Today in Comics History, October 17, 1973: Maybe blaming all their arson on the Fire Alien from Mercury was too far-fetched

The Hoaxmaster is back! And this time...aieeee, he's HUGE!


from "The Hoaxmaster Knows -- and Tells All!" in UFO Flying Saucers #4 (Western/Gold Key, November 1974), pencils and inks by Frank Bolle
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, October 19: Happy birthday, Dick DeBartolo!

Hey, let's all wish MAD's Maddest Writer, Dick DeBartolo, a very happy birthday! C'mon...I double dare ya!


from the letters column of MAD #285 (March 1989)
Happy birthday, Dick!

Today in Comics History, October 18: Happy birthday, Steve Epting!

It's the birthday of comics artist Steve Epting (The Avengers, Captain America, Crux, Sara, El Calzador, X-Factor, Thor, more)! He co-created CrossGen's all-too-short-lived pirate comic El Cazador!


from Marvel Age Avengers Anniversary Magazine #1 one-shot (Marvel, November 1993)

Today in Comics History, October 18: Happy birthday, Jim Massara!

Born on this day: Jim Massara, comics editor, artist, and letterer in the 1980s-90s (The Defenders, Marvel Comics Presents, Hulk, Power Pack, Twilight Man, Cartoon Network Starring, Bartman, Droopy, Aliens, Transformers, and more)!


from Marvel Age #94 (Marvel, November 1990), text by Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter, pencils and inks by Ron Zalme, colors by Renee Witterstaetter

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1988: The third Summers brother is kind of a bum

from Hot Valley Days and Cocaine Nights #3 (Antarctic, February 2021), script by Matthew Spradlin, pencils and inks by Farid Karami, colors by Andrew Crossley

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1983: Hawkeye and Trapper John get busted for having a still in their tent

from "Peacekeepers" in Semper Fi #7 (Marvel, June 1989), script by Michael P. Palladino, pencils and inks by John Severin, colors and letters by Phil Felix

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1944: Captain mulls buying a smaller Moleskine diary next year

from "The Coast Guard Lady" in Real Fact Comics #4 (DC, September 1946), script by Jack Schiff, Mort Weisinger, and/or Bernie Breslauer; artist uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, October 18: We return yet once again another time to Josephine Baker, P.I., continuously even now still in progress even one more additional occasion beyond those previously listed

from Miss Don't Touch Me (NBM, October 2014), script and colors by Hubert, translation by Joe Johnson, pencils and inks by Kerascoët, letters by Ortho

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1804: X-Men-hunting expedition continues

from Manifest Destiny #22 (Image, August 2016), script by Chris Dingess, pencils by Matthew Roberts, inks by Tony Akins and Stefano Gaudiano, colors by Owen Gieni, letters by Pat Brosseau

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1896: Born on this day: The COMIC STRIP!

Yes, without today we wouldn't have Heathcliff and his ham helmet.



from The Comic Book History of Comics #1 (IDW, November 2016), script and letters by Fred Van Lente, pencils and inks by Ryan Dunlavey, colors by Adam Guzowski

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1968: Ah, this never gets old

from The Beatles in Comics! (NBM, November 2018); script by Richard Di Martino; translation by Joe Johnson; pencils, inks, and colors by Clémon Baloup; letters by Ortho

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1988: All Star Batman and Robin begins

from Hot Valley Days and Cocaine Nights #2 (Antarctic, January 2021), script by Matthew Spradlin, pencils and inks by Farid Karami, colors by Andrew Crossley

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1966: BEST. PATENT. EVER.

Specifications of U.S. Patent Office patent #205998 (October 18, 1966),
for "the ornamental design of an automative vehicle or similar article"
(Click picture to embiggen)


Batmobile scenes from Batman ['66] (Greenway Productions/20th Century Fox Television, 1966-1968)

Today in Comics History, October 18, 1931: The Undead Electromagnetic Vampire Spectre of Thomas Edison is confused*

from Atomic Robo and the Revenge of the Vampire Dimension #4 (Red 5, July 2010), script by Brian Clevinger, pencils and inks by Scott Wegener, colors by Ronda Pattison, letters by Jeff Powell
*This pretty much is an accurate description of the situation.

Today in Comics History. October 18, 1910: Not only Falcon Bridge, but all the bridges are fuming

...probably ought not to have set them all on fire.


from The New Deadwardians #8 (DC/Vertigo, December 2012), script by Dan Abnett, pencils and inks by I. N. J. Culbard, colors by Patricia Mulvihill, letters by Travis Lanham

Today in Comics History, October 18: The First All-England Summarize Proust Competition is held

from The Unwritten #35.5 (DC/Vertigo, May 2012), plot by Peter Gross, script by Mike Carey, pencils and inks by Gabriel Hernandez Walta, colors by Lee Loughridge, letters by Todd Klein