Today in Comics History, April 28: Happy birthday, Jay Leno!

Born on this day: Jay Leno, talk show host, comedian, car and motorcycle collector, big chin wearer, and Tonight Show taker-backer. Happy birthday despite that, Jay!


from The Ultimates 2 (2005 series) #4 (Marvel/Ultimate, March 2005), script by Mark Millar, pencils by Bryan Hitch, inks by Paul Neary, colors by Laura Martin, letters by Chris Eliopoulos

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, November 2: Happy birthday, Steve Ditko!

Born on this day in 1927: comics writer/artist Steve Ditko, who created and co-created "a few" characters along the way of his lengthy career...


"DC Profiles #58" from DC Comics cover-dated April 1980

Today in Comics History, October 13, 1967: But in 1967, October 13 was a Friday, Stan. So where's my No-Prize?!

cover of Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #56 (Marvel, January 1968), pencils and inks by John Romita, Sr., letters by Sam Rosen

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: October Owl My Enemies Around Me

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published October 1, 2017.

Just another friendly neighborhood reminder that you can continue to use your leftover 1978 calendars to accurately keep track of the garbage fire that is 2017! Still, consider this: do you really have it worse off than Spider-Man? A: No. No, you do not.

"October Is Not for Monsters Only!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (1977); pencils by George Perez, inks by Pablo Marcos, colors by George Bell
(Click picture to big freakout-size)
Now, October may not be Just Not for Monsters Only, but this era of Spidey's life is certainly is certainly filled chock-full o' oddities, orwfullness, and o my god what is that thing?!?-type adventures! It covers not only ASM #122-130 but also the early-seventies Spider-'Sposion, when our web-crawlin' wonder suddenly swung himself up lots more media to star in: Marvel Team-Up, Spider-Man Comics Weekly UK, Spidey Super Stories, and Giant-Size Spider-Man (which I was disappointed did not contain a kaiju-sized Peter Parker terrifying the city). Also, a couple of hit (!?) record albums from the long-ago d ays of vinyl longplayers!

Still, for my money (still only 25¢!) there's no better value for your arachnid allowance than the J. Jonah Jameson and Son subplots a-bubblin' through the Spider-Books. Why, here's just one week of wonder!

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: September Shock

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published September 1, 2017.

Please do not reveal the startling shock ending of September 1978 2017 2023 before...oh, it's right there.

"September Is Such Sweet Sorrow!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (Marvel, 1977); pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Tom Palmer, colors by George Bell
(Click picture to look-out-below-size)

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: August Arm-extraning

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published August 1, 2017.

"August Is an Amazing Amalgamation of Arms!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (Marvel, 1977); pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by John Verpooten, colors by George Bell
(Click picture to polymelia-size)
While we're all getting ready to go back to school, Peter Parker is going straight to heck, just like the spider that bited (bait? bitaten?) him so radioactively! That boy ain't right, 'coz he's got eight arms to hold Gwen! Well, six arms and two legs...just like a normal spider. This back in black illustration from Sal Buscema is based on the classic Amazing Spider-Man #100, which had this blow-your-little-spidery-mind cover by legendary Peter-artist Spider-artist John Romita, Sr. He drew it on a chalkboard!


cover of Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #100 (Marvel, September 1971); pencils by John Romita, Sr.; inks by Frank Giacoia; letters by Morrie Kuramoto (?)
Obviously Marvel doesn't wanna spoil the surprise of an abounding-armed arachnid, so they say that reveal for the very last page of the story. Go ahead, tell me this wouldn't get you to pick up the next issue, True Bulliever!


final page of Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #100 (Marvel, September 1971); script by Stan Lee, pencils by Gil Kane, figure inks by Frank Giacoia, background inks by Tony Mortellaro, letters by Artie Simek
Hey, make sure to celebrate all the birthdays of the Marvel greats listed in this month's calendar, but on August 28 please set aside a special cake 'n' fireworks for Jack Kirby's birthday later this very month!


And note: since the dates on the calendar contain references to the stories in Amazing Spider-Man issues #87-100, why don't we check in with Spider-writer the amazing Stan Lee?


How's that workin' out for ya, Stan?

Today in Comics History, July 3: Happy birthday, Dan Slott!

Today's the birthday of Marvel's own Dandy Dan Slott, scripter on The Amazing Spider-Man, She-Hulk, Silver Surfer, The Superior Spider-Man, Tony Stark: Iron Man, Spider-Man/Human Torch, The Thing, The Mighty Avengers, Avengers: The Initiative, Fantastic Four, Iron Man 2020, Great Lakes Avengers, The Ren and Stimpy Show, Batman Adventures, Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, Looney Tunes and many more! And he's the co-creator of Silk, Mister Negative, Anti-Venom, the Superior Spider-Man, Spider-Island, Jackpot and others! Here he is with Marvel editor Ellie Pyle.


from Superior Spider-Man (2013 series) #14 (Marvel, September 2013)

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: July Justice

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published July 1, 2017.

