Today in Comics History, Friday the Thirteenth: New crazy superstition invented: it's unlucky to have someone throw a brick through your window

from "[Friday the Thirteenth]" in Detective Comics (1937 series) #31 (September 1939); script, pencils, and inks by Tom Hickey

There Is No Hope in Crime Alley 2024: Hand over those three rocks, lady

Long-time readers of this blog will know that pretty much everytime June 26 rolls around, I commemorate the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne by showing off panels of that iconic origin of Batman, because it's been portrayed in comic books two or three times.


from "The Batman Wars Against the Dirigible of Doom" in Detective Comics (1937 series) #33 (DC, November 1939), script by Bill Finger, figure pencils and inks by Bob Kane, background pencils and letters by Sheldon Moldoff
However, this year let's mix it up a little bit and show a happier ending to that trip through Crime Alley:


Nancy (United Feature Syndicate, October 10, 1953), by Ernie Bushmiller
I'm pretty sure Sluggo still got shot, but still...

Today in Comics History, April 30: Happy birthday, Burton C. Mossman!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published April 30, 2022.

Born on this day in 1867: Burton C. Mossman, legendary American lawman (and cattleman, but we won't hold that against him).


"Arizona Ranger" in Detective Comics #139 (DC, September 1948), script and art by Stookie Allen (?)
And from that point on there was never any troubles in Arizona ever again. EVER AGAIN.

Today in Comics History, April 4: Happy birthday, Bob Rozakis!

Born on this day: Bob Rozakis, DC Comics writer (Action Comics, The New Adventures of Superboy, Detective Comics, World's Finest comics, The Batman Family, 'Mazing Man, Freedom Fighters and lots more), editor, and "The Answer Man"; DC's Executive Director of Production, co-creator of Mister E, Bumblebee, 'Mazing Man, Hero Hotline, Quakemaster, and more!


from Amazing World of DC Comics #1 (DC, July 1974)

Today in Comics History, March 6: Happy birthday, Al Milgrom!

Born on this day: Al Milgrom, writer, penciller, inker, and editor for too many comics to list from Marvel, DC, Archie, Dark Horse, Atlas/Seaboard and the proverbial many more!


from The Mighty Marvel Calendar 1976, 1977 and 1978 (Marvel, 1975, 1976, and 1977)


from Marvel Age #27, 51, 87, 99, and 111 (Marvel, June 1985, June 1987, April 1990, April 1991, and April 1992); text by Jim Salicrup (#27), Mike Carlin (#51), Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#87 and 99), and Mike Lackey (#111); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by George Roussos (#27), Paul Becton (#51), Gregory Wright (#87), and Renee Witterstaetter (#99)

Today in Comics History, September 19, 1783: The Golden Age of Ballooning

This is a much expanded and updated version of a post originally published September 19, 2016.


Yes, t'was today in 1783, that Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier initiated the livestock-crewed flight that ushered in the Golden Age of Ballooning!


from "Airecords" in Adventure Comics #40 (DC/Detective Comics, Inc., July 1939), by Terry Gilkison

Today in Crisis History, July 13, 1985: I was born to bring trouble wherever I'm at / With the number "13" tattooed on my neck

Well, it's July 13, and luckily it doesn't fall on a Friday. For that we can thank Roy Thomas Pope Gregory XIII for our current calendar, although hey, while we're here, let's just put any blame on Mxyzptlk. He's probably responsible!

Crisis on Infinite Earths is a complicated crossover event, so let's review the plot to date:


Crisis on Infinite Earths #3
Well, that about sums it up.

Today in Comics History, June 25, 1876: In the dictionary, this is the picture next to the phrase "famous last words"

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published June 25, 2022.


from Picture Stories from American History #4 (EC, Summer 1947), script by Jerry Coleman, pencils and inks by Allen Simon

Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy birthday, Gardner Fox!

Born today in 1911: prolific and important writer Gardner Fox!, co-creator of The Atom, Doctor Fate, the Golden Age Flash, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, the JLA, Zatanna, and Snapper Carr (well, nobody's perfect).


