Today in Comics History, May 5, 1931: Intricate villainous plan somehow involves bowling

from "The Incarnadine Bridge!" in Ghosts (1971 series) #97 (DC, February 1981), script by Mimai Kin, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Rodin Rodriguez
So what happened next? Why, for that you'll have to wait until September 8!

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 5: Happy birthday, Jann Jones!

Celebrate with us today's birthday of comics editor Jann Jones (Manhunter from Mars?), who's worked at DC, VIZ Media and Disney/Pixar! (Here she is with DC's ex-publisher Dan Didio.)



from Ambush Bug: Year None #4 (DC, December 2008), plot and pencils by Keith Giffen, dialogue by Robert Loren Fleming, inks by Al Milgrom, colors by Tom Smith, letters by Pat Brosseau
Happy birthday, Jann!

Today in Comics History, May 5: Happy birthday, Michael Palin!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 5, 2014.


Panel from Comics: Monty Python one-shot (April 2014), script by Chris Canibano, pencils and colors by Juan Luis Rincón, letters by Gary Scott Beatty
Michael, as he appeared in Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits...comic adaptation.



from Time Bandits #1 one-shot (February 1982), script by Steve Parkhouse, pencils by David Lloyd, inks by John Stokes, colors by Don Warfield, letters by Irving Watanabe
Happy birthday, Sir Michael!

Today in Comics History, May 5: Happy birthday, Inez Jozlyn!

...hope you survive the experience!


from Tephlon Funk! graphic novel (Dark Horse, November 2022), written by Stephane Metayer, illustrated by David Tako and Bicolas Safe

Today in Comics History, May 5: Happy birthday, Stan Goldberg!

Born this day in 1932: comic book artist and colorist Stan Goldberg! Among his many accompaishments, he was the uncredited colorist for a huge number of the 1960s Marvel books!


from (left) Marvel Tales Annual #1 (Marvel, September 1964);
(right) Fantastic Four Annual #7 (Marvel, November 1969), photograph by Al Hewetson

Today in Comics History, May 5, 1605: Shakespeare refuses to cross the picket line because he is a Unionne Manne

from "If Famous Authors Wrote The Comics" in MAD #46 (April 1959), script by Frank Jacobs, pencils and inks by Wally Wood

Today in Comics History, May 5: Happy birthday, Aunt May! (Or: Aunt May's birthday present from Peter is a five-pack of Dos Equis and a sombrero)

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 5, 2016.

Today (ignore the caption that sez "Tomorrow"...dunno what that's doin' there): it's the two hundred and eighth birthday of everybody's favorite Marisa Tomei impersonator, Aunt May Reilly Parker Octavius Terwilliger Jameson!


from Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964 series) #20 (Marvel, November 1986), script by Christopher Priest (as Fred Schiller and Ken McDonald), pencils by Mark Beachum, inks by Bob Wiacek, colors by Bob Sharen, letters by Jim Novak
Yes oh yes, but which day is Aunt May's birthday on?

Today in Comics History, May 5, 2023: Lunella Lafayette waits for months for an event and then three come along at once

from Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2023 series) #4 (Marvel, May 2023), script by Jordan Ifueko, pencils by Alba Glez, inks by José Marzan Jr., colors by KJ Díaz, letters by Travis Lanham
(Although it doesn't say the the year in the comic, I'm arbitrarily assigning it to 2023 because the comic book is published in 2023; today is Friday the Fifth, and there is a Full Moon tonight!)

Today in Comics History, May 5: Happy birthday, John B. Stetson!

Born on this day in 1830: American hat manufacturer, inventor of the ubiquitous wide-brimmed hat worn by cowboys on the range, in movies and TV, and yes, in comics: John B. Stetson!


from "Billy Brand" in from World's Finest Comics #18 (DC, Summer 1945), creators uncredited and unknownS
Happy Birthday, pardner! I tip my little stuffed ten-fluid-ounce hat to you!



from "Along the Trail" in Tim McCoy (1948 series) #18 (Charlton, February 1949); script, pencils, inks, and letters by Mario DeMarco
It's true! Many a cowboy has been saved by throwing a hat at a bull! We will stop and say "Oh, thank you!" and saunter away, proudly wearing our new hats.





"Don't Touch My Hat" by Lyle Lovett (Curb/MCA, 1996), written by Lyle Lovett
Well, heck, now I'm hungry for Arby's.

