Today in Comics History, January 30: Happy birthday, Bill Vigoda!

Born on this day in 1920: comics artist (primarily for the M.L.J./Archie comics lines) Bill Vigoda (Hangman Comics, Black Hood Comics, Laugh Comics, Archie Comics, Archie's Pal Jughead, Pep Comics, Wilbur Comics and many more)! He's the brother of actor Abe Vigoda, but Abe already got his birthday wishes on February 24, so this one's for you, Bill!

And yes, Bill actually appears in the comics, in this fourth-wall bustin' adventure of Dusty, the Boy Who Would Not Clean His Apartment! Note that Bill appears only silhouetted against the startling background of Crisis on Infinite Earths, with the visual anonymity that comics usually reserve for the President or God. Also, he appears to be crouching or perhaps frightened of the top of the panel.


from "[Bill Vigoda Unfair To Villains!]" in Black Hood Comics #10 (Archie/MLJ, Spring 1944), pencils and inks by Bill Vigoda

Today in Comics History, Friday the 13th (of June): Cop not doing anything terrible right now but keep your eye on him just in case

from Black Hood (2015 series) #1 (Archie/Dark Circle, April 2015), script by Duane Swierczynski, pencils and inks by Michael Gaydos, colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick, letters by Rachel Deering

Today in Comics History, April 17: Cop not doing anything wrong right now but keep your eye on him just in case

from The Black Hood (2015 series) #1 (Archie/Dark Circle, April 2015), script by Duane Swierczynski, pencils and inks by Michael Gaydos, colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick, letters by Rachel Deering