Today in Comics History, July 10: Abe Vigoda sighs and begins to bring up the ammo

from "Sea Devils Battle Diary" in Sea Devils #2 (DC/National, November 1961), pencils and inks by Russ Heath, letters by Gaspar Saladino
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, June 3: "Summon the Trojan Men!"

from "Sea Devils Battle Diary" in Sea Devils #2 (DC/National, November 1961), pencils and inks by Russ Heath, letters by Gaspar Saladino
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, July 14: Happy birthday, Mike Esposito!

Born on this day in 1927: comic book penciller and inker Mike Esposito, who also worked under a dizzying assortment of pen names like Mickey Demeo, Mickey Dee, Michael Dee (you may be seeing a pattern here), and Joe Gaudioso (wha?!?). Mike worked (often with penciller Ross Andru) on books like The Amazing Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Captain America, Our Army at War, Marvel Team-Up, Spidey Super Stories, Star Spangled War Stories, Iron Man, many Archie books, Metal Men, The Avengers, Sub-Mariner and lots more!


from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 (Marvel 1975-1979)
We weren't just celebrating his birthday only in the 1970s, either!


from Marvel Age #55 and 91 (Marvel, October 1987 and and August 1990); text by Mike Carlin (#55) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#91); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Paul Becton (#5) and Renee Witterstaetter (#91)
But who is Mike Esposito?


from Showcase #62 (DC/National, May 1966)
That's not too helpful, is it? So click this here button with my ugly puss on to read more!

Today in Comics History, June 15: Happy birthday, Ross Andru!

Born on this day in 1927: comics artist and editor Ross Andru: you've admired his work in Amazing Spider-Man, World's Finest Comics, Metal Men, Action Comics, Atari Force, Wonder Woman, Our Army at War, Marvel Team-Up, and so many more, including Superman vs. Spider-Man! He co-created the Punisher, the Metal Men, Tarantula, Jackal, G.I. Robot, Glory Grant, Egg Fu and others!


from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1976, 1977, and 1978

Today in Comics History, April 11: Happy birthday, Irv Novick!

Comic book artist Irv Novick was born on this day in 1916! From an early beginning at MLJ Comics (later Archie) drawing features like The Shield (co-creator), The Hangman, and Steel Sterling, Novick later became a popular artist at DC on Batman/Detective Comics, The Brave and the Bold, Superman, Lois Lane, Wonder Woman, The Flash, All American Men at War, Star Spangled War Stories, G.I. Combat, and many others. He also was the co-creator of the Silent Knight and the Ten-Eyed Man.


from Limited Collectors' Edition #C-51 [Batman] (DC, August 1977)
He was not only an artist on but a team member of the Sea Devils on Earth-1, chronicling their adventures in-story for DC Comics!




from "War of the Underwater Giants!" in Sea Devils #14 (DC, November 1963), script by Ed Herron, pencils and inks by Irv Novick
Happy birthday, Irv!




from "Secret of the Sunken Sub!" in Sea Devils #15 (DC, January 1964), script by Ed Herron, pencils and inks by Irv Novick

365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 233: DC's very first 3D lenticular cover leaps right out at you!

House ad for Showcase #27 [Sea Devils] (July-August 1960); printed in Batman #133 (August 1960)
Ad designed and lettered by Ira Schnapp
That's actually not the actual art for the actual cover of the actual Showcase #27 which features the actual first appearance of the (actual) Sea Devils, actually. Here it is, a gorgeous color wash cover by Russ Heath (who is actually pretty great in and of himself...actually.)


Cover of Showcase #27 [Sea Devils] (July-August 1960), painted wash art by Russ Heath
The art in the ad above is (actually) repurposed and recolored from the splash page of the story.
Splash page of Showcase #27, script by Robert Kanigher, pencils and inks by Russ Heath, letters by Gaspar Saladino

365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 140

House ad for Sea Devils #24 (July-August 1965); printed in Metamorpho #1 (July-August 1965)
Comic cover art: pencils by Howard Purcell, inks by Jack Adler
Ad designed and lettered by Ira Schnapp

Eight Arms to Hold You: Octopus Week, Day 3

Panel from Sea Devils #1 (September-October 1961), script by Robert Kanigher, pencils and inks by Russ Heath