Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy birthday, Leon Schlesinger!

Born today in 1884: Leon Schlesinger, movie producer and founder of what became the Warner Bros. Cartoon Studio.

Also: Porky Pig's boss.



from the Porky Pig story in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Comics (1941 series) #2 (Dell, November 1941), pencils and inks by Chase Craig
In a relationship that will surprise no one, Schlesinger was also nepotistically related to the actual Warner Bros.

Schlesinger was also probably personally responsible for locking the Warner Bros. (and Dot) up in the WB Water Tower.




from Comic Book History of Animation #2 and 3 (IDW, December 2020-January 2021); script by Fred Van Lente; pencils, inks, and letters by Ryan Dunlavey; colors by Ryan Dunlavey and Adam Guzowski
Leon Schlesinger starred as himself in Friz Freleng's Looney Tunes short "You Ought to Be in Pictures" (1940). No, Mel Blanc did not do his voice.


Looney Tunes "You Ought to Be in Pictures (excerpt) (Warner Bros./Vitaphone, May 18, 1940), directed by Friz Freleng

Happy birthday, Leon!

Today in Comics History, October 13: Rabbit Season Duck Season

from Four Color #615 [Daffy Duck] (Dell, February 1955), pencils and inks by Phil De Lara

A Month of... Pancakes! Day 22: Shoot that pancake arrow through my heart

Inside-cover gag cartoon from Four Color #457 (March 1953) [Daffy Duck]; pencils and inks by Phil de Lara
UGH DAFFY'S TONGUE in that last panel. Put that thing away, Daffy!

366 Days with J. Jonah Jameson, Day 21: Spidey Doodles

Splash page from from Marvel Team-Up (1972 series) #24 (August 1974), script by Len Wein, pencils by Jim Mooney, inks by Sal Trapani, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by John Costanza


(Context for the title of this post:)


Merrie Melodies: "Daffy Doodles" (April 6, 1946), directed by Robert McKimson, story by Warren Foster, voices by Mel Blanc

Today in Comics History, July 23: The Crosshawk is invented

from World's Finest Comics #157 (DC, May 1966), script by Edmond Hamilton, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by George Klein, letters by Joe Letterese
But don't place the blame for this vandalism, despite the circumstantial evidence, on the Super-Sons! No, I think we all know who the real vandal is:


from Looney Tunes "Daffy Doodles" (Warner Bros. Cartoons, 1946), story by Warren Foster, directed by Robert McKimson, starring the voice of Mel Blanc as Daffy