Well, 'round about now is when our ol' pal Hal Jordan starts to have mighty big trouble on Leap Day, and doesn't look like that plastic cereal box prize ring is gonna help him get outta this mess o' the Giant Green Goblin with a Red Speedo, no how, no way.
from cover of DC Special #21 (DC/National, April 1976), pencils and inks by Ernie Chan, colors by Tatjana Wood, letters by John Workman (?)
Note: this story takes place during a Leap Year but not necessary on LEap Day. But it's my blog, so ya boo, this is where it goes.
Born on this day in 1904: Major League baseball player and manager Pepper Martin, who not only sounds like he'd taste good on a sandwich, but also was a leading player for the St. Louis Cardinals in the thirties and forties and a factor in the Cards' win of the 1931 World Series! He was a member of the Cardinals' infamous "Gashouse Gang" and also known as "Wild Horse of the Osage," which is a bit of a mouthful to shout from the bleachers. Go ahead, just try it! See? Also, his face emitted blinding rays of light:
"Sports Features" from King Comics #42 (David McKay, October 1939), pencils and inks by Jack Burnley; reprinted from the newspaper feature Sport Features Sunday (King Features Syndicate, 1938
However, never forget that in his managing years, Martin was kind of a dismissive jerk to up-and-coming Cardinal player Red Schoendienst:
from "Red Schoendienst...The Most Under-Rated Second Sacker in Baseball!" in Sports Action #4 (Marvel/Sports Action Inc., October 1950), pencils (and inks?) by Edd Ashe
A happy birthday to ya, Pepper! But I wouldn't be hanging around tyour mailbox waiting on a present from Red Schoendienst.
Born on this day in 1876...or was she?!?...Anne L. Ide, daughter of U.S. Senator Henry Clay Ide (1844-1921). Or so the story goes...or does it? Why yes. Yes, it does. To wit, Anne complained to Robert Lousi Stevenson that she only got a birthday every four years (which seems to point towards dull, cheap and unimaginative parents more than a vagary of the calendar) so Stevenson gave her his birthday (November 13). Thus this so-called-story goes:
from "Robert Louis Stevenson" in Real Life Comics #33 (Pines, July 1946), creators uncredited and unknown
The event was immortalized in a poem "that every child should know" (and believe me, it's no "Milk, Milk, Lemonade") by Katherine Miller. It starts out
"How I should like a birthday!" said the child,
"I have so few, and they so far apart."
She spoke to Stevenson — the Master smiled —
"Mine is to-day; I would with all my heart
That it were yours; too many years have I!
Too swift they come, and all too swiftly fly."
The whole thing is right here, and it's about as wet as this verse.
Truth is, Ms. Ide was born not today but on Christmas Day — December 25, 1876 — but the vague lyrics of this piece of nonsense gave rise to the historical legend that is repeated in this comic: that Anne was born on Leap Day. (See here.)
So, for being at the center of false history, today you get nothing, Anne Ide! You lose! Good day, sir miss!
However, you can't deny the historical truth that Anne Ide was known as "Levei-malo" to the Samoans, which only goes to show.
Born on this Leap Day: Nel Yomtov, potential anagram and comic book writer, colorist, letterer and editor! The many comics he's worked on include Transformers, Iron Man, Conan the Barbarian, Captain America, Fantastic Force, G.I. Joe Special Missions, and more, plus writing scripts for Wolverine and Hawkeye in Marvel Comics Presents, Spider-Man Adventures, A Midsummer Night's Dream and others!
from Marvel Age #50, 87 (Marvel, May 1987, April 1990, March 1991, and March 1992); text by Mike Carlin (#50), Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#87 and 98), and Mike Lackey (#110); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Gregory Wright (#87) and Renee Witterstaetter (#98)
Happy birthday today to Minky Woodcock's brother Bennie Woodcock, born in 1920.
from Minky Woodcock: The Girl Who Electrified Tesla #3 (Titan, July 2021); script, pencils, inks, and colors by Cynthia von Buhler; letters by Jim Campbell
Happy birthday, Bennie! Over the next four years, we'll completely forget about you between your birthdays.
Yes, here it is, the event we've all waited four years for: Gioachino Rossini's birthday, born on this day in 1792, which means he's only... (does math with hoofs, wishes I had more that four hoofs)...fifty-eight years old this year! That's mighty young at heart for the classic composer of the famous operas William Tell aka The Lone Ranger, Otello (please don't be mad at him just because he misspelled Shakespeare's tragic Moor), and of course The Barber of Seville, a hair-raising comic opera:
from "Famous Operas: The Barber of Seville" in Classics Illustrated #55 (Gilberton, January 1949), creators uncredited and unknown
Of course, we're all familiar with the plot and music of The Barber of Seville thanks to that famous short cartoon featuring a wascally animal character, right? And here it is!
excerpt from Looney Tunes "Rabbit of Seville" (Warner Bros., 1950), story by Michael Maltese, directed by Chuck Jones, starring the voices of Mel Blanc and Arthur Q. Bryan, with the music of Gioachino Rossini
Okay, actually the original gag of that last paragraph was going to lead you unexpectedly to not a Bugs Bunny cartoon, but one with Woody WOodpecker, until I actually watched it and went yeeeeeesh at its dodgy depiction of a Native American. (Look at it at your own risk.)
Hey, today is Sadie Hawkins Day! By tradition, a day when women ask men out for dates, dining, dancing, and a little bit o' dis 'n' dat, instead of the other way round. Seriously, these days you can do this any time, kind ladies, and I hope you do. (Waiting by my telephone.)
Sadie Hawkins Day was created and popularized by extraordinary cartoonist and terrible personAl Capp in the classic comic strip Li'l Abner.
Hey, it's the you-only-can-celebrate-it-every-four years birthday of Superman! Who is a little red cheaty-pants on the outside, because he also gets presents on Clark Kent's birthday, June 18. Wanna read more about Supes's most diastrous birthday party? No, not the one where Jimmy Olsen turned into a giant turtle and ate the cake, but Superman Annual #11's "For the Man Who Has Everything," in a blog post right here on this very blog that I wrote twelve years ago. How it that possible? I've only seven! Which is a very good age to be.
Panels from Superman Annual (1960 series) #11 (September 1985); script by Alan Moore; pencils, inks, and letters by Dave Gibbons; colors by Tom Ziuko
Superman's birthday is so popular
(I shall now pause for you to shout "HOW POPULAR IS IT?!?")
...Superman's birthday is so popular that even Harley Quinn dreams about it.
Panel from Harley Quinn Valentine's Day Special one-shot (April 2015), script by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, pencils and inks by Aaron Campbell, colors by Hi-Fi, letters by John J. Hill
Whoa, HQ! Better not let Poison Ivy catch you dreamin' about Superman! And for that matter, being Robin to Batman. Although I suspect she'd enjoy the little green shorts.
Anyway, Happy Birthday, Superman! To another 82 years and beyond!
from Super Soldier #1 (Amalgam/DC, April 1996); co-plot and script
by Mark Waid; co-plot, pencils, inks, and letters by Dave Gibbons; colors by Angus McKie
from Star Brand #13 (Marvel/New Universe, May 1988), script and breakdowns by John Byrne, finishes by Tom Palmer, colors by Andy Yanchus, letters by Joe Rosen
How'd that work out for you, Maddie?
from Star Brand #19 (Marvel/New Universe, May 1989), script and breakdowns by John Byrne, finishes by Jeff Albrecht, colors by Andy Yanchus, letters by Rick Parker
from Psi-Force #21 (Marvel/New Universe, July 1988), script by Fabian Nicieza, pencils by Ron Lim, inks by Mike Witherby, colors by Nelson Yomtov, letters by Rick Parker
It's February 29, the date so nice we get it twice...um, every eight years. And we all know whose birthday February 29 is, right?
Cover of Whiz Comics #47 (October 1943), pencils and inks by C. C. Beck
That's right! Happy Birthday, Big Red Cheese! And he gets to spend his birthday with a freakin' talking tiger.
But the truth be known, altho' it really is Captain Marvel's birthday (and it'll be a cold day in the cabbage patch before you make me call him "Shazam"), it also happens to be the birthday of another, somewhat important superhero:
Cover of DC Super Friends #9 (January 2009), pencils, inks, and colors by J. Bone
Check your calendars, note that it's the day that only happens once in every four years, and then break out the party hats and streamers. Why? I'm telling you why: it's Superman's birthday!
February 29th is traditionally known as the birthday of the Man of Steel and, coincidentally, his alter ego Clark "Mild-Mannered" Kent, which when you put together the skimpy-glasses-disguise and the fact that neither of them ever appears at the other's birthday party, really means that Lois Lane is indeed dumb as a bag of hammers. Could the fact that Mister El only celebrates his birthday once every four years account for his youthful, in fact boyish appearance? Or is that Oil of Olay? Only Clark's spa knows for sure.
Anyway, pull up a plate and enjoy some super-cake. Hey, why is the frosting green? Oh, I'm sure it's okay. We ordered it from Thurol Bakers and they've never steered us wrong yet. (nom nom nom nom)
Superman's Birthday is as generous as the man himself, because you get the present: a recounting of one of the finest Superman tales ever told, the story of the birthday gift that, no matter how polite he is when he accepts that birthday ice scraper from Steve Lombard, Superman really oughtn't to have opened. Let's set the Superman Way-Back machine for the summer of 1985—a mere sliver of time before the multiverse got squeezed into one universe in Crisis on Infinite Earths...and pick up Superman Annual #11 by Alan "Watchmen" Moore and Dave "Also Watchmen" Gibbons, an issue that's not only a fine classic Superman tale but like Moore's slightly-later "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?," is a fabulous farewell to the mythos and grandeur of the pre-Crisis DC Universe.
On February 29th, the Invisible Jet and the Batplane land at the North Pole, not in search of the vacationing Santa, but for Wonder Woman, Batman and Robin to surprise Superman on his birthday. This is not only a gentler, looser Batman—he's a consummate professional, of course, but he has a close and dear friendship with Kal and Diana, and takes the opportunity to introduce Jason Todd, the new Robin, to Wondy:
All panels are from Superman Annual #11 (1985), written by Alan Moore, art and lettering by Dave Gibbons, colors by Tom Ziuko
...which leads to one of the finest, and funniest, Jason Todd-era Batman/Robin exchanges, ever:
What do you get for the man who has everything? Batman and Wonder Woman discuss that problem as they enter the wide-open Fortress, trying to sneak up on a man who can hear a pin drop on the other side of the world (if that's your idea of fun):
...but it looks like the festivities have already begun! Hey, Superman...surprise?
That big pink plant that looks like a Kryptonian fly-trap sticking out of Supes's barrel chest is actually the Black Mercy, a leech-like psionic plant that attaches itself to a victim and implants visions of your happiest dreams and your heart's desire in your head, rendering you insensate. Golly, I bet my Black Mercy would be full of Oreos and chocolate milk. Still, a rather rude gift on your birthday, huh? The gift-giver is not, as you might think, a careless Jimmy Olsen who clicked the wrong button on Teleflora.com, but Superman's big bad yellow nemesis, Mongul. Batman, who has left his copy of DC's Who's Who in his other utility belt, stalls for time:
Mongul, whose intergalactic despotism doesn't mean he can't be polite, kneels down to keep himself inside the panel...
...and delivers the sort of ultimatum that makes you, when you read it, sing aloud: "DA DA DUMMMMMM!":
Here's where the (Friday Night) Fight portion begins. Wonder Woman's action—and Mongul's response—is so good I gotta show you the entire page:
Wonder Woman and Mongul battle throughout the Fortress of Solitude, pretty much wrecking a lot of Superman's special exhibits, including the Lois Lane Gift Shop and the Steve Lombard Rest Rooms, while Batman applies his little bat-brain-cells to the problem at hand. If only Superman can defeat Mongul, they must save Superman. But Superman's deep within a fantasy life—the "heart's desire" the Black Mercy grants him—of living on Krypton with a wife and son, and cranky old Jor-El going off the rails every now and then. Yes, Clark has dreamed himself into an episode of Everybody Loves Kal-El. But back in the real world, Batman tugs the Black Mercy off Superman's chest, only to have it attach itself to him. Cue Thomas Wayne kick-assing Joe Chill in a dark corner of Crime Alley, but with Superman awake again, there shall come a reckoning, Mongul...oh yes, there certainly shall:
Needless to say, Mongul is upset: that's not the way you treat a guest at your birthday party, Man of Steel!:
Those of you who complain that Jason Todd was a whiny brat and gleefully kicked in your 99 cents to off 'im should be forced to sit down and re-read this story. Stuck in a Fortress tumbling down around him as Mongul and Superman fight, with Wonder Woman out of the count and Batman lost in a fantasy world of the Black Mercy, Rob grabs Mongul's power gloves, yanks the parasitical flower off Batman's chest, climbs up to the next level on the bat-rope, and drops it on Mongul. Sure, there are some good Jason Todd stories in that era, especially in Detective, but this, ladies and gentlemen...this is Jason Todd's finest hour:
With Mongul lost in his own fantasy world of ruling the Earth and universe, a villain-stopping trick so clever J'onn J'onnz used it later on against Despero, it's time to party down for the Superfriends, as Wonder Woman gives Superman the best birthday present of all:
Clark Kent: birthday playa.
Happy birthday, Clark. Happy birthday, Kal. Happy Birthday, Superman. And many, many more to come.
(Longin' to experience "For the Man Who Had Everything" but don't have Superman Annual #11? Click below and watch, in YouTube segment highlights, a fairly faithful but slightly changed (no Robin, boo hiss) adaptation of Moore's story from Justice League Unlimited. Watch it quickly, before the WB lawyers spot it and take it down! For that matter, Superman wouldn't want you to celebrate his birthday by stealing intellectual rights, so it's best if you just not look at it anyway.)
The cosmic funk of Bahlactus is the gift that keeps on giving.
Check your calendars, note that it's the day that only happens once in every four years, and then break out the party hats and streamers. Why? I'm telling you why: it's Superman's birthday!
Superman's Birthday is as generous as the man himself, because you get the present: a recounting of one of the finest Superman tales ever told, the story of the birthday gift that, no matter how polite he is when he accepts that birthday ice scraper from Steve Lombard, Superman really oughtn't to have opened. Let's set the Superman Way-Back machine for the summer of 1985—a mere sliver of time before the multiverse got squeezed into one universe in Crisis on Infinite Earths...and pick up Superman Annual #11 by Alan "Watchmen" Moore and Dave "Also Watchmen" Gibbons, an issue that's not only a fine classic Superman tale but like Moore's slightly-later "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?," is a fabulous farewell to the mythos and grandeur of the pre-Crisis DC Universe.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQenrY-T9_-EUVG2XBTW-ZiSnvw_V3JFU-8tiFlhrdgKCUBaE56ekbiILucymY9gA-xa4zdGy_z1Njojw78Z-YnlUiN4PIRRurK7GzqoEg3B-PmXl2RJaS1ZaVKVCEHP-m-WVr2xjqailLu1jlzylysiBGc3sVXLXNMFDzAURyrHhKBfcqyO4/s1600/button-libertybellmarch.jpg" "It's...")
