Today in Comics History, August 11: Happy birthday, Giselle Rodriguez!

Happy birthday today to Giselle Rodriguez, whos's so cool she doesn't even have to face the camera!


from Tephlon Funk! graphic novel (Dark Horse, November 2022), written by Stephane Metayer, illustrated by David Tako and Bicolas Safe

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1870 and 1911: Ripley's Believe It or Not! presents...a coincidence. Nothin' more.

from "Death Comes Riding" in Ripley's Believe It Or Not! #11 (Western/Gold Key, November 1968), pencils and inks by Luis Dominguez

Today in Comics History, August 11: Happy birthday, Jim Lee!

Born on this day: Jim Lee, prolific comic book writer and artist (Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, Superman, Superman Unchained, Batman, All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder, Justice League, WildC.A.T.s, Alpha Flight, The Punisher War Journal, Fantastic Four, The Intimates, Deathblow, Divine Right, and about one bajillion covers, among (whew!) many others. He co-created Gen¹³, Omega Red, Hush, Mr. Majestic, Stormwatch, WildC.A.T.s, and Gambit, although we won't hold that last one against you, Jim. He's also a founding member of Image Comics and WildStorm Productions, and is now Chief Creative Officer and Publisher of DC Comics. Whew, Jim! Take a vacation and give yourself some "you" time!


cover of Marvel Age #104 (Marvel, September 1991), pencils and inks by Jim Lee

Today in Comics History, August 11: Happy birthday, John Wise!

Born on this day in 1808: pioneering balloonist (man, all the greatest job titles have gone defunct) John Wise, who developed innovations in the balloononautic field and was the first to build and demonstrate a balloon that would collapse into a parachute if ruptured, allowing its passengers to safely land, as seen here in this here early DC Comic!


from "AiRecords" in Adventure Comics #40 (DC/Detective Comics, July 1939), by Terry Gilkison
Wise bad-assededly wrapped up his career when he disappeared over Lake Michigan; he and his balloon were never found. At the age of 71.

Happy birthday, John Wise, and thank for contributing to The Golden Age of Ballooning!


from Monty Python ""The Golden Age of Ballooning" (BBC, 31 October 1974), written by Michael Palin

Today in Comics History, August 11: Happy birthday, Lyle Stuart!

Born on this day in 1922: author and publisher Lyle Stuart, founder of (natch) Lyle Stuart, Inc., which published classics like The Sensuous Woman and Naked Came the Stranger, not to mention Crucifix in a Deathhand by Charles Bukowski. he also published The Anarchist Cookbook (huh!) and The Turner Diaries (ick!). Most relevant to our interests, he was the business manager of EC Comics line (he was a good friend of publisher Bill Gaines). Here is is freakin' out over what Bill's doin' with the company money (understandably so)!

"The Board of Educational Comics" EC subsciption advertisement by Will Elder
(Click picture to adult-education-size)
Stuart was also notable for a running feud with gossip columnist Walter Winchell, whom he exposed as a hypocritical adultere and a racist, and it ended with Lyle's arrest over a parody of A Visit from St. Nocholas printed in the first issue of Panic. All that about Santa Claus! Let's let Mark 'n' Sergio explain it all for you:


from The CBLDF Presents: Liberty Comics (Image, July 2008); co-script by Mark Evanier; co-script, pencils, and inks by Sergio Aragonés; colors by Tom Luth; letters by Stan Sakai

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1980: "I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love."

from "Dig the Plant, Man!" in Secrets of Haunted House #43 (DC, December 1981), plot and pencils by Rodin Rodriguez, script by Robin Snyder, inks by Andy Mushynsky, colors by Jerry Serpe, letters by Pierre Bernard Jr.
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, August 10, 1911 and 1912: At least he had that bitchin "My Aunt is Almost Dead" party

Hey, Paul LeCourt! Why you so happy, my French dude? Ah, the old grey mare is dead.


from "Death Comes Riding" in Ripley's Believe It Or Not! #11 (Western/Gold Key, November 1968), pencils and inks by Luis Dominguez
Certainly no way this could turn against you exactly a year later, right, Paul?


Oh.

