Today in Comics History, July 4: Bruce lies to Selina

from Batman: The Long Halloween #10 (DC, September 1997), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils and inks by Tim Sale, colors by Gregory Wright, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, July 4: Mr. Lodge begins to regret hiring Archie as his accountant

from Riverdale One-Shot (Archie, April 2017), script by James DeWille, pencils and inks by Thomas Pitilli, colors by Andre Szymanowicz, letters by John Workman

Today in Comics History, July 4: Happy birthday, Charley Miller!

Born on this day in 1900: "Famous Maine Guide" and spokesmaineguide for Eveready Batteries, Charley Miller!


Eveready Batteries advertisement from DC Comics cover-dated January 1949; pencils and inks by Bob Butts*
The University of Maine Digital Commons website tells us:

Charley Miller (Maurice Charles Miller) was born in Bangor on July 4, 1900. As a young man he had a brief career as a boxer, then opened a training and conditioning camp for fighters at Moosehead Lake, introducing boxers such as Primo Carnera, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney and Jack Sharkey to the Maine woods, hunting and fishing. He later branched out as a guide and host to famous people in sports and show business. From these associations he became a celebrity in his own right and spent more than thirty years promoting the state of Maine and himself at numerous sports shows, fairs, and public venues around the country. Miller also billed himself "The world's greatest outdoor cook" and spent a great deal of time cooking outdoor meals for his celebrity guests.

Happy birthday, Charley Miller!

*tee hee

Today in Comics History, July 4, 1976 and 1776: Every 616 Hero Liked July 4 a lot / But the Grinch from the 31st century, did not!

from "A Bicentennial Adventure" in Spidey Super Stories #17 (Marvel, July 1976), script by Jim Salicrup, pencils by Win Mortimer, inks by Mike Esposito and Tony Mortellaro, letters by Ray Holloway

Today in Comics History, July 4: Happy birthday, Howard Ferguson!

Born on this day in 1895: Howard Ferguson, comic book letterer of the Golden and Silver Ages (Adventure Comics, Detective Comics, Star-Spangled Comics, World's Finest Comics, Marvel Mystery Comics, Captain America Comics, My Date Comics, Real Fact Comics, and many more, probably even some titles that didn't end in the word "comics")!


from Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics (Ten Speed, July 2020), script and art by Tom Scioli
Here's some examples of Ferguson's work! Betcha recognize these panels, creators, and scenes!



from "Case No. 1: Meet Captain America" in Captain America Comics #1 (Marvel/Timely, March 1941), script and pencils by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, inks by Al Liederman and Jack Kirby, letters by Howard Ferguson
Happy birthday, Howard!

Today in Comics History, July 4: Human Torch accidentally destroys Glenville

from "The Origin of...The Fantastical Four" in Not Brand Echh #7 (Marvel, April 1968), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, additional art and colors by Marie Severin, letters by Sam Rosen

Today in Comics History, July 4: Happy birthday, America! (Captain America, that is!)

Yes, a very happy birthday to America's ass, born on this day (on Earth-19999) in 1918!


from Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger one-shot (March 2016)
Earth-616 Cap has the same birthday, but was born a year earlier. Obviously this guy has read the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe!


from The Adventures of Captain America #1 (Marvel, September 1991), script by Fabian Nicieza, pencils by Kevin Maguire, inks by Joe Rubinstein with assists by Tom Christopher, colors by Paul Mounts, letters by Richard Starkings
Hmmmmmm. Betcha he wouldn'ta been late for Peggy Carter.


from Captain America (2013 series) #1 (Marvel, January 2013), script by Rick Remender, pencils by John Romita Jr., inks by Klaus Janson, colors by Dean White, letters by Joe Caramagna
Happy birthday, Cap! Even when I'm angry at the country, I still believe in you.

Today in Comics History, July 4, 1776: Liberty Bell rings out fearlessly but hopes that one day Mace will avenge it

from The Invisibles (1997 series) #16 (DC/Vertigo, June 1998), script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Chris Weston, inks by Ray Kryssing, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, July 4, 2018: That reminds me, Batman, I want my gift of a toaster back

from Batman (2016 series) #50 (DC, September 2018)

Today in Comics History, July 4: Comic book ruined by not including the little stuffed bull usually sitting on top of the computer monitor

from Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2005 series) #5 (Marvel, April 2006), script by Peter David, pencils by Mike Wieringo, inks by Karl Kesel, colors by Paul Mounts, letters by Cory Petit

Today in Comics History, July 4, 1776, 1802, 1826, and 1863: Boring Real-Life Patriotic Stuff

from "The Story of Democracy" in Real Life Comics #1 (Pines, September 1941), script by Richard Hughes, pencils and inks by Jon Blummer


from "Thomas Jefferson" in Real Life Comics #7 (Pines, September 1942), pencils and inks by Henry Kiefer
Hey Jefferson, what are you going to do this July 4?:


from Real Life Comics #7
America was continually attacked from 7/5/1802 through 7/3/1806:


from "West Point: The Army's Alma Mater" in Real Life Comics #8 (Pines, November 1942), creators uncredited and unknown
Craven cowards and traitors surrender but have their fingers crossed behind their backs:


from "Mighty Mississippi" in Real Life Comics #10 (Pines, March 1943), creators uncredited and unknown
And Clark Kent is jealous he didn't win the 1776 Pulitzer Prize!


from Limited Collectors' Edition #C-47 (DC, August 1976), script by E. Nelson Bridwell (?), art by Al Plastino (top) and Fred Ray

Today in Comics History, July 4, 1870: Actual bear in human suit cleans up town

from "The Marshall Who Tamed a Town" in Real Fact Comics #12 (DC, January 1948); script by Jack Schiff, Mort Weisinger, and/or Bernie Breslauer; pencils and inks by Charles Paris (?)

Today in Comics History Alternate Future, July 4, 3007: Korvac decrees hot dogs, burgers, and insurgents shall be grilled today

from Captain America (1998 series) #18 (June 1999), script by Mark Waid, pencils by Lee Weeks, inks by Robert Campanella, colors by Christie Scheele and Gregory Wright

Today in Comics History, July 4, 2026: Stop trying to make blimps happen

from Captain America (2002 series) #28 (August 2004), script by Robert Morales, pencils by Eddie Campbell (!), inks by Stewart McKenny, colors by Brian Reber, letters by Randy Gentile

Today in Comics History, July 4, 1939: I hope you didn't expect me to have a joke for this one, because I love Lou Gehrig

from "Scoops to Remember" in Real Fact Comics #5 (November 1946), pencils and inks by George Roussos


from "Iron Man Lou Gehrig" in Real Heroes #6 (Parents' Magazine Press, September 1942), pencils and inks by Chad Grothkopf



from "Lou Gehrig: Baseball's Iron Horse" in It Really Happened #5 (Pines, October 1946), pencils and inks by Sam Cooper (?)

Today in Comics History, July 4: Chuck Austen completely ruins the Fourth of July

from X-Men (1991 series) #161 (Marvel, November 2004), script by Chuck Austen, pencils by Salvador Larroca, inks by Danny Miki, colors by Liquid Graphics, letters by Rus Wooton
(Click bottom picture to revolution-size)

Today in Comics History, July 4: Iris West reminisces about condiments

from The Life Story of the Flash graphic novel (DC, February 1998), script by Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn, pencils by Gil Kane and Joe Staton, inks by Tom Palmer, colors by Lovern Kindzierski

Today in Comics History, July 4, 1921: Young Clyde Beatty eaten by lion

from "Beatty and the Beasts" in Real Fact Comics #15 (DC, July 1948); script by Jack Schiff, Mort Weisinger, and/or Bernard Breslauer; pencils and inks by Jon Small

Today in Comics History, July 4, 1777: Bassist for Led Zeppelin surprises everyone with his naval aptitude

from "Famous Navy Firsts" in All-American Men of War #73 (DC, September 1959), script and pencils by Morris Waldinger, inks by Tom Nicolosi

Today in Comics History, July 4, 1908: First entirely pointless use of the American flag in unrelated athletic exhibition

from "Speed Merchant" in Real Life Comics #9 (Pines, January 1943), pencils and inks by Will Rowland