Today in Comics History, Flag Day Bonus: Betsy Ross murders George Washington

cover of Wimmen's Comix #6 (Last Gasp, December 1975), by Shary Flenniken

Today in Comics History, July 14, Flag Day Bonus: Betsy Ross sues Superboy for trademark theft

from "George Washington's Drum!" in Superboy (1949 series) #2 (DC/National, May 1949), pencils by John Sikela, inks by Ed Dobrotka

Today in Comics History, February 22: Breathe Deep the Gathering Gloom

"Air-Tight!" in Crime SuspenStories (1950 series) #6 (EC, August 1951), text by Al Feldstein

Today in Comics History, February 6, 1778: Ridiculous French accent is invented

from "The Story of the War of Independence" in Picture Stories from American History #2 (EC, 1946), script by M. C. Gaines and W. W. D. Sones, pencils and inks by Allen Simon

Today in Comics History, December 4, 1783: First meeting of the George Washington Clone Club

from "The Story of the War of Independence" in Picture Stories from American History #2 (EC, 1946), script by M. C. Gaines and W. W. D. Sones, pencils and inks by Allen Simon

Today in Comics History, September 15, 1776: Suddenly, Washington's wooden teeth start tingling

from "Washington!" in Two-Fisted Tales #29 (EC, September), script by Harvey Kurtzman, pencils by John Severin, inks by Will Elder, colors by Marie Severin, letters by Ben Oda

Today in Comics History, July 3, 1754: General Washington thinks this deal is getting worse all the time; prays the British do not alter it further

from "The Story of the French and Indian War" in Picture Stories from American History #2 (EC, 1946), script by M. C. Gaines and W. W. D. Sones, pencils and inks by Allen Simon

Today in Comics History, June 28, 1778: British retreat, claiming tea-time

Hey, look what it is: that danged Superman Salutes the Bicentennial treasury which is completely full of Tomahawk reprints and not a single Superman comic. I will never stop makin' fun of this thing.

Yes, I have a copy. (sigh)


from "Valley Forge" in Limited Collectors' Edition #C-47 [Superman Salutes the Bicentennial] (DC, August 1976); script, pencils and inks by Fred Ray

Today in Comics History, President's Day: Come on and sit on George's wooden lap

"Whatcha Want for President's Day?" from The Ren and Stimpy Show #17 (Marvel, April 1994), script by Dan Slott, pencils and inks by Mike Kazaleh, colors by Chia-Chi Wang, letters by Brad K. Joyce

Today in Comics History, April 30, 1789: "This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."

from "Historical Almanac" in Real Fact Comics #20 (DC, May 1949), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, January 1, 1776: Maybe you oughta take the Union Jack outta your flag, George

from "The Story of Old Glory" in Real Life Comics #4 (Pines, April 1942), creators uncredited

Today in Comics History, May 6, 1776: Ain't no party like a George Party, 'cos a George Party is either wildly or mildly cheered

From the world's bait-and-switchiest comic book, Limited Collectors' Edition #C-47, comes today's celebration of the French Alliance! Which gave us Asterix, the croissant, and Audrey Tautou, not to mention the eventual triumph of the War for Independence. Get down and party, bluecoats!


from "Valley Forge" in Limited Collectors' Edition #C-47 [Superman Salutes the Bicentennial] (DC, August 1976); text, pencils, and inks by Fred Ray

Today in Comics History, December 25, 1776: Looks like George Washington picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue

from "George Washington's Drum!" in Superboy (1949 series) #2 (DC, May 1949), pencils by John Sikela, inks by Ed Dobrotka

Today in Comics History, December 19, 1777: Superman cheerfully leaves the Continental Army to die in the winter snow

I will never not make fun of the infamous Limited Collectors' Edition #C-47, which promised us this:


cover of Limited Collectors' Edition #C-47 [Superman Salutes the Bicentennial] (DC, August 1976); pencils and inks by Fred Ray, colors by Sol Harrison
...but gave us this: sixty oversized pages of Tomahawk reprints superficially introduced by Superman.


from Limited Collectors' Edition #C-47 (DC, August 1976); Superman figures pencilled and inked by Curt Swan; Tomahawk pencils and inks by Fred Ray
What's the matter, Superman, too lazy to fly back into time and show us your adventures in 1776?

Anyway, here's what happened...Today in Comics History!

Today in Comics History: Limited Collectors' Edition fails to deliver on Superman-celebrating-Bicentennial action. Also, some history stuff.

Hey, let's look at today's Bicentennial Minute, courtesy of the baitiest-and-switchiest comic book of all time, Superman Salutes the Bicentennial! Which consists entirely of Tomahawk reprints.


Page from illustrated story "Valley Forge" in Limited Collectors' Edition #C-47 [Superman Salutes the Bicentennial] (August-September 1976); script, pencils, and inks by Fred Ray
And that's the way it was.


Why thanks, Spock's half-brother!

Today in Comics History, June 19, 1778: General Washington and his troops shoot furiously at something off panel, possibly Godzilla

Ah yes, the infamous Superman Salutes the Bicentennial treasury which has zero Superman stories in it, only reprints of Tomahawk comics. No wonder I tried to drown this comic book in the bathtub.


from "Valley Forge" in Limited Collectors' Edition #C-47 [Superman Salutes the Bicentennial] (DC, August 1976); script, pencils and inks by Fred Ray

Today in Comics History, December 24, 1776: George Washington invents the triple-decker cheeseburger

from "Unstuck in Time!" in Archie Giant Series Magazine #602 [The World of Jughead] (Archie, October 1989), script by Rich Margopoulos, pencils by Doug Crane, inks by Tom Moore, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida

Today in Comics History, December 14, 1799: George Washington's medical insurance runs out

from Action Presidents: Washington (Evil Twin, November 2013); script by Fred Van Lente; pencils, inks, and letters by Ryan Dunlavey

Today in Comics History, June 14, 1920: Underwhelming superhero with world's stupidest birthmark is born

from Our Flag Comics #2 (Ace, October 1941), pencils by Harry Anderson
Then, twenty-one years later...


WHOA THAT'S QUITE A JUMP CUT


Man, Lincoln there looks like he's about to hand down the death sentence, doesn't he? Luckily, Flag McFlagg not his real name knows what to do with this amazing new superpower: financially benefit himself! Oh, wait, no, fight crime.


Thus began the popular criminal custom of burning the American flag.

Today in Comics History, December 25, 1776, Christmas: Hey, where's Captain David Perry, Revolutionary War soldier?*

from "Phineas and Ferb Save America" in Phineas and Ferb #1 (Disney, June 2013), script by Jim Bernstein and Scott Peterson, art by Eric Jones and John Green
*Here he is!