Today in Comics History, May 19: Happy birthday, Grace Jones!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 19, 2022.

Born today: model, singer, and actor Grace Jones! Last year, I apologized for not being able to find any comic book appearances of her. I've since found/remembered a few and some friends chipped in!


cover of the pop culture and comics magazine Starlet #1/1980 (Semic (Finland), January 2, 1980)

Today in Comics History, May 19, 1763: James Boswell cheaps out on floozies

from "Excerpts from Boswell's London Journal 1762-1763" in Weirdo #3 (Last Gasp, Fall 1981), by Robert Crumb

Today in Comics History, May 19: Down and Out with Len Wein

from Starman (1988 series) #1 (DC, October 1988), script by Roger Stern, pencils by Tom Lyle, inks by Bob Smith, colors by Julianna Ferriter, letters by Bob Pinaha

Today in Comics History, May 19, 1988: Some people stop at nothing if you're searching for something

from Spider-Man: Breakout #2 (Marvel, July 2005), script by Tony Bedard, pencils by Manuel Garcia, inks by Raul Fernández, colors by Chris Sotomayor, letters by Cory Petit



"Breakout" by Swing Out Sister (Mercury, 1986), written by Andy Connell, Corinne Drewery, and Martin Jackson
Yes, this entire post is riffing on the title of a song I like. And...?

Today in Comics History, May 19, 1945: Betty's Captain Marvel Decoder Ring has not yet arrived

from "Dear Betty" in Rocketeer Adventures (2011 series) #1 (IDW, May 2011), script by Kurt Busiek, pencils and inks by Mike Kaluta, colors by Dave Stewart, letters by Chris Mowry

Today in Comics History, May 19, 1805: Either they've landed in St. Louis or there's half a McDonalds ahead

from Manifest Destiny #39 (Image, December 2019), script by Chris Dingess, pencils and inks by Matthew Roberts, colors by Owen Gieni, letters by Pat Brosseau

Today in Comics History, May 19, 1962: "Ooh! You're a real dreamboat, [mechanical voice] Adrian Veidt."

from Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #4 (DC, January 2013), script by Len Wein, pencils and inks by Jae Lee, colors by June Chung, letters by John Workman

Today in Comics History, May 19: At home with Bill Cullen

from "The 12 Faces of Crime!" in Gang Busters #39 (DC, April 1954), pencils and inks by Leonard Starr

Today in Comics History, May 19, 2021: When you see an email like this, hit SPAM as fast as possible

from The Nice House on the Lake #1 (DC/Black Label, August 2021), script by James Tynion IV, pencils and inks by Álvaro Martínez Bueno, colors by Jordie Bellaire, letters by AndWorld Design

Today in Comics History, May 19, 3333: Oh, you saw the Snyder Cut too

from Bleed Them Dry #5 (Vault, November 2020), script by Eliot Rahal, art by Dike Ruan, colors by Miquel Muetro, letters by Anfdworld

Today in Comics History, May 19, 1981: Death Row Criminal Uses Comics Lettering Barred I Correctly

from Fantastic Four (1961 series) #233 (August 1981); script, pencils, and inks by John Byrne, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Jim Novak

Today in Comics History, May 19: Another inconvenient time for the Crisis on Infinite Earths

from Batman #405 (March 1987), script by Frank Miller, pencils and inks by David Mazzucchelli, colors by Richmond Lewis, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, May 19: The day Lois got shot in the head

from "Dead Men Do Tell Tales!" in Superman Family #220 (DC, July 1982), script by Tamsyn O'Flynn, pencils by Bob Oksner, inks by Vince Colletta, colors by Tom Ziuko, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, May 19: Lois gets her hair cut with a T-square

from "Dead Men Do Tell Tales!" in Superman Family #220 (DC, July 1982), script by Tamsyn O'Flynn, pencils by Bob Oksner, inks by Vince Colletta, colors by Tom Ziuko, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, May 19: Some crooks set themselves up to be punched by Superman

from "Dead Men Do Tell Tales!" in Superman Family #220 (DC, July 1982), script by Tamsyn O'Flynn, pencils by Bob Oksner, inks by Vince Colletta, colors by Tom Ziuko, letters by John Costanza