Today in Comics History, January 6, 1935: Frankie settles the age-old question of whether it's called a carport or a carhole

from "Frankie the Pug" in Gangsters Can't Win v.1 #4 (D.S. Publishing, August 1948), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, January 6, 1854: Look, Henry, just admit you're lost

from "Ghost Ship!" in Crypt of Terror (1950 series) #19 (EC, August 1950); script, pencils, and inks by Al Feldstein, letters by Jim Wroten

Today in Comics History, January 6, 1988: Happy birthday, Dave Speakman!

Hope you survive the...oh, it's a Carnage story.

Never mind.


from Carnage (2022 series) #1 (Marvel, May 2022), script by Ram V, pencils and inks by Francesco Manna, colors by Dijjo Lima, letters by Joe Sabino

Today in Comics History, January 6, 1956: Happy birthday, Tina Lacey!

Hope you survive the...oh.


from "A Very Private Hell!" in Tales of Ghost Castle #3 (DC, September 1975), script by Robert Kanigher, pencils and inks by Frank Redondo
Yes indeed, that's Lucien, later a cast member of Neil Gaiman's Sandman.

Today in Comics History, January 6: Lenny continues to teach us the true meaning of Christmas

from Simpsons Comics #79 (Bongo, February 2003), script by Ian Boothby, pencils by John Costanza, inks by Howard Shum, colors by Art Villanueva, letters by Karen Bates

Today in Comics History, January 6, 2021: Assholes gonna asshole

from New America #1 (Comixology, August 2022), script by Cury Pires, pencils and inks by Luca Casalanguida, colors by Mark Dale, letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Today in Comics History, January 6, 1939: Mountain Dew invented

from "The Atomic Bomb" in Real Life Comics #29 (Pines, March 1946), creators unknown

Today in Comics History, January 6: Happy birthday, Danny Thomas!

Born on this very day in 1912: pioneering actor, singer, philanthropist and nightclub comedian: Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz! That's Danny Thomas to you and me!


from Movie Love #19 (Eastern Color, December 1952), pencils and inks by Frank Fogarty

Today in Comics History, January 6: Happy birthday, Bruce Patterson!

Born on this day: comics artist/inker Bruce Patterson, who's worked on Alpha Flight, Detective Comics, Wonder Woman, Micronauts, Marvel Team-Up, Green Lantern, and lots more!


from Marvel Age #26 (Marvel, May 1985), text by Jim Salicrup, pencils and inks by Ron Zalme
And if you think looking for him among one-cell organisms and Micronauts is tough, just try to pick him out of the crowd at the Superman vs. Muhammad Ali fight!

cover of All-New Collectors' Edition #C-56 (DC, March 1978), layout by Joe Kubert, pencils by Neal Adams, inks by Neal Adams (?) and/or Cory Adams (?), logo design by John Workman
(Click top picture to GOAT-size)
Happy birthday, Bruce!

Today (maybe?) in Comics History: January 6 (possibly?): Two-Face checks out the news

from Marvel Team-Up #103 (Marvel, March 1981), script by David Michelinie, pencils by Jerry Bingham, inks by Mike Esposito, colors by Bob Sharen, letters by Diana Albers

Today in Comics History, January 6: Happy birthday, Rowan Atkinson!

Please join me in wishing a very beany birthday to writer, actor, and comedian Rowan Atkinson (Not the Nine O'Clock News, Blackadder, Mr. Bean, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, The Lion King, Maigret, and much more)! Also: comic book star!


from Mr Bean's Entertaining Escapades #1 (Tiger Aspect, June 2016), creators unidentified (shame!)
Happy birthday, Rowan Atkinson!



from "Blackadder" in The Comic Relief Comic one-shot (Fleetway, March 1991); pencils, inks, and color by Phil Winslade (?)

Today in Comics History, January 6: Happy birthday, Syd Barrett!

Born on this day in 1946: singer, songwriter, musician, and co-founder of Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett!


from Aria: Summer's Spell #1 (Image/Avalon, March 2002); script by Brian Holguin; pencils and inks by Mark Pajarillo; colors by Raymund Lee; Edgar Tadeo; and Arsia Rozegar, letters by Dreamer Design
Happy birthday, Syd. Shine on, you crazy diamond.

Today in Comics History, January 6: Happy birthday, Artie Simek!

Born on this day in 1916: legendary Marvel letterer Artie Simek, who provied the baloons and words for hundreds of Marvel Comics and became one of the great creators of the Silver Age. He lettered and helped design many logos throughout the 1950s and 1960s Marvels, including Fantastic Four, X-Men, Thor, post-#79 Strange Tales, post-#11 Tales to Astonish, and more. (He's also the father of second-generation comics letterer Jean Simek Izzo!)


L: Marvel Tales Annual #1 (Marvel, September 1964)
R: Fantastic Four Annual (1963 series) #7 (Marvel, November 1969)

Today in Comics History, January 6: Happy birthday, Hugh Haynes!

Born on this day: comics penciller Hugh Haynes, who's worked on Nexus, Mars Attacks, Alpha Flight, Marvel Comics Presents, and a lot of Punisher comics! Check out a piece of his early fandom art here:


from FOOM #4 (Marvel, December 1973), by Hugh Haynes
Showing early work means I also get to show off a professional page Hugh drew of a hairy, hairy Frank Castle:


from Punisher (1987 series) #56 (Marvel, December 1991), script by Mike Baron, pencils by Hugh Haynes, inks by Jimmy Palmiotti, colors by Marcus David, letters by Ken Lopez
And it even includes a self-portrait! Hi, Hugh!


Happy birthday, Hugh Haynes!


from Marvel Age Special: Punisher Anniversary Magazine one-shot (Marvel, February 1994)

Today in Comics History, January 6, 1942: Corporal Jacob will later be disappointed because he mistakenly heard "Batman Peninsula"

from "One-Man Army" in Real Life Comics #9 (Pines, January 1943), creators unknown

Today in Comics History, January 6: Jessica Cruz bakes a Three Kings cake just for me

Well it really isn't just for me, but when someone in comics makes cake, I like to think I can have a big slice. Anyway: Happy Epiphany Day!


from "The Epiphany" in DC Rebirth Holiday Special one-shot (DC, February 2017), script by Steve Orlando and Vita Ayala, pencils by V. Ken Marion, inks by Mick Gray, colors by Tony Aviña, letters by Josh Reed

Today in Comics History, January 6: The phrase "Shaddap You Face" is invented

from Batman: Dark Victory #5 (DC, April 2000), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, color separations by Heroic Age, letters by Richard Starkings