Today in Comics History, March 22: Happy birthday, Steve Dillon!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published March 22, 2022.

Today's the birthday of Steve Dillon (born 1962), and his passing in 2016 at the age of 54 hits a little harder every year here in the Bull household, especially to my best pal John, who loves Steve's work and was born within a couple weeks of Steve in 1962. Today's also a great day to re-read some of your favorite Steve Dillon-illustrated comics: perhaps Hellblazer, Preacher, Animal Man or The Punisher or Punisher MAX, or his many stories in 2000 AD. Remember how great his work is, and how we've missed out since he's gone.

"Q&A: Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon" in Vertigo: Winter's Edge #1 (DC/Vertigo, January 1998)
(Click picture to big-as-all-outdoors-size)

Today in Comics History, October 27: Happy birthday, Dylan Thomas!

Born on this dayy in 1914: Welsh poet and author Dylan Thomas (Under Milk Wood, A Child's Christmas in Wales, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog, "Do not go gentle into that good night," "And death shall have no dominion," and more).


from Preacher #26 (DC/Vertigo, June 1997), script by Garth Ennis, pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Matt Hollingsworth, letters by Clem Robins

Today in Comics History, December 16: Happy birthday, Bill Hicks!

Born into this world today in 1961 (and he left all too soon on February 26, 1994, at the age of 32): comedian and social critic Bill Hicks, one of the influential voices who shaped my comic and political sensibilities into what they are today. Okay, I'm only seven, I shouldn't be listening to Mr. Hicks at my tender age, but hey...we all need to.



from Preacher #31 (DC/Vertigo, November 1997), script by Garth Ennis, pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Pamela Rambo, letters by Clem Robins
I've previously written about Bill Hicks as he's portrayed in the pages of Preacher (and probably a little more eloquently) a couple times previously, so check out my older posts "It's always funny until someone gets hurt. Then it's just hilarious." and then "I left in love, in laughter, and in truth and wherever truth, love and laughter abide, I am there in spirit."


from "Epilogue" in American Splendor Special: A Step Out of the Nest (Dark Horse, August 1994); script by Harvey Pekar; pencils, inks, and colors by Joe Zabel, letters by Gary Dumm
(You can read that John Lahr New Yorker piece on Hicks here.)

Wherever you are, Bill? Still speak truth to power.

Today in Comics History, June 13: Happy birthday, W. B. Yeats!

You'd hardly expect comics books to spotlight writers of great literature, but as they've said somewhere or other, comics: they're not just for kids anymore! That's why we gather together on this here blog to celebrate today's birthday of William Butler Yeats, the great Irish writer of drama, poetry, fiction, and essays: At the Hawk's Well, The Land of Heart's Desire, "The Second Coming," "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven," Long-Legged Fly," "Sailing to Byzantium," "Easter 1916," and more.

No, he didn't star in superhero comics (if you ignore Marvel's The Redoubtable Yeats miniseriesl), but he did get quoted in a few, sometimes by the most unlikely of characters:



from "The Return of the Defenders Part 4: Hot Spell" in Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme Annual (1922 series) #2 (Marvel, 1992), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by M. C. Wyman, inks by E. R. Cruz, colors by Kevin Tinsley, letters by Michael Higgins

Today in Comics History, February 9: Happy birthday, Brendan Behan!

Born on this day in 1923: Brendan Behan, one of the greatest Irish writers: a poet, short story writer, novelist and playwright.


from Preacher #26 (DC/Vertigo, June 1997), script by Garth Ennis, pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Matt Hollingsworth, letters by Clem Robins
Happy birthday, Brendan. Let's all drink to him, although a little more neatly than he does.


And a blackbird broke the silence
As you whistled it so sweet
And in Brendan Behan's footsteps
I danced up and down the street — "Thousands Are Sailing" by The Pogues

Today in Comics History, January 7: Happy birthday, Ruth Negga!

It's Ruth Negga's birthday today! She played Tulip O'Hare on Preacher!


Seeing as Ruth is not as blonde as the comic book version of Tulip, you'd think that means we'd never see a depiction of her by the late lamented legendary Preacher artist Steve Dillon, right?

Well, you'd be wrong. Partner.


cover of Preacher 1 AMC Edition promo comic (DC/AMC, July 2016), pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Matt Hollingsworth
Happy birthday, Ruth! And we miss you, Steve.

365 Days of Power and Responsibility, Day 42: Cigarette Break with the Vampire

Panels from Preacher #5 (August 1995), script by Garth Ennis, pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Matt Hollingsworth, letters by Clem Robins

365 Days of Defiance, Day 30: "I left in love, in laughter, and in truth and wherever truth, love and laughter abide, I am there in spirit."

Continued from today's A Month of Celebrities in Comics: Jesse Custer is fired up by the words of stand-up comic Bill Hicks:



Panels from Preacher #31 (November 1997), script by Garth Ennis, pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Pamela Rambo, letters by Clem Robins
Lots of people take as Preacher's central tenant the off-quoted "You gotta be one of the good guys. 'Cause there's way to many of the bad." And it's a fine line, and one I'll even spotlight at some point in this feature. But for me the heart of Preacher, a series which takes its strength from the power of the word, is "a guy who tells the truth in this bullshit world, he's worth his weight in gold."


