Today in Comics History, June 30: Happy birthday, Lena Horne!

Born on this day in 1917: singer (and actress, and dancer, and civil rights activist) Lena Horne, one of the great Black stars of the twentieth century. And comic book star, too!


from Juke Box Comics #5 (Eastern Color, November 1948); text, pencils, inks, and letters by Phil Berube
Lena also received a full story in the pages of Juke Box Comics! Well, it was only three pages, and it was at the back of the book (cough cough), but still...




from Juke Box Comics #2 (Eastern Color, May 1948), pencils and inks by A. C. Hollingsworth
Happy birthday, Miss Horne!


"Stormy Weather" sung by Lena Horne (1943, RCA Victor), written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler; from the movie Stormy Weather (natch!) (1943, Fox), story and screenplay by Jerry Horwin, Seymour B. Robinson, Frederick J. Jackson, and H.S. Kraft;, directed by Andrew L. Stone

Today in Comics History, June 30: It's a wrestlin' thing

Roll up, roll up tonight for the biggest bodacious brawl between beast and Ben! Ben Grimm, that is!


from The Thing (1983 series) #28 (Marvel, October 1985), script by Mike Carlin, breakdowns by Ron Wilson, finishes by Brett Breeding, colors by Michael Higgins, letters by Jack Morelli
Weird enough that this poster sez June 30, because the cover teases an altogether different date...or dates:


cover of The Thing #28; pencils by Ron Wilson, inks by Brett Breeding
This cover suggests Ben's big wrasslin' match takes place on June 5th, and (since that word before "5th" is clearly "and"), probably also on at least the 4th as well. He, make up yer mind, wrestling promoters!

Still, at least Ben isn't shredding the poster off the wall as he's angrily done for another arena match:


cover of Fantastic Four #92 (Marvel, November 1969), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott, letters by Sam Rosen

Today in Comics History, June 30: June comes in like a lion and goes out like a Bee

from "Vacation Vexation" in Archie and Me #104 (Archie, September 1978), script by George Gladir, pencils by Stan Goldberg, inks by Rudy Lapick, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida
That's a perfect June calendar, but it's not one you coulda used this year. (Not to mention, the month is over!) But hang onto it! You can use it next year in 2023! You'd better clip 'n' save it now because I'm not gonna remind you in a year. (I will totally remind you in a year.)

Today in Comics History, June 30: Happy birthday, Phil Lord!

Born on this day: inker Phil Lord (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, Revenge of the Living Monolith, more)!


from Marvel Age #30 (Marvel, September 1985); text by Jim Salicrup, pencils and inks by Ron Zalme, colors by Andy Yanchus
Happy birthday, Phil!

Today in Comics History, June 30: Happy birthday, Shawn McManus!

Born on this day: comics artist Shawn McManus (Swamp Thing, Sandman, Omega Men, Doctor Fate, Marvel Comics Presents, Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis, Fables, Fairest, Detective Comics, Man Called A-X, and more)!


from New Talent Showcase (1984 series) #5 (May 1984)
Happy birthday, Shawn!


from Sandman: The Deluxe Edition v.3 (DC/Vertigo, October 2021)

Today in Comics History, June 30: Happy birthday, Christopher Priest!

Born on this day: comics scipter and editor Christopher Priest or just Priest (aka James Owsley), the first Black writer/editor in mainstream comics! His extensive work includes Conan, Black Panther, Justice League, Steel, Vampirella, Deathstroke, Quantum and Woody, and much more! Priest also co-created Quantum and Woody, Okoye of Wakanda, Everett K. Ross, and others.


from Black Panther (Marvel, 1998 series) #12 (October 1999)

Today in Comics History, June 30, 1908: In Soviet Russia, Earth hits meteor!

from "Solar System Sizes" in Strange Adventures (1950 series) #69 (DC, June 1956), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, June 30, 2006: How can we miss you, Superman, if you won't go away

from Daily Planet Special Edition: Superman Returns promo (DC, June 2006)

Today in Comics History, June 30: Stretch Armstrong is invented

from Fantastic Four #580 (Marvel, August 2010), script by Jonathan Hickman, pencils by Neil Edwards, inks by Andrew Currie, colors by Paul Mounts, letters by Rus Wooton

Today in Comics History, June 30: Mick Jagger ponders inviting David Bowie to come visit

from Batman Adventures (1992 series) #34 (DC, August 1995), script by Kelly Puckett, pencils by Mike Parobeck, inks by Rick Burchett, colors by Rick Taylor, letters by Tim Harkins