Today in Comics History, November 18: Happy birthday, Bob Smith!

Born on this day: comic book artist/inker Bob Smith, especially known for his work at DC (Detective Comics and Batman, Warlord, Robin, House of Mystery, World's Finest, and more)!


"DC Profiles #43: Bob Smith" from DC Comics cover-dated November 1978

Today in Comics History, August 30: Happy birthday, Jack C. Harris!

Born on this day: comics scripter Jack C. Harris (Secrets of Haunted House, Superman Family, Wonder Woman, Men of War, Detective Comics, Sgt. Rock, House of Mystery, Kamandi and lots more)! He also co-created the DC/Marvel Universe-spanning character Annex and wrote his miniseries, which means he doesn't get royalities on it from two companies!


"DC Profiles #9: Jack C. Harris" from DC Comics cover-dated June 1977

Today in Comics History, January 28: Happy birthday, Todd Klein!

Born on this day, so you'd better write him a letter of congratulations (but be sure to use your best penpersonship): Todd Klein, letterer, logo designer, and writer!


from New Talent Showcase (1984 series) #1 (DC, January 1984)
Klein started off as a staff production worker at DC and worked his way up (with small, deliberate penstrokes) to become one of the top letterers of our time, with extensive work at DC Comics including cover or character logos for Blue Devil, Amethyst, Angel and the Ape, Promethea, Witchblade, Ahoy Comics, Ambush Bug, Amazing Heroes, The Legion of Super-Heroes, Doctor Strange, Atari Force, Batman and the Outsiders, Zot!, The Amazing Spider-Man, Action Comics, Justice League of America, Camelot 3000, DC Comics Presents, Sensational She-Hulk, The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck, Time Warp (one of my all-time favorite logos) and many, many more. He also created a large number of the logos used in Who's Who in the DC Universe. What, more? Yes, more! Todd was also the main writer for The Omega Men for a dozen issues, plus scripts for Green Lantern, House of Mystery, Blue Devil, and others! Whew!

And oh yeah, he was in that Bat-Mite comic story!

You Can't Tell the Players without Some Annotation Dept.: In the second image below: letterer Milton Snapinn at upper left, colorist Tony Tollin (red shirt), inker Bob Smith (burgundy shirt over white tee), Todd Klein (orange shirt), penciller Michael Golden (blonde, holding dog leash), Al Milgrom (white shirt, lower right), Bob Rozakis (blue shirt).




from "Bat-Mite's New York Adventure!" in Detective Comics #482 (DC, February 1979), script by Bob Rozakis, pencils by Michael Golden, inks by Bob Smith, colors by Anthony Tollin, letters by Milt Snapinn
Happy birthday, Todd Klein! (And don't forget to check out Todd Klein's website: it's extensive, entertaining, and educational!)