Today in Comics History, June 14: Flag Day Bonus: Batman: Fightin' Mad About Flags

from "The First American Detective!" in Batman (1940 series) #44 (DC/National, December 1947), script by Bill Finger (?), pencils by Jim Mooney, letters by Ira Schnapp

Today in Comics History, June 14, Flag Day: Ben Franklin...Plagiarist!

On this patriotic holiday, so you think you know the origin and history of our proud American star-spangled banner? Well, think again, bub! All that the teachers taught you weren't cool! That story about Betsy Ross being bitten by a radioactive starfish and thirteen snakes? Bullhockey propaganda implanted in your puny mind by Commies! Or, maybe the Red Skull. Come to think of it, how can you be sure your kindly history teacher wasn't a Skrull, pallie?!?

No, on this special day, you deserve to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about the true origins of our American flag. And who better to depict that amazing day in American history than the King himself, Jack Kirby? Let's call it: Old Glory: Who She Is and How She Came to Be!

Okay, first, Captain America travelled back in time...wait, wait, work me me on this one:


from Marvel Treasury Special Featuring Captain America's Bicentennial Battles one-shot (Marvel, September 1976), script and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Herb Trimpe, colors by Phil Rachelson, letters by John Costanza
...meets Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross, upon whom he makes quite an impression...


Now you an' I can see this coming a mile away...


...but poor Cap is acting like he's never seen an episode of The Twilight Zone. Don't freak out, Cap...it's only temporal causality!


Hmmm, d'you think Jack was having a little joke at Marvel's expense about the nature of work for hire here? Anyway, run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes, Ben...she's a grand old flag!