TODAY IN COMIC BOOK HISTORY15515
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| July 13 When Obadiah was a child, his father Zebediah Stane was a degenerate gambler and Obadiah’s mother died of unknown reasons. One day, his father considered himself on a “lucky streak” and played a game of Russian roulette and shot himself in the head while his young son watched. This trauma caused Obadiah to go bald, and shaped his outlook on life. From then on, Stane was a ruthless manipulator who studied his adversaries to find weaknesses to exploit. In adulthood, Obadiah Stane becomes the President and CEO of his own company, Stane International, as a munitions dealer. He also goes into business with Howard Stark. After the elder Stark died in a car accident, Stane turns his sights on acquiring control of Stark International, the industrial corporation he had worked with, now owned by Tony Stark. He also confronts the younger Stark in person. Stane and his associates conspire to lock Stark International out of various business deals. Stark eventually learns that Stane is the mastermind behind these attacks, but is unable to confront him. The assaults on Stark, his business, and his friends push Stark to the edge, and he relapses into alcoholism. With S.H.I.E.L.D.’s help, Stane buys out Stark International, which he then renames Stane International. Stark, having fallen off the wagon, relinquishes his armor to Rhodes and disappears to be a homeless vagrant. Rhodes becomes the new Iron Man while ignoring Stane’s demands to relinquish the armor. Rhodes eventually thwarts Stane in his attempt to take over the Iron Man battle-suits. Looking through Stark Enterprises’ records, Stane discovers Stark’s notes on the Iron Man armor. The notes are incomplete and highly advanced, but Stane assigns a team of scientists to decipher them; they eventually create the Iron Monger armor which, according to Stane, is “far superior to Stark’s Iron Man armor”. He debuted in Iron Man #163 (July 13, 1982).  |
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| July 14 Hugh Dawkins is a born metahuman with the ability to turn into a supernaturally large and intelligent Tasmanian Devil, in a fashion similar to a werewolf. While Hugh is a pacifist, his alter ego of the Tasmanian Devil is aggressive and bestial. His parents had a hard time with him until he saved his father’s life. He first appeared in Super Friends #7 (July 14, 1977). He works as a superhero in Tasmania until he is contacted by a man named Doctor Mist to join the Global Guardians. He fights alongside the team and other heroes. In one incident, a teamup with Infinity Inc. goes bad when Taz is mentally forced to help a murderous villain gain revenge on a casino. Later, the