Today in Comics History, June 2, 1979: The Circle of Life is completed

from The Far Side (1994, Universal Press Syndicate), by Gary Larson

Today in Comics History: June 2, 1951: Willie Mays inherits K'un-Lun's mighty power of the Iron Fist

from Thrilling True Stories of the Baseball Giants one-shot (Fawcett, 1952), script by Charles Dexter

Today in Comics History, June 2: Tonight's rocket ship launch is sponsored by Ralston Purina

Remember one week ago when we saw this launch date announced?


from Tintin v.13: Destination Moon (Little Brown, September 1976), script, pencils, and inks by Hergé; translation by Leslie Lonsdale-Cooper and Michael Turner
Why, that's tonight...er, early tomorrow morning, but this happens today:


All hail the mighty checkerboard missile! Nf3 Nf6! Stay up late to see it blast off, because it's not a SpaceX rocket!

Today in Comics History, June 2: Happy birthday, Edward Elgar!

Born on this day in 1857: Sir Edward Elgar, England's favorite singer-songwriter after Cliff Richards, and composer of such masterpieces as the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Salut d'amour, Serenade for Strings, the Cadbury Cream Egg jingle, and lots more. But Elgar kept himself so busy writing tunes and ditties that he didn't have time to star in any comic books, even Charlton Comics's E-Man. Here's the closest thing I could find: Merry Marvel mutants Mister Sinister and Destiny discuss Elgar's Nimrod (mighty hunter variety, not Elmer Fudd type) while sitting there, I dunno, Solsbury Hill or somethin'.



from Immortal X-Men #1 (Marvel, May 2022), script by Kieron Gillen, pencils and inks by Lucas Werneck, colors by David Curiel, letters by Clayton Cowles
Happy birthday, Sir Edward! Get off yer arse and star in more comic books, won'tcha?

Today in Comics History, June 2, 1885: In a world with Al Swearengen, the language of money is rated NC-17

from Two-Gun Kid: Sunset Riders #1 (Marvel, November 1995), script by Fabian Nicieza, pencils by Christian Gorney, inks by Michael Halblieb, colors by Marie Javins, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, June 2, 1898: Britain just basically throws their hands up in the air and says the hell with it

back cover of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen #4 (America's Best Comics, November 1999), pencils and inks by Kevin O'Neill, colors by Benedict Dimagmaliw

Today in Comics History, June 2, 1941: We remember Lou Gehrig

No jokes or snark, folks, just saluting one of baseball's greatest players on the anniversary of his death.


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, June 2, 1994: Tony Stark keeps his pants on for once

from "The Media Takes On Tony Stark" in Iron Man Annual (1976 series) #15 (Marvel, 1994), text by Len Kaminski and Scott Benson, pencils and inks by Kevin Hopgood

Today in Comics History, June 2: Happy birthday, Ruth Atkinson!

Born today in 1918: pioneering female cartoonist and comic writer/artist Ruth Atkinson: Lovers' Lane, Heroic Comics, Boy Meets Girl, Jungle Comics ("Tabu"), Wings Comics ("Wing Tips"), Club 16, and more. She created and first drew Marvel's Millie "The Model" Collins and co-created Patsy Walker in the pages of Miss America Magazine.


"Spotlight: Ruth Atkinson" in Girl Comics (2010 series) #2 (Marvel, July 2010)
If you think comics in the Golden Age were the sole work of white men, oh boy, wow, you got anothere think coming, brother. There's an entire pantheon of women cartoonists across comics strips and books, and Marvel had their own big names among 'em. Here's a short comic story that spotlights them, including Atkinson.




from "Golden Girls" in Fearless #4 (Marvel, December 2019); script by Trina Robbins; pencils, inks, and colors by Marguerite Sauvage; letters by Cardinal Rae
So who says that women don't belong in comics as either heroes or creators? Jerks. Jerks say that.

Happy birthday, Ruth!

Today in Comics History, June 2, 1998: Invention of new and improved Baja Blast Mountain Dew

from The Invisibles (1997 series) #17 (DC/Vertigo, August 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, June 2, 1988: Wisconsin June weather is typical

from D.P.7 #25 (Marvel/New Universe, November 1988), script by Mark Gruenwald, pencils by Paul Ryan, inks by Danny Bulanadi, colors by Paul Becton, letters by Janice Chiang

Today in Comics History, June 2, 1938: Joe Lewis Said Knock You Out

"Highlights in Sports" in Real Fact Comics #3 (DC, July 1946), pencils and inks by Phil Berube

Today in Comics History, June 2, 1883: The day after the lights were installed, Roy Hobbs smashed them all with his home run

from "Bob Feller's Baseball 'Firsts'" in Baseball Thrills #3 (Ziff-Davis, Summer 1952), pencils and inks by Wally Littman

Today in Comics History, June 2, 1951: Kids all over America cut out this check and cash it, driving Marvel Comics into bankruptcy

from "The Phantom Pen" in Astonishing #6 (Marvel/20th Century Comic Corp., October 1951); pencils, inks, and letters (and scropt?) by Bill Everett
How do I know it's 1951? Because that's the date on the checks on this story's splash page!

Today in Comics History, June 2: Happy birthday, Alexander Salkind!

Born on this day in 1921: Alexander Salkind!


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)
Salkind was a movie producer (The Three (and Four) Musketeers) and presenter (with son Ilya) of the movie that began modern superhero films: 1978's Superman: The Movie.


"Superman Movie Report" from DC Comics cover-dated August 1978
He also presented the sequels Superman II, Superman III, and Supergirl, plus 1985's Santa Claus: The Movie, all of which have been turned into comic books!


covers of (l-r) All-New Collectors' Edition #C-52 (DC, March 1980),
Supergirl Movie Special #1 one-shot (DC, February 1985), pencils by José Luis García-López, inks by Dick Giordano, and
Marvel Super Special #39 [Santa Claus: The Movie] (Marvel, 1985), painted art by Tom Palmer
Happy birthday to you, Alexander Salkind!

Today in Comics History, June 2: Happy birthday, Dwight Jon Zimmerman!

Born on this day: Dwight Jon Zimmerman, comics writer (Marvel Comics Presents, The Pirates of Dark Water, Magna-Man: The Last Superhero, Avengers Spotlight and more), editor at Topps Comics, interviewer, reviewer, reporter, and extensive expert of and author on military history!


from Marvel Age #30, 54, 90, and 102 (Marvel, September 1985, September 1987, July 1990, and July 1991); text by Jim Salicrup (#30), Mike Carlin (#54) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#90 and 102); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Andy Yanchus (#30), Paul Becton (#53) and Renee Witterstaetter (#89 and 101)
Happy birthday, Dwight!


from Marvel Age #82 (Marvel, December 1989)

Today in Comics History, June 2: Shooting commences on ZZ Top's music video "Legs"

from Batman #405 (DC, March 1987), script by Frank Miller, pencils and inks by David Mazzucchelli, colors by Richmond Lewis, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, June 2: Mad Libs are invented

from "The Death of a Romantic" in Heartthrobs #3 (DC/Vertigo, March 1999), script by Peter Milligan, pencils and inks by Eduardo Risso, colors by Grant Goleash, letters by Clem Robins