Today in Comics History, April 25: Happy birthday, Ella Fitzgerald!

Born on this day in 1917: the Queen of Jazz Ella Fitzgerald! One of my favorite vocalists, her jazz vocalizations and scat rhythm singing provide us with a large library of popular and entertaining recordings across six decades. And yes, she even got her own comic book feature! And without the usual racist, stereotypical portrayals of Black persons in comics (Bravo, Alex Toth!).


from "Ella Fitzgerald: The Cinderella of Song" in Juke Box Comics #3 (Eastern Color, July 1948), pencils by Alex Toth, inks by Alex Toth (?) or Frank Giacoia (?)

Today in Comics History, April 25: Happy birthday, Justice!

Born on this day in 1950: the guy who thought he was an alien cop until Marvel remembered he was supposed to live in the world outside your window: John Tensen, Justice!



from Justice (1986 series) #22 (Marvel/New Universe, August 1988), creators unidentified and unknown

Today in Comics History, April 25: Happy birthday, Peter Sanderson!

Born on this day, as Jim Salicrup helpfully informs us in the middle panel below: Peter Sanderson, comic book historian and continuity archivist, vital researcher and writer on the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and Marvel Saga projects!


from Marvel Age #52, 88, and 100 (Marvel, July 1987, April 1991, and April 1991); text by Mike Carlin (#52) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#88 & 100); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Paul Becton (#52), Gregory Wright (#88) and Renee Witterstaetter (#100)

Today in Comics History, April 25: Happy birthday, Johnny Craig!

Born on this day in 1926: comics writer, penciller, and inker Johnny Craig! He worked primarily for EC on Crypt of Terror, Vault of Horror, Haunt of Fear, Crime SuspenStories, Two-Fisted Tales, and more...


from Vault of Horror #24 (DC, April 1952)

Today in Comics History, April 25, 1944: Colonel Klink is happy to go along with Colonel Hogan's plan if it saves him from the Russian Front

from "Man Hunt" in Real Heroes #13 (Parents' Magazine Institute, March 1946), creators unknown

Today in Comics History, April 25, 1874: Telegraph Killed the Pony Express Star

Happy birthday, Guglielmo Marconi!


from "Historical Almanac" in Real Fact Comics #20 (DC, May 1949), creators unknown

Today in Comics History, April 25, 1945: Namor hangs framed newspaper on his wall; value immediately decreases from water damage

from Sub-Mariner: Marvels Snapshots #1 one-shot (Marvel. May 2020), script by Alan Brennert, pencils and inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Espen Grundetjern, letters by Travis Lanham

Today in Comics History, April 25: Happy birthday, Mort Weisinger!

Born on this day in 1915: Mort Weisinger, co-creator of Aquaman, Green Arrow, Johnny Quick, and the original Vigilante; long-time editor of National/DC's Superman line; and story editor of the Adventures of Superman TV show!


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

Today in Comics History, April 25, 1986: Nick Fury and Bruce Banner play a game of "Horrifying Trivial Pursuit"

from Incredible Hulk (2000 series) #89 (January 2006), script by Daniel Way, pencils and inks by Keu Cha, colors by William Murai, letters by Randy Gentile

Today in Comics History Future, April 25, 2024: Worlds will live, worlds will die, but newspapers will still be around

from The Flash "Pilot" (DC Entertainment/Warner Bros. Television, October 7, 2014), script by Andrew Kreisberg and Geoff Johns, directed by David Nutter

Today in Comics History, April 25: Holiday Inn's new "Creepy Wake-Up Call" is not a success

from Richard Stark's Parker: The Score (IDW, July 2012); adapted from the novel by Richard Stark; script, pencils, inks, color, and letters by Darwyn Cooke