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

Today in Comics History, May 9: Happy birthday, William Moulton Marston!

Born today in 1893: William Moulton Marston aka Charles Moulton, psychologist, polyamorist, developer of the modern lie detector. Oh yeah, he co-created a hero you may have heard of called Wonder Woman.


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

Today in Comics History, March 17: Batman bowls billboard, brilliantly blocks baddie

from "The Challenge of the Calendar Man" in Detective Comics #239 (DC/National, September 1958), script by Bill Finger, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Charles Paris

Today in Comics History, December 21: Batman's speech balloons cunningly placed to conveniently hide which year it is

from Detective Comics #1019 (DC, March 2020), script by Peter J. Tomasi, pencils and inks by Scott Godlewski, colors by David Baron, letters by Rob Leigh

Today in Comics History, December 4, 1872 and 1947: They finally find the S.S. Minnow

from "The Mary Celeste: Ship of Evil" in Black Magic (1950 series) v.2 #11 (17) (Prize, October 1952), pencils and inks by Al Eadeh, letters by Ben Oda

Enjoy the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Part 6: He seems to have an invisible touch

The Joker is invisible (highlight that space for the answer!) and causing mayhem at the Thanksgiving Day Parade! Maybe it should be called novemberhem?


from Detective Comics #138 (DC/national, August 1948), script by Bill Finger (?), pencils and inks by Dick Sprang
Luckily, the Batman, the Most Realistic Crime-Fighting Character in Comics, also takes an invisibility formula and pursues the Joker up a giant parade balloon of himself! Man, you gotta admire the Batman franchise for not getting silly until 1966, right? When both are captured, Robin detects which one is the real Batman um, you could feel for which on has on a mask and pointy ears) by asking one question! What do you think that question was?


Q: "Who's the greatest criminal henchman of them all?"

A: "Gabe!"


from the Batman and Robin serial (Columbia, 1949), directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet; riffed by Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett of RiffTrax

Today in Comics History, November 18: Happy birthday, Bob Smith!

Born on this day: comic book artist/inker Bob Smith, especially known for his work at DC (Detective Comics and Batman, Warlord, Robin, House of Mystery, World's Finest, and more)!


"DC Profiles #43: Bob Smith" from DC Comics cover-dated November 1978

Election Day: Batgirl 1972!

Well, there's why Batgirl knew what day today is...she's running for higher office!


from "Batgirl's Last Case" in Detective Comics #424 (DC, June 1972), script by Frank Robbins, pencils and inks by Don Heck, letters by Ben Oda
(Yes, yes. It's entirely possible this doesn't take place in November. It is, after all, a "special" congressional election. But indeeed, in Gotham City, it is still Election Day!)

Today in Halloween Comics History, October 31: Ladies and gentlemen: The World's Greatest Detective

from "Generations: Fractured" in Detective Comics #1027 (DC, November 2020), script and layouts by Dan Jurgens, finishes by Kevin Nowlan, colors by Hi-Fi, letters by AndWorld Design

Today in Comics History, October 8, 1871: The Atom attempts to pin another one of his heinous crimes upon an innocent cow

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published October 8, 2014.




from "Suddenly...the Witness Vanished!" in Detective Comics #432 (DC, February 1973), script by Elliot S! Maggin, pencils and inks by Murphy Anderson, letters by Ben Oda

Today in Comics History, October 7: Happy birthday, Andy Devine!

Born on this day in 1905: character actor and radio comedian Andy Devine (Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Jack Benny Program, etc.)!


from Movie Love #19 (Eastern Color, February 1953), pencils and inks by Frank Fogarty

Today in Comics History, September 12, 2005: Victor Zsasz is perp-walked through cosmic rays

from Detective Comics #815 (March 2006), script by Shane McCarthy, pencils and inks by Cliff Chiang, colors by David Baron, letters by Nick Napolitano