Today in Comics History, September 14, 1814: Comic books would like to remind you that today's the anniversary of the writing of "The Star Spangled Banner," our traditional, unsingable, racist national anthem

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published September 14, 2012.


cover of Magic Comics #36 (David Mckay, July 1942), painting by Edgar Franklin Wittmack

Today in Comics History, September 14, 1985: Epistolary comic book story also includes logos

from "The Secret Origin of the Golden Age Hourman" in Secret Origins (1986 series) #16 (DC, July 1987), script by Roy Thomas and Dann Thomas, pencils by Michael Bair, inks by Mike Gustovich, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by David Cody Weiss and Agustin Más

Today in Comics History, September 14: Happy birthday, Donny Cates!

Born on this date: comic book scripter and artist Donny Cates (Venom, Thor, Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Absolute Carnage, Star Trek and more, plus his own co-creations Interceptor, God Country, Redneck, Crossover, Vanish, Babyteeth, plus others)! Here he is meta-writing himself into the second story arc of Crossover:


from Crossover #11 (Image, February 2022), script by Donny Cates, pencils and inks by Geoff Shaw, colors by Dee Cunniffe, letters by John J. Hill

Today in Comics History, September 14, 1911: Gruesome man in green hat paws at your mail

from "Hop Harrigan's History of American Aviation" in All-American Comics #22 (DC, January 1941); text, pencils, and inks by Jon L. Blummer

Today in Comics History, September 14, 1763: Someone has clearly Mickey Finned young Johnny

from "Victory at Niagara" in American Graphics #2 (Henry Stewart, 1957) by Hal English

Today in Comics History, September 14, 2011: Roy Thomas is needlessly cruel to Cameron Chase

from Infinite Frontier #6 (DC, November 2021), script by Joshua Williamson, pencils and inks by Xermanico, colors by Rómulo Fajardo Jr., letters by Tom Napolitano

Today in Comics History, September 14, 1923: Jack Dempsey cruelly punches a defenseless, innocent bull

from "Scoops...Pictures to Remember!" in Real Fact Comics #6 (DC, January 1947), pencils and inks by George Roussos

Today in Comics History, September 14, 1801: Practical joke "snipe hunt" turns deadly

from Manifest Destiny #19 (Image, May 2016), script by Chris Dingess, pencils by Matthew Roberts, inks by Tony Akins and Stefano Gaudiano, colors by Owen Gieni, letters by Pat Brosseau
(Click picture to big-as-all-outdoors-size)

Today in Comics History, September 14, 2001: America reacts to 9/11 by enacting the Kirby Protocols

from Kirby: Genesis: Silver Star #1 (Dynamite, November 2011), co-plot by Alex Ross, co-plot and script by Jai Nitz, pencils by Johnny Desjardins, colors by Vinicius Andrade, letters by Simon Bowland

Today in Comics History, September 14, 1752: Ray Palmer invents a entire historical excuse for him being blackout drunk for eleven days

from "The Adventure of the Canceled Birthday" in The Atom (1962 series) #21 (DC, October 1965), script by Gardner Fox, pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Sid Greene, letters by Gaspar Saladino

Today in Comics History, September 14: Happy birthday, Jim Novak!

Born on this day in 1955: letterer Jim Novak (Fantastic Four, Avengers, Captain America, Doctor Strange, Incredible Hulk, Wolverine, Marvel Fanfare and many, many more)! During the 80s he lettered as many as five or six books per month!


from Marvel Age #33, 57, 93 and 105 (Marvel, December 1985, December 1987, October 1990 and October 1991); text by Jim Salicrup (#33), Mike Carlin (#57), Chris Eliopoulis & Barry Dutter (#93) and Mike Lackey (#105); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Adam Philips (#33), Paul Becton (#57), Marie Javins (#93), and Renee Witterstaetter (#105)

Today in Comics History, September 14, 1940: Project: Kill Captain America is widely unpopular

from Captain America Annual #8 (Marvel, 1986), script by Mark Gruenwald, pencils by Mike Zeck, inks by John Beatty and Joe Rubinstein, colors by Glynis Oliver, letters by Jim Novak

Today in Comics History, September 14, 1955: Phillip learns to spit on fires

from newuniversal: 1959 #1 (September 2008), script by Kieron Gillen, pencils and inks by Greg Scott and Kody Chamberlain, colors by Val Staples, letters by Ed Dukeshire

Today in Comics History, September 14, 1836: Aaron Burr goes out the way we were all taught he did...singing!

from "Aaron Burr" in Real Life Comics #4 (Pines, April 1942), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, September 14, 2000: Lex Luthor orchestrates the death of seventeen men just to trick Talia into his service

from "The Most Suitable Person" in Secret Files: President Luthor #1 one-shot (DC, March 2001), script by Greg Rucka, pencils by Dale Eaglesham, inks by Ray Kryssing, colors by Tom McCraw, colors separations by Digital Chameleon, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, September 14: "Three: Bobby Drake, Scott Summers, and Vera Cantor (inactive)."

from "Look out! It's Tabitha Smith and She's Looking Good!" in X-Men: Manifest Destiny #1 (Marvel, November 2008), script by James Asmus, pencils and inks by Chris Burnham, colors by Nathan Fairbairn, letters by Joe Caramagna

Today in Comics History, September 14, 1986: President Reagan declares that bombing of this comic book will begin in five minutes

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, September 14, 1918: Guns don't kill balloons; planes kill balloons

from "Frank Luke: Balloon Buster" in Real Heroes #5 (Parents' Magazine Press, July 1942), pencils and inks by Jim Ray

Today in Comics History, September 14: Guy Gardner's health insurance runs out

from JLA: Classified #6 (DC, June 2005), script by Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, pencils by Kevin Maguire, inks by Joe Rubinstein, colors by David Baron, letters by Bob Lappan