sub-Mariner, Human Torch...Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Daredevil, X-Men, Squirrel Girl, Obnoxio the Clown...you get the picture?


from "Meet the Gang in the Merry Marvel Bullpen" in Marvel Tales Annual #1 (Marvel, September 1964)

Today in Comics History, January 6: Happy birthday, Artie Simek!

Born on this day in 1916: legendary Marvel letterer Artie Simek, who provied the baloons and words for hundreds of Marvel Comics and became one of the great creators of the Silver Age. He lettered and helped design many logos throughout the 1950s and 1960s Marvels, including Fantastic Four, X-Men, Thor, post-#79 Strange Tales, post-#11 Tales to Astonish, and more. (He's also the father of second-generation comics letterer Jean Simek Izzo!)


L: Marvel Tales Annual #1 (Marvel, September 1964)
R: Fantastic Four Annual (1963 series) #7 (Marvel, November 1969)