Today in Comics History, September 9, 1931: See, the ironic part is that he always hoped he'd be buried in chocolate pudding

Hey, remember yesterday when I promised you that the story of Tully Mason had just one more final macabre twist? Well, this ain't it. This is just a post about his milk carton "missing' alert.


from "The Incarnadine Bridge!" in Ghosts (1971 series) #97 (DC, February 1981), script by Mimai Kin, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Rodin Rodriguez
No, for the conclusion of this creepy comic, tune in again on October 16! Whoa, that's a long way aways. I can hardly wait!

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, September 8, 1966: New sci-fi television show eventually leads to everybody getting Tuvixed this week

It's the 57th anniversary of Star Trek!


from George's Run: A Writer's Journey through the Twilight Zone (Rutgers, May 2023), by Henry Chamberlain
As usual, Mister Spock Explains It All For You™:


Happy birthday, Star Trek! I'mma gonna go and watch one or two of your one bajillion episodes, 'kay?

Today in Comics History, September 8, 1931: Bridge on the River I...rony

(For an introduction to this story, check out May 5th!)

My handy Comic Readers' Almanac (Also for Farmers) tells by that on Tuesday, September 8, 1931, the moon was not full, but rather "a waning crescent with an illumination of 11.91%." So this comic book has already lied to us visually, can we trust the rest of the story?


from "The Incarnadine Bridge!" in Ghosts (1971 series) #97 (DC, February 1981), script by Mimai Kin, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Rodin Rodriguez
Now, since this comicy book we got here just happens to be titled Ghosts...well, I'm not giving you any bonus points if you happen to guess what happens to Tully Mason and the conveniently placed vat of wet cement. I will give you bonus points if you can guess what sound effect it makes when his body hits the cement.


Aw, tough luck. He sank without a sound.

But there's a further twist to the story, kids! Tune in tomorrow for more of the mystery!

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, September 8: Happy birthday, José María Córdova!

Born on this day in 1799, so you know he's a millennial: José María Córdova, known as the "Hero of Ayacucho," General of the Colombian army during the Independence War of Colombia, Perú, and Bolivia from Spain.


from "Stamps" in Tip Top Comics v.8 #4/88 (United Feature, September 1943), creators uncredited and unknown
Following his death, General Córdova was pressed flat and turned into a stamp of a lion by Colonel Gumm.

Happy birthday to the Hero of Ayacucho!

Today in Comics History, September 8, 1960: Child sent off to have her bottom teeth surgically inserted

from Fantastic Four (2023 series) #1/694 (Marvel, January 2023), script by Ryan North, pencils and inks by Iban Coello, colors by Jesus Aburtov, letters by Joe Caramagna

Today in Comics History, September 2: Happy birthday, Assen Jordanoff!

Born on this day in 1896: inventor, engineer, and aviator Assen Jordanoff, Balkan War and WWI veteran and founder of the prestigious Jordanoff Aviation Corporation and Jordanoff Electronics! you can see his papers and mementoes at The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.


from "Hall of Fame of the Air" in King Comics #30 (David McKay, September 1938), text by Eddie Rickenbacker, pencils and inks by Clayton Knight; reprinted from the 1937 Hall of Fame of the Air Sunday comic strip
Happy birthday, A. Jordanoff!

The 1989 2023 Love and Rockets Calendar: [Siesta] September

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

The 1978 2017 2023 Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar: September Shock

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

Please do not reveal the startling shock ending of September 1978 2017 2023 before...oh, it's right there.

"September Is Such Sweet Sorrow!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Mighty Marvel Comics Calendar 1978 (Marvel, 1977); pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Tom Palmer, colors by George Bell
(Click picture to look-out-below-size)

Today in Comics History, September 1, 1858 and 1958: The literary hunt that serves a duel purpose

On this very day in 1858, a remarkable competition is born:


from The Adventures of Blake & Mortimer v.24: The Testament of William S. (Cinebook, March 2017), script by Yves Sente, translation by Jerome Saincantin, pencils and inks by André Juillard, colors by Madeleine DeMille, letters by Design Amorandi
Just like me doing my chores (I have to empty the wastebaskets and put the magazines into recycling), everybody leaves it until the last minute, so one hundred years later, in 1958:


Anyway, so what's such aa big deal about winning the bet?


HOLY COW! TO THE SHAKESPEARE-MOBILE!

Today in Comics History, September 1: Happy birthday, Joyce Holden!

Born on this day in 1930: movie and TV actor Joyce Holden! She's been in The Milkman, Iron Man (not, not that one, this one's from 1951), Bronco Buster, Girls in the Night, You Never Can Tell, The Donald O'Connor Show, and in Spin and Marty from The Mickey Mouse Club, among others! What she hasn't been in is very many comic books, but I did hunt up the one she was in! Who says this isn't the Mighty Bully Age of Doing Research to Entertain All Y'All?


from Movie Love #18 (Eastern Color, December 1952), pencils and inks by Frank Fogarty
Sadly, she didn't even get her picture in this feature. So, to address that omission, here she is WHOA VA-VA-VOOM! Ahem. I mean, Miss Holden, with complete respect AH-WOOGA AH-WOOGA! (hits self over head with hammer)


Happy birthday, Joyce!

