Today in Comics History, March 13, 1970: Day before invention of Gravestone White-Out™

"Rest in Pieces" from The Unexpected #119 (DC/National, June 1970), inks (and pencils?) by Murphy Anderson, letters by John Costanza
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 2024 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, June 3, 1885: Happy birthday, Timothy Q. Jones! Hope you survive the experi...oh.

from "Rest in Pieces" in The Unexpected (1968 series) #119 (DC/National, June 1970), pencils (?) and inks by Murphy Anderson (?), letters by John Costanza
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, August 30: Happy birthday, Jack C. Harris!

Born on this day: comics scripter Jack C. Harris (Secrets of Haunted House, Superman Family, Wonder Woman, Men of War, Detective Comics, Sgt. Rock, House of Mystery, Kamandi and lots more)! He also co-created the DC/Marvel Universe-spanning character Annex and wrote his miniseries, which means he doesn't get royalities on it from two companies!


"DC Profiles #9: Jack C. Harris" from DC Comics cover-dated June 1977

Enjoy the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Part 4: Would You Like a Ride? I'm a Beautiful Balloon

from "Flee to Your Grave" in The Unexpected #170 (DC, November 1975), script by George Kashdan, pencils and inks by Ernie Chan
Yes, Terror from the Macy's Non-Branded, You-Can't-Sue-Us Thanksgiving Day Parade! And it all began the night before in a mad scientist's lab. Seriously, within the pages of DC's horror/chiller comics, what doesn't?


This changes Professor Travers into the amazing Green-and-Purple Monster-Man, star of so many DC comics during the 1970s. Remember All Star Green-and-Purple Monster-Man? Brave and the Bold and the Green-and-Purple Monster-Man? Batman and the Outsiders and also the Green-and-Purple Monster-Man?


Luckily for the Professor's sake, he's able to casually sneak into a Thanksgiving Day Parade amongst the Superman and Batman blimps. Truly, his fame is ballooning! ... Kill me.


At least, until the evil Reese, who did not invent the peanut-butter cup, convinces the police to shoot at the Monster Professor through the giant Superman balloon. Hey cops: helium lives matter!


All's well that ends well with an ironic twist O. Henry would have envied if he had ever written a story about a scientist changed into a giant balloon and cornered in between Warner Bros. licensed characters on the fourth Thursday in November. Truly that tale was indeed one of The Four Million everyday ordinary tales of life in the city.

365 Days of DC House Ads, Day 235: Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition Unexpected

House ad for The Unexpected #194 (November-December 1979); printed in Batman #317 (November 1979)
Comic cover art: pencils and inks by Luis Dominguez
Ad designed and lettered by Gaspar Saladino