Today in Comics History, March 15, 1949: "Hooray! I'm dead! I don't have to file my taxes!"

from "Visitor" in The Spirit Section (Register and Tribune Syndicate, March 13, 1949), script by Will Eisner and Jules Feiffer, pencils and inks by Will Eisner, letters by Abe Kanegson

Today in Comics History, March 15: Happy birthday, Skybreaker!

Born on this day in 1953, everybody's favorite* comic book baddie that sounds like a James Bond film: Skybreaker!


from Psi-Force #26 (Marvel/New Universe, December 1988), pencils by Graham Nolan
*Except for Thunderball.

There Is No Hope in Crime Alley, Night 18: Tourist Trap

from Booster Gold/The Flintstones Special (DC, May 2017), script by Mark Russell, pencils by Rick Leonardi, inks by Scott Hanna, colors by Steve Buccellato, letters by Dave Sharpe
(Click top picture to Future Times Square-size)

Today in Comics History, March 15: Happy birthday, Alex Segura!

Happy birthday today X2 to pal author Alex Segura, whose Archie comics I've enjoyed a lot, as well as his Pete Hernadez mysteries! I say "X2" because it's not just Alex's b-day, it's also the book birthday of his newest novel Secret Identity, noir mystery set in the world of that publishing industry we love so much: comics! I've already got my copy; how 'bout you?


What? You don't have it yet? Get it now here or at your local bookstore of comic book shop! Tell 'em a tough-talkin' li'l bull sent ya!

Happy birthday, Alex!

Today in Comics History, March 15: Happy birthday, Nancy!

Born on this day: the favorite of Aunt Fritzi, Sluggo, and pretty much all of us: little Nancy Ritz, who is going in on that birthday cake.


Nancy (United Feature Syndicate, March 15, 2020), by Olivia Jaimes


Nancy (United Feature Syndicate, March 15, 2021), by Olivia Jaimes


Nancy (United Feature Syndicate, March 15, 2022), by Olivia Jaimes
And thank you, Olivia Jaimes, for preserving the Bushmiller-canon truth that Nancy's birthday is March 15!


from Nancy (United Feature Syndicate, March 15, 1950), by Ernie Bushmiller
Happy birthday, Nancy! Please save me a slice of...oh.

Today in Comics History, March 15: Happy birthday, Dan Adkins!

Born on this day in 1937: Dan Adkins, comic book and science fiction magazine artist. He did inks, pencils, and occasionally scripts for such magazines as T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Detective Comics, Conan the Barbarian, Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, Superman, Strange Tales and much more!


from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1976 and 1977
Don drew himself into a Marvel chiller comic story scripted and inked by comics great Bill Everett!



from "Believe It...Or Not!" in Chamber of Darkness #8 (Marvel, December 1970), script and inks by Bill Everett, pencils by Dan Adkins, letters by Jean Simek
Happy birthday, Dan!


from 1975 Mighty Marvel Convention Program Book (Marvel, 1975), photograph by Michele Wolfman

Today in Comics History Future, March 15, 2472: Farewell, the noble mole

from "Booster Trouble" in Booster Gold/The Flintstones #1 one-shot (DC, May 2017), script by Mark Russell, pencils by Rick Leonardi, inks by Scott Hanna, colors by Steve Buccellato, letters by Dave Sharpe
(Click top picture to giant mole-size)

Say, Britney, what was that weather report again?

Today in Comics History, March 15: Happy birthday, Bob Haney!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published March 15, 2012.

Born on this day in 1926: America's only comic book scripter: Bob Haney, co-creator of the Teen Titans, Metamorpho, the Super Sons, Cain, Negative Man, Sgt. Rock, Tula, Vulko and Eclipso, and long-time writer of many DC Comics, including Aquaman, Blackhawk, The Brave and the Bold, Metamorpho, Teen Titans (and the wonderful Teen Titans Lost Annual #1), Unknown Soldier and many more.


from DC Comics cover-dated July 1977

Today in Comics History, March 15: Y'know, if I were named Julius Caesar in modern days, I'd just go into my panic room all day on March 15

from "Murders from the Past" in Marvel Mystery Comics #85 (Marvel/Timely, February 1948), pencils by Mike Sekowsky (?)

