Today in Comics History, April 5: Happy birthday, Arthur Adams!

Born on this day: Arthur Adams! Creator of Monkeyman & O'Brien and co-creator of Longshot, Mojo, Spiral anf Jonni Future, Art has done gorgeous pencils for hundreds of comics, including drawing himself into The X-Men (tall guy with red hair)!


from "I Want My X-Men!" in [Uncanny] X-Men Annual #12 (Marvel, 1988). Pictured from left to right: Mojo, editor Bob Harras, inker Bob Wiacek, colorist Glynis Oliver, penciller and birthday boy ARTHUR ADAMS, scripter Chris Claremont, and letterer Tom Orzechowski!
Curiously enough, Art is blond in his other appearance in the Marvel Universe (with Ann Nocenti)!


from Longshot #3 (Marvel, November 1985), script by Ann Nocenti, pencils by Arthur Adams, inks by Whilce Portacio with assists by Scott Williams, colors by Christie Scheele, letters by Joe Rosen
Happy birthday, Art!


cover of Art Adams' Creature Features (Dark Horse, August 1996), pencils and inks by Arthur Adams, colors by Laura Allred

Today in Comics History, April 1: Happy birthday, Tom Raney!

Born on this day: Tom Raney, comic book artist on many books, including Stormwatch, Thor, Outsiders, Uncanny X-Men, Green Lantern, Mutant X, Black Widow, Avengers Academy and more! And this...his first artwork in print!



from Marvel Age #94 (Marvel, November 1990)

Today in Comics History, January 29: Tom Selleck! We celebrate his birthday twice!

Born today in comics and television (and a few not-that-bad movies) history: Tom Selleck! Yes, yes, I know: we've already celebrated Tom's birthday today by looking at the Magnum, P.I. Annual 1982...but that was an update of an older post that was more spotlighting the annual itself than the man. As I mentioned briefly in the other post, you may cringe at his politics (a Republican and supporter of the G.O.P. and lifelong member of the NRA), but instead I'm going to focus on the happiness his work has brought me, especially all those episodes of the original Magnum, P.I.. Among other things, Magnum was my late mother's favorite TV show (and Selleck her favorite actor), so the guy is to me, barring any terrible specific potential disclosures, A-OK by me.

What's more, Thomas Magnum, Private Investigator, has been heavily featured in comic books, and that's what we're all here for, right?


from Uncanny X-Men (1963 series) #167 (Marvel, Marvel 1983), script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Paul Smith, inks by Bob Wiacek, colors by Andy Yanchus and Glynis Oliver, letters by Tom Orzechowski

All-Fathers (Today in Comics History: Father's Day)

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published June 19, 2011.

Fathers

Fathers gone...

from Batman (1940 series) #404 (DC, February 1987), script by Frank Miller, pencils and inks by David Mazzucchelli, colors by Richmond Lewis, letters by Todd Klein

...but never forgotten.

from Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock #1 (Marvel, August 2007), co-plot and script by Zeb Wells; co-plot, pencils, and inks by Carmine Di Giandomenico; letters by Dave Lanphear

Fathers found...

from Uncanny X-Men (1963 series) #148 (Marvel, August 1981), script by Chris Claremont, breakdowns by Dave Cockrum, finishes by Joe Rubinstein, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Janice Chiang

...missing...

from Generation X (1994 series) #22 (Marvel, December 1996), script by Scott Lobdell, pencils by Chris Bachalo, inks by Al Vey and Scott Hanna, colors by Steve Buccellato, letters by Richard Starkings

...and lost again.

from X-Factor (2006 series) #7 (Marvel, July 2006), script by Peter David, pencils and inks by Ariel Olivetti, colors by Jose Villarrubia, letters by Cory Petit

Fathers misguided...

from Avengers West Coast #57 (Marvel, April 1990), script and pencils by John Byrne, inks by Paul Ryan, colors by Bob Sharen, letters by Bill Oakley

...and those led astray.

from Silent War #2 (Marvel, April 2007), script by David Hine; pencils, inks, and colors by Frazer Alex Irving, letters by Cory Petit

Fathers with tough love.

from Wolverine: Origins #48 (DC, July 2010), script by Daniel Way; pencils and inks by Will Conrad, colors by Andy Troy, letters by Cory Petit

Fathers who know best.

from Franklin Richards: Super Summer Spectacular #1 one-shot (Marvel, September 2006), co-plot and script by Mark Sumerak; co-plot, pencils, and inks by Chris Eliopoulos; colors by Lovern Kindzierski; letters by Chris Eliopolous

Bad fathers.

from Starman (1994 series) #72 (DC, December 2000), script by James Robinson, pencils and inks by Peter Snejbjerg, colors by Gregory Wright, color separations by Jamison, letters by Bill Oakley

Fathers and sons reconciled...

...And grandfathers too.

New fathers.

from Starman (1994 series) #75 (DC, March 2001), script by James Robinson, pencils and inks by Peter Snejbjerg, colors by Gregory Wright, letters by Bill Oakley

Fathers never met.

Men who were like fathers.

from Amazing Fantasy (1995 series) #16 (Marvel, December 1995), script by Kurt Busiek, painted by Paul Lee, letters by Richard Starkings

Fathers with their sons.

from Thor (1966 series) #353 (Marvel, March 1985), script, pencils, and inks by Walt Simonson; colors by Christie Scheele, letters by John Workman

Fathers with their daughters.

from Thor: Whoever Wields This Hammer one-shot (Marvel, June 2011), script by Christos Gage, pencils and inks by Marco Torricelli, colors by Chris Sotomayor, letters by Dave Sharpe

Fathers! Appreciate them!*

from Archie Comics #56 (Archie, May 1952), art by George Frese
*Except for The Mist.

Today in Comics History, May 19: Happy birthday, Grace Jones!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 19, 2022.

Born today: model, singer, and actor Grace Jones! Last year, I apologized for not being able to find any comic book appearances of her. I've since found/remembered a few and some friends chipped in!


cover of the pop culture and comics magazine Starlet #1/1980 (Semic (Finland), January 2, 1980)

"I'm the best there is at what I do, and what I do best is gobble up all these deeelicious cinnamon rolls."

Let's all heartily mock anti-trans rights Florida Rep. Webster Barnaby who called called transgender Floridians "demons and imps" and compared them to "mutants from another planet" during a committee hearing on Monday. He's full of hate, and he has the basic facts that we all know as the truth wrong, both about transgender rights and about the X-Men.

He compared... transgender Floridians and parents of transgender children, to the X-Men, characters from the Marvel comic books in which bigotry, hatred and fear of mutants are central themes. ... "I’m looking at society today and it’s like I’m watching an 'X-Men' movie,” Barnaby said. "When you watch the 'X-Men' movies or Marvel comics, it’s like we have mutants living among us on planet Earth.... "This is the planet Earth," Barnaby continued, his voice rising, "where God created men male and women female. I'm a proud Christian, conservative Republican. -- Tampa Bay Times, April 10, 2023

Say, who'da thunk there would have been a real-Life Reverand Stryker, a bigot who doesn't know that the X-Men are on the side of good and justice.* *Except for Beast.


from Marvel Graphic Novel #5 [X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills] (Marvel, 1982), script by Chris Claremont, pencils and inks by Brent Anderson, colors by Steve Oliff, letters by Tom Orzechowski

Let's forget abpout that transphobe, and instead focus on something not only more fun but a lot more scrumptious.

The New York Times recently spotlighted a recipe for Easy No-Yeast Cinnamon Rolls, and they quoted none other expert in the world of cinnamon roll tasting for a quote than Mr. Wolverine himself, Huge Hugh Jackman!


Which of course leads me to produce this:


from [Uncanny] X-Men Annual (1970 series) #4 (Marvel, 1980), pencils by John Romita Jr., inks by Bob McLeod, colors by Glynis Oliver, new dialogue cleverly in serted by yours little stuffed truly
So, in conclusion: trans rights forever, and always eat cinnamon rolls!

Today in Comics History, March 1: Happy birthday, Tom Orzechowski!

Born on this date: letterer extraordinaire Tom Orzechowski, who we all fell in love with over his elegantly precise lettering in Uncanny X-Men (and many more)!


from Marvel Age #27, 51, 87, 99, and 111 (Marvel, June 1985, June 1987, April 1990, April 1991, and April 1992); text by Jim Salicrup (#27), Mike Carlin (#51), Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#87 and 99), and Mike Lackey (#111); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by George Roussos (#27), Paul Becton (#51), Gregory Wright (#87), and Renee Witterstaetter (#99)

Today in Comics History, November 11: Happy birthday, Dave Cockrum!

Born on this day in 1943: one of the truly great comics artists, Dave Cockrum! Co-creator of the All New, All-Different X-Men and many of their supporting characters: Nightcrawler, Storm, Colossus, Thunderbird, Black Tom, Lilandra...


from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979 (Marvel, 1975-1978)

Today in Comics History, October 5: Happy birthday, Reuben Pharms!

A happy birthday today to born-in-1960 Reuben Pharms, who inked the "Cosmic Clinics" serial in New Talent Showcase and a story in Elvira's House of Mystery!


from New Talent Showcase (1984 series) #5 (DC, May 1984)
Hey, I betcha he's this guy praising X-Men #100!:


from ;etter column of [Uncanny] X-Men (1963 series) #102 (Marvel, December 1976
Happy birthday, Reuben!

Today in Comics History, September 16, 1964: Daily Globe, unable to gain first copyright on "Spider-Man, Threat or Menace?," goes after mutants instead

from [Uncanny] X-Men (1963 series) #14 (Marvel, November 1965), script by Stan Lee, layouts by Jack Kirby, pencils by Werner Roth, inks by Vince Colletta, letters by Artie Simek
How do we know the date? Because Alex Ross thoughtfully pencilled painted it in! (Based on Kurt Busiek's actual birthday today, I bet!)



from Marvels #2 (February 1994), script by Kurt Busiek, painted art by Alex Ross, letters by Richard Starkings and John Gaushell

Today in Comics History, September 4: Happy birthday, Paul Smith!

Born on this day: comics artist Paul Smith, who y'all know for his work on Dr. Strange, Nexus, The Spirit, his own co-creation Leave It to Chance, and a li'l book y'all may have heard of, The Uncanny X-Men!


from Marvel Age #33 (Marvel, December 1985), text by Jim Salicrup, pencils and inks by Ron Zalme, colors by Adam Philips

Today in Comics History, September 1, 1980: Madeleine Pryor tragically doesn't get a second pack of peanuts on her flight

from Uncanny X-Men (1963 series) #171 (Marvel, July 1983), script by Chris Claremont, breakdowns by Walt Simonson, finishes by Bob Wiacek, colors by Glynis Oliver, letters by Tom Orzechwoski

Today in Comics History, July 9: Happy birthday, Virginia Romita!

Happy birthday today to Marvel's famous and beloved Production Traffic Manager Virginia Romita!


from Marvel Age #31, 55, 91, and 103 (Marvel, October 1985, October 1987, August 1990, and August 1991); text by Jim Salicrup (#31), Mike Carlin (#55) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#91 and 103); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Andy Yanchus (#31), Paul Becton (#54) and Renee Witterstaetter (#91 and 103)

Today in Comics History, July 6: Say, John Byrne...what day does the Calgary Stampede start?

...could it be on July 3?:



from Iron Fist (1975 series) #8 (Marvel, October 1976), script by Chris Claremont, pencils by John Byrne, inks by Dan Adkins, colors by Bonnie Wilford, letters by Joe Rosen
Well, maybe, but that was in 1976. In 1979 it's today!



from [Uncanny] X-Men (1963 series) #121 (Marvel, May 1979), co-plot and script by Chris Claremont, co-plot and pencils by John Byrne, inks by Terry Austin, colors by Glynis Oliver, letters by John Costanza
Now, John Byrne, you surely didn't pick July 6 because it's your birthday, didja?