Today in Comics History, November 29: Happy birthday, Maggie Thompson!

Today's the birthday of Maggie Thompson, comics collector and historian and co-editor (with husband Don Thompson) of the Comics Buyer's Guide, a massive influence on comics fans including yours little stuffed turly, so I just had to thank her when I met her at BookExpo America a few years back!


Happy birthday, Maggie, and many happy returns!

Today in Comics History, November 29: Happy birthday, Gaetano Donizetti!

Born on this day in 1797, so you'll have to speak up if you're gonna wish him a happy birthday: Gaetano Donizetti, Italian composer of over 70 operas, all of them so familiar to the kids reading comic books that you barely need to explain who he is, thanks to his many comics appearances! So let's just show off this one.


"Lucia di Lammermoor" from Classics Illustrated #61 (Gilberton, July 1949), creators uncredited and unknown
See? isn't that more to-the-point reading than just showing off all the times he teamed up with Wonder Tot? Happy birthday, Gaetano, you crazy opera but, you!

Today in Comics History, November 29: Happy birthday, Casey Vincent!

Born on this day in 1914: World War II Flying Ace Clinton Dermott "Casey" Vincent. He served as the model for two comic strip characters by Milton Caniff: Colonel Vince Casey, and Brigadier General P.G. "Shanty" Town. After his death in 1956, Yuma Air Force Base was renamed Vincent Air Force Base in Vincent's honor.

from Steve Canyon (Publishers-Hall Syndicate, October 12, 1956), by Milton Caniff; reprinted in Steve Canyon v.24: Taps for "Shanty" Town (Kitchen Sink, December 1989)
(Click picture to Brigadier General-size)
Happy birthday, Casey!

Today in Comics History, November 29: Commissioner Gordon is born again

This is an expanded, updated, and combined version of posts originally published November 29, 2012.


from Batman #587 (DC, March 2001), script by Greg Rucka, pencils by Rick Burchett, inks by Rodney Ramos, colors by Noelle Giddings, color separations by Wildstorm FX, letters by Willie Schubert

Today in Comics History, November 29: Happy birthday, Chadwick Boseman.

Born on this day in 1976: actor, director, and writer Chadwick Boseman of 42, Get On Up, Message from the King, Marshall, and, of course, Black Panther.



from Marvel Comics cover-dated December 2020, art by Brian Stelfreeze, text by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Happy birthday and rest in power, King.



from "Zombies," episode five of What If...? (Marvel Studios, 2021), written by Matthew Chauncey, directed by Bryan Andrews

Today in Comics History, November 29: Happy birthday, Howie Mandel!

Born on this day: funnyman Howie Mandel (Gremlins, Walk Like a Man, St. Elsewhere, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Bobby's World, America's Got Talent, Deal or No Deal and more)!


from "Down Home Doctorin' Time" in Simpsons Comics #74 (Bongo, September 2002), script by Gail Simone, pencils by Joey Nilges, inks by James Huang, colors by Art Villanueva, letters by Karen Bates
Happy birthday, Howie!

Today in Comics History Future, November 29, 2994: Space-Black Friday gets even worse

from Legion of Super-Heroes (1989 series) #5 (DC, March 1990); script by Tom Bierbaum, Mary Bierbaum, Keith Giffen, with an assist by Al Gordon; pencils by Keith Giffen; inks by Al Gordon; colors by Tom McCraw

Today in Comics History, November 29, 1969: Lois refuses to buy a 1970 calendar

from "Tomorrow I Die!" in Lois Lane #98 (DC, January 1970), script by Robert Kanigher, pencils by Curt Swan, inks by George Roussos

Today in Comics History, November 29, 1991: Death takes a holiday to a Wyld Stallyns concert

from Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book #3 (Marvel, February 1992), script and pencils by Evan Dorkin, inks by Stephen DeStefano, colors by Robbie Busch, letters by Kurt Hathaway