Will Power

As we saw earlier in the day, it's the birthday of the man we call the Immortal Bard (despite him dying in 1616): Will.I.Shakespeare! Not to be confused with this here feller:


Panel from Archie's Madhouse Annual #5 (1968), artist uncredited

But that only goes to show just how often Mister Shake appears in comic books. I'm not talking only his plays being adapted into comics (like, f'r instance, here and here, but actual comic book characters (and the real life Benjamin J. Grimm) quoting the Whatchamacallit of Avon (like here). Let's look at some of the many fine comic book characters who know Shakespeare, starting with the Man of the Year, Alfred Pennyworth!

Alfred knows Shakespeare!

Page from Batman: Gotham Knights #27 (May 2002), script by Devin Grayson, pencils by Roger Robinson, inks by John Floyd, colors by Gloria Vasquez, separations by Wildstorm FX, letters by Bill Oakley

In fact, don't forget Alfred was a Shakespearean actor! He was so successful an actor back in those in those days that he could afford a toupee, infuriating his fellow thespian Patrick Stewart. Oh, the squabbles they had!



Panels from Nightwing: Alfred's Return one-shot (July 1995), script by Alan Grant, pencils and inks by Dick Giordano, colors by Adrienne Roy, letters by Albert DeGuzman

Which probably makes it no surprise that

Robin knows Shakespeare!

Panel from Batman #682 (Early January 2009), script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Lee Garbett, inks by Trevor Scott, colors by Guy Major, letters by Jared K. Fletcher

In fact, Dick Grayson had a love for the Bard (and hot girls in diaphanous gowns) even after he became Robin the Teen (Yet Still in Green Shorts) Wonder!


Panel from Batman #216 (November 1969), script by Frank Robbins, pencils by Irv Novick, inks by Dick Giordano

However, that didn't extend to Dick learning that there's no such thing as a surviving play script in Shakespeare's hand.



And it appears that Alfred didn't teach anything about Shakespeare to Bruce Wayne:



On the other hand,

Professor Xavier knows Shakespeare!

Panel from Uncanny X-Men #379 (April 2000), plot by Alan Davis, script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Tom Raney, inks by Scott Hanna, colors by Brian Haberlin, letters by Richard Starkings and Saida Temofonte

And he probably taught it to his students, because

Storm knows Shakespeare!

Panel from Uncanny X-Men #151 (November 1981), script by Chris Claremont, pencils by Jim Sherman, inks by Joe Rubinstein, colors by Bonnie Wilford, letters by Tom Orzechowski

Oh, wait: that's not Storm, that's Emma Frost. In Storm's body. Man, she just can't stop impersonating X-Men, can she?

Anyway,

Wolverine kinda knows Shakespeare.

Page from "Follow the Leader" in X-Men Unlimited v.2 #5 (December 2004), script by Scott Killinger, pencils by Rael Lyra, inks by Jay Leisten, colors by Transparency Digital, letters by Dave Sharpe

Nemesis knows Shakespeare!

Panel from "Operation: Overkill" in The Brave and the Bold v.1 #192 (November 1982), script by Cary Burkett, pencils and inks by Dan Spiegle, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Adam Kubert

(Even though most of us don't remember Nemesis.)


Page from Who's Who in the DC Universe v.1 #16 (June 1986), text and colors by these guys, pencils and inks by Dan Spiegle

Yes, all the most admirable characters in comic books know their Shakespeare! And then that jerk John Wilkes Booth goes and ruins it for everybody:



Panels from The Kents #7 (February 1998), script by John Ostrander, pencils by Timothy Truman, inks by Michael Bair, colors by Carla Feeny, letters by Bill Oakley

John Wilkes Booth. Actor, murderer, bigot, lousy fan of Shakespeare.

So, on his 448th birthday, please celebrate the birthday of William Amadeus Shakespeare by refraining from committing Shakespeare-related crimes, won't you?


Panels from "Enemy No. 1" in Batman v.1 #29 (June-July 1945), script by Bill Finger, pencils and inks by Dick Sprang, colors by Bob McCay, letters by George Roussos

Oh for Pete's sake! Penguin! You're just ruining it for everyone!


Splash panel from "The Penguin's Apprentice!" in Batman v.1 #27 (February-March 1945), script by Don Cameron, pencils by Jack Burnley, inks by Jerry Robinson, letters by George Roussos

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 114

Panel from The Untold Legend of the Batman #2 (August 1980), script by Len Wein, pencils and inks by Jim Aparo, colors by Tatjana Wood

Ten of a Kind: Earths Day

(More Ten of a Kind here.)

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 113

Cover of Detective Comics #86 (April 1944), pencils and inks by Dick Sprang

Today in Comics History, April 22, Earth Day: Commemorating the Earth Day When Aquaman Saved the Entire Planet!

from Batman: The Brave and the Bold #4 (DC, June 2009), script by Matt Wayne, pencils by Andy Suriano, inks: by Dan Davis, colors by Heroic Age, letters by Sal Cipriano

Same Story, Different Cover: Emergency Alert! Emergency Alert! Action, and then kissin'!

L: Legion of Super-Heroes v.3 #9 (April 1985), pencils by Steve Lightle and inks by Larry Mahlstedt
R: Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #334 (April 1986), pencils and inks by Steve Lightle
(Click any picture to Blok-size)

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 112

Panel from Detective Comics #328 (June 1964), script by Bill Finger, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Joe Giella

Light Content Week: A rare zing and a hit on Batman

Panels from JLA CLassified #46 (Early January 2008), script by Justin Gray, pencils by Rick Leonardi, inks by Sean Philips, colors by Allen Passalaqua, letters by Ken Lopez

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 111

Panels from Solo #12 (October 2006), script by Brendan McCarthy and Robbie Morrison, pencils by Brendan McCarthy, inks by Sir Trevor Goring

Light Content Week: And you're to blame! You give love a bad name!

The true story of how the young Jon Bon Jovi is inspired to write one of his most popular hits!:



Panel from "The Roommate" in Secrets of Sinister House #14 (October 1973), script by Fred Wolfe, pencils by Mike Sekowsky, inks by Bill Draut

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 110

Panel from "The Secret of Batman's Butler" in Batman v.1 #110 (September 1957), script by Bill Finger, pencils by Sheldon Moldoff, inks by Stan Kaye, letters by Pat Gordon

Light Content Week: Business as usual in Smallville

Please excuse me for taking an easy way out and declaring this to be a Light Content Week. There are a number of good reasons why you'll be getting shorter, joke-themed posts all week:

1. I have to help my pal John with a very important project. (Which means he has a little less time to help me with Comics Oughta Be Fun! It's a bit difficult with hooves and I always appreciate his assistance and fingers.
   
2. Blogger Has a New Look! And unlike the old look, which worked poifectly, it's really, really annoying.
   
3. I have to practice my interpretive dance for the 2012 Olympic opening ceremonies.
   
4. Did I mention I hate Blogger's new interface? Yeah. That.
   

Anyway, here's something that happens only in Smallville! (And certain pre-Crisis parts of Gotham City.)


Panel from Superboy v.1 (March 1957), script by Otto Binder, pencils and inks by John Sikela

Now! Back to wrestling with new Blogger! I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 109

Splash panel from Nightwing #68 (June 2002), script by Chuck Dixon, pencils by Trevor McCarthy, inks by Rob Stull, colors by Gregory Wright, separations by Digital Chameleon, letters by Willie Schubert

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 108

Panels from Bruce Wayne: The Road Home: Batgirl one-shot (December 2010), script by Bryan Q. Miller, pencils and inks by Pere Perez, colors by Guy Major, letters by Dave Sharpe

Improving the classics

Art from Batman #32 (December 1945-January 1946), pencils and inks by Dick Sprang
Dialogue from All Star Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder #1-2 (September-November 2005), dialogue by Frank Miller

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 107

Panels from Batman #616 (August 2003), script by Jeph Loeb, pencils by Jim Lee, inks by Scott Williams, colors by Alex Sinclair, letters by Richard Starkings

Today in Comics History, April 15, Tax Day: Hey Batman! (Tax Day Edition)

Hey Batman! I bought about sixteen hundred of your comic books last year and most of 'em weren't any good. What should I do?


from "Secrets of the Batcave: Dinosaur Island" in Batman Chronicles #8 (DC, Spring 1997), script, pencils, and inks by Graham Nolan; colors by Patricia Mulvihill; letters by Albert DeGuzman

Today in Comics History, April 17: On this day, April 17th tragically passed away

from Batman: Noel (November 2011), script, pencils, and inks by Lee Bermejo; colors by Barbara Ciardo; letters by Todd Klein
(Click picture to six-feet-under-size)

Same Story, Different Cover: Wait, that's a show about a talking car. How about Pale Rider?...oh, no, that's a Clint Eastwood movie.

L: Ghost Rider #6 (October 1967), pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Vince Colletta
R: Night Rider #6 (August 1975), pencils and inks by Gil Kane
(Click any picture to Wild-Wild-West-size)

366 Days with Alfred Pennyworth, Day 106

Cover art for Batman #686 (April 2009), painted by Alex Ross