"July Is Just After June!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (1977); pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Pablo Marcos, colors by George Bell
(Click picture to What's Going On-size)
This month's gorgeous Gene Colan artwork references one of the most important of the Romita-era Spidey storylines, "Crisis on Campus!"


Cover of Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #68 (January 1969); pencils and inks by John Romita, Sr.; colors by Marie Severin; letters by Sam Rosen
Are you an activist to know more? Then check out July 1st (2017)'s 365 Days of Defiance, and I don't think you'll protest my spotlight on this issue. Why, I bet you'll occupy Empire State University waiting for it! Also: gratuitous Kingpin partial nudity! Be there or be civilly disobedient, picketers!

Today in Comics History, June 26, 2019: Iron sign maker swears that the work order was spelled "Ravemcroft"

from Amazing Spider-Man (2018 series) #24/825 (Marvel, August 2019), script by Nick Spencer, pencils by Ryan Ottley, inks by Cliff Rathburn and Mark Morales, colors by Nathan Fairbairn, letters by Joe Caramagna

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: June Jitsu*

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published June 1, 2017.

Remember, you can actually use this 1978 calendar for this year, which is (walks over to fridge, checks my calendar) 2023! Had he survived, Peter Parker would have wanted it that way!

"June is Jam-Packed with Jeopardy" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (1977); pencils by John Buscema, inks by Joe Sinnott, colors by George bell
(Click picture to enteroctopus-size)
The month's mightily marvelous mural summarizes Amazing Spider-Man #56, featuring Doctor Octopus...


Cover and panel from Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #56 (January 1968), script by Stan Lee, pencils and cover inks by John Romita Sr., interior inks by Mike Esposito, letters by Sam Rosen
...and ASM #57, co-starring Ka-Zar! Why, that's practically two issues of Marvel Team-Up right there!


Cover and panels from Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #57 (February 1968), script by Stan Lee, pencils by John Romita Sr. (cover and interior) and Don Heck (additional interior pencils), inks by John Romita Sr. (cover) and Mike Esposito (interior), letters by Artie Simek (cover) and Sam Rosen (interior)
Wow, halfway through the year and we haven't even gotten to eight-armed Spidey or Gwen-Tossin' or oh wait maybe I shoulda put a SPOILER WARNING in there somewhere. Geez though, at this rate we'll never get to the Clone Saga by the end of 2017!

*Oh, and since my post title probably reminded you of her: here's the one, the only, soon to be starring in Spider-Man: Homecoming: June Jitsui!


"Spider-Man Meets June Jitsui" from Marvel Comics cover-dated December 1979 (this one's from ROM #1), pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Joe Rubinstein, letters by Jim Novak
Next month: July! oh man SPOILER WARNING

Today in Comics History, May 12: Happy birthday, Yogi Berra!

Born on this day in 1925: Yogi Berra, champion baseball player and manager, malapropist, and cartoon bear.


from Yogi Berra one-shot (Fawcett, 1951), script by Charles Dexter, pencils and inks by Kurt Schaffenberger

Today in Comics History, May 5: Happy birthday, Aunt May! (Or: Aunt May's birthday present from Peter is a five-pack of Dos Equis and a sombrero)

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 5, 2016.

Today (ignore the caption that sez "Tomorrow"...dunno what that's doin' there): it's the two hundred and eighth birthday of everybody's favorite Marisa Tomei impersonator, Aunt May Reilly Parker Octavius Terwilliger Jameson!


from Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964 series) #20 (Marvel, November 1986), script by Christopher Priest (as Fred Schiller and Ken McDonald), pencils by Mark Beachum, inks by Bob Wiacek, colors by Bob Sharen, letters by Jim Novak
Yes oh yes, but which day is Aunt May's birthday on?

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: May Misery

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 1, 2017.

Geez, Peter Parker...you don't know enough to come in out of the rain! What'll Aunt May say when you swing walk home soaking wet?

"May is a Dear Old Aunt" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (1977); pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Frank Giacoia
(Click picture to Rainy-Day-Mondays-Always-Get-Me-Downsize)
SPIDER-MAN NO MORE! Until the next issue, at least. This month's calendar girl picture recreates the one of the most famous images in Marvel comics, the classic John Romita Sr. full page where Peter gives up being Spidey, tossing his costume into the trash. Earlier in the day, the same thing was done by Bottle-of-Wine-Man, Bottlecap Girl, Mr. Pack of Matches, and Captain Cigarette Butt.


Page from Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #50 (July 1967), script by Stan Lee, pencils by John Romita, Sr., inks by Mike Esposito, letters by Sam Rosen
How iconic is this iconic scene that is an icon? So iconic that it's been referenced by more Spider-Man comic book covers than you can count on one hand! That is, six:


Why, it was even immortalized in real life, in the excellent movie Spider-Man 2: Electro Boogaloo:


It's such a classic that frankly, comic books themselves can't stop homaging the image:


Okay, fair enough, that last one doesn't really count: instead of a costume in a barrel and the hero running away, the costume is running away and the hero's in a barrel! It's a switcharoo!

Plenty of comic books do the same on interior pages. And I thought these things copied Romita...on the outside!


And let us not forget Mike Haseloff's (of comics blog Secret Wars on Infinite Earths!) revealing classic "Namor No More!"

Yes, "Spider-Man No More" has even crossed over to all those destroyed-since-2015 alternate Earths that the Watcher used to peep in on. What If... trash cans throughout the multiverse got used for uniform disposal?!?


You can even toss away...BWAH!...your human skin! Ick! Stop that, Zombie Peter!


Yes, it's a comic book tradition everyone has to try once in a while! Even though it doesn't always work.


So, Spider-Man No More, won't you?

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: April All Together Now

Hey, look, it's everybody from the Spider-Universe all together at one time! Except for the written-out-of-canon Spider-Mite! Also, Spider-Man himself seems to be missing, and I can't figure out why. More important: ginchy groovy Gwen Stacy, va-va-voom!

"April Is an Assortment of Amiable Associations!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (1977); pencils by John Romita, Sr., inks by John Verpooten
(Click picture to GOOD LORD PETER WHERE DID YOU GET THAT JACKET-size)
For those of you new to the Spider-Family or who just need a gentle reminder, that's (L-R), Eugene "Flash" Thompson, Harry Osborn, Gwen Stacy, Aunt Anna Watson, Mary Jane Watson, Aunt May Parker, Peter Parker, Ned "No, I'm not the Hobgoblin, Honestly" Leeds, Betty Brant, Robbie Robertson, J. Jonah Jameson, and J. Jonah Jameson's coat. And they're all standing in front of one of the most important places in the Spider-Books, the venerable Coffee Bean, serving caffeinated drinks pretty much steadily right through now in the Marvel Universe. That remarkable tenure as an anti-Starbucks is even more astonishing when you consider it's been a long-time competition since the early Marvel Age with the X-Men's favorite hangout, Greenwich Village's Coffee A Go-Go. I don't know which one you prefer, so here's some help: Coffee A Go-Go has Bernard the Poet, and the Coffee Bean has Gwen Freakin' Stacy. I hope that settles the matter definitively.


Panel from [Uncanny] X-Men (1963 series) #31 (April 1967), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Werner Roth, inks by John Tartaglione, letters by Sam Rosen
By the way, are you wondering when Jazzy John Romita "snapped that photograph" so proudly presented in this month's calendar spread? Worried you can't pinpoint exactly when this happens in Spider-Chronology? Fret no more, gentle reader: it occurred during Amazing Spider-Man Annual #4, no doubt right after this pin-up scene! Note the identical outfits! Good golly, that jacket really is hideous, Peter.

Double-page pinup spread from Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964 series) #4 (November 1967), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Larry Lieber, alternations on Gwen and Mary Jane by John Romita Sr. (and why not?), inks by Mike Esposito, colors by Stan Goldberg (?), letters by Sam Rosen
(Click picture to venti-size)
No, I don't know why Stan's calling it the Coffee Bean Barn here, either.

Today in Comics History, February 1: Happy birthday, Ron Frenz!

Born on this day: Ron Frenz! prolific comics artist (The Amazing Spider-Man, Thor, Spider-Girl, Superman, Ka-Zar the Savage, Star Wars, The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones, and much more)! He's also the co-creator of Spider-Girl, The New Warriors, Fantastic Five, Thunderstrike, Night Thrasher, Puma, Silver Sable, Strange Visitor, A-Next and others! Whew! Slow down an' give the rest of us a chance, Ron!


from Marvel Age #98 and 110 (Marvel, March 1991 and March 1992), text by Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#98) and Mike Lackey (#110), pencils and inks by Ron Zalme, colors by Renee Witterstaetter

Today in Comics History, December 24, Christmas Eve: All I Want for Christmas Is a Dye Job Like Movie Rogue's

from Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #420 (Marvel, February 1997), script by Tom DeFalco, pencils by Steve Skroce, inks by Bud LaRosa, colors by Bob Sharen, color separations by Graphic Color Works, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, December 24, Christmas Eve: Sherwood Schwartz hurriedly phones his lawyer

from Amazing Spider-Man #314 (April 1989), script by David Michelinie, pencils and inks by Todd McFarlane, colors by Bob Sharen, letters by Rick Parker

Today in Comics History, December 24, Christmas Eve: Your Friendly Neighborhoodless Spider-Man

from Amazing Spider-Man #314 (Marvel, April 1989), script by David Michelinie, pencils and inks by Todd McFarlane, colors by Bob Sharen, letters by Rick Parker