Today in Comics History, August 1: Dreadful birthday, dear Joker!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published August 1, 2022.

According to the Super DC Calendar 1976, today's the birthday of the Clown of Crime: you know him, you love him, you're terrified out of your wits by him: The Joker!


from Super DC Calendar 1976 (DC, 1975), letters by Ben Osa

Today in Comics History, August 1, 1950: Anthropomorphic bunny rides to the Holy Land to conquer Jerusalem

from Comic Book History of Animation #4 (IDW, February 2011); script by Fred Van Lente; pencils, inks, and letters by Ryan Dunlavey; colors by Adam Guzowski

Today in Comics History, August 1, 189X: Well, it's better than being surrounded by a mysterious frog

Two days ago, the mate was a mighty sailing man. Today? Not so much.


from Marvel Classics Comics #9 [Dracula] (1976), script by Naunerle Farr, pencils (and inks?) by Nestor Redondo
More epistolary classic European literature in just a couple days!

Today in Comics History, August 1: Exciting Archer Montage, Left Side

from Young Justice (2011 series) #7 (DC, August 2011), script by Greg Weisman and Kevin Hopps, pencils by Christopher Jones, inks by Dan Davis, colors by Zac Atkinson, letters by Carlos M. Mangual
Clip and save to paste next to tomorrow's "Exciting Archer Montage, Right Side"! You now have all day tomorrow to buy some paste. DON'T eat it!

Today in Comics History, August 1, 1954: Today's your last day to write lyrics for this delusional woman

from World's Greatest Songs #1 (Marvel/Atlas, September 1954), script by Stan Lee (?), pencils and inks by Dave Berg

Today in Comics History, August 1, 1946: That stands for "Not Really Launching."

"NRL Rockets" from Space War #6 (Charlton, August 1960), creators unidentified and unknown

Today in Comics History, August 1, 1776: Schadenfreude immigrates to America

from Picture Stories from American History #2 (EC, 1946), script by M. C. Gaines and W. W. D. Sones, pencils and inks by Allen Simon

Today in Comics History, August 1: Happy birthday, Jackie Ormes!

Born on this day in 1911, Jackie Ormes, the first African-American woman cartoonist and creator of "Torchy Brown" in the Dixie to Harlem (1937-1940) and Heartbeats comic strips (1950-1954), and the Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger panel comics.

Today in Comics History, August 1: Everything's better when it's sung by John Candy! (Or, It's Francis Scott Key's birthday!)

Born on this day in 1779: Francis Scott Key, lyricist for American's unsingable, racist anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner!" Sung here in much-improved form by immortal beloved John Candy!


from Camp Candy #3 (Marvel, July 1990), script by Angelo DeCesare, pencils by Howie Post, inks by Jacqueline Roettcher, colors by Paul Becton, letters by Grace Kremer

Today in Comics History, August 1, 1985: "With musical guest Gumby and the Clayboys!"

from Flaming Carrot Comics (1988 series) #26 (Dark Horse, June 1991); script by Bob Burden; pencils and inks by Bob Burden, Rod Whigham, Pat St Amopur, Joe Pruett, and Marsha Jensen, letters by Roxanne Starr
But who is Robert Babo?


Oh! Thanks, F.C.!

Today in Comics History, August 1, 1967: World's Deadliest Fighting Master is awarded an official certificate of authenticity

ad from DC Comics cover-dated August 1975
Soon his Knowledge of Power became the Power of Knowledge across the galaxy!


from Guardians of the Galaxy Annual (2021 series) #1 (Marvel, October 2021), script by Al Ewing, pencils and inks by Flaviano Armentaro, colors by Rachelle Rosenberg, letters by Cory Petit
So...Count Danté, won't you?

Today in Comics History, August 1, 1934: Airman breaks eight records mishandling them in baggage claim

from "Hop Harrigan's History of American Aviation" in All-American Comics #29 (DC, August 1941); text, pencils, and inks by Jon L. Blummer

The Adventures of Bully: Marshall's birthday balloons

I am in charge of blowing up the birthday balloons for my kid sister Marshall's 4th birthday party tonight!


That don't look much like a 4!


Oh that's better!

Today in Comics History Future, August 1, 2040: We'll still be arguing that The Simpsons isn't as good as it was in seasons 1-47.

from "I Shrink, Therefore I'm Small" in Simpsons Comics #8 (Bongo, January 1995), script by Gary Glasberg, pencils by Luis Escobar, inks by Tim Bavington, colors by Nathan Kane, color separations by Electric Crayon, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, August 1, 1986: Maybe you should mix in some of that psychic squid DNA, Adrian

from Doomsday Clock #7 (DC/Black Label, November 2018), script by Geoff Johns, pencils and inks by Gary Frank, colors by Brad Anderson, letters by Rob Leigh

Today in Comics History, August 1, 1949: Newspaper prints white ink on black paper, immediately goes out of business

from Top 10: The Forty-Niners (America's Best Comics, October 2005), text by Alan Moore

Bully and His Pals: Happy birthday, Marshall!

Today is my kid sister Marshall's 4th birthday! She got lots of presents, including that Billie Eilish she wanted.

Bully and His Pals: Happy birthday, Marshall!

My kid sister Marshall turned four today! Happy Birthday, Marshall!

Bully and His Pals: Happy Birthday, Marshall!

Well, goodnight...and happy fourth birthday to my kid sister Marshall!


She likes wine.

Today in Comics and Music History, August 1, 1981: Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock 'n' Roll

If you are of a certain age your heart will start to race just that li'l bit faster when you click to start the video just below:


MTV begins broadcasting, August 1, 1981, featuring VJ Alan Hunter


from Hip-Hop Family Tree Two-in-One (FCBD 2014 one-shot) (Fantagraphics, May 2014); script, pencils, and inks by Ed Piskor


"Rapture" by Blondie (Chrysalis, 1981), written by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein. The music video star Debbie Harry with dancer William Barnes in the white suit and top hat (he also chereographed the video), and featuring Fab Five Freddy and graffiti artists Lee Quiñones and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Basquiat was hired when Grandmaster Flash did not show for the shoot.