Today in Comics History, August 6, 1951: Newspaper hits porch so hard it's seeing stars

from "Newspaper items" in Big Town #11 (DC/National, November 1951), by Mort Drucker

Today in Comics History, October 5: Happy birthday, Edmund William Starling!

Born on this day in 1875: Sergeant Edmund William Starling, personal Presidential bodyguard and Jokester to the Commander-in-Chief!


"Crack Shot" from Big Town #3 (DC/National, March 1951), by Stookie Allen

Today in Comics History, August 22: Happy birthday, Melville E. Stone!

Born on this day in 1848: eminent newspaperman and publisher Melville Elijah Stone, founder of the Chicago Daily News and the general manager of the Associated Press. Also, judging by his name, he was probably the editor of Fred Flintstone's favorite reading material, the Bedrock News-Slab.


"Headline Heroes" from Big Town #9 (DC/National, September 1951); script, pencils, inks, and letters by Mort Drucker
Congratulations on your career, your birthday, and on being drawn by Mort Drucker, Melville Stone!

Today in Comics History, September 4, 1883: AMAZING PAPERBOY DELIVERS! "It's a rough job, but..." blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

from "Odd News Items!" in Big Town #39 (DC, May 1956), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, August 17, 1955: Newspapers finally have ears so now they can wear cool sunglasses

from "Odd News Items!" in Big Town #39 (DC, May 1956), creators uncredited and unknown;
as reprinted in Blackhawk (1957 series) #155 (DC, December 1960)
And that's finally the end of this weird bit.

Today in Comics History, August 16, 1955: Newspapers put on headphones

from "Odd News Items!" in Big Town #39 (DC, May 1956), creators uncredited and unknown;
as reprinted in Blackhawk (1957 series) #155 (DC, December 1960)
We did one the other day, but there's one more date, so you know there's more to come!

Today in Comics History, August 14, 19?6: Newspapers evolve sideburns

from "Odd News Items!" in Big Town #39 (DC, May 1956), creators uncredited and unknown;
as reprinted in Blackhawk (1957 series) #155 (DC, December 1960)
If you can read those other dates, you know I'm gonna run this bit into the ground!

Today in Comics History, February 20, 1792: Louis DeJoy vows to have this mail delivered by 2023 at the latest

from "Odd News Items!" in Big Town #29 (DC, September 1954), creators unknown

Today in Comics History: Robert Mitchum deducts the secret origin of Oregon

Panel from the Johnny Law story "A Shadow of a Doubt" in Big Town #15 (May-June 1952), pencils and inks by Irwin Hasen

Today in Comics History, August 10, 1951: Prestigious newspaper buries the day's biggest story on page 13

from "The Strange Story of Tomorrow's Newspaper" in Big Town #10 (DC, October 1951), script by Miriam Hecht, pencils by John Lehti, inks by Bob Lander

Today in Comics History, June 28: Flying City Room discovers it is not the Floating City Room

from "The Flying City Room" in Big Town #2 (DC, February 1951), script by France Herron, pencils by Dan Barry, inks by Sy Barry

Today in Comics History, June 12: Mrs. van Dell begins to regret naming her son "Strangler"

from "The Flying City Room" in Big Town #2 (DC, February 1951), script by France Herron, pencils by Dan Barry, inks by Sy Barry

Today in Comics History, May 23: Excessive champagne consumption knocks comic book color off-register

from "The Flying City Room" in Big Town #2 (DC, February 1951), script by France Herron, pencils by Dan Barry, inks by Sy Barry
And then they all drove out and got on the first flight of the Flying City Room. On champagne!


Happy first appearance, Flying City Room!

Today in Comics History, February 2, 1950: The disembodied head of Edward G. Robinson masterminds another heist

from "The Human Bomb" in Big Town #2 (DC, February 1951), script by France Herron, pencils by Dan Barry, inks by Sy Barry

Comics News for February 1, 2013

Well, that'll happen next Wednesday

Panel from "The Gangster Boss of Small Town" in Big Town #2 (February 1951), script by France Herron, pencils by Dan Barry, inks by Sy Barry