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1999, 11:59 PM: Well. That certainly was a how-do-ye-do, wasn't it? Now for some champers and a bacon sarny

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #2 (DC/Vertigo, May 2000), script by Grant Morrison, pencils and inks by Marc Buckingham, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein
And then I like to think you wrap it all up with a cheery song that sounds like a celebration. Waiter!


"The Return of the Los Palmos 7" by Madness (2 Tone, January 1981), by Mike Barson, Daniel Woodgate, and Mark Bedford
And the world keeps on a-turning.

Goodnight!

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1999, 11:11 PM: Turn off your mind relax and float down stream / It is not dying / It is not dying

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #2 (DC/Vertigo, May 2000), script by Grant Morrison, pencils and inks by The Pander Bros, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein
(Click picture to Invisi-size)

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1999, 11:11 PM: Round 'bout about then those Invisibles boys were in a mess o' trouble

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #3 (DC/Vertigo, April 2000), script by Grant Morrison, pencils and inks by Chris Weston, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1999, 11:09-11:10 PM: I love it when a plan comes together

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #3 (DC/Vertigo, April 2000), script by Grant Morrison, pencils and inks by Chris Weston, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein
Actually, that Chicago sequence should be 5:09 PM, but I didn't wanna annoy Grant Morrison by buggin' him about it.

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1999, 11:08 PM: Well, there's something you don't see every day, Chauncey

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #3 (DC/Vertigo, April 2000), script by Grant Morrison, pencils and inks by Jill Thompson (top) and Chris Weston (bottom), colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1999: "I am Boris Johnson and I endorse the message in this panel."

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #3 (DC/Vertigo, April 2000), script by Grant Morrison, pencils and inks by John Ridgway, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1999: The following is a party political broadcast on behalf of the Conservative Party

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #3 (DC/Vertigo, April 2000), script by Grant Morrison, pencils and inks by John Ridgway, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1999: 🎶 Somebody's gettin' married 🎶

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #4 (DC/Vertigo, March 2000), script by Grant Morrison, pencils and inks by Jill Thompson, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, August 11: Happy birthday, Pat Brosseau!

Born on this day: comics letterer Pat Brosseau! You've seen his wonderful words in Legion of Super-Heroes and Legionnaires, Wonder Woman, Wolverine, Batman, Doctor Strange, Shadowpact and many more!


from Marvel/New Universe comics cover-dated July 1987
Happy birthday, Pat!

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1999: King Mob lists all the regrettable Invisibles spin-off comics

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #4 (DC/Vertigo, March 2000), script by Grant Morrison, pencils and inks by Jill Thompson, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein
This is the first of the three infamous Invisibles "jam comics" which featured a variety of artists in each issue, some not always serving the story as well as others. It's an uneven mix, especially considering this is winding up to the explosive finale built up since 1994 and eventually encompassing 59 comic book issues (and a short story or two in Vertigo preview books). Much more about this after the break:

Today in Comics History, August 11: Happy birthday, Joe Quiñones!

A happy birthday today to comics artist Joe Quiñones (Firefly, Batman '89, Dial H for Hero, America, Howard the Duck, Archie Meets Batman '66 and more)! How cool is Joe? He knows Leah Thompson! What can be even cooler than that?


from Howard the Duck (2016 series) #9 (Marvel, September 2016)
What is cooler than that: he knows Squirrel Girl! (From L-R in the Marvel Comics booth: Joe, Chip Zdarsky, Erica Henderson, Ryan North.)


variant cover of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (December 2015 series) #9 (Marvel, May 2016), pencils by Erica Henderson, inks by Chip Zdarsky
Happy birthday, Joe!

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1999: 🎶Are you ready for the summer 🎶

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #5 (DC/Vertigo, January 2000), script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Sean Phillips, inks by Jay Stephens , colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, August 11: Happy birthday, Enid Blyton!

Born on this day in 1897: British children's author Enid Blyton, who wrote approximately six bajillion books, many of which have been made into comics.


covers of (left) Noddy Time #7 (Woman's Way, 21 June, 1975) (sorry, I didn't dare show you the absolutely awful cover of #1)
(right) Enid Blyton's Adventure Magazine #7 (Gutenberghus UK, March 1986), pencils and inks by Bert Hill