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, April 28: Happy birthday, Jay Leno!

Born on this day: Jay Leno, talk show host, comedian, car and motorcycle collector, big chin wearer, and Tonight Show taker-backer. Happy birthday despite that, Jay!


from The Ultimates 2 (2005 series) #4 (Marvel/Ultimate, March 2005), script by Mark Millar, pencils by Bryan Hitch, inks by Paul Neary, colors by Laura Martin, letters by Chris Eliopoulos

Today in Comics History, January 29: Happy birthday, Steven Butler!

Born on this day: comic book artist Steven Butler (Sonic the Hedgehog, Silver Sable and the Wild Pack, Web of Spider-Man, The Badger, 2007 "New Look" Archie comics and more)!

Here's an interview (along with Terry Kavanagh, in the photo) and a self-portrait of Steven! Who says this isn't the mighty Marvel Age of Steven Butler's birthday?!?



from Spider-Man Collectors Preview one-shot (Marvel, December 1994), interview by Steven Vrattos
Happy birthday, Steven!

The 1978 2017 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: December Defenders and Daredevils

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published December 1, 2017.

Well, we got through another year, very nearly! And let's celebrate with a full-page, full-color montage of Spidey's Pals 'n' Gals by John Byrne! As a special bonus: it's before he went insane online!

"December Is Teaming with Dynamic Do-Gooders!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (1977); pencils by John Byrne, inks by Joe Sinnott, colors by George Bell
(Click picture to Marvel Team-Up-size)
And, for your bonus final-month amusement and edification, here's even more Bullpen Birthdays and a special essay intoned by December birthday boy Stan Lee!

(Click picture to Stan's legend-size)
Finally, as a special treat, here's the Amazing, Spectacular, Sensational, Web of, Adjectiveless back cover of the 1978 Spidey calendar!


So remember to keep Spidey in your heart all year long, and to quote the final days of the 1978 calendar, but in full-color:


Final panel from Marvel Team-Up #1 (March 1972), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Mike Esposito, letters by Artie Simek

Today in Comics History, October 31, Halloween: Go home, Spider-Man and Human Torch: let the professionals handle Halloween

from "Down Came the Rain" in Crypt of Shadows (2022 series) #1 one-shot (Marvel, December 2022), script by Chris Condon, art by Fran Galan, colors by Jim Campbell, letters by Travis Lanham

Today in Comics History, October 13, 1967: But in 1967, October 13 was a Friday, Stan. So where's my No-Prize?!

cover of Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #56 (Marvel, January 1968), pencils and inks by John Romita, Sr., letters by Sam Rosen

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: October Owl My Enemies Around Me

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published October 1, 2017.

Just another friendly neighborhood reminder that you can continue to use your leftover 1978 calendars to accurately keep track of the garbage fire that is 2017! Still, consider this: do you really have it worse off than Spider-Man? A: No. No, you do not.

"October Is Not for Monsters Only!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (1977); pencils by George Perez, inks by Pablo Marcos, colors by George Bell
(Click picture to big freakout-size)
Now, October may not be Just Not for Monsters Only, but this era of Spidey's life is certainly is certainly filled chock-full o' oddities, orwfullness, and o my god what is that thing?!?-type adventures! It covers not only ASM #122-130 but also the early-seventies Spider-'Sposion, when our web-crawlin' wonder suddenly swung himself up lots more media to star in: Marvel Team-Up, Spider-Man Comics Weekly UK, Spidey Super Stories, and Giant-Size Spider-Man (which I was disappointed did not contain a kaiju-sized Peter Parker terrifying the city). Also, a couple of hit (!?) record albums from the long-ago d ays of vinyl longplayers!

Still, for my money (still only 25¢!) there's no better value for your arachnid allowance than the J. Jonah Jameson and Son subplots a-bubblin' through the Spider-Books. Why, here's just one week of wonder!

Today in Comics History, September 19: Happy birthday, Rosemary Harris!

Born on this day: actor Rosemary Harris! She starred in Crossing Delancey, The Boys from Brazil, Holocaust, and a li'l role you might know spelled AUNT MAY PARKER.




from Spider-Man: The Movie (Marvel, May 2002), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Alan Davis, inks by Mark Farmer, colors by Dave Kemp, letters by Dave Sharp

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: September Shock

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published September 1, 2017.

