Today in Comics History, April 30, 1945: Let's Kill Hitler

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published April 30, 2023.


Today in Comics History: it's Hitler's last day alive. And he's spending it with Baron Zemo? The guy who accidentally glued his mask to his head? Well, you do you, Hitler.


from Spider-Man: Fear Itself graphic novel (Marvel, February 1992), plot and co-script by Gerry Conway, co-script by Stan Lee, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito, colors by Bob Sharen, letters by Rick Parker

Today in Comics History, October 13, 1939: A shocked and stunned nation in 1939 cannot comprehend the startling revelation that the Daily Bugle can print its first page in color!?! For free?!?

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published October 13, 2022.


from The Daily Bugle: The Marvels Project tie-in promo (Marvel, 2009), art by Alex Ross

Today in Comics History, September 12, 1942: Mickey Spillane writes tough-as-nails, gritty crime drama in which the crooks are caught because they paid their electric bill

from "Hot Stamp Mob!" in All-Winners Comics #6 (Marvel/Timely/USA Comic Magazine Corp., Fall 1942), script by Mickey Spillane (yes, that one!), pencils by Harry Fisk (?), inks by Edd Ashe (?)

Today in Comics History, May 6, 1937: "So, what would you say if I told you that your mother made a phony bomb threat just to get a free ride on a blimp?"

Somebody asked me, "Hey Bully, are you gonna do a Today in Comics History about that big blimp from the 1930s?" And I said, "I already did a post about Orson Welles!"


Okay, okay! Today in Comics History, May 6: Born on this date: Tom Raymond, the Golden Age Human Torch's sidekick Toro!

Oh, and a big balloon blew up.


from The Torch #1 (Marvel, November 2009), co-plot by Alex Ross, co-plot and script by Mike Carey, pencils and inks by Patrick Berkenkotter, colors by Carlos Lopez, letters by Todd Klein
It's the Hindenburg! Yes, a tragic moment in aeronautics for the humanity, but on the other hand, it was a Nazi airship.


from "News Snapshots - Past and Present" in It Really Happened #10 (Pines, August 1947), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, April 18: Happy birthday, Carl Burgos!

Born on this day in 1916: Carl Burgos, writer, artist, and creator of the Original Human Torch (who, with the Sub-Mariner and Captain America, became the foundation of the Marvel Universe)!


"Carl Burgos' Hot Idea [The Story of the Human Torch!]" in The Human Torch (1940 series) #2 (Marvel/Timely, Fall 1940), script and art by Carl Burgos

Today in Comics History, February 1: Well, time to start up the Select Committee to Investigate the February 1 Attack on the Government

Today, it's February First and Fiery Forces the Fuman Forch...I mean, the Human Torch (original flavor) and his atomic fireball pal Toro have discovered some dastardly plan (but don't they always)!


from "No One Can Stop the Hypnotist*" in Young Men (1953 series) #27 (Marvel/Atlas, April 1954), script by Joe Gill, pencils and inks by Carl Burgos
(*Yeah, and they said nobody beats the Wiz, but they've been out of business for years.)

Torch 'n Toro rush to their favorite pal cop Chief Wilson (seriously, Jim Hammond, stop doin' that: ACWAB.) and find out something sinister is about to happen on February 1, thanks to a mysterious figure known only as (dun dun dun) "The Hypnotist!" Oh no, he's gonna make us all think we're chickens!


The Hypnotist is extending his tendrils everywhere? (Wait, shouldn't he be called "The Jellyfish" if that's true?) He's even enlisting the help of evil Mexican luchadores in India! The Torches uncover the secret plot (by, uh, hearing it yelled around the world) to topple all the world's governments on February 1, even the really heavy ones like Britain's House of Lords and the All-Lead Palace of King Pb of Pbistan!


Luckily, the Flambé Foursome Duo halt the Hypnotist, who's a vampire or an alien sludge monster or somethin', we don't know, gotta wrap the story up in the next three panels. The Torch sums it up by asserting that they've stopped "the greatest evil the world has ever known." ?!?? Jim, you killed Hitler.


THUS PERISH ALL TYRANTS!

Today in Comics History, March 15: Y'know, if I were named Julius Caesar in modern days, I'd just go into my panic room all day on March 15

from "Murders from the Past" in Marvel Mystery Comics #85 (Marvel/Timely, February 1948), pencils by Mike Sekowsky (?)

366 Days with J. Jonah Jameson, Day 150: Jonah is requested to kiss someone's grits

Panels from Marvels #1 (January 1994), script by Kurt Busiek, painted art by Alex Ross, letters by Richard Starkings and John Gaushell

Let's Kill Hitler: Torch Song Trilogy III: In 3-D

Panels from Torch #7 (June 2010); plot by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, and Mike Carey; script by Mike Carey, pencils by Patrick Berkenkotter and Anthony Tan; colors by Carlos Lopez; letters by Todd Klein

Let's Kill Hitler: Torch Song Trilogy II: You're Fired

And just in case you never got a hold of a copy of What If? #4…



Panels from The Saga of the Original Human Torch #3 (June 1990), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Alfred Alcala, colors by Nel Yomtov, letters by Timothy Harkins
Wait, what did you say? "Hitler's consciousness had been transferred at the moment of his body's death into a brain cloned by Arnim Zola?" (which later became the Hate-Monger?) Well, that changes the verdict, guys!


To be continued…?

Let's Kill Hitler: Torch Song Trilogy I: A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight

Panels from What If? (1977 series) #4 (August 1977), script by Roy Thomas, breakdowns by Frank Robbins, finishes by Frank Springer, colors by George Roussos, letters by Joe Rosen
Accepted into Marvel Earth-616 canon (even though it's an issue of What If?), this story is

The Ultimate Zing!

Panels from Secret Avengers (2010 series) #23 (April 2012), script by Rick Remender, pencils and inks by Gabriel Hardman, colors by Elizabeth Breitweiser, letters by Chris Eliopoulos

Eight Arms to Hold You: Octopus Week, Day 4

Panel from "Deep Sea Lair of the Murdering Octopus*" in Human Torch #36 (April 1954), pencils and inks by Bob Powell


*You can't say you didn't get what was advertised.

Well, That'll Happen: Boom!

Panel from Human Torch #36 (April 1954), art by Dick Ayers