Today in Comics History, May 7, 1915/1942: First attempt at a live-action The Little Mermaid is wildly unsuccesful

from "When Phantoms Stalked the Wolf-Pack" in Ghosts (1971 series) #61 (DC, February 1978), script by Carl Wessler, pencils and inks by Ruben Yandoc, colors by Jerry Serpe
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 7, 1945: Rest in Peace, Sgt. Frank Rock

from Justice Society of America #3 (DC, May 2023), script by Geoff Johns, pencils and inks by Mikel Janín, colors by Jordie Bellaire, letters by Rob Leigh

Today in Comics History, May 7, 1915: German murder boat refuses to give a fair chance

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 7, 2021 and May 7, 2022.


from "The Life of Woodrow Wilson" in Real Life Comics #2 (Pines, December 1941), script and art creators uncredited and unknown, letters by Ed Hamilton

Today in Comics History, May 7, 1945: Hey, Christmas isn't in May...oh wait, it's a panel that lasts five months

from "Cavalcade of England: Chapter VIII" in True Comics #49 (Parents' Magazine Press, May 1946), script by Joseph H. Park, pencils and inks by Charles Raab (?)

Today in Comics History, May 7: Happy birthday, Grass Green!

Wishing a happy birthday today (born 1939) to the late great African American underground cartoonist, Richard "Grass" Green (Charlton's "The Shape," Go-Go, Star-Studded Comics, witzend, Super Soul Comix, Holiday Out, Xal-Kor the Human Cat, Wildman, Blooperman, and much more, like Eros Comics, which Gary Groth won't let me look at.).


from Men of Mystery Comics (1999 series) #37 (AC, August 2002), text by Bill Black and Bill Schelly, pencils and inks by Grass Green
In the process of researching this post, I've been looking at some of his work at Charlton. It's a lot of fun and I'd love to see these nicely reprinted.


from "Would You Believe... the Bestest League of America!!!" in Go-Go #5 (Charlton, February 1967); script by Gary Friedrich; pencils, inks, and letters by Grass Green


from "The Swingin' Saga of Superella!" in Go-Go #6 (Charlton, April 1967); script by Gary Friedrich; pencils, inks, and letters by Grass Green


from "Snow What, A Far-Out Fairy Tale (Part 1)" in Go-Go #7 (Charlton, June 1967); script by Steve Skeates; pencils and inks (and letters?) by Grass Green


from "Rapunzelstiltskin" in Go-Go #8 (Charlton, August 1967), script by Steve Skeates, pencils by Grass Green, inks by Frank McLaughlin
Happy birthday, Grass Green!

Today in Comics History, May 7, 1972: And the moral of the story is: none of them were fortunate sons

from "The Highway of Terror" in The 'Nam #83 (Marvel, August 1993), script by Don Lomax, pencils and inks by Wayne Vansant, colors by John Kalisz, letters by Phil Felix

Today in Comics History, May 7: Happy birthday, Johnny Unitas!

Born today in 1933: football superstar Johnny Unitas, record-breaking NFL quarterback and star player of the Baltimore Colts! Johnny never had his own comic book, but he did appear in several ads in comics! (They weren't always flattering.)



American Specialty Co. ad, from Marvel comics dated November 1971
He fared much better in a series of Aurora model ads, one of which spotlighted him specifically! Did you have a Johnny Unitas plastic model? Did you blow it up with firecrackers?




from (top) Aurora Models ad (top) from DC Comics, cover-dated December 1965
(middle and bottom) Marvel Comics cover-dated May 1966
But he's perhaps best known in comic books for a series of ads (with his son Ken) selling guns to kids. To be fair: and teaching them safety, responsibility, and maturity in using them. Still, never forget the wisdom of Ralphie's mom.


Daisy Rifle ad from DC Comics cover-dated November 1977 ,
Happy birthday, Johnny Unitas! Please do not tackle me and/or put my eye out!


