Today in Comics History, September 13: Happy birthday, Mike Grell!

Born on this day: comics writer/artist Mike Grell (Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Warlord, Superboy, Action Comics, Jon Sable: Freelance, Legion of Super-Heroes, Starslayer, and much more)! He co-created Jon Sable, Warlord, Dawnstar, the Calculator, Shado, and Tyroc (we won't hold that last one against you, Mike).


from 1st Issue Special #8 [Warlord] (DC, November 1975), self-portrait by Mike Grell

Today in Comics History, November 23: Happy birthday, Sol Harrison!

Born on this day in 1917: Sol Harrison, longtime art director, production manager and colorist at DC Comics.


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)

Today in Comics History, July 1: Happy birthday, Jack Adler!

Born on this day in 1917: longtime innovative DC Comics cover artist, colorist, and production manager Jack Adler! You'll see his work in Action Comics, House of Mystery, Sea Devils, Sensation Comics, Green Lantern, G.I. Combat, and many, many more! He did the color separation for Action Comics #1, and eventually becaome DC's Vice President of Production.


from DC Comics cover-dated June 1977

Today in Comics History, June 19: Happy birthday, Joe Letterese!

Born on this day in 1917: the man with the most appropriate name in comics, letterer Joe Letterese (Adventure Comics, Action Comics, World's Finest Comics, G.I. Combat, Kid Colt Outlaw, Batman, Strange Tales, and dozens more)!



from The Amazing World of Superman (DC, March 1973)
Spot Joe Letterese at the Superman/Ali prize fight, won't you?

cover of All-New Collectors' Edition #C-56 (DC, March 1978), layout by Joe Kubert, pencils by Neal Adams, inks by Neal Adams (?) and/or Cory Adams (?), logo design by John Workman
(Click top picture to GOAT-size)
Oh yeah? Well, then how about finding him on this back cover, smart guy, huh?




back cover of The Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #5 (DC, May 1980), pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Dick Giordano
Happy birthday, Joe!

Today in Comics History, June 15: Happy birthday, Ross Andru!

Born on this day in 1927: comics artist and editor Ross Andru: you've admired his work in Amazing Spider-Man, World's Finest Comics, Metal Men, Action Comics, Atari Force, Wonder Woman, Our Army at War, Marvel Team-Up, and so many more, including Superman vs. Spider-Man! He co-created the Punisher, the Metal Men, Tarantula, Jackal, G.I. Robot, Glory Grant, Egg Fu and others!


from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1976, 1977, and 1978

365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 221: The Little and the Big of It

House ad for The Best of DC [DC Blue Ribbon Digest] #2 and Jonah Hex and Other Western Tales [DC Blue Ribbon Digest] #2, (both November-December 1979); printed in Time Warp #1 (October-November 1979)
Ad designed and lettered by Gaspar Saladino

365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 112

One of my favorite DC House Ads of them all:


House ad for DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest and Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest (1984); printed in World's Finest Comics #308 (October 1984)

Artwork adapted from the cover of The Best of DC #49:


Cover of The Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #49 (June 1984), pencils and inks by Jim Engel and Chuck Fiala

Ad lettered by Gaspar Saladino. Superman figure by Curt Swan and Dave Hunt (?)

Say, who's that red fuzzy character in the balloon?

365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 100

House ad for The Best of DC #6 [Superman] and DC Special Blue Ribbon Series #3 [Justice Society] (both July-August 1980); printed in World's Finest Comics #263 (June-July 1980)
Both comic covers: pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Dick Giordano
(DC Special Blue Ribbon Series #3 incorporates the covers of All-Star Comics #36 (art by Irwin Hasen) and #58 (art by Mike Grell))

Ad art by ???

Same Story, Different Cover: Here's your next major crossover event idea, DC

L: DC Super Stars #10 (December 1976), pencils and inks by Ernie Chan, colors by Tatjana Wood, letters by Joe Letterese
R: DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #13 (September 1981), pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Dick Giordano
(Click picture to double-header-size)