Today in Comics History, April 6, 1864: Ghost unable to make South rise again

from "A Very Special Spirit" in Ghosts (1971 series) #97 (DC, February 1981), Script script by Mimai Kin, opencils and inks by Michael Netzer, colors by Adrienne Roy, letters by Albert DeGuzman
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2024 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, January 3, 1919: Hanged convict saved by arrival of Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man

from "The Ghost of Wandsgate Gallows" in Ghosts (1971 series) #10 (DC/National, December 1972), script by Leo Dorfman, pencils and inks by Ernie Chan, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, November 17, 1918: Everybody in London pretty much has the same color hair

from "The Ghost of Wandsgate Gallows!" in Ghosts (1971 series) #10 (DC/National, December 1972), script by Leo Dorfman, pencils and inks by Ernie Chan, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, October 16, 1931: Evel Knievel immediately jumps the ravine to honor the memory of Roy Dusek

Hey, remember Roy Dusek from September 9? Sure (says Sally Strothers), we all do! That's because we put up a plaque or a statue or maybe a banner that memorizlized him right on this here bridge:


from "The Incarnadine Bridge!" in Ghosts (1971 series) #97 (DC, February 1981), script by Mimai Kin, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Rodin Rodriguez
Oh, so not a statue. We just put him inside a pillar of cherry Jell-O™. Why, you might even say that he got his...just desserts.


Wasn't that spooky, kids? Even Bully was scared, and let me tell you, Bully doesn't scare easily.

Hey wait, wasn't it Tully Mason that had gone missing?

This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, September 18: Happy birthday, Jesse Shepard! Or is that...Francis Grierson?!?

Born on this day in 1848 (so in case you wanted to contact him in a séance, he's probably on that other side): Jesse Shepard, who used the pen name Francis Grierson. He was a composer, pianist and writer, but we, as fans of comic books and ghost stories, are primarily interested in him as an occultist, who claimed to channel the spirit of the dead Hector Berlioz and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through his musical performances. Spooky, huh, kids? here, read more about it...on yellow paper!:


"Phantom Fingers" from Ghosts (1971 series) #10 (DC, December 1972), creators uncredited and unknown
Happy birthday, Jeese and/or Francis, wherever you are! Hey, play us that brand new song by Prince, huh?

Today in Comics History, September 9, 1931: See, the ironic part is that he always hoped he'd be buried in chocolate pudding

Hey, remember yesterday when I promised you that the story of Tully Mason had just one more final macabre twist? Well, this ain't it. This is just a post about his milk carton "missing' alert.


from "The Incarnadine Bridge!" in Ghosts (1971 series) #97 (DC, February 1981), script by Mimai Kin, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Rodin Rodriguez
No, for the conclusion of this creepy comic, tune in again on October 16! Whoa, that's a long way aways. I can hardly wait!

This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, September 8, 1931: Bridge on the River I...rony

(For an introduction to this story, check out May 5th!)

My handy Comic Readers' Almanac (Also for Farmers) tells by that on Tuesday, September 8, 1931, the moon was not full, but rather "a waning crescent with an illumination of 11.91%." So this comic book has already lied to us visually, can we trust the rest of the story?


from "The Incarnadine Bridge!" in Ghosts (1971 series) #97 (DC, February 1981), script by Mimai Kin, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Rodin Rodriguez
Now, since this comicy book we got here just happens to be titled Ghosts...well, I'm not giving you any bonus points if you happen to guess what happens to Tully Mason and the conveniently placed vat of wet cement. I will give you bonus points if you can guess what sound effect it makes when his body hits the cement.


Aw, tough luck. He sank without a sound.

But there's a further twist to the story, kids! Tune in tomorrow for more of the mystery!

This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, August 12, 1970: Nothing supernatural about this one, folks; he just burned down the house

from "Came the Spectre Shrouded in Seaweed" in Ghosts (1971 series) #89 (DC, June 1980), script by Mimai Kin, pencils and inks by Tenny Henson
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, August 6, 1959: So this is the guy who thought he was going to get married to Miley Cyrus?!?

from "The Banshee Bride of Ballybrooke" in Ghosts (1971 series) #94 (DC, November 1980), script by Mimai Kin, pencils and inks by Win Mortimer, colors by Jerry Serpe, letters by Shelly Leferman
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, June 23, 1971: I've read enough of these to know it'll rain and then everybody's gonna die

from "The Spectral Stones" in Ghosts (1971 series) #68 (DC, September 1978), pencils and inks by Ruben Yandoc, letters by Esphid Mahilum

Today in Comics History, June 19, 1944: Novelty oversized helmet disorients GI Joe

from Ghosts (1971 series) #85 (DC, February 1980), script by David Allikas, pencils and inks by Vic Catan
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, May 14, 1810: To back up his verdict, the judge gestures at the caption box

from "The Banshee Bride of Ballybrooke" in Ghosts (1971 series) #94 (DC, November 1980), script by Mimai Kin, pencils and inks by Win Mortimer, colors by Jerry Serpe, letters by Shelly Leferman
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, May 12, 1810: Boy, he really didn't like that Kevin Costner movie

from "The Banshee Bride of Ballybrooke" in Ghosts (1971 series) #94 (DC, November 1980), script by Mimai Kin, pencils and inks by Win Mortimer, colors by Jerry Serpe, letters by Shelly Leferman
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, May 11, 1932: Blimps: The Silent Killer

from "The Jinx That Rode the Skies" in Ghosts (1971 series) #23 (DC, February 1974), pencils and inks by Sam Glanzman
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, May 8, 1902: And that's why you should always listen to animals.*

*Especially bulls.


from "Phantom Future" in Ghosts (1971 series) #70 (DC, November 1978), pencils and inks by Ernie Chan, colors by Mario Sen
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, May 7, 1915/1942: First attempt at a live-action The Little Mermaid is wildly unsuccesful

from "When Phantoms Stalked the Wolf-Pack" in Ghosts (1971 series) #61 (DC, February 1978), script by Carl Wessler, pencils and inks by Ruben Yandoc, colors by Jerry Serpe
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, May 5, 1931: Intricate villainous plan somehow involves bowling

from "The Incarnadine Bridge!" in Ghosts (1971 series) #97 (DC, February 1981), script by Mimai Kin, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Rodin Rodriguez
So what happened next? Why, for that you'll have to wait until September 8!

This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, April 18, 1933: Blimp immediately explodes

from "The Jinx That Rode the Skies" in Ghosts (1971 series) #23 (DC, February 1974), pencils and inks by Sam Glanzman
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, April 12, 1945: The soothing mists of Vicks Vape-O-Roosevelt will keep you breathing free all day!

from "See the Doomed Spirit" in Ghosts (1971 series) #82 (DC, November 1979); pencils, inks, and letters by Bill Payne, colors by Adrienne Roy
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, March 6, 1964: Never steal anything wet

from "Came the Spectre Shrouded in Seaweed" in Ghosts (1971 series) #89 (DC, June 1980), script by Mimai Kin, pencils and inks by Tenny Henson
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!