Please do not reveal the startling shock ending of September 1978 2017 2023 before...oh, it's right there.

"September Is Such Sweet Sorrow!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (Marvel, 1977); pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Tom Palmer, colors by George Bell
(Click picture to look-out-below-size)

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: August Arm-extraning

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published August 1, 2017.

"August Is an Amazing Amalgamation of Arms!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (Marvel, 1977); pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by John Verpooten, colors by George Bell
(Click picture to polymelia-size)
While we're all getting ready to go back to school, Peter Parker is going straight to heck, just like the spider that bited (bait? bitaten?) him so radioactively! That boy ain't right, 'coz he's got eight arms to hold Gwen! Well, six arms and two legs...just like a normal spider. This back in black illustration from Sal Buscema is based on the classic Amazing Spider-Man #100, which had this blow-your-little-spidery-mind cover by legendary Peter-artist Spider-artist John Romita, Sr. He drew it on a chalkboard!


cover of Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #100 (Marvel, September 1971); pencils by John Romita, Sr.; inks by Frank Giacoia; letters by Morrie Kuramoto (?)
Obviously Marvel doesn't wanna spoil the surprise of an abounding-armed arachnid, so they say that reveal for the very last page of the story. Go ahead, tell me this wouldn't get you to pick up the next issue, True Bulliever!


final page of Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #100 (Marvel, September 1971); script by Stan Lee, pencils by Gil Kane, figure inks by Frank Giacoia, background inks by Tony Mortellaro, letters by Artie Simek
Hey, make sure to celebrate all the birthdays of the Marvel greats listed in this month's calendar, but on August 28 please set aside a special cake 'n' fireworks for Jack Kirby's birthday later this very month!


And note: since the dates on the calendar contain references to the stories in Amazing Spider-Man issues #87-100, why don't we check in with Spider-writer the amazing Stan Lee?


How's that workin' out for ya, Stan?

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: July Justice

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published July 1, 2017.

"July Is Just After June!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (1977); pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Pablo Marcos, colors by George Bell
(Click picture to What's Going On-size)
This month's gorgeous Gene Colan artwork references one of the most important of the Romita-era Spidey storylines, "Crisis on Campus!"


Cover of Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #68 (January 1969); pencils and inks by John Romita, Sr.; colors by Marie Severin; letters by Sam Rosen
Are you an activist to know more? Then check out July 1st (2017)'s 365 Days of Defiance, and I don't think you'll protest my spotlight on this issue. Why, I bet you'll occupy Empire State University waiting for it! Also: gratuitous Kingpin partial nudity! Be there or be civilly disobedient, picketers!

Today in Comics History, June 1: Happy birthday, Tom Holland!

Let's wish a happy birthday to English (yeah, English!) actor Tom Holland of Billy Elliot: The Musical, Wolf Hall, The Impossible, How I Live Now, and of course as Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

Which means it oughta be easy to spot Tom's youthful, handsome face unmasked on the photo covers of every MCU Spider-Man adaptation, like, say, his first big solo movie Spider-Man: Homecoming (all about him letting himself in his apartment and apologizing to Aunt May for being a little late for dinner):


from Spider-Man: Homecoming Prelude #1-2 (May-June 2017)
Well, since that was actually a Captain America/Avengers adaptation, I betcha we see Tom Holland's smiling bare face on the cover of the prelude to his next movie, Spider-Man: Far from Home, in which Aunt May finally allows him to cross Queens Boulevard, but he has to really watch out because that's totally a dangerous intersection:


from Spider-Man: Far from Home Prelude #1-2 (May-June 2019)
Huh. Surely there must be Tom Holland full frontal face on the prelude comic for the third movie, Spider-Man: No Way Home, in which he loses his MetroCard:


Oh wait! Here's his very own comic book and I bet we can find a portrait of him right here!


cover of Tom Holland's Fright Night #1 one-shot (American Mythology, May 2023), pencils by Neil Vokes, inks by Matt Webb
(cupping my earphone) I'm being told that this is an entirely different Tom Holland. Oh, for cryin' out loud.

Anyway, you're young, Tom Holland: still plenty of time to get onto a comic book or two. Get at it, kid! Happy birthday!

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: June Jitsu*

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published June 1, 2017.