Today in Comics History, May 5, 1885: San Franciscans marvel at the invention of Rice-a-Roni

from Two-Gun Kid: Sunset Riders #1 (Marvel, November 1995), script by Fabian Nicieza, pencils by Christian Gorney, inks by Michael Halblieb, colors by Marie Javins, letters by Richard Starkings


Television advertisement for Rice-a-Roni (1962)

Today in Comics History, May 5, 1945: Now is the Winter Soldier of our discontent

Following his near-death in the rocket explosion that put Captain America on ice, Bucky's comatose body is retrieved and arrives in the Soviet Union.


from Captain America (2005 series) #11 (Marvel, November 2005), script by Ed Brubaker, pencils and inks by Steve Epting, additional inks by Mike Perkins, colors by Frank D'Armata, letters by Randolph Gentile
This right fits in with Mark Gruenwald's suggested canon that Baron Zemo's rocket launch and Captain America's disappearence happened on May 2, 1945. (As seen here.)


from Captain America (1968 series) #332 (Marvel, August 1987), script by Mark Gruenwald, pencils by Tom Morgan, inks by Bob McLeod, colors by Ken Feduniewicz, letters by Diana Albers

Today in Comics History, May 5, Cinco de Mayo: Happy Batto de Mayo!

Here's possibly the greatest English-language Cinco de Mayo comic book story – perhaps one of the very few? It's a time for celebration...



from "Cinco De Madness" in Batman: Li'l Gotham #5 (DC, May 2013); co-script, pencils, art, and colors by Dustin Nguyen, co-script by Derek Fridolfs; letters by Saida Temofonte
...for ♥ romance ♥...



...for puns...


...and for tacos!



Happy Cinco de Mayo, everybody!

Not Today in Comics History, May 5, Cinco de Mayo: Calendar Man would have never made this crucial error

from The Joker 2021 Annual (DC, January 2022), script by Matthew Rosenberg and James Tynion IV; pencils, inks, and colors by Francesco Francavilla; letters by Tom Napolitano

Today in Comics History, May 5, Cinco de Mayo: ¡Ese Dennis ciertamente es una amenaza!

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, here's some Mexican adventures of Dennis the Menace! Or, as Mexican comic books call him, Daniel el travieso!


Anyway, the Mitchells, fleeing government agents for what Dennis did to the White House bathroom, have crossed the border and are now in the Mexico that isn't New Mexico...Mexico!



from Dennis the Menace Giant #8 [Dennis the Menace in Mexico] (Hallden/Fawcett, Winter 1962), script by Fred Toole, pencils and inks by Al Wiseman
Next to Carl Barks, I consider Al Wiseman to be one of the finest draftsman of architecture in humor comics!



Do not fight bulls, Dennis! Be their pal instead!



And now, the bullfight commences! Not shown: the bull sharpening his pointy, pointy horns.



¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo, Daniel, Dennis, whatever your name is!

Today in Comics History, May 5, 1937: Wolverine gets ready for World War II

from Doc Savage (1988 series) #19 (DC, May 1990), script by Mike W. Barr, pencils by Rod Whigham, inks by Steve Montano, colors by Anthony Tollin, letters by Bill Oakley

Today in Comics History, May 5, 1910: Courtroom artist is really rushed to finish this one

from "The Train That Wasn't There!" in Journey into Mystery #27 (Marvel/Atlas, October 1955), pencils and inks by Bob Powell

Today in Comics History, May 5, 1934: Los Angeles Times forgets how to justify text

from Queen of Kenosha (Animal Media, October 2018), script by Howard Shapiro, art by Erica Chan

Today in Comics History, May 5: Daily Star licenses Green Arrow® logo from DC Comics

from the aptly titled "Green Arrow Sought for Questioning in Murder" in World's Finest Comics #277 (DC, March 1982), script by Mike W. Barr, pencils by Trevor Von Eeden, inks by Rodin Rodriguez, colors by Tom Ziuko, letters by Phil Felix

Today in Comics History, May 1, 1972: Grown man told to clean his room

from "Yankee Station, Part 2: The Fall of Quang Tri" in The 'Nam #78 (Marvel, March 1993), script by Don Lomax, pencils and inks by Wayne Vansant, colors and letters by Phil Felix
(By later in the day, Ed Marks is no longer bored.)


from "Tet: The Beginning of the End, Part 1: Grassroots" in The 'Nam #79 (Marvel, April 1993), script by Don Lomax, pencils and inks by Wayne Vansant, colors by John Kalisz, letters by Phil Felix

Today in Comics History, May 5, 1942: Comic book story title displayed through the medium of smoke signals

from "Last Message from Corregidor" in Real Heroes #7 (Parents' Magazine Press, November 1942), creators uncredited and unknown