Today in Comics History, September 1: Happy birthday, Gene Colan!

Let's all wish a happy birthday to comics artist Gene Colan, born this day in 1926! Daredevil, Doctor Strange, Tomb of Dracula, Detective Comics, Wonder Woman, Tales of Suspense, Night Force, Jemm: Son of Saturn, Captain America, Silverblade, Iron Man, Howard the Duck, My Love, Our Army at War, Hopalong Cassidy, The Avengers, and don't forget Jughead's Time Police – he's drawn 'em all! Plus ever so very many more! Why, we'd be here all night so maybe I'd better list the comics Gene Colan hasn't worked on. Let's see...Angel Love...? And here's a short list of the dozens of characters he's co-created: Blade, Carol Danvers, the Super-Adaptoid, Ben Urich, freakin' Dracula (well, the Marvel version, at least), Nathaniel Dusk, Captain Mar-Vell, Madame Masque, Jemm (Son o' Saturn), Baron Winters and the members of Night Force, Mister Fear, Nocturna, and my favorite, Man-Bull! Whew!


from The Mighty Marvel Calendar 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979 (Marvel, 1975-1978)

The 1978 2017 2023 DC Calendar of Super-Spectacular Disasters: September Spirit of '76

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

"September: The Freedom Fighters" in The 1978 Calendar of Super-Spectacular Disasters; artwork by Dick Ayers and Jack Abel
(Click picture to patrio-size)
Another month, another fire-powered villain, and a twin brother: Flamesplasher I and Flamesplasher II! Nice job with the original code-names, guys, especially since the second one sprayed water. They're the super-villain team that battles themselves! And say, about those names...was the codename "Heat Wave" already taken? Yes. Yes it was. Luckily for us, the Nazi-punchin' team from Earth-X known as The Freedom Fighters made the journey all the way from defunct, bought-out Quality Comics (Hey! Where's The Spirit?) to battle this mercury-risin' villain...and his slightly-damp twin bro.


Say, JLA Sinclair ZX-81 Computer, how's those year-long calculations comin' along? Did me filling in this months squares give us any better an idea who the Ultimate Head-Guy Super-Mastermind is? I bet it's Condiment King. It's always Condiment King.


Oh hey! It's Stevie Wonder!


Barry Ween?!?

Today in Comics History, September 1: Happy birthday, Friction!

Friction! You don't cause some, there won't be none! Oh, and it's her birthday, too (born in 1968).


from D.P. 7 #20 (Marvel/New Universe, June 1988), creators unidentified and unknown
Happy birthday to you all the way over in the New Universe, Charlotte!

Today in Comics History, August 27: Happy birthday, Thomas Boyd!

Born on this day in 1969 (so he just missed Woodstock): paranormal Thomas Boyd, who was absent the day they handed out cool code names.


from Psi-Force #23 (Marvel/New Universe, September 1988), pencils by Ron Lim
Oh no! He killed Edgar Allan Poe!

Today in Comics History, August 25, 2010: Look out, Gail! He's gained the proportionate powers of a pigeon!

from "Revelation, Part Two: ...That Fateful Day..." in Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom (2020 series) #6 (Dark Horse, April 2011), script by Jim Shooter, pencils and inks by Roger Robinson, colors by Wes Dzioba, letters by Nate Piekos

Today in Comics History, August 25, 2006: They're smiling because unlike most of America, they have adequate health insurance

from Fantastic Four (2023 series) #1/694 (Marvel, January 2023), script by Ryan North, pencils and inks by Iban Coello, colors by Jesus Aburtov, letters by Joe Caramagna

Today in Comics History, August 25, 1632: Wow, this is the longest tweet ever

from The Adventures of Blake & Mortimer v.24: The Testament of William S. (Cinebook, March 2017), script by Yves Sente, translation by Jerome Saincantin, pencils and inks by André Juillard, colors by Madeleine DeMille, letters by Design Amorandi

Today in Comics History, August 24: Mrs. Wormstedt doesn't like it when I take a bath in the backyard

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 24, 2010: Industrialists plot the destruction of Santa Claus

from "Revelation, Part One: That Day of Wrath..." in Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom (2010 series) #5 (Dark Horse, February 2011), script by Jim Shooter, pencils and inks by Roger Robinson, colors by Wes Dzioba, letters by Nate Piekos

Today in Comics History, August 22: Happy birthday, D. G. Chichester!

Born on this date: comic book scripter D. G. Chichester, writer for Daredevil, Nick Fury, Elektra, St. George, Doctor Zero, Terror Inc., and more!


from "Bullpen Bulletins" in Marvel Comics cover-dated November 1989
Here's the first couple pages of an extensive interview with D. G. about Marvel's then-forthcoming Terror Inc. series.

from Marvel Age #113 (Marvel, June 1992), interview by Nel Yomtov
(Click picture to terror-size)
H. B., D. G.!