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, March 6, 1836, The Alamo: "What fun is it being 'cool' if you can't wear a sombrero?"

On this solemn day, let us reflect upon the final words of American hero Davy Crockett: "Thanks for giving us a lousy half-page, Star Spangled Comics."


""Remember the Alamo!"" from Star Spangled Comics #3 (DC, December 1941), by Fred Ray
"In our defense, we were kind of preoccupied this month."

365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 257: Alphabet Antics House Ads Week, Day 7

DC Comics alphabet house ads
Y: from Action Comics #114 (November 1947)
Z: from Detective Comics #130 (December 1947)


Bonus Saturday week-end Alphabet Antics wrap-up feature!:

Two-page house ad for Batman and the Outsiders in DC Sampler #3 (Late Fall 1984); script by Mike W. Barr; pencils, inks, and letters by Jim Aparo

(Click picture to Duke of Oil-size)

Bonus Saturday week-end Alphabet Antics wrap-up feature, Part 2! Here's some animals DC didn't think of for their ads:


Splash page from "The Alphabetical Animal Adventure" in World's Finest Comics #42 (September-October 1949), pencils and inks by Al Plastino

Bonus Saturday week-end Alphabet Antics wrap-up feature, Part the Third! And here's the Mystery Science Theater 3000 short that's been running through my mind all week and inspired the title of this feature. Watch out for the plagiarism from Ogden Nash!





Now we know our ABC,
Thank you for the ads, DC.

365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 252: Alphabet Antics House Ads Week, Day 2

DC Comics alphabet house ads
E: from Superman #39 (March 1946)
F: from Star Spangled Comics #54 (April 1946)
G: from Adventure Comics #103 (May 1946)
H: from Detective Comics #112 (June 1946)

365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 131

House ad for Star Spangled Comics #65 and Adventure Comics #113 (both February 1947) printed in Detective Comics #120 (February 1947)
Comic cover art: Star Spangled #65: pencils and inks by Win Mortimer
Adventure #113: pencils by Stan Kaye, inks by George Roussos

Separated at Birth: Here we are now, entertain us

L: Star Spangled Comics #50 (November 1945), art by Fred Ray
R: Justice League #1 (May 1987), art by Kevin Magure and Terry Austin
(Click picture to Justi-size)

See also. And. Plus. Don't forget this one. Or this one. And. Not to mention. Another one. Hmmm, I coulda made this Ten of a Kind, couldn't I 've?

Spring Back, Fall Ahead

Creepin' clockhands, Batman! It's Daylight Saving Time again! Tonight, don't get snared by the same deadly time trap that befell the Boy Wonder...


cover of Star Spangled Comics #78 (DC, April 1948), pencils by Jim Mooney, inks by John Giunta, letters by Ira Schnapp
...make sure you subscribe to the well-known maxim spring back, fall ahead, and set all your clocks back one hour, even the alarm clocks you use to get up early in the morning! Don't forget! Do it now! Did you get that? Set all your clocks... (hee hee hee) ...back one hour!

Hee hee hee hee hee hee!

Back one hour! Chuckle...

Hee hee hee hee!

(Ain't I a stinker?)