Today in Comics History, January 30, 1969: Little-known musical band can't afford recording studio

from The Beatles in Comics! (NBM, November 2018); script by Richard Di Martino; translation by Joe Johnson; pencils, inks, and colors by Virginie de Lambert; letters by Ortho

Today in Comics History, December 25, 1968, Christmas: The Beatles celebrate Christmas; immediately break up

from Marvel Comics Super Special #4 [The Beatles] (1978), script by Dave Kraft, additional dialogue by Don McGregor, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Tom Orzechowski

Today in Comics History, December 7, 1967: Only the second-biggest disaster to happen on December 7

from Marvel Comics Super Special #4 [The Beatles] (Marvel, 1978), script by Dave Kraft, additional dialogue by Don McGregor, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Tom Orzechowski

Today in Comics History, November 27, 2010: Space madness prevents Heywood Floyd from saying the date in a normal manner

from Marvel Comics Super Special #37 [2010] (Marvel, 1984), script by J.M. DeMatteis, layouts by Joe Barney and Larry Hama, finishes and colors by Tom Palmer, letters by Rick Parker

Today in Comics History, November 6, 2010: Heywood, you're a Floyd now

from Marvel Comics Super Special #37 [2010] (Marvel, 1984), script by J.M. DeMatteis, layouts by Joe Barney and Larry Hama, finishes and colors by Tom Palmer, letters by Rick Parker

Today in Comics History, November 4, 1963: Jewelry rattled

from The Beatles in Comics! (NBM, November 2018); script by Richard Di Martino; translation by Joe Johnson; pencils, inks, and colors by Julien Lamanda; letters by Ortho


from Marvel Comics Super Special #4 [The Beatles] (Marvel, 1978), script by Dave Kraft, additional dialogue by Don McGregor, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Tom Orzechowski

Today in Comics History, October 2: Happy birthday, Sting!

Born on this day: Singer, songwriter and actor Gordon Sumner, better known to the world as Sting!

Please note: he is a bee in name only.


from Tales of the Teen Titans (1984 series) #50 (DC, February 1985), co-plot and script by Marv Wolfman, co-plot and pencils by George Pérez, inks by Mike DeCarlo and Dick Giordano, colors by Adrienne Roy, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, September 26: Happy birthday, Olivia Newton-John!

Born on this date in 1948, the late great singer/actor/activist Olivia Newton-John.

Which is why we now bring you...

Comic Book Olivia Newton-John!



Comic Book Olivia Newton-John!



Comic Book Olivia Newton-John!

Comic Book Olivia Newton-John!

Comic Book Olivia Newton-John!

Gaze deep into the haunting eyes of

Comic Book Olivia Newton-John!

And while we're at it, Comic Book Gene Kelly!



But mostly...happy birthday to Comic Book Olivia Newton-John! We miss you very much.


from Marvel Comics Super Special #17: Xanadu (Marvel, Summer 1980), script by J. M. DeMatteis; layouts by (inhale) Rich Buckler and Jimmy Janes; finishes and inks by Michael Netzer, Brent Anderson, Joe Brozowski, Al Milgrom and Bill Sienkiewicz; colors by Glynis Wein, Kim McQuaite, George Roussos, Howard Chaykin, Peter Kuper, Mike Higgins, and Eliot R. Brown, letters by Michael Higgins (whew!)

(YouTube Olivia Newton-John!):


"Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra (MCA/Jet, 1980), written by Jeff Lynne

Today in Comics History, August 27, 1967: Rest in Peace, Brian Epstein

from The Beatles in Comics! (NBM, November 2018); script by Richard Di Martino; translation by Joe Johnson; pencils, inks, and colors by Piero Ruggeri and Filippo Neri; letters by Ortho


from Marvel Comics Super Special #4 [The Beatles] (1978), script by Dave Kraft, additional dialogue by Don McGregor, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Tom Orzechowski


from The Beatles: Their Story in Pictures (ITV, 1982), script by Angus P. Allan, art by Arthur Ranson (collected from the strip in (Look-In)

from The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story (Dark Horse, November 2013); written by Vivek J. Tiwary; pencils, inks, and colors by Andrew C. Robinson; letters by Steve Dutro
(Click picture to enlarge)

Today in Comics History, August 23, 1962: Only wrinkle was they couldn't decide which Beatles songs to play at the reception

from Beatles with an A: Birth of a Band (Fanfare, July 2014), script and art by Mauri Kunnas


from Marvel Comics Super Special #4 [The Beatles] (1978), script by Dave Kraft, additional dialogue by Don McGregor, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Tom Orzechowski

Today in Comics History, August 15, 1965: The Beatles are paid $160,000 to let 55,000 teenagers scream at them for half an hour

from Marvel Comics Super Special #4 [The Beatles] (1978), script by Dave Kraft, additional dialogue by Don McGregor, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Tom Orzechowski


from Rock 'n' Roll Comics: The Beatles Experience (Revolutionary/Bluewater, 2010), script by Todd Loren, art by Mike Sagara




from The Beatles in Comics! (NBM, November 2018); script by Richard Di Martino; translation by Joe Johnson; pencils, inks, and colors by Ben Lebégue; letters by Ortho

Today in Comics History, August 8, 1967: Hippies surround Hippie Beatle

from Marvel Comics Super Special #4 [The Beatles] (1978), script by Dave Kraft, additional dialogue by Don McGregor, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Tom Orzechowski

Today in Comics History, July 29, 1965: And now my life has changed in oh so many ways

from Marvel Comics Super Special #4 [The Beatles] (1978), script by Dave Kraft, additional dialogue by Don McGregor, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Tom Orzechowski

Today in Comics History, July 1: Happy birthday, Dan Aykroyd!

Hey, it's somebody's birthday today, and not just mine: comedian, actor, singer, and Hard Rock Cafe co-founder Dan Aykroyd! He was one of the freshman team of Not Ready for Prime Time Players on Saturday Night Live!



cover of Marvel Team-Up (1972 series) #74 (Marvel, October 1978), pencils and inks by Dave Cockrum, SNL caricature pencils and inks by Marie Severin, letters by Irv Watanabe

Today in Comics History, April 10, 1962: Rest in Peace, Stu Sutcliffe

from The Beatles in Comics! (NBM, November 2018); script by Richard Di Martino; translation by Joe Johnson; pencils, inks, and colors by Amandine Puntous; letters by Ortho


from Beatles with an A: Birth of a Band (Fanfare, July 2014), script and art by Mauri Kunnas


from Marvel Comics Super Special #4 [The Beatles] (1978), script by Dave Kraft, additional dialogue by Don McGregor, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Tom Orzechowski


from The Beatles: Their Story in Pictures (ITV, 1982), script by Angus P. Allan, art by Arthur Ranson (collected from the strip in (Look-In)

Today in Comics History, January 3: Happy birthday, George Martin!

Born on this day in 1926: Sir George Martin, record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, and frequently referred to as one of the ten or twelve people who could possibly be "The Fifth Beatle."

Martin has had a long career of collaboration with recording artists include (Bully favorites) The Goons, Flanders and Swann, Dudley Moore, Bernard Cribbens, Matt Monro, Neil Sedaka, Shirley Bassey, Kenny Rogers, Elton John, and many (many!) more, in addition to composing soundtracks for films like A Hard Day's Night, Yellow Submarine, Live and Let Die, among others.

And oh yeah, the Beatles.

Today in Comics History, March 4, 1966: He went on to say that Jesus had never had a hit record

from The Beatles in Comics! (NBM, November 2018); script by Richard Di Martino; translation by Joe Johnson; pencils, inks, and colors by d'Akita; letters by Ortho


from Marvel Comics Super Special #4 [The Beatles Story] (1978), script by Dave Kraft, additional dialogue by Don McGregor, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Tom Orzechowski


from Rock 'n' Roll Comics: The Beatles Experience (Revolutionary/Bluewater, 2010), script by Todd Loren, art by Mike Sagara


from Lennon: The New York Years (IDW, May 2017), story by David Foenkinos, adaptation by Éric Corbeyran, illustration by Horne Perreard,,translation by Ivanka Hahnenberger, letters by Troy Little
(Note: The interview was on March 4 — "Today in Comics History!" — not in February.)


from The Beatles: Their Story in Pictures (ITV, 1982), script by Angus P. Allan, art by Arthur Ranson (collected from the strip in (Look-In)
This interview went mostly uncommented on in the UK. It wasn't until later that the controversy and #CancelCulture rose in the USA. More on this: this summer!


from The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story (Dark Horse, November 2013); written by Vivek J. Tiwary; pencils, inks, and colors by Andrew C. Robinson; letters by Steve Dutro

Today in Comics History, February 9, 1964: Overshadowed, Topo Gigio vows vengeance

from The Beatles: Their Story in Pictures (ITV, 1982), script by Angus P. Allan, art by Arthur Ranson (collected from the strip in Look-In)


from Marvel Comics Super Special #4 [The Beatles] (1978), script by Dave Kraft, additional dialogue by Don McGregor, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Klaus Janson and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Tom Orzechowski


from The Beatles one-shot (Dell, September 1964), pencils and inks by Joe Sinnott


from The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story (Dark Horse, November 2013); written by Vivek J. Tiwary; pencils, inks, and colors by Andrew C. Robinson; letters by Steve Dutro


from The Beatles in Comics! (NBM, November 2018); script by Richard Di Martino; translation by Joe Johnson; art by Pierre Braillon; letters by Ortho


from Lennon: The New York Years (IDW, May 2017), story by David Foenkinos, adaptation by Éric Corbeyran, illustration by Horne Perreard, translation by Ivanka Hahnenberger, letters by Troy Little


from Fab 4 Mania (Fantagraphics, June 2018), script, art, and letters by Carol Tyler
Updated on February 9, 2023: New material printed below in green.

Hey, guess who else was on the Sullivan show that night?


from Fantastic Four: Life Story #1 (Marvel, July 2021), script by Mark Russell, pencils by Sean Izaakse, inks by Francesco Manna, colors by Nolan Woodard, letters by Joe Caramagna
And the world would never hear from those little moptops from Liverpool, ever again.