Today in Comics History, January 31: Happy birthday, Don Hutson!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published January 31, 2022. Images from Football Thrills #2 and True Sport Picture Stories #5 have been added!

Born on this day in 1913: NFL football player and coach Don Hutson, "The Alabama Antelope," whose career with the Green Bay Packers led them to three NFL Championship victories.

Also, Don liked Wheaties! Well, who doesn't? (Me. Not enough marshmallows.)


Wheaties ad from DC Comics cover-dated March 1949

Today in Comics History, January 31: Are you ready for your Misery Date?

from "Love as Laughter" in Batman: The Audio Adventures Special #1 one-shot (DC, December 2021), script by Dennis McNicholas, pencils and inks by Jesús Hervás, colors by David Baron, letters by Ferran Delgado

Today in Comics History, January 31, 1934: His search for the Maltese Falcon over, Nathaniel Dusk heads out for a Spanish omelet and Irish coffee

from Nathaniel Dusk #1 (DC, February 1984), script by Don McGregor, pencils by Gene Colan, colors by Tom Ziuko, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, January 31: Once again Archie will live to regret not having a calendar

from "Valentine's Day Dilemma" in Betty and Veronica Double Digest Magazine #209 (Archie, March 2013), script by Greg Crosby, pencils by Pat Kennedy, inks by Jon D'Agostino

Today in Comics History, January 31, 1968: The Tet Offensive begins

from The 'Nam #24 (top) and 25 (bottom) (Marvel, November-December 1988), script by Doug Murray, pencils by Wayne Vansant, inks by Geof Isherwood, colors and letters by Phil Felix


from The 'Nam #79 (Marvel, April 1993), script by Don Lomax, pencils and inks by Wayne Vansant, colors by John Kalisz, letters by Phil Felix


from The 'Nam #80 (Marvel, May 1993), script by Don Lomax, pencils and inks by Wayne Vansant, colors by John Kalisz, letters by Phil Felix



from the 'Nam #81 (Marvel, June 1993), script by Don Lomax, pencils and inks by Wayne Vansant, colors by John Kalisz, letters by Phil Felix

Today in Comics History, January 29, 1958: Later, Richards was heard to proclaim, "Well, it's not rocket science."

from "Liftoff" in Marvel Comics Presents (2019 series) #2 (April 2019), text by Mark Waid

Today in Comics History, January 31, 2015: Elvis is annoyed his signature announcement has been upstaged

from The Multiversity: Pax Americana one-shot (DC, January 2015), script by Grant Morrison, pencils and inks by Frank Quitely, colors by Nathan Fairbairn, letters by Rob Leigh

Today in Comics History, January 31, 2001: Alien conqueror would have gotten away with it, if it hadn't been for those meddling kids

text page segment from Justice Leagues: JLA one-shot (DC, March 2001), writer unknown

Today in Comics History, January 31: Cthulhu finally gets his fan fiction published

from Annihilator #3 (Legendary, November 2014); script by Grant Morrison; pencils, inks, and colors by Frazer Irving; letters by Jared K. Fletcher

Today in Comics History, January 31: Goin' Bananas on National Gorilla Suit Day

Hi hi hi everyone! It's me, Bully! No, it really it is me: I'm in my gorilla suit! That's because it's the most wonderful day of the year: National Gorilla Suit Day! I certainly hope you are wearing your gorilla suit today too. I could hardly sleep last night: I laid out my suit before I went to bed and I kept getting up to look at it all through the night! (But you're not allowed to put it on until morning). And you do have to go to sleep! While you are sleeping, The Great Ape swings in through your window, helps himself to the coconuts you have left out, goes through your fridge and makes himself a banana daquiri, and then blesses your gorilla suit with a loving "ook ook" before he swings on down the street! So you can only imagine my thrills when I woke up and found banana peels on the kitchen floor and the blender had been used! Hooray! I climbed right into my suit—I only need a little help zipping it up the back—and set about having an fun-filled day of the most exciting National Gorilla Suit Day activities:


First, I sat and read the full history of National Gorilla Suit Day. Remember that National Gorilla Suit Day is not just about the bananas and the ooking...it's a day to honor MAD's maddest artist, Don Martin! We in ape costumes salute you, Don!


from MAD #480 (August 2007)
A little traditional NGSD snack is always appropriate. Also, yummy!


Hooray! Cartoons! This one's fun any day but especially significant today!


A classic movie is appropriate viewing today too. Make sure you cheer for the right character! Knock those planes down, King!


Speaking of gorillas: those of you who were following my London blog know that I was obsessed with getting those wonderful vinyl figures of the band Gorillaz. I didn't buy them over in the UK but much to my surprise they were available over here, so they were my special National Gorilla Suit Day present! Hooray! Set 'em out, put on your G-Sides CD, and it's just like being in a Jamie Hewlett cartoon! Except Tank Girl is nowhere to be found. Darn.


My gorilla suit was getting a bit hot and whiffy, so in the evening I took it off to play with my new action figures. I know that shocks some of you. "Keep them in the box, Bully!" you scold. "If you take them out and play with them you'll ruin their resale value! How will you even sell them in eBay later?" To which I say to you: "Pfui!" Toys were made to be played with. If you don't take 'em out of the box and set 'em up and move 'em around and make them clash in Infinite Crises of Ultimate Secret Wars, what good are they? If you keep your toys in the cases and never take them out, you may as well just lock them away in a steel vault. I bet you seal your comics in those cheesy CGC plastic cases without even readin' 'em! People like that have no idea how to have fun.


F'r instance, why not join your favorite cartoon band in an impromptu jam session? Here I am plunking along with Gorillaz. Miss Noodle said I was a very good banjo plucker. Mister Murdoc said I was some other kind of plucker, I think.


Now it is time for a megaconcert for the City of London! Everybody sing along! "Don't get lost in heaven/They got locks on the gate."


Suddenly, giant mutant Kitten Kong (my kittycat Gus!) crashes the concert!


Londoners flee in terror as the giant kitten stampedes through the panicked city, knocking over the Post Office Tower and toppling the Gherkin! (Well, every cloud has a silver lining, I guess.)


Music may have charms to sooth a feline beast, but even the awesome power of Gorillaz rock can not stop her rampage!


Who can stop the terrifying giant kitten? Who can stop the terrible rampage? Who? Who? Teeny-tiny Harriet Jones, Prime Minister, puts out the call for help!


Vworp...vworp...vworp... Hooray! The Doctor and Rose arrive to save the city and drive off the giant mutant kitten! Hoorah!


Using the awesome power of timey-wimey stuff, The Doctor puts London back almost as good as new!


"I'm not the tin dog!" protests 2D.


Now it is time for a fabulous jam concert to celebrate. Everybody sing!


But Kitten Kong plots her revenge! The End...?


So, as you can see, it was quite the best National Gorilla Suit Day of them all. Hope you had a action-and-fun-packed one as well!