Today in Comics History, July 6: Happy birthday, John Byrne!

Born on this day: prolific comic book writer and artist John Byrne! X-Men, FF, Superman, Spidey, Captain America, Namor, Hulk, Batman, Hulk, She-Hulk, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, What If?...you name it, he's probably worked on it!


from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1979 and 1980 (Marvel, 1978-1979), Marvel Age #31 (Marvel, October 1985) and #91 (Marvel, August 1991)

365 Days of Power and Responsibility, Day 76: Brian an' Meggan, sittin' on a tree / Discussin' responsibility

Panel from Excalibur #53 (August 1992), script by Scott Lobdell, pencils by James Fry, inks by Chris Ivy, colors by Glynis Oliver, letters by Michael Heisler

At 13th Dimension: The Crazy Costumes of Kitty Pryde

Do you know what week it is? Why, yes indeed, it's the week of May 18th. Also this week, over at 13th Dimension, it's X-Men Week, which means they must have another movie comin' out or something. What is this, X-Men XXII: The Search for Maggott? In any case, my best pal John has written about The Crazy Costumes of Kitty Pryde, and you know the drill, yadda yadda yadda, I can't figger out why he left out this amazing costume: Baby Kitty Pryde!


Panels from Excalibur (1988 series) #6 (March 1989), script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Alan Davis, inks by Paul Neary, colors by Francois Mouly, letters by Tom Orzechowski
Oh, wait, I think I can guess why he left it out.

Today in Comics History, August 19, 1998: Big galoot marries fairytale princess

from Excalibur (1988 series) #125 (Marvel, October 1998), script by Ben Raab, pencils by Dale Eaglesham, inks by Scott Hanna, colors by Kevin Tinsley, letters by Richard Starkings and Emerson Miranda
Behold the happy event!




And with that very issue, Excalibur was cancelled. The lesson? You can't have a wife and a Marvel series at the same time.

Chris Claremont's Page o' Angst, Day 1: Oh boo hoo hoo hoo

The Mid-Day Matinee this week, all week: Chris Claremont's Page o' Angst! So stop yer cryin', we got work to do, with no quarter asked and none given! By the Goddess, by the White Wolf, by the focused totality of my power, let's stress out a little with the Uncanny Mister C!


Page from Excalibur Special Edition one-shot (December 1987), script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Alan Davis, inks by Paul Neary and Mark Farmer, colors by Glynis Oliver, letters by Tom Orzechowski

A Merry Marvel Christmas: Excalibur

Pin-up from Marvel Holiday Special 1992 (1992), art by Dave Cockrum

Separated at Birth: And over the rooftops when the stars prickle the skies/London is sleeping

L: Excalibur #1 (October 1988), art by Alan Davis and Paul Neary
M: Excalibur #21 (April 1990), art by Chris Wozniak and Al Milgrom
R: X-Men: Die by the Sword #1 (December 2007), art by Jelena Kevic-Djurdevic
(Click picture to Big Ben-size)

Separated at Birth: What you see and what you will hear/Will last you for the rest of your life

L: Uncanny X-Men #111 (June 1978), art by Dave Cockrum and Terry Austin
R: Excalibur #-1 (July 1997), art by Rob Haynes and Casey Jones
(Click picture to Big Top-size)