Today in Comics History, August 2: Happy birthday, Peter O'Toole!

Born on this day in 1932: acclaimed British actor Peter O'Toole (insert joke from Diamonds Are Forever by Sean Connery), who you've seen in such movies (if you're lucky!) as The Lion in Winter, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, The Stunt Man, My Favorite Year, Man of La Mancha, What's New Pussycat?, Lawrence of Arabia, Troy, and, ahem, Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage (and lots more).


photo cover of Goodbye, Mr. Chips one-shot (Gold Key/Western, June 1970)

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1947: Entire plane joins in refrain to serve Stendec Beer, the all-natural light beer with a fuller taste

from "Stendec" in UFO Flying Saucers #4 (Western/Gold Key, November 1974), pencils and inks by Frank Bolle

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1919: The Chicago Defender's motto would be a good one for today, too

"Foolish talk is no good. Stop it.":



from "Sky's the Limit" in Milestones in History #1 one-shot (DC, August 2022), script by Melody Cooper, pencils and inks by Dominike Stanton, colors by Emilio Lopez, letters by Steve Wands
Read more about Bessie Coleman!

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1988: This text is an insult to any actual dead skunks in a bag* of spoiled milk

from "Hard Copy" in Psi-Force #26 (Marvel/New Universe, December 1988), text by Fabian Nicieza, pencils by Graham Nolan, inks by Chris Ivy, colors by Nel Yomtov, letters by Rick Parker
(Click picture to large-print-size this book)
*Despite this, curiously enough, Fabian Nicieza is not from Canada.

Today in Comics History, August 2: Happy birthday, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi!

Even tho' he was born today in 1834, just who does Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi think he is? Whym, he's a French painter and sculptor. Ooh la la! No, wait, not that kinda artiste. This la dude is only the man responsible for designing La Liberté éclairant le monde (1886), better know to yahoos like you an' me (well, you, anyway) as The Statue of Frickin' Liberty. Trivia factoid: her metal structure was built by Gustave Eiffel! Yes, the Tower guy.

For an appearance by F.A.B. in the comics, we have to look at the most educational, factual, true-to-life comic book publisher on the face of the Earth: Archie Comics.

Today in Comics History, August 2: Exciting Archer Montage, Right Side

Clip it and tape it together with yesterday's "Exciting Archer Montage, Left Side!" And then...what, I dunno? Paste it on your wall or something. It's your choice. Look, I'm not your mom!


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
Oh, okay. Here;'s what it looks like when it's all put together. Happy? (Don't forget to click on it to make it almost life-size. If you're small.)

(Click picture to montage-size. Look, what did I *just say*?!?)

Today in Comics History, August 2: Bruce spent the summer getting in shape with the perfect beach body

from Batman: The Long Halloween #11 (DC, October 1997), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, August 2: Happy birthday, Myrna Loy!

Born on this day in 1905 and our lives are better for it: the beautiful Myrna Loy, actress (The Thin Man series, The Best Years of Our Lives, Cheaper by the Dozen, The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, and many more)!


from "[Murder Tunes In Unexpectedly]" in Smash Comics #34 (Quality, July 1942); scriupt, pencils, inks and colors by Jack Cole

Today in Comics History, August 2: Happy birthday, Sid Check!

Born on this day in 1930: Sid Check, comic book artist (Crime SuspenStories, The Haunt of Fear, The Vault of Horror, Weird Science, Classics Illustrated, Journey into Unknown Worlds and more)

Check is captured by radio, stage, screen and comic book star Judy Canova, along with a passel of other comic book folks! That's Martin Thall (Captain Video, Adventures into Weird Worlds), in the foreground there, and in the cage from L-R: Sid Check, Wally Wood (Weird Science, THUNDER Agents, MAD), Victor Fox (publisher of Fox Feature Syndicate/Fox Comics), and Joe Orlando (MAD and Classics Illustrated back then, just about everything for DC later on)!



cover of Judy Canova #3 (Fox, September 1950), pencils by Joe Orlando, inks by Wally Wood
Happy birthday, Sid!

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1950: Even in Korea he had to ride in the back of the bus

from The 'Nam #45 (Marvel, June 1990), script by Doug Murray, breakdowns by Wayne Vansant, finishes by Tony DeZuñiga, colors and letters by Phil Felix

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1911: Male pilots immediately erase history records

from "Harriet Quimby" in Wonder Woman (1942 series) #46 (DC, March 1951), script by Julius Schwartz, pencils and inks by Frank Harry

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1776: John Hancock invents a phrase for people putting their names on something

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
Of course, the only thing worse than that is some autograph hunter pestering you, when you just know he's gonna turn around and put 'em up on eBay:


from "Autograph, Please!" in Superman #48 (DC, September 1947), script by Jerry Siegel, pencils and inks by John Sikela
Getting on your Herbalife mailing list is not a worthy cause, Superman!

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1934: Guillaume has no friends

from "The Claws of the Mafia!" in Murderous Gangsters #2 (Avon, December 1951), inks by Vince Alascia (?)

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1986: Silver Surfer's board meets an ignoble end

from D.P.7 Annual #1 (Marvel/New Universe, November 1987), script by Mark Gruenwald, pencils by Lee Weeks, inks by Tony DeZuniga, colors by Paul Becton, letters by Phil Felix

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1804: White Man's Burden enjoyed by White Men

from Manifest Destiny #12 (Image, December 2014), script by Chris Dingess, pencils and inks by Matthew Roberts, colors by Owen Gieni, letters by Pat Brosseau

Today in Comics History, August 2: Happy birthday, Dave Hunt!

Born on this day in 1942: comics inker, letterer, and colorist; painter and pianist Dave Hunt (Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Team-Up, New Adventures of Superboy, Action Comics, Scooby-Doo, The Transformers, Disney Adventures and many more)!


from FOOM #2 (Marvel, May 1973)
Happy birthday, Dave!

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1947: Black man steals home, is severely beaten by LAPD

from "The Stolen Home Run" in Jackie Robinson #2 (Fawcett, July 1950), script by Charles Dexter, pencils and inks by Clem Weisbecker

Today in Comics History, August 2: Happy birthday, Carroll O'Connor!

Born today in 1924: actor, producer, and director Carroll O'Connor, who was the star of Ben Grimm's favorite TV show! (Also, I imagine the Thing liked In the Heat of the Night, but that wouldn't premiere for another 16 years.)


from Marvel Team-Up (1972 series) #3 (Marvel, July 1972), script by Gerry Conway, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Frank Giacoia, letters by Artie Simek

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1934: Germany breathes a sigh of relief at getting rid of the despot Hindenburg

from "The Toughest Newsboy in Town!" in Action Comics #461 (DC, July 1976), script by Elliot S! Maggin, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by Tex Blaisdell
Say, the Daily Planet misspelled his name! So did Perry, but only in his imagination.

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1944: The "Dear John" letter is invented; not yet perfected

from "Foxhole Sailor: A True Adventure of the Fighting Coast Guard" in World's Finest Comics #20 (DC, Winter 1946); script, pencils, and inks by Joe Simon