Today in Comics History, October 26: Happy birthday, Jack Morelli!

Born on this day: comic book letterer and writer Jack Morelli (occasionally listed as John and nicknamed "Squid")! He's worked on Warlock and the Infinity Watch, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, The Thing, Elektra, Avengers, lots of Archie comics, and more!


from Marvel Age #34, 58, and 94 (Marvel, January 1986, January 1988, and November 1990); text by Jim Salicrup (#34), Mike Carlin (#58), and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#94); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Adam Philips (#34), Paul Becton (#58), and Marie Javins (#94)

Today in Comics History, October 10, 1996: All 1990s X-Men comics are wiped from existence

from What If...? (1989 series) -1 (Marvel, July 1997), script by Ben Raab, pencils by Ariel Olivetti, inks by Pier Brito, colors by Matt Webb, letters by Chris Eliopoulos

Today in Comics History, May 6: Happy birthday, Robbie Carosella!

Born on this day: Robbie Carosella, Marvel's Photostat Supervisor (and occasional colorist) in the 1980s and '90s! Without him, your favorite Marvel Comics wouldn't even exist!


from Marvel Age #29, 53, 89, and 101 (Marvel, September 1985, August 1987, June 1990, June 1991); text by Jim Salicrup (#29), Mike Carlin (#53), Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#89), and Mike Lackey (#101); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by George Roussos (#29), Paul Becton (#53), Gregory Wright (#89), and Renee Witterstaetter (#101)

Today in Comics History, December 17, 1903: Compared to other realities, our Wright Brothers totally suck

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published December 17, 2014.

Today in American History (not just comics, altho' they overlap, as you shall see): one of the most important technological steps forward in humanity as the Wright Brothers finally realized our dream of flying. (Insert your own lost luggage joke here.)


from "Scoops...Pictures to Remember" in Real Fact Comics #1 (DC, March 1946), pencils and inks by George Roussos
Because the name of the comic book is Real Facts, i assure you that is fact, brother, just exactly as it happened, maybe minus Lex Luthor there underneath the yellow hat. Exciting, huh?

Today in Comics History, November 29: Happy birthday, Chadwick Boseman.

Born on this day in 1976: actor, director, and writer Chadwick Boseman of 42, Get On Up, Message from the King, Marshall, and, of course, Black Panther.



from Marvel Comics cover-dated December 2020, art by Brian Stelfreeze, text by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Happy birthday and rest in power, King.



from "Zombies," episode five of What If...? (Marvel Studios, 2021), written by Matthew Chauncey, directed by Bryan Andrews

Today in Comics History, September 26: Happy birthday, Louise Simonson!

Born on this day: Comic book editor and writer Louise Simonson (also Louise Jones): scripter on Superman: The Man of Steel, Conan, New Mutants, and co-creator of Apocalypse, Cable, Stryfe, Steel, and Power Pack! (And much more!)


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

Today in Comics History, September 15: Happy birthday, Lance Tooks!

Born on this day: comics artist/illustrator/editor Lance Tooks (Danger Funnies, The Black Panthers for Beginners, Narcissa, and more)!


from What If...? (1977 series) #34 (August 1982), script by Mike Carlin, pencils by Lance Tooks, inks by Ron Zalme, letters by Rick Parker
Happy birthday, Lance!

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, August 31: Happy birthday, Rick Parker!

Born on this day: comics writer, artist, and letterer Rick Parker! You may remember him from such distinctive lettering in various Spider-Man series, G.I. Joe, Hulk, Fantastic Four, and more! (Note: Early Marvel Age calendars gave his birthday as 8/27, but Wikipedia, ComicVine and Comics.com — and a later Marvel Age calendar entry — all mark his birthday as 8/31, hence all the weird dates going on in the below panels.)


from Marvel Age #32, 56, 92 and 104 (Marvel, November 1985, November 1987, September 1990, and September 1991); text by Jim Salicrup (#32), Mike Carlin (#56) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#92 and 104); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Andy Yanchus (#32), Paul Becton (#56) and Renee Witterstaetter (#104)

Today in Comics History, August 23: Happy birthday, Terry Austin!

Born on this day: comic book penciller and inker extraordinaire Terry Austin! You know him well not only from his inks on Uncanny X-Men, but also Doctor Strange, The Avengers, Cloak and Dagger, New Mutants, Batman, Robin, Green Lantern, Who's Who, Sonic the Hedgehog, and much more!


from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1979 and 1980 (Marvel, 1978-1979)


from Marvel Age #32, 56, 92 and 104 (Marvel, November 1985, November 1987, September 1990, and September 1991); text by Jim Salicrup (#32), Mike Carlin (#56) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#92 and 104); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Andy Yanchus (#32), Paul Becton (#56) and Renee Witterstaetter (#104)

Today in Comics History, July 26: Happy birthday, Harry Candelario!

Happy happy birthday to born-on-this-day Harry Candelario, Marvel Comics production photostat operator in the '90s and comic book inker (New Mutants, X-Force, Excalibur, Cable, The Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine and more)!


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

Today in Comics History, June 24: Happy birthday, Mike Wieringo!

Born today in 1963: much-loved late comics artist Mike Wieringo: artist on Adventures of Superman, The Flash, Fantastic Four, Sensational Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, Spider-Boy, Tellos, (his own co-cretion with Todd Dezago), and more. Photographs of Ringo (on the right) with Dezago ("me") and Thierry Mornet at the Angoulême International Comics Festival 1999:



from Tellos #7 (Image, May 2000)

Today in Comics History, June 4, 1942: "You people, you're all astronauts in some kind of...star wars."

Today in Comics History? Yes! It is history, because note the year: 1941! And today, it's...well, todat is not December 7, 1941, not in this panel (see ya again in December, panel!)...


from What If? (1977 series) #14 (Marvel, April 1979), script by Don Glut, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Pablo Marcos, colors by "D. R. Martin", letters by Tom Orzechowski
Yes, it's the infamous issue of What If? that gives us SGT. FURY IN SPAAAAAAACE(aaaace aaaace aaaace)!

Today in Comics History, April 27: Happy birthday, Barry Shapiro!

Born on this day in 1947: Barry Shapiro, art director for Cracked magazine and Marvel production support guy in the 1980s!


L: from Marvel Age #28 (Marvel, July 1985), text by Jim Salicrup, pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by George Roussos
R: from What If...? (1977 series) #34 (Marvel, August 1982), script by Rick Parker, pencils and inks by Ron Zalme
Here's a lovely elegy for Barry by Eliot R. Brown.

Happy birthday, Barry!

Comics Do Shakespeare: The Henrys (#5), Act 4: Cap has memorized all the best speeches

from What if...? Infinity: Thanos #1 one-shot (Marvel, December 2015), script by Joshua Williamson, pencils and inks by Mike Henderson, color by Jordan Boyd, letters by Travis Lanham

Today in Comics History, April 22: Happy birthday, Sol Brodsky!

Born on this talent-blessed day in 1923: Sol Brodsky, writer, artist, production manager, and one of the trues greats and an immeasurable creative legend behind the Marvel Universe.


from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1979 and 1980 (Marvel, 1978 and 1979)
Sol drew covers and stories for Timely/Atlas/Marvel, including Battlefield, Millie the Model, Combat Kelly, Crime Can't Win, Patsy Walker, Adventures into Terror, Tales to Astonish, Marvel Tales, Girl Comics, Crime Exposed, Mystery Tales, the giveaway comic Adventures of the Big Boy, and many others.


from Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir (Simon & Schuster, January 2019), script by Peter David and Stan Lee, art by Colleen Doran
He designed the logos for Fantastic Four (also inking #3-4) and Amazing Spider-Man with Artie Simek, among many other feats. And he co-founded Skywald Comics! Whew!


Jack Kirby thought pretty highly of him, too.



from Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics (Ten Speed, July 2020), script and art by Tom Scioli
I can scarcely sum up even a fraction of Brodsky's contribution to comics here. I highly recommend picking up a backissue of Marvel Age #22, a great obituary and history with lots of fond memories from his friends and co-workers of Sol Brodsky and his work.





from Marvel Age #22 (Marvel, January 1985)
Here's a couple of brief obituary-salutes to Sol from other issues of MARVEL AGE. The second one is written by Jim Shooter.



from Marvel Age #20 and 21 (Marvel, November and Decemebr 1984)
Of course, as I try to feature in these birthday threads, Sol Brodsky appeared in Marvel Comics as well. Check him out here shocked by the beached Namor! Can you find 'im?



from Sub-Mariner (1968 series) #19 (Marvel, November 1969), script by Roy Thomas, pencils and colors by Marie Severin, inks by Johnny Craig, letters by Artie Simek
But Sol's best-known appearance within the comics was as Earth-1228's Human Torch, along with his co-workers as the Fantastic Four!





from What If...? (1976 series) #11 (Marvel, October 1978); script and pencils by Jack Kirby; inks by Mike Royer, Bill Wray, Scott Shaw!, and Dave Stevens; colors by Carl Gafford; letters by Mike Royer
We miss you, and Happy Birthday, Sol Brodsky!



from from Marvel Tales Annual #1 (Marvel, September 1964)
Fantastic Four Annual #7 (Marvel, November 1969), and
1975 Mighty Marvel Convention Program Book (Marvel, 1975), photograph by Michele Wolfman