Today in Comics History, November 17: Happy birthday, Ed Brubaker!

Born on this day: comic book writer Ed Brubaker, creator/co-creator of series Lowlife, Gotham Central, Criminal, Incognito, Fatale, The Fade Out, Kill or Be Killed, Deadenders, Point Blank, Sleeper and others, plus extended runs on Captain America, Winter Soldier, Detective Comics, Daredevil, X-Men, The Immortal Iron Fist, The Marvels Project, Secret Avengers, Velvet and lots more! He co-created the characters Lady Bullseye, Vulcan, Darwin, and the Immortal Weapons!


from Marvel Comics cover-dated April 2008

Today in Comics History, October 18: Happy birthday, Steve Epting!

It's the birthday of comics artist Steve Epting (The Avengers, Captain America, Crux, Sara, El Calzador, X-Factor, Thor, more)! He co-created CrossGen's all-too-short-lived pirate comic El Cazador!


from Marvel Age Avengers Anniversary Magazine #1 one-shot (Marvel, November 1993)

Today in Comics History, April 21, 1974: Last orders, gentlemen, please

from Marvel Spotlight (Son of Satan) (1971 series) #16 (Marvel, July 1974), script by Steve Gerber, pencils by Jim Mooney, inks by Sal Trapani, colors by George Roussos, letters by Gaspar Saladino

Today in Comics History, July 13, 1976: Attention passengers of Flight 707: You are still alive.

from Marvel Spotlight (1971 series) #33 [Deathlok the Demolisher] (Marvel, April 1977); script by David Anthony Kraft; pencils by Rich Buckler, Michael Netzer, and Arvell Jones; inks by Klaus Janson; colors by Don Warfield; letters by Howard Bender; computer type by Beth Bleckley

Same Story, Different Cover: Raven hair and ruby lips / Sparks fly from her finger tips

Left: Marvel Spotlight v.1 #11 (August 1973), pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Mike Esposito
Right: The Original Ghost Rider #7 (January 1993), pencils by Jeff Johnson, inks by Dan Panosian

(Click picture to black-magic-woman-size)

365 Days with the Warriors Three, Day 332

Panels from Marvel Spotlight #30 (October 1976), script by Len Wein, breakdowns by John Buscema, finishes by Joe Sinnott, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Joe Rosen

365 Days with the Warriors Three, Day 265

Panels from Marvel Spotlight #30 (October 1976), script by Len Wein, breakdowns by John Buscema, finishes by Joe Sinnott, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Joe Rosen

365 Days with the Warriors Three, Day 233

Cover of Marvel Spotlight v.1 #30 (October 1976), cover art by John Buscema and Joe Sinnott

Marvel Value Stamps, Day 5: Back on the Value Stamp Again

Marvel Value Stamps Series C #1-8, from Marvel Spotlight #3 [Warren Ellis and Jim Cheung] (2006)

365 Days with the Warriors Three, Day 129

Splash page panel from Marvel Spotlight #30 (October 1976), script by Len Wein, breakdowns by John Buscema, finishes by by Joe Sinnott, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Gaspar Saladino

I've often wondered if Marvel Spotlight #30 was supposed to be Thor number two-forty-something during that period—Wein and Buscema were also working on the main book—and the editor just kicked it over to Marvel Spotlight instead.


EDIT on 5/22/11: Well, maybe I'm wrong there. Here's a listing from a Marvel Bullpen Bulletins from the same period (from Fantastic Four #169 (April 1976), stating that the story is being done specifically for Marvel Spotlight:

Same Story, Different Cover: Lord Almighty, I feel my temperature rising

L: Marvel Spotlight #36 (June 1973), art by Herb Trimpe, Frank Giacoia, and Mike Esposito
R: The Original Ghost Rider #74 (December 1992), art by Mark Pacella and Brad Vancata

(Click picture to Nicolas Cage's ego-size)

Today in Comics History: This is one time where comics really fail to capture the true excitement of a large demon predicting the weather

It's February the Second! You know what that means...it's the day when Lucifer pokes his head up, and if he doesn't see goodness and light, he pops out of his infernal fiery heckhole and it's another six weeks of damnation.


Panels from Marvel Spotlight #15 (May 1974), script by Steve Gerber, pencils and inks by Jim Mooney, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Dave Hunt

Luckily for the forces of good and right and for the salvation of all of us, it appears that Gwen Stacy is there. Good going, Gwendy!

365 Days with the Warriors Three, Day 18

Panel from Marvel Spotlight #30 (October 1976), script by Len Wein, breakdowns by John Buscema, finishes by Joe Sinnott, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Joe Rosen