"Like many kids growing up on a steady diet of westerns I always wanted to be the cowboy hero that lone voice in the wilderness fighting corruption and evil wherever I found it, and standing for freedom, truth, and justice. And in my heart of hearts I still track the remnants of that dream wherever I go in my never ending ride into the setting sun." — Bill Hicks

A Month of... Celebrities in Comics, Day 30: "It's always funny until someone gets hurt. Then it's just hilarious."

I've been a huge fan of the late great stand-up comedian Bill Hicks since the late great record label Rykodisc reissued his routines on CD in the late '90s. His observations are vulgar, cutting, and, for so many of us, absolutely true. Bill's stand-up routines were less timed comedy than knife-sharp rants against culture and the system, and his work definitely isn't for everyone. Since he died of pancreatic cancer in 1994, I missed ever seeing Bill live on stage. But his live performances on CD are so immediate, raw and emotional that you can feel you're actually there. Like Jesse Custer was:





Panels from Preacher #31 (November 1997), script by Garth Ennis, pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Pamela Rambo, letters by Clem Robins
Without Bill Hicks to spur on Jesse, the events of the entire run of Preacher would have never taken place. That's a much larger lynchpin role than comics usually give to a celebrity guest appearance. You may laugh or you may wince at his routines, but becoming a Bill Hicks fan made me a better person, more critical and cautious about what we're told is the truth and why we should strive to pull ourselves out of the gutter.


(Continued in today's 365 Days of Defiance.)

Preacher Science Theater 3000

Because I thought Jesse Custer needed some pals with which to watch John Wayne movies (especially McLintock!):


Panel from Preacher #32 (December 1997), pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Pamela Rambo; and Mystery Science Theater 3000 art by Steve Vance; all inexpertly Photoshopped by yours little stuffed truly
And here's a tip of the little bull's fancy top hat to the fabulous Charlotte Finn, who inspired and helped me find the Preacher panel needed. Check out "Preacher Ma'am," her great re-read and review series on Comics Alliance!

365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 31: Remember the Alamo

House ad for Preacher #59 (March 2000); printed in DC/Vertigo comics cover-dated April 2000); painted art by Glenn Fabry, from the cover of Preacher #59

Remember.

from Preacher #5 (DC/Vertigo, August 1995), script by Garth Ennis, pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Matt Hollingsworth, letters by Clem Robins

Today in Comics History, Father's Day: Happy Father's Day, Jesse Custer

from Preacher #9 (DC/Vertigo, December 1995), script by Garth Ennis, pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Matt Hollingsworth, letters by Clem Robins

LOL Sundays #2: If you feel like you should pray, pray for my little toy gun

Page from Preacher #51 (July 1999), script by Garth Ennis, pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Pamela Rambo, letters by Clem Robins

May contain adult language

"May?" Actually, it certainly does. Excuse that, dear readers. I could black out the offending word but I rather think that would be missing a point. Anyway, here's a letter (and reply from Garth Ennis) published in "Gone to Texas," the letter column of Preacher #35 in March 1998 (Excuse the tiny scan):



Mister Ennis's point? (He does have one.)



With Comic-Con coming up this weekend, remember to be civil, even if asking a confrontational question, to creators and other fans this weekend. Please don't perpetuate the mythology of our fandom being populated by rude uncouth boobs.

Remember it, if for no other reason than Garth Ennis will %$@# you up.

What a feeling!

I'm off on a road trip! I love road trips, don't you? Playing license plate bingo, going to Stuckey's for a Salted Nut Roll, stopping at the Petrified Animals Roadside Museum...


One of the best parts of going on a road trip is picking some traveling music. But sometimes your driving companions don't always agree on what to listen to:



Panels from Preacher #29 (September 1997), script by Garth Ennis, pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Matt Hollingsworth, letters by Clem Robins

See? Whatever your tastes, there's always some classic tuneage that everyone can enjoy!

I'll be back at the Bully-sized Macintosh on July 5, but until then you can enjoy new content on Comics Oughta Be Fun including the Midday Matinee and 365 Days with the Warriors Three, and be certain to tune in on Independence Day for my usual rousing salute to the American flag in 76 of a Kind!

Until then...hear the music, close your eyes, feel the rhythm! And everybody sing along!


> Page from Preacher #30 (October 1997), script by Garth Ennis, pencils and inks by Steve Dillon, colors by Pamela Rambo and James Sinclair, letters by Clem Robins

Separated at Birth: Cupid draw back your bow/And let your arrow go/Straight to my lover's heart for me

L: Elektra: Assassin #4 (November 1986), art by Bill Sienkiewicz
M: Preacher #54 (October 1999), art by Glenn Fabry
R: Daredevil v.2 #11 (May 2000), art by Joe Quesada, Jimmy Palmiotti, and David Mack
(Click picture to cherub-size)