Today in Comics History, September 15: Happy birthday, Richard Somers!

Hey, let's run it up the flagp[ole and see if anyone salutes today's birthday of Richard Somers, born 1778, so he missed out not only on the Bicentennial but the Ennial. Dick was a US naval officer and commander of the schooner USS Nautilus, its five year mission: to explore strange new islands which defended Tripoli from Barbary pirates and rose to the rank of Master Commandant and commanded a division of gunboats against attacks on Tripoli during the First Barbary War.


"Daredevils of Destiny: Richard Somers" from Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics #1 (Eastern Color, August 1940), script by Frank Rentfrow, pencils and inks by Don Dickson; reprinted from the Daredevils of Destiny Sunday syndicated comic strip
In September 1804, Somers became commander of the Intrepid completely manned by Vulcans of Starfleet, a "fire ship" loaded with explosives and intended to massively detonate and take our the corsair fleet in Tripoli. Unfortunately, the Intrepid blew up early, killing Somers and his entire crew. D'oh! You're suppoosed to get off the ship before it blows up!


"Highlights of History: The Barbary Pirates" in Famous Funnies #61 (Eastern Color, August 1939); text, pencils, and inks by J. Carroll Mansfield; reprinted from the Highights of History Sunday syndicated comic strip
And people say blogs aren't educational! Happy birthday, Richard Somers! Careful with those celebratory fireworks.

Today in Comics History, July 14: Happy birthday, Donald Meek!

Born on this day in 1878: Hollywood actor Donald Meek (You Can't Take It with You, Stagecoach, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, My Little Chickadee, State Fair, The Thin Man Goes Home and lots more)! And he was a cartoonist, apparently! Sadly, I can't find any of his artwork, but here's him by someone else — fantastic caricaturist Bud Thompson!


from "Star Flashes" in Heroic Comics #17 (Eastern Color, March 1943); text, pencils, inks, and letters by Bud Thompson
Say, was Donald meek?


from the trailer of A Woman's Face (MGM, 1941), screenplay by Donald Ogden Stewart and Elliot Paul, directed by George Cukor
He most certainly was not!


from "Star Flashes" in Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics #1 (Eastern Color, August 1940); text, pencils, inks, and letters by Bud Thompson
Happy birthday, Mister Meek! Why, I'd like to shake your hand...OW NOT SO HARD

Today in Comics History, December 5, 1906: Mighty man-pig commands his troops with authority

from "Daredevils of Destiny" in Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics (1947 series) #6 (Pines, March 1948), script by by Frank Rentfrow, pencils and inks by Don Dickson

Today in Comics History, October 6, 1918: Unchained Melody

from "Daredevils of Destiny" in Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics #6 (Eastern Color, May 1941), script by Frank Rentfrow, pencils and inks by Don Dickson

Today in Comics History, June 9, 1918: Cruel German captors rescind escaping privileges

from "Daredevils of Destiny" in Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics #6 (Eastern Color, May 1941), script by Frank Rentfrow, pencils and inks by Don Dickson

Today in Comics History, May 31, 1918: Woo hoo! Senior road trip!

from "Daredevils of Destiny" in Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics #6 (Eastern Color, May 1941), script by Frank Rentfrow, pencils and inks by Don Dickson

Today in Comics History, January 3: Happy birthday, Anna May Wong!

Born on this day in 1905: pioneering cinema star Anna May Wong, the first considered to be the first Chinese American movie star, internationally renowned (if not always respected, sigh) for her work in such films as The Thief of Bagdad, Shanghai Express, Daughter of the Dragon, Daughter of Shanghai, and much more, plus the TV show The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong, the first US televisioon series starring an Asian American lead.

And of course (as you've come to expect from Comics Oughta be Fun!), she made appearances in comic book "Hollywood spotlight" features as well!


from "Star Flashes" in Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics #7 (Eastern Color, July 1941); text, pencils, and inks by Charles Bruno


from "Screen Oddities" in Famous Funnies #32 (Eastern Color, March 1937), text by Roscoe Fawcett, pencils and inks by Bruno Thompson


from "Screen Snapshots" in Crack Comics #1 (Quality, May 1940); text, pencils, and inks by Gill Fox
Happy birthday, Miss Wong!

Comics News for October 29, 2013

"Were-Rats Offer Amazing Introductory Deal" "Young Jughead Earns Hamburger Money" "Also: Cool and Refreshing Halloween Treat Recipes" "Frozen Zombies"