Today in Comics History, August 11: Happy birthday, John Wise!

Born on this day in 1808: pioneering balloonist (man, all the greatest job titles have gone defunct) John Wise, who developed innovations in the balloononautic field and was the first to build and demonstrate a balloon that would collapse into a parachute if ruptured, allowing its passengers to safely land, as seen here in this here early DC Comic!


from "AiRecords" in Adventure Comics #40 (DC/Detective Comics, July 1939), by Terry Gilkison
Wise bad-assededly wrapped up his career when he disappeared over Lake Michigan; he and his balloon were never found. At the age of 71.

Happy birthday, John Wise, and thank for contributing to The Golden Age of Ballooning!


from Monty Python ""The Golden Age of Ballooning" (BBC, 31 October 1974), written by Michael Palin

Today in Comics History, August 11: Happy birthday, Lyle Stuart!

Born on this day in 1922: author and publisher Lyle Stuart, founder of (natch) Lyle Stuart, Inc., which published classics like The Sensuous Woman and Naked Came the Stranger, not to mention Crucifix in a Deathhand by Charles Bukowski. he also published The Anarchist Cookbook (huh!) and The Turner Diaries (ick!). Most relevant to our interests, he was the business manager of EC Comics line (he was a good friend of publisher Bill Gaines). Here is is freakin' out over what Bill's doin' with the company money (understandably so)!

"The Board of Educational Comics" EC subsciption advertisement by Will Elder
(Click picture to adult-education-size)
Stuart was also notable for a running feud with gossip columnist Walter Winchell, whom he exposed as a hypocritical adultere and a racist, and it ended with Lyle's arrest over a parody of A Visit from St. Nocholas printed in the first issue of Panic. All that about Santa Claus! Let's let Mark 'n' Sergio explain it all for you:


from The CBLDF Presents: Liberty Comics (Image, July 2008); co-script by Mark Evanier; co-script, pencils, and inks by Sergio Aragonés; colors by Tom Luth; letters by Stan Sakai

Today in Comics History, August 11, 1980: "I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love."

from "Dig the Plant, Man!" in Secrets of Haunted House #43 (DC, December 1981), plot and pencils by Rodin Rodriguez, script by Robin Snyder, inks by Andy Mushynsky, colors by Jerry Serpe, letters by Pierre Bernard Jr.
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, August 10, 1947: Dodgers pass the buck to Roy Campanella

from Larry Doby, Baseball Hero one-shot (Fawcett, 1950), script by Charles Dexter

Today in Comics History, August 10, 1911 and 1912: At least he had that bitchin "My Aunt is Almost Dead" party

Hey, Paul LeCourt! Why you so happy, my French dude? Ah, the old grey mare is dead.


from "Death Comes Riding" in Ripley's Believe It Or Not! #11 (Western/Gold Key, November 1968), pencils and inks by Luis Dominguez
Certainly no way this could turn against you exactly a year later, right, Paul?


Oh.

Today in Comics History, August 10, 20XX: Happy birthday, Peter Parker*!

*...Peter Parker of Earth-18157, that is...the separate and substantially simpler reality created for IDW's publication of the Marvel Action series of all-age comics. Golly, if only Marvel had a company that published comic books, huh?


from Marvel Action: Chillers #2 (Marvel/IDW, October 2020), script by Jeremy Whitley, pencils and inks by Gretel Lusky, colors by Nahuel Ruiz, letters by Valeria Lopez
But do we have a canon birthday for "our" PP, our Friendly Earth-616 Spider-Man? Well, not exactly. But I wouldn't miss checking this space on August 26. You have been warned! There will be a test (in my Milk and Cheese voice)!

Today in Comics History, August 9, 1910: White man announces plan to do something; everybody expected to drop what they're doing to help

"Pioneers of Science: Roald Amundsen, Discoverer of the South Pole" from Classics Illustrated #76 (Gilberton, October 1950), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, August 9: Happy birthday, Alyce Gordon!

Born on this day: Marvel secretary during the '80s Alyce Gordon!


from Marvel Age #56 and 32 (Marvel, November 1987 and November 1985; text by Mike Carlin (#56) and Jim Salicrup (#32); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Paul Becton (#56) and Andy Yanchus (#32)
Happy birthday, Alyce!

Today in Comics History, August 8, 1951: Free — Free / A Trip to Mars / For 900 / Empty Jars / Burma-Shave

Facing a blank page in this month's issue of Weird Fantasy, EC co-editors Bill Gaines (in the brown suit) and Al Feldstein (blue) concoct the ultimate special bonus: a gag advertisement offering a free trip to Mars!


from "The Ad!" in Weird Fantasy (1951 series) #14 (EC, July 1952); co-plot by Bill Gaines; co-plot, script, pencils and inks by Joe Orlando; colors by Marie Severin; letters by Jim Wroten
How'd that work out for ya, guys?

Today in Comics History, August 6, 1959: So this is the guy who thought he was going to get married to Miley Cyrus?!?

from "The Banshee Bride of Ballybrooke" in Ghosts (1971 series) #94 (DC, November 1980), script by Mimai Kin, pencils and inks by Win Mortimer, colors by Jerry Serpe, letters by Shelly Leferman
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, August 5: Happy birthday, Reginald Owen!

Born on this day in 1887: quintessential British actor Reginald Owen (Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet, Mrs. Miniver, The Canterville Ghost, National Velvet, Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks and much more)!


from "Seein' Stars" in Ace Comics #20 (David Mckay, November 1938), by Feg Murray
Pip pip and happy birthday, Reggie, old chap!


from Movie Love #13 (Eastern Color, February 1952), pencils and inks by Frank Fogarty

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

What's Bully Watching?: Seventies Carol Danvers is on Match Game '76!

Today in Comics History, August 4: Happy birthday, Charlie Adlard!

Born on this day: British comic book artist Charlie Adlard, who's drawn Judge Dredd, The X-Files, Astronauts in Trouble, Mars Attacks, Batman: Gotham Knights, Green Lantern/Green Arrow, and a little book you may love called The Walking Dead (tho' not me, that thing's too scary!).

Charlie has apparently not appeared in any comic books, but here he is name-checked (and called off of bench to draw some a Harley Quinn "football" (we over here call it soccer just to bug the rest of the world) page!


from Harley Quinn (2014 series) #0 (DC, January 2014), script by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, pencils and inks by Charlie Adlard, colors by one'a these guys, letters by John J. Hill
Happy birthday, Charlie!

Today in Comics History, August 4: Back in the fifties, paneling the living room was more complicated than you think

from "Frozen Assets!" in Crime SuspenStories (1950 series) #18 (EC, August 1953), co-ploy and script by Al Feldstein, co-plot by Bill Gaines, pencils and inks by Jack Kamen, colors by Marie Severin, letters by Jim Wroten

Today in Comics History, August 3, 1850: Reichuss Mansion burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp

from House of Secrets (1996 series) #7 (DC/Vertigo, April 1997), script by Steven T. Seagle, pencils and inks by Teddy Kristiansen, colors by Bjarne Hansen, color separations by Heroic Age, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, August 3: Happy birthday, Jim Fitzsimmons!

Born on this day in 1917: Jim Fitzsimmons, production manager during the 1930s and '40s for Funnies Inc., the Golden Age comic book packager. Funnies Inc. supplied artwork and editorial material to publishers for comics, including Martin Goodman's Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 and Marvel Comics #1, the first Marvel Comics! But can you spot him in the panel below?


from "Hot Stamp Mob!" in All-Winners Comics #6 (Marvel/Timely, Fall 1942), script by Mickey Spillane (yes, that one!), pencils by Harry Fisk (?), inks by Edd Ashe (?)
Nope, that's not him in the center of the frame...that's Jim Hammond and Tom Raymond, aka The Golden Age Human Torch and Toro! Look immediately above HT&T and you'll spot "Upholstering by Fitzsimmons," which is a reference to Jim. The other shop names in the panel are too! Check out this essay:


from Golden Age All-Winners v.2 (Marvel, December 2006)
Happy birthday, Jim Fitzsimmons!

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1947: Entire plane joins in refrain to serve Stendec Beer, the all-natural light beer with a fuller taste

from "Stendec" in UFO Flying Saucers #4 (Western/Gold Key, November 1974), pencils and inks by Frank Bolle

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1919: The Chicago Defender's motto would be a good one for today, too

"Foolish talk is no good. Stop it.":



from "Sky's the Limit" in Milestones in History #1 one-shot (DC, August 2022), script by Melody Cooper, pencils and inks by Dominike Stanton, colors by Emilio Lopez, letters by Steve Wands
Read more about Bessie Coleman!

Today in Comics History, August 2, 1988: This text is an insult to any actual dead skunks in a bag* of spoiled milk

from "Hard Copy" in Psi-Force #26 (Marvel/New Universe, December 1988), text by Fabian Nicieza, pencils by Graham Nolan, inks by Chris Ivy, colors by Nel Yomtov, letters by Rick Parker
(Click picture to large-print-size this book)
*Despite this, curiously enough, Fabian Nicieza is not from Canada.

Today in Comics History, August 2: Happy birthday, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi!

Even tho' he was born today in 1834, just who does Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi think he is? Whym, he's a French painter and sculptor. Ooh la la! No, wait, not that kinda artiste. This la dude is only the man responsible for designing La Liberté éclairant le monde (1886), better know to yahoos like you an' me (well, you, anyway) as The Statue of Frickin' Liberty. Trivia factoid: her metal structure was built by Gustave Eiffel! Yes, the Tower guy.

For an appearance by F.A.B. in the comics, we have to look at the most educational, factual, true-to-life comic book publisher on the face of the Earth: Archie Comics.

The 1989 2023 Love and Rockets Calendar: [Arena] August

"August" from Love and Rockets 1989 Calendar (Fantagraphics, 1988), main artwork by Jaime Hernandez, calendar block artwork by Gilbert Hernandez
(Click picture to Wrestlemania '89--size)

Today in Comics History, August 1: Dreadful birthday, dear Joker!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published August 1, 2022.

According to the Super DC Calendar 1976, today's the birthday of the Clown of Crime: you know him, you love him, you're terrified out of your wits by him: The Joker!


from Super DC Calendar 1976 (DC, 1975), letters by Ben Osa

Today in Comics History, August 1, 1950: Anthropomorphic bunny rides to the Holy Land to conquer Jerusalem

from Comic Book History of Animation #4 (IDW, February 2011); script by Fred Van Lente; pencils, inks, and letters by Ryan Dunlavey; colors by Adam Guzowski

The 1978 2017 2023 DC Calendar of Super-Spectacular Disasters: August Ablaze

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published August 1, 2017.

"August: Black Lightning" in The 1978 Calendar of Super-Spectacular Disasters (DC, 1977); artwork by Rich Buckler and Vince Colletta
(Click picture to I'm-just-talkin'-'bout-Black-Lightning-size)

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: August Arm-extraning

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published August 1, 2017.

"August Is an Amazing Amalgamation of Arms!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (Marvel, 1977); pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by John Verpooten, colors by George Bell
(Click picture to polymelia-size)
While we're all getting ready to go back to school, Peter Parker is going straight to heck, just like the spider that bited (bait? bitaten?) him so radioactively! That boy ain't right, 'coz he's got eight arms to hold Gwen! Well, six arms and two legs...just like a normal spider. This back in black illustration from Sal Buscema is based on the classic Amazing Spider-Man #100, which had this blow-your-little-spidery-mind cover by legendary Peter-artist Spider-artist John Romita, Sr. He drew it on a chalkboard!


cover of Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #100 (Marvel, September 1971); pencils by John Romita, Sr.; inks by Frank Giacoia; letters by Morrie Kuramoto (?)
Obviously Marvel doesn't wanna spoil the surprise of an abounding-armed arachnid, so they say that reveal for the very last page of the story. Go ahead, tell me this wouldn't get you to pick up the next issue, True Bulliever!


final page of Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #100 (Marvel, September 1971); script by Stan Lee, pencils by Gil Kane, figure inks by Frank Giacoia, background inks by Tony Mortellaro, letters by Artie Simek
Hey, make sure to celebrate all the birthdays of the Marvel greats listed in this month's calendar, but on August 28 please set aside a special cake 'n' fireworks for Jack Kirby's birthday later this very month!


And note: since the dates on the calendar contain references to the stories in Amazing Spider-Man issues #87-100, why don't we check in with Spider-writer the amazing Stan Lee?


How's that workin' out for ya, Stan?

Anticipate the Awesome in August!

It's the first of the month! But we already know about August, don't we?


from "Listening to the Mockingbird" in Action Comics Weekly #601 (DC, May 24, 1988), script by Martin Pasko, pencils and inks by Dan Spiegle, colors by Carl Gafford, letters by Carrie Spiegle
But that doesn't help with our yen for an August Calendar, does it? (Hint: it does not.) Here's a lovingly rendered illustrated from a romance story that includes both of the elements of love: an August calendar and peanut butter. Clip it out and stick it to your wall not with peanut butter.


from "Mix-Up Manor" in Sweet Sixteen (1946 series) #12 (Parents' Magazine Press, December 1947), story by Ruth Dorval Jones, pencils and inks by Edd Ashe
Well, obviously that won't do. So stay tuned for actual comic book calendars you can actually use in 2023!

Boy, I went a little dark on the alt-text on this one, I think.

Today in Comics History, July 31, 1949: Are we not doing phrasing anymore, Don Newcombe?

from Don Newcombe one-shot (Fawcett, 1950), script by Charles Dexter

Today in Comics History, July 25: Happy birthday, Rosalind Franklin!

Born on this day in 1920: Rosalind Franklin, chemist and X-ray crystallographer who's (now) known for her work detailing and comprehending DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), RNA (ribonucleic acid), viruses, coal, and graphite.

What? You think DNA/RNA was unravelled by Francis Crick and James Watson? Think again, brother (sisters prob'bly already know) that they took much of her work and which has been historically represented as their own, winning the Nobel Prize. Say it loud and say it strong: Rosalind Franklin is the unsung hero of DNA/RNA researach.


from "A Doubly Twisted String with a Million Knots" in Femme Magnifique (Hi-Fi Academy Press, September 2017), script by Mike Carey, pencils and inks by Ευγενία Κουμάκη as Eugenia Koumaki, colors by Hi-Fi, letter by Aditya Bidikar

Today in Comics History, July 25-26, 1949: Baby named abruptly

from Larry Doby, Baseball Hero one-shot (Fawcett, 1950), script by Charles Dexter
(Happy birthday, Christina Doby!)

Today in Comics History, June 25: Then Jessica sued the landlord for everything he had and became a multimillionaire

from Spider-Woman (1978 series) #20 (Marvel, November 1979), script by Mark Gruenwald, co-scenario by Steven Grant, pencils by Frank Springer, inks by Mike Esposito, colors by Nel Yomtov, letters by John Costanza
Remember kids, ALAB!

Today in Comics History, July 23, 1979 and 2029: Once again, comics predicted 2023

from "Some Place Where the Sun Don't Shine" in House of Mystery (1951 series) #282 (DC, July 1980), script by Bob Ingersoll, pencils by Mike Sekowsky, inks by John Celardo, colors by Jerry Serpe, letters by Shelly Leferman
This post was suggested by faithful reader and frequent commenter Blam, who's provided a lot of date references in comics that I'll spotlight throughout 2023 in this series. Thanks, Blam!

Today in Comics History, January 27, 1958: Happy birthday, Pit Bull!

Happy birthday this very day to Pit Bull...if not the best known, then certainly the handsomest denizen of the New Universe!


from D.P. 7 #26 (Marvel/New Universe, December 1988), pencils by Paul Ryan

Today in Comics History, July 23, 1930: Poor guy didn't even get a picture next to his obit in a comic book

from "Hop Harrigan's History of American Aviation" in All-American Comics (1939 series) #26 (DC/J.R. Publishing, May 1941); text, penils, and inks by Jon Blummer