Daisy Rifle ad from Marvel Comics cover-dated December 1979 ,

Today in Comics History, May 7, 2002: Sports events disappointing during light bulb shortage

from Superman (1987 series) #182 (DC, July 2002), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils by Ed McGuinness, inks by Cam Smith, colors by Tanya Horie and Rich Horie, letters by Richard Starkings, special thanks to Noel Neill

Today in Comics History, May 7: Happy birthday, Jon Bogdanove!

Born on this day: comics artist and writer Jon Bogdanove, penciller on (among many!) Power Pack and the Superman franchise. He co-created John Henry Irons, the Man Known as Steel!


cover of Superman: The Man of Steel #22 (DC, June 1993), pencils by Jon Bogdanove, inks and colors by Dennis Janke
Here he is (well, his hand!) in a New Mutants back-up where Boom-Boom wishes to meet the cutest guy in the Marvel Universe. Jon's art skills to the rescue!



from "A Case of the Cutes" in New Mutants Annual (1984 series) #5 (Marvel, 1989), script by Judy Bogdanove, pencils by Jon Bogdanove, inks by Hilary Barta, colors by Steve Buccellato, letters by Joe Rosen
Who's the cutest guy in the 616? Why, of course that's gonna be Bogdanove-favorite Power Pack character Tattletale (aka Franklin Richards!). Awwwwww!


Did you know that Tattletale's look and mannerisms were based on Bogdanove's then-toddler son Kal-El Bogdanove? Cool name, cool legacy, and hey, K., cool costume!


from Marvel Age #64 (Marvel, July 1988)
Jon Bogdanove was, of course, an invited guest at Superman's wedding. Can you spot Jon (and Kal-El B.) among the happy crowd?

from Superman: The Wedding Album one-shot (DC, December 1996), pencils by Dan Jurgens, inks by Jerry Ordway, colors by Glenn Whitmore, letters by Bill Oakley
Click top picture to honeymoon-size
A very happy birthday to Jon Bogdanove, one of my favorite comics artists!

Today in Comics History, May 7: J. Jonah Jameson throws his hands in the air and just gives in to the merchandising

Marvel Comics subscription ad in Marvel Comics cover-dated October 1986

Today in Comics History, May 7, 1945: All this and they don't even take Bucky's insurance

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

Today in Comics History, May 7, 1937: Remember, folks: if they don't want us to have unions, they don't want us to have rights

from Comic Book Comics (2016 series) #1 (Evil Twin, March 2008); script by Fred Van Lente; pencils, inks, and letters by Ryan Dunlavey


from Comic Book History of Animation #2 (IDW, December 2020); script by Fred Van Lente; pencils, inks, colors and letters by Ryan Dunlavey

Today in Comics History, May 7, 2004: J. Michael Straczynski takes four issues to prove he's no Rod Serling

from The Twilight Zone (2013 series) #9 (Dynamite, October 2014), script by J. Michael Straczynski, pencils and inks by Guiu Violanova, colors by Vinicius Andreade, letters by Rob Steen



from The Twilight Zone (2013 series) #10 (Dynamite, December 2014), script by J. Michael Straczynski, pencils and inks by Guiu Violanova, colors by Vinicius Andreade, letters by Rob Steen



from The Twilight Zone (2013 series) #11 (Dynamite, January 2015), script by J. Michael Straczynski, pencils and inks by Guiu Violanova, colors by Vinicius Andreade, letters by Rob Steen


from The Twilight Zone (2013 series) #12 (Dynamite, February 2015), script by J. Michael Straczynski, pencils and inks by Guiu Violanova, colors by Vinicius Andreade, letters by Rob Steen

Today in Comics History, May 7, 1996: Ricardo Montalbán conquers Earth, promises rich Corinthian leather for all

Page from Star Trek: Khan #3 (IDW, December 2013), script by Mike Johnson, pencils by Claudia Balboni, inks by Marina Castelvetro, colors by Claudia ScarletGothica, letters by Valentina Cuomo