Remember, you can actually use this 1978 calendar for this year, which is (walks over to fridge, checks my calendar) 2023! Had he survived, Peter Parker would have wanted it that way!

"June is Jam-Packed with Jeopardy" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (1977); pencils by John Buscema, inks by Joe Sinnott, colors by George bell
(Click picture to enteroctopus-size)
The month's mightily marvelous mural summarizes Amazing Spider-Man #56, featuring Doctor Octopus...


Cover and panel from Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #56 (January 1968), script by Stan Lee, pencils and cover inks by John Romita Sr., interior inks by Mike Esposito, letters by Sam Rosen
...and ASM #57, co-starring Ka-Zar! Why, that's practically two issues of Marvel Team-Up right there!


Cover and panels from Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #57 (February 1968), script by Stan Lee, pencils by John Romita Sr. (cover and interior) and Don Heck (additional interior pencils), inks by John Romita Sr. (cover) and Mike Esposito (interior), letters by Artie Simek (cover) and Sam Rosen (interior)
Wow, halfway through the year and we haven't even gotten to eight-armed Spidey or Gwen-Tossin' or oh wait maybe I shoulda put a SPOILER WARNING in there somewhere. Geez though, at this rate we'll never get to the Clone Saga by the end of 2017!

*Oh, and since my post title probably reminded you of her: here's the one, the only, soon to be starring in Spider-Man: Homecoming: June Jitsui!


"Spider-Man Meets June Jitsui" from Marvel Comics cover-dated December 1979 (this one's from ROM #1), pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Joe Rubinstein, letters by Jim Novak
Next month: July! oh man SPOILER WARNING

Today in Comics History, May 5: Happy birthday, Aunt May! (Or: Aunt May's birthday present from Peter is a five-pack of Dos Equis and a sombrero)

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 5, 2016.

Today (ignore the caption that sez "Tomorrow"...dunno what that's doin' there): it's the two hundred and eighth birthday of everybody's favorite Marisa Tomei impersonator, Aunt May Reilly Parker Octavius Terwilliger Jameson!


from Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964 series) #20 (Marvel, November 1986), script by Christopher Priest (as Fred Schiller and Ken McDonald), pencils by Mark Beachum, inks by Bob Wiacek, colors by Bob Sharen, letters by Jim Novak
Yes oh yes, but which day is Aunt May's birthday on?

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: May Misery

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 1, 2017.

Geez, Peter Parker...you don't know enough to come in out of the rain! What'll Aunt May say when you swing walk home soaking wet?

"May is a Dear Old Aunt" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (1977); pencils by Larry Lieber, inks by Frank Giacoia
(Click picture to Rainy-Day-Mondays-Always-Get-Me-Downsize)
SPIDER-MAN NO MORE! Until the next issue, at least. This month's calendar girl picture recreates the one of the most famous images in Marvel comics, the classic John Romita Sr. full page where Peter gives up being Spidey, tossing his costume into the trash. Earlier in the day, the same thing was done by Bottle-of-Wine-Man, Bottlecap Girl, Mr. Pack of Matches, and Captain Cigarette Butt.


Page from Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #50 (July 1967), script by Stan Lee, pencils by John Romita, Sr., inks by Mike Esposito, letters by Sam Rosen
How iconic is this iconic scene that is an icon? So iconic that it's been referenced by more Spider-Man comic book covers than you can count on one hand! That is, six:


Why, it was even immortalized in real life, in the excellent movie Spider-Man 2: Electro Boogaloo:


It's such a classic that frankly, comic books themselves can't stop homaging the image:


Okay, fair enough, that last one doesn't really count: instead of a costume in a barrel and the hero running away, the costume is running away and the hero's in a barrel! It's a switcharoo!

Plenty of comic books do the same on interior pages. And I thought these things copied Romita...on the outside!


And let us not forget Mike Haseloff's (of comics blog Secret Wars on Infinite Earths!) revealing classic "Namor No More!"

Yes, "Spider-Man No More" has even crossed over to all those destroyed-since-2015 alternate Earths that the Watcher used to peep in on. What If... trash cans throughout the multiverse got used for uniform disposal?!?


You can even toss away...BWAH!...your human skin! Ick! Stop that, Zombie Peter!


Yes, it's a comic book tradition everyone has to try once in a while! Even though it doesn't always work.


So, Spider-Man No More, won't you?