Today in Comics History, August 5: Jean Grey finally watched the movie Gaslight

from X-Factor (1986 series) #13 (Marvel, February 1987), script by Louise Simonson, pencils by Walter Simonson, inks by Dan Green, colors by Petra Goldberg, letters by Joe Rosen

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, December 24, Christmas Eve: We now return to How Doctor Doom Stole Christmas, sponsored by Dolley Madison pies and cakes

from X-Men Legends (2021 series) #5 (Marvel, September 2021), script by Peter David, pencils and inks by Todd Nauck, colors by Rachelle Rosenberg, letters by Joe Caramagna

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 30: Happy Birthday, Kate Bush!

Born on this day and currently having the best year ever: singer/songwriter/musician/producer Kate Bush, who's created ten albums that have changed my life. I didn't discover her this year, but at the same time I didn't become a fan until she put out a greatest hits album (1986's The Whole Story), so I missed the beginning of Kate Bush-mania. I'm glad for every moment and song listening that I'm a fan!

But can you find Kate inside comic books? Well, you have to look carefully.


from Doctor Strange (1974 series) #63 (Marvel, February 1984); script, pencils, and inks by Carl Potts; colors by Bob Sharen; letters by Jim Novak (credited)
There she is! But still, that's only Kate Bush on a poster. Do you think we can find a picture in comics with her in it?

Today in Comics History, July 1: Happy birthday, Dan Aykroyd!

Hey, it's somebody's birthday today, and not just mine: comedian, actor, singer, and Hard Rock Cafe co-founder Dan Aykroyd! He was one of the freshman team of Not Ready for Prime Time Players on Saturday Night Live!



cover of Marvel Team-Up (1972 series) #74 (Marvel, October 1978), pencils and inks by Dave Cockrum, SNL caricature pencils and inks by Marie Severin, letters by Irv Watanabe

Today in Comics History, January 12: Jonathan Hickman debuts Starbucks of X

from X-Factor (2020 series) #6 (Marvel, March 2021), script by Leah Williams, pencils and inks by David Baldeon, colors by Israel Silva, letters by Joe Caramagna

366 Days with J. Jonah Jameson, Day 261: Big Head Jonah and the Mutants

Splash page from Spider-Man and X-Factor: Shadowgames #3 (July 1994), script by Kurt Busiek, pencils by Pat Broderick, inks by Sam de la Rosa, colors by Tom Smith, letters by Joe Rosen

366 Days with J. Jonah Jameson, Day 228: Make America Berate Again

Panels from X-Factor (2006 series) #217 (May 2011), script by Peter David, pencils by Emanuela Lupacchino, inks by Guillermo Ortego, colors by Matt Milla, letters by Cory Petit

Psylocke Psaturday: And yet, we're still not out of The X-Tinction Agenda

Psreviously, on Psylocke Psaturday...


Panel from Uncanny X-Men #271 (December 1990), script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Jim Lee, inks by Scott Williams, colors by Glynis Oliver, letters by Tom Orzechowski and L. Lois Buhalis
...Cameron Hodge, a.k.a. X-Factor's greatest villain (snicker), had just captured Wolverine and out purple-haired point of this pseries of psosts, Psylocke! Disclaimer: As Miss Olivia Munn is out ill from our theatre tonight, the role of Psylocke will be played by Emma Stone.

In fact, as crossover ish X-Factor #61 tells us, a whole lotta mutants have been trapped like Mars flies in a klein bottle. Also, they've been, completely violating the Geneva Convention, cruelly imprisoned without a background. This human rights transgression later inspired the United Nations to adopt worldwide the controversial Colletta Accords.


Panel from X-Factor (1986 series) #61 (December 1990), script by Louise Simonson, pencils by Jon Bogdanove with John Caponigro, inks by Al Milgrom, colors by Mike Rockwitz, letters by Joe Rosen
Being caught, imprisoned, and robbed of their powers hardly ever happens to the X-Men, so you're not likely to see this scene at any time in the immediate future.


Panel from X-Men #272 (January 1991), script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Jim Lee, inks by Scott Williams, colors by Joe Rosas and Glynis Oliver, letters by Tom Orzechowski
OH FOR PETE'S SAKE COMIC BOOK

The world is immediately outraged by this news that shakes the nations! Commenting on the subject is a Marvel Comics editor, the world's most verbose man, an Orion lawyer, and Sunspot's dad.


Even this guy, on his way over to Netflix's Daredevil set, has a word or two to say.


Of course, the X-Men are strong and resistant, and not a single X-Man or X-Woman or X-Beast is going to crumple under the terrific pressure of being handcuffed on top of a platform and


OH COME ON NOW BETSY

Oh, it's a trick. Okay, Psylocke, you're forgiven. This time. Ten points from Gryffindor Claremont, however, for not using the obvious Pat Benatar "hit me with your best shot" reference in panels one and two. It was right there staring at you, Chris!


Everybody run
Psylocke's got a gun


More or less "meanwhile", Psylocke's not the only X-Men fleeing. Let's just take a quick glance at Pre-Teen Storm™ (action figure available now from Toy Biz!) make her escape by (snicker) hiding in a laundry basket (hee hee hee) that's being loaded onto a truck for (snicker snicker) Geno-Sheen Custom Laundry! BWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA oh you were serious Louise Simonson I'm so sorry.


Panels from X-Factor #60 (November 1990), script by Louise Simonson, pencils by Jon Bogdanove, inks by Al Milgrom, colors by Glynis Oliver, letters by Joe Rosen
Then (just so you know how this all ends, pretty much), Havoc zaps Cameron Hodge to pieces. Boom! End of villain.


Panels from X-Factor #62 (January 1991), script by Louise Simonson, pencils by Jon Bogdanove, inks by Al Milgrom, colors by Glynis Oliver, letters by "Task Force Z2"
Well, that's taken care of him. Oh wait! He's still here! Zap 'im, Cyclops! Yay! Truly then, this is the end of Cameron Hodge!


OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD he's got more death scenes that the Terminator and the Anti-Monitor put together!


Zapt him Jean! Zapt him good! HOORAY THUS ENDETH CAMERON HODGE FOREVER


Um...okay, then...FINISH HIM, RAHNE! (tapping fingers impatiently)


And then Rictor buries him under the biggest building collapse until 9/11. Oh, that won't terrify and scar New Yorkers at all, X-Men. GOOD JOB, MUTANTS.


Then, everybody gathers on stage for the traditional obligatory post-apocalyptic battle team portrait. Say 'Claremont,' everybody!


Panel from Uncanny X-Men #273 (February 1991), script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Whilce Portacio, inks by Scott Williams, colors by Joe Rosas, letters by Tom Orzechowski
Next issue: Claremont makes sure we all know each other's names, and Psylocke seems to be the only one not bothered by tentacle porn:


Panels from Uncanny X-Men #274 (March 1991), script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Whilce Portacio, inks by Scott Williams, colors by Joe Rosas, letters by Pat Brosseau

366 Days with J. Jonah Jameson, Day 5: Great Mysteries of the Marvel Universe Explained

Panel from X-Factor #219 (July 2011), script by Peter David, pencils by Emanuela Lupacchino, inks by Guillermo Ortego, colors by Matt Milla, letters by Joe Sabino

Comics' Stupidest Titles: ...And Starring Joan Crawfish

If you read 'em long enough, you'll find more than a fair share of tone-deaf, dumb-ass comic book story titles, and no, I wouldn't even dare count the class Stan Lee-isms like "And Lo — There Shall Come an Ending!" (Part 3 of Five). No, let's reserve this feature for the worst of the worst, the cheesiest, the corniest, the stupidest titles in comics. Titles like this watersogged "classic:"


Splash page from "There Are No Wire Hangers Underwater!" in Iron Man Annual (1976 series) #10 (September 1989), script by Fabian Nicieza, pencils by Don Perlin, inks by Don Ald, colors by T. Fine, letters by Rick Parker
It's only 1989, which means that I can't use my What can we say? It was the nineties tag. You can pretty much agree that the nineties began in the eighties, however, what with the introduction of chrominum covers, Venom, Batman: The Killing Joke, and the New Teen Titans' Danny Chase. Also: the beginning of single-story mega-crossover events in comics annuals, which will eventually lead to Eclipso: The Darkness Within, The Terminus Factor, JLApe, and perhaps the world's worst summer event since the invention of that ice cream van song: Bloodlines. But it all started here in 1989's Atlantis Attacks, in which former President Jimmy Carter, media mogul Ted Turner, and redneck comic Jeff Foxworthy waged war against the entire Marvel Universe…oh, excuse me, I've made another one of my silly mistakes. That's Atlanta Attacks.

Anyway, "There Are No Wire Hangers Underwater!" continues the saga of true blue Atlantean Andromeda, former member of the Defenders and future member of the underwater heroic team named (groan) "Deep Six." I was fairly sure that she was a member of the Avengers during the hazy, please-try-to-forget-them latter years of Avengers Volume 1, circa Deathcry and Teen Tony Stark, but I was wrong. That's how memorable Andromeda is: she wasn't in the worst years of the Avengers.

But she is returning home to Atlantis pretty much concurrent with it attacking, since beloved bare-torsoed fishy king Namor is believed to be dead, floating face down on the surface of the ocean. Not so: Namor would be non-dead for many more years until finally meeting his fate in that epic battle against the Gorton's Fisherman in 2012's limited series Namor No More. Also not realistic: that weirdass, appearently waterproof version of the Times of London, which in real life doesn't look anything like it's portrayed in this panel. For one thing, there's no crispy and delivious fish 'n' chips wrapped inside it.


Andromeda, wearing the world's least aero- water-dynamic boots, is determined to find out the villain behind the plot of Atlantis Attacks! But since she can't find Tom DeFalco, she's going to confront her own Daddie Dearest, the fearsome Attuma! Or as she calls him: the clam behind the madness. I dunno, I woulda gone with "the clam before the storm." But I'm shellfish that way.


The (stupid!) title of the story is a reference to the 1981 cult classic movie Mommie Dearest, and I'm pretty sure including Joan Crawford in this not-entirely-Iron Man story would have improved it immensely.


Instead, we get Andromeda's dad and Namor nemesis Attuma. I haven't read the rest of this story, serialized across several issues of Atlantis Attacks, but I'm just betting one of the sequels is titled "Attuma with a View."


Thus follows the most anti-climatic battle in the history of Iron Man Annual #10: Andromeda confronts Attuma, Attuma threatens Andromeda, Attuma gets all creepy, Andromeda runs swims away. Also, he insults Andromeda's mom (Andmomeda?) Lady Gelva by calling her a sea cow. I dunno, for some reason I myself don't see that as a insult, personally.


TO BE CONTINUED! In X-Factor #4.


X-Factor Annual #4 is pretty cool because it has artwork by Walt Simonson and John Byrne, an appearance by Jake and Elwood Blues…


Panels from "Inferno Aftermath" in X-Factor Annual #4 (September 1989), script by Mark Gruenwald, pencils by Jim Fern, inks by Joe Rubinstein, colors by Greg Wright, letters by Joe Rosen
...but best yet, it doesn't actually contain a continuation of the Andromeda story. Thus not giving us exactly what we don't want! Hooray for comics!