Today in Comics History, July 15, 1982, 4:07 AM: General Carter wonders if his hat makes him look like a cool pirate

from Batman Annual (1961 series) #8 (DC, October 1982), script by Mike W. Barr, pencils and inks by Trevor von Eeden, colors by Lynn Varley, letters by John Costanza

Today in Comics History, March 5: Happy birthday, Howard Pyle!

Born on this day in 1853: painter and author Howard Pyle (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, Men of Iron, The Wonder Clock, The Story of King Arthur and His Knights (and three sequels), plus many more. He's characterized by his lush and realistic style that influenced N. C. Wyeth, Frank Schoonover, and others, and known as the Father of the Brandywine School of artistic style. You've probably read at least one of his books out of the library (and I hope you got the illustrated editions), but you've likely never seen what we're about to serve up to you on this here silver plate of a blog entry: Howard Pyle in the Comics! Here's a concise biography of him, tho' (of course) not actually drawn by Pyle.




from "Howard Pyle" in Real Life Comics #37 (Pines, January 1947), creators unknown

Comics News for June 3, 2013

Sadistic Parrot is Sadistic, Archie Teams Up with Wasp, Ghost of Ronald Reagan Visits Brian Michael Bendis

Ten of a Kind (International Talk Like a Pirate Day Edition): And I won’t need a pilot / Got a pirate who might sail

Arrr, me hearties! In honor of National Talk Like a Pirate Day, the holiday mocked by over 83% of your too-cool-for-pirates internet commentators, we once again bring you, as we have in the past, ten pirate comic book covers. Shiver your timbers and read on!





















As always, if you're looking for sixty more men on a dead man's chest pirate-themed comic covers, well, walk the plank on over to International Talk Like a Pirate Day Ten of a Kinds for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Arrrrrrrrrrr!

(More Ten of a Kind here.)

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 263

Panels from Detective Comics Annual #7 (1994), script by Chuck Dixon, pencils and inks by Alcatena, colors by David Horning, letters by Richard Starkings

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 192

Panels from Detective Comics Annual #7 (1994), script by Chuck Dixon, pencils and inks by Quique Alcatena, colors by David Horning, letters by Richard Starkings

Ten of a Kind (International Talk Like a Pirate Day Edition): Oooga shaka oooga oooga*

Arrr, me hearties! In honor of National Talk Like a Pirate Day, the holiday mocked by 78% of your cool internet commentators, we once again bring you, as we have in the past, ten pirate comic book covers. Except this time, Jim lad, it's really Ten of a Kind: all cover featuring J. M. Barrie's is-he-or-is-he-not in-or-out-of-copyright's Captain Hook! Gather up your ten crocodiles and check these out!























As always, if you're looking for fifty men on a dead man's chest other pirate-themed comic covers, well, walk the plank on over to International Talk Like a Pirate Day Ten of a Kinds for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. Arrrrrrrrrrr!

(More Ten of a Kind here. And get ready: only three more until Ten of a Kind #300!)


*If you can put together this reference, man, your mind works as weirdly as mine.

Ten of a Kind (International Talk Like a Pirate Day Edition): There is more treasure in comic books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island

If you wanna know the story behind that gloriously wonderful Tubby cover up there, I can't recommend highly enough the new Dark Horse volume Little Lulu's Pal Tubby volume 1:


I'd never read "Captain Yo-Yo" before, and even tho' it was published in 1952, it's in the strong running for my Fun Fifty of 2010. This comic is great pirate fun.

And, if you're looking for forty other pirate-themed comic covers, well, walk the plank on over to International Talk Like a Pirate Day Ten of a Kinds for 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. Arrrrrrrrrr, Jim Lad.

(More Ten of a Kind here.)

Same Story, Different Cover (International Talk Like a Pirate Day Edition): You had me down, down, down, down on my knees

L: Kid Colt Outlaw #109 (March 1963), art by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers
R: Kid Colt Outlaw #228 (February 1979), reprinting Kid Colt #109, art by Gene Colan and Dave Cockrum

(Click picture to Captain Morgan-size)

Sunday Morning Silents: The Black Pirate (1926) (Be Silent Like a Pirate Day Edition)

The Black Pirate (1926), directed by Albert Parker and starring Douglas Fairbanks

Ten of a Kind Extra: It is, it is a glorious thing, to be a comic book pirate king! (International Talk Like a Pirate Day Edition)

(More Ten of a Kind here.)

365 Days with Ben Grimm, Day 262: International Talk Like a Pirate Day Edition

Panel from Fantastic Four #5 (July 1962), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott