Bully Says: Comics Oughta Be Fun!

Friday, June 10, 2022

Today in Comics History, June 10: Happy birthday, Charles Vess!

Born on this day: artist and comic book illustrator Charles Vess (Sandman, Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess' Stardust, Spider-Man, The Books of Magic, The Warriors Three, Rose, The Book of Ballads and Sagas, Blueberry Girl, and much more!)

'I swear, you kids have me climbing the walls!'

'I swear, you kids have me climbing the walls!'

from Marvel Age #54 and 90 (Marvel, September 1987 and and July 1990); text Mike Carlin (#54) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#90); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Paul Becton (#54) and Renee Witterstaetter (#90)
Happy birthday, Charles!

I'll love you till the end of the road, Charles. Oh, okay, and beyond.

I'll love you till the end of the road, Charles. Oh, okay, and beyond.

photo with Jeff Smith from Bone: Coda (Cartoon Books, 2016)

Today in Comics History, June 10, 1881: Exciting blue background attempts to distract you from dreary, doom-filled text story

'Maybe we shouldn't have navigated the ship to tilt 45 degrees!'

'It's no use, sir! No matter how hard we print the blue picture background, the helplessness is just pouring right in!'

"The Fight That Failed" from Jumbo Comics #105 (Fiction House, November 1947), text by Henry Wysham Lanier
(See you again on June 18!)

Today in Comics History, June 10: Happy birthday, Scott McCloud!

Happy birthday to comics writer, artist, and theorist Scott McCloud (Zot!, Destroy!!, The Sculptor, Understanding Comics, Reinventing Comics, and Making Comics)!

But sorry: I can't include any pictures of him in this post because he has never ever appeared in any comic books.

What are you waiting around here for? I told you, he's never been a character protrayed in comic books.

Oh, okay, okay.

'It's called the Invisible Art because it was invented by Claude Rains!'

'It's called the Invisible Art because it was invented by Claude Rains!'

And now it's a bunch of light electrons on a computer screen of a printed copy of a drawing of a painting of a pipe. But you strill can't put anything in it and smoke it.

Aieeeee! He stepped right out of Toon Town!

from Understanding Comics (Tundra, 1993), by Scott McCloud
Here's he is in a Valentino/Don Simpson parody:

As usual with Valentino and Simpson, I can't tell if it's supposed to be cruel or funny.

As usual with Valentino and Simpson, I can't tell if it's supposed to be cruel or funny.

from normalman/Megaton Man Special one-shot (Image, August 1994), script and art by Jim Valentino, Megaton Man art by Don Simpson
A interview with Scott that's so all-encompassing it had to be split up into two issues of Vertigo books! (Remember when Paradox Press published McCloud?)

'If you could be a tree, any kind of tree, what kind of tree would you be?' 'A panel tree!'

'If you could be a tree, any kind of tree, what kind of tree would you be?' 'A panel tree!'

from "Subculture" in DC/Vertigo comics cover-dated August and September 2000
Happy birthday, Scott!

Naw, I just don't recognize him in three dimensions.

Naw, I just don't recognize him in three dimensions.

photo from Bone: Coda (Cartoon Books, 2016)

Today in Comics History, June 10, 1901: This was a lenient sentence; the judge just wanted to proclaim it without any mercy for his soul

'How smashing a verdict! So much for YOU, Snidely Whiplash! Now I must get back to the fort and tell Nell!'

from "Heroes of the Mounties" in Real Life Comics #1 (Pines, September 1941), pencils and inks by Maurice Gutwirth

Today in Comics History, June 10: Well, 𝘭𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪! 𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘵 𝘭𝘵𝘭? 𝘭𝘮𝘤𝘸 𝘢𝘤𝘥𝘧𝘦!< to you too, Superman!

'I've really got to start buying smaller Moleskines.'

from "The Super-Key to Fort Superman" in Action Comics #241 (DC, June 1958), script by Jerry Coleman, pencils by Wayne Boring, inks by Stan Kaye

Today in Comics History, June 10, 1942: Cannibalistic Humanoid Underwater Dwellers are discovered

So-called because these guys are midway between humans and fish.

from Young All-Stars #21 (DC, Holiday 1988), script by Roy Thomas and Dann Thomas, pencils by Ron Harris, inks by Bob Downs, colors by Gene D'Angelo, letters by Jean Simek

Today in Comics History, June 10, 1892: Six baseballs pitched simultaneously

'So I tied six baseballs to my belt, which was the style at the time...'

from "Uncle Wilbert Robinson" in Jackie Robinson #2 (Fawcett, July 1950), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, June 10, 2020: Amazon mobile website used to low-ball price book found in bookstore

'I admit this is a long way to go for that joke, but we don't even know while they're videotaping a podcast.

from "Odyssey" in Detective Comics #1027 (DC, November 2020), script by Marv Wolfman, pencils by Emanuela Lupacchino, inks by Bill Sienkiewicz, colors by Jordie Bellaire, letters by Carlos M. Mangua

Thursday, June 09, 2022

There Is No Hope in Crime Alley, Night 9: All Of This Has Happened Before and Will Happen Again, 1492 edition

'Atsà matta fa me? Atsà matta fa *you*!'

'Endeavour therefore to alleviate the burthen of your early dignity by the regularity of your life and by your perseverance in those studies which are suitable to your profession!'

'Ooh, cacciatore! Belladonna! Antipasto!'

from Batman Annual #18 (DC, June 1994), script by Doug Moench, pencils by Frederico Cueva, inks by Alberto Pez, colors by Phil Allen, letters by Steve Haynie

Bully Eats Food: It's been a rough day

...so time for some Insomnia Cookies!

I it a pizza?

They're called Insomnia Cookies because I can't go to sleep before I eat several.

There. That makes an awful day a little bit better.

Today in Comics History, June 9: Happy birthday, Robert Cummings!

Born on this day in 1910: film and TV actor Robert Cummings (Kings Row, Saboteur, Dial M for Murder, The Devil and Miss Jones, The Bob Cummings Show, and others)!

'She got water-skiing on my motion picture!' 'Well, you got motion picture on my water-skiing!'

'She got water-skiing on my motion picture!' 'Well, you got motion picture on my water-skiing!'

'So Bob, you do realize that by allowing us to place your image in a DC comic book, you now belong to us and we can wipe out your entire world in the next Crisis?' 'Sure, I...what?!?'

from Miss Beverly Hills of Hollywood #4 (DC, September 1949), pencils and inks by Bob Oksner
As good pal Andrew Weiss, paragon of pop culture, pointed out to me, Bob also starred alongside future Catwoman Julie Newmar in the 1964 CBS comedy My Living Doll, "a show that paralleled the Doc Magnus/Platinum relationship," Andrew says.

So, THIS was second-wave feminism?

Say!

'Yep, that's me, pretty much. Bob Cummings, nice to meet ya.'

As the original Professor Henry higgins!

"Cue to Cummings" in Sweet Sixteen #12 (Parents' Magazine Press, December 1947), text by Kay Deane"
How popular is Bob Cummings? So popular that even Batman is a fan!

'Golly, Batman, I didn't know you watched films like that' 'AND Miss Jones, Robin. AND.'

'Golly, Batman, I didn't know you watched films like that' 'AND Miss Jones, Robin. AND.'

from All-Star Squadron Annual #3 (DC, September 1984), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Don Newton, inks by Mike Machlan, colors by Gene D'Angelo, letters by David Cody Weiss and L. Lois Buhalis
Happy birthday, Bob!

Today in Comics History, June 9: Happy birthday, Otto Nicolai!

Why not celebrate the birth of German composer Otto Nicolai (b. 1810) by reading about one of the most Tuetonic operas of all time: The, uh, Merry Wives of Windsor! Ach du lieber!

Me, I'm gonna have a Falstaff beer. You celebrate your way, I'll celebrate mine.