Today in Comics History, March 15: The Avengers screw up their own history, continuity, and comic book sales

from Avengers: Timeslide one-shot (Marvel, February 1996), created by soooooooooooooo many guys

Today in Comics History, March 15: This fellow's wise enough to play the fool

'Tis the Ides of March! And if we could go outside and celebrate, that might mean something. But one hero who's in the Caesar-stabbin' mood is that Mercutio with a Mouth, Deadpool! He covers all the classical holidays!


from Deadpool (2016 series) #21 (Marvel, December 2016), script by Ian Doescher, pencils and inks by Bruno Oliveira, colors by Nick Filardi, letters by Joe Sabino
So what does Deadpool do on the fifteenth?


Well, at least he has his priorities straight.

Today in Comics History, March 15, 2016: Viv Vision's internal clock works better than Google Calendar

from Champions (2016 series) #5 (Marvel, April 2017), script by Mark Waid, pencils by Humberto Ramos, inks by Victor Olazaba, colors by Edgar Delgado, letters by Clayton Cowles

Today in Comics History, March 15, 1948: World's largest Cootie toy is invented

from "I Heard Woodrow Wilson's Guns..." in Miracleman (1985 series) #5 (Eclipse, January 1986), script by Alan Moore, pencils and inks by Alan Davis, colors by Ron Courtney, letters by G. George

Today in Comics History, March 15, 44 BC: At 13th Dimension: 13 Comic Book Julius Caesars! Plus, Caesar in the Marvel Universe!

Today, it's all about Caesar! Caesar, everybody!


from Batman '66 #21 (DC digital comic, November 2013), script by Tom Peyer, pencils and inks by Derec Donovan, colors by Tony Avina
No, no, no, wrong Cesar. I've made another one of my silly mistakes. I meant Julius Caesar.


from "Julius Caesar at Yankee Stadium" in Hit Comics #30 (Quality, November 1943), pencils by Sheldon Moldoff
That's why today at 13th Dimension, my pal John celebrates the 2059th anniversary (2059? I think that's the gift of haggis) of the Death of Julius Caesar, the so-called Ides of March, with 13 Comic Book Julius Caesars! That includes the one that wore a toga. And twelve others! I helped out by clipping the panels out of comic books.

John didn't include, however, the vast history of Julius Caesar in the Marvel Universe, because it's just too darn big a story. Why, if you check his page in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, Caesar chalks up an amazing one billion and three Earth-616 stories, including all those issues of Guardians where he was Rocket Raccoon's drinking buddy, his stint as a supporting cast member of Skrull Kill Krew, and the short-lived miniseries Julius Caesar: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.* But let's start with perhaps the first Marvel appearance of Caesar (if not his eponymous salad or birthing method), way back in the Golden Age of Timely Comics!


from Ideal #1 (Marvel/Timely, July 1948), creators unknown

Today in Comics History, March 15: Saul Calvino Regrets He's Unable to Lunch Today

from Detective Comics #630 (DC, June 1991), script by Peter Milligan, pencils by Jim Aparo, inks by Mike DeCarlo, colors by Adrienne Roy, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, March 15: Realistic, gritty, down-to-earth Batman comic book also includes a super-alien monitoring infinite earths

from Batman #384 (DC, June 1985), script by Doug Moench, pencils by Rick Hoberg, inks by Rudy Nebres, colors by Adrienne Roy, letters by John Workman

Today in Comics History, March 15, 1973: Batman has beautiful handwriting

from "The Citadel of Crime" in Batman (1940 series) #249 (DC, June 1973), script by Frank Robbins, pencils by Irv Novick
I'm pretty sure that no bank on earth will cash this without a routing number and account number at the bottom. Also, hey, that Bruce Wayne feller and Batman have similar handwriting, don't you think? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Today in Comics History, March 15: Kid Batman tracks down Pisces, the Fish Killer*

from "The Forging of Young Batman!" in Superboy (1949 series) #182 (DC, February 1972), script by Leo Dorfman, pencils by Bob Brown, inks by Murphy Anderson
*This is actually a pretty accurate description of this story.

Today in Comics History, March 15: Caesar is killed before he can claim his fifty bucks from Sebastian Shaw

from "No Coffin Can Hold Me" in Secrets of Sinister House #16 (DC, January 1974), pencils and inks by Vicente Alcazar