Today in Comics History, May 16, 1732 and 1932: Mysterious supernatural events only recur on their exact anniversary

Really, why don't hauntings ever happen, say, thirteen years, six weeks and two days after their first occurrence?


"True Tales Of The Supernatural #22" from The Beyond #11 (Ace Magazines, May 1952), creators uncredited and unknown
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, May 16, 1905: Hundreds killed in tragic accident when trolley does not go "clang clang clang"

from "George Westinghouse" in True Comics #50 (Parents Magazine Press, July 1946), pencils (and inks?) by Sam Glankoff

Today in Comics History, May 16, 1925: Happy birthday, John Norris! Hope you survive the...oh.

from "If the Coffin Fits...Get In!" in Mysterious Adventures #4 (Story, October 1951), pencils and inks by "Palette"
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, May 16: Happy birthday to Pierce Brosnan, cinema's only James Bond!

cover of James Bond 007: Goldeneye #1 (Topps, January 1996), painted art by Brian Stelfreeze

Today in Comics History, May 16: Happy birthday, Jenette Kahn!

Born on this day: Jenette Kahn, former publisher, president, and editor-in-chief of DC Comics, and visible editorial face of the company for much of the '80s and '90s.


cover of Savvy (January 1984)

Today in Comics History, May 16: Happy birthday, Janet Jackson!*

Happy birthday, Janet Jackson!


from Marvel Age #50, 87, and 98 (Marvel, May 1987 and April 1990), text by Mike Carlin (#50), and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#87); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Gregory Wright (#87)
*No, not that one! The singer/songwriter/dancer. She has never colored a comic book in her life.


cover of Star Jam Comics #2 (Revolutionary, 1992), artist unknown
Happy birthday, Miss Jackson! I'm not nasty, but I'm not takin' any chances.



from "Nasty" in Step Aside, Pops (Drawn + Quarterly, September 2015), by Kate Beaton

Today in Comics History, May 16, 1862: After several successful decades, comics just shrug and give up

from "The War Between the States" in Picture Stories from American History #4 (EC, Summer 1947), script by Jerry Coleman, pencils and inks by Allen Simon (apparently)

Today in Comics History, May 16, 1999: So, Hervé Villechaize, Jason Wyngarde, the First Doctor, and Mrs. White from Clue are trapped in an elevator...

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #8 (DC/Vertigo, August 1999), script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Sean Phililips, inks by Jay Stephens, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, May 16, 1999: Maybe not the best subject line to send using your work email, King Mob

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #8 (DC/Vertigo, August 1999), script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Sean Phililips, inks by Jay Stephens, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, May 16, 1946: Geez, we're gonna start needing a slide rule to keep track of these comics

from Back to the Future: Biff to the Future #5 (IDW, May 2017), co-plot and script by Bob Gale, co-plot by Derek Fridolfs, pencils by Alan Robinson, inks by Alan Robinson and Jaime Castro, colors by Maria Santaolalla, letters by Shawn Lee

Today in Comics History, May 6, 1954: Baseballs that stream the date and city invented

from The Amazing Willie Mays one-shot (Eastern Color, September 1954), creators uncredited and unknown
Don't worry, I'll only be using this panel just this once despite the excellent later opportunities for posting it provides.

Say hey, it's also Willie Mays's birthday today; born in 1931! Happy birthday, Willie!

Today in Comics History, May 16: Marvel Comics asks "What If...Rick Jones was actually competent as Bucky?"

from What If...? (1977 series) #5 (Marvel, October 1977), co-plot and script by Don Glut, co-plot by Roy Thomas, pencils by George Tuska, inks by Russ Jones, colors by George Roussos, letters by Carol Lay and Warren Greenwood

Today in Comics History, May 16, 2002: Toyfare predicts a better movie than what we actually got

from "Mr. Spidey Goes to Coruscant" in Toyfare #26 (Wizard, October 1999), by Pat McCollum, Tom Root, and Douglas Goldstein