Me, I'm gonna have a Falstaff beer. You celebrate your way, I'll celebrate mine.

"Famous Operas: The Merry Wives of Windsor" from Classics Illustrated #70 (Gilberton, April 1950), text by Eleanor Kidofsky

Today in Comics History, June 9: Happy birthday, George Pérez!

Oh boy, this is a hard one to get through.

Born on this day in 1954: the late, great comic book writer and penciller George Pérez (accent on the first E!), who passed away so very recently (May 6, 2022). George has drawn...well, let's just say every comic book character at Marvel and DC. Sometimes even all on the same cover. And: one of the nicest people in the business! Oh boy, do I miss him.

See him drink from a bottle / See him eat from a plate / Cute, cute as a button / Don't you want to make him/ Draw something great?

See him drink from a bottle / See him eat from a plate / Cute, cute as a button / Don't you want to make him/ Draw something great?

from FOOM #8 (Marvel, December 1974)

Today in Comics History, June 9, 2015: To earn a little money, you've gotta spend a lot of money

Well, there's your first problem: you're driving a subway train, not a taxi.

from Yellow Cab (IDW, May 2022), by Christophe Chabouté, based on the novel by Benoît Cohen
(PS: Besides giving me lots of dates to make posts about recently, this is a really great graphic novel with lots of New York City flavor ("the way I like it!"). Check it out!)

Today in Comics History, June 9: It's an Invasion of Savings this weekend at Klyntar's World of Bargains!

'Why, the only one who wouldn't take advantage of these great savings hasn't been eating enough BRAINS!'

from Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special #1 one-shot (Marvel, September 1995), script by David Michelinie, pencils by Darick Robertson, inks by Arne Starr, colors by Tom Smith, color separations by Malibu, letters by Bill Oakley; NJQ

Today in Comics History, June 9: Happy birthday, Pamela Rutt!

It's the birthday of Pamela Rutt, production person and Marvel's public relations director in the 1980s!

I would make a comment about how they made the same joke sixty issues apart, but I am hardly one to point fingers about THAT.

I would make a comment about how they made the same joke sixty issues apart, but I am hardly one to point fingers about THAT.

from Marvel Age #30, 54, and 90 (Marvel, September 1985, September 1987, and July 1990); text by Jim Salicrup (#30), Mike Carlin (#54) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#90); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Andy Yanchus (#30), Paul Becton (#54) and Renee Witterstaetter (#90)
Happy birthday, Pam!

Today in Comics History, June 9, 1918: Cruel German captors rescind escaping privileges

'You are SO not escaping without a hall pass, young man!'

from "Daredevils of Destiny" in Reg'lar Fellers Heroic Comics #6 (Eastern Color, May 1941), script by Frank Rentfrow, pencils and inks by Don Dickson

Today in Comics History, June 9, 1939: I'm pretty sure that font didn't come along until 1965, but I'm willing to overlook it if you are

Averting my usual tag of "newspapers don't look like that!," here's a comic book newspaper that actually does look like that — I mean, kinda realistic!

Although it looks like the bodies of the stories have come from the Mirror Dimension, but we'll excuse that for once.

Although it looks like the bodies of the stories have come from the Mirror Dimension, but we'll excuse that for once.

from "The Secret Origin of the Golden Age Sandman" in Secret Origins (1986 series) #7 (DC, October 1986), co-plot and script by Roy Thomas, co-plot by Dann Thomas, pencils by Michael Bair, inks by Steve Montano, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by David Cody Weiss
There's such a lot of fine detail to this one-shot that I've taken these pictures from a digital edition rather than the original muddied newsprint copy. It's well worth picking this up as an e-book.

Oh, they are so not a fun couple:

'Hitler and Mussolini cancelled on last week's tennis game with me, and I had the courts booked!'

'Hitler and Mussolini cancelled on last week's tennis game with me, and I had the courts booked!'

It's true: I learned much of my World War II history from Roy Thomas expository dialogue.

Today in Comics History, June 9, 1938: He courtshipped himself to death

Wow, I never realized Mrs. Livingston's first name was 'Dagger.' Cool!

from "Geri Hamilton" in Extra! #3 (EC, July 1955), pencils and inks by Reed Crandall, colors by Marie Severin

Today in Comics History, June 9, 1954: Geez, he's been lying there since last night; somebody pick him up or cover him with a sheet or somethin'

'Well, we can burn 'im, bury 'im, or dump 'im.'

from Doomsday Clock #10 (DC/Black Label, July 2019), script by Geoff Johns, pencils and inks by Gary Frank, colors by Brad Anderson, letters by Rob Leigh

Today in Comics History, June 9: Happy birthday, Bob Bolling!

Born today in 1928 (and still with us!), comic book writer and artist Bob Bolling, creator, writer and artist of the acclaimed Little Archie, and, for Marvel/Star Comics, Wally the Wizard! He also created Doctor Doom! Mad Doctor Doom, that is...Little Archie's bad scientist nemesis!

'Wingarad leviusum your ASS, Potter!'

from Marvel Age #30 (Marvel, September 1985); text by Jim Salicrup, pencils and inks by Ron Zalme, colors by Andy Yanchus
Ol' Mad Doc premiered in an issue dated Fall 1962. Marvel's Dr. Victor von Doom premiered in a comic dated July 1962. Great minds: thinkin' alike!

This whole series could have been titled 'Stranger Danger.'

This whole series could have been titled 'Stranger Danger.'

Although they're not as well-known or -remembered as the Carl Barks Duck stories, I'd argue that Bolling created a series of tales as high-adventure and as innovative as the Uncle Scrooge stories themselves! If you think you know Archie, you've never read Little Archie!

'Okay, but take your foot off the page, kid, you're smearing the ink.'

'Okay, but take your foot off the page, kid, you're smearing the ink.'

(reprint?) in Archie Giant Series Magazine #549 [Little Archie] (Archie, August 1985), pencils and inks by Bob Bolling
We wish you a very happy birthday, Mr. Bolling, and many more!

'We've swapped Little Archie for this cuddly dog. Will Archie artist Bob Bolling be able to tell the difference? Let's watch!'

'We've swapped Little Archie for this cuddly dog. Will Archie artist Bob Bolling be able to tell the difference? Let's watch!'

from Little Archie in Animal Land #1 (Archie, 1957); pencils, inks, and letters by Bob Bolling

Today in Comics History, June 9, 1950: A bad day to be Theodore J. Warren

You're gonna be REAL surprised at the present your wife got you, Teddy!

Dude! Don't sneak up on John Cleese when he's working!

He couldn't resist her rich Corinthian leather.

from "Impending Doom!" in Tales from the Crypt #20 (EC, October 1950); script, pencils, and inks by Johnny Craig; colors by Marie Severin; letters by Jim Wroten
(The birthday of Theodore Warren is this story is actually the same birthday as author and artist Johnny Craig, as shown in my April 25 birthday post for him!)

Today in Comics History, June 9, 1993: You oughtn't to buy Chicken McNuggets while they're still alive

Well, that brought a little color to his cheeks.

from (L) "V for Vendetta: Book One, Chapter Ten: Venom" in Warrior #11 (Quality Communications, July 1983), script by Alan Moore, pencils and inks by David Lloyd, letters by Jenny O'Connor;
(R) from V for Vendetta #3 (DC, November 1988); colors by David Lloyd, Siobhan Dodds, and Steve Whitaker

Today in Comics History, June 9: Happy birthday, Anita Duncan!

Today we celebrate the birthday of Anita Duncan, Marvel Production Manager in the mid-1980s! A prolific artist, Anita worked as a college and elementary school textbook designer, book editor, photo researcher and director of editorial licensing, and was named Picture Professional of the Year by The American Society of Picture Professionals in 2005. She passed away in 2018.

Where do you get a green blazer, Anita? Actually, forgive me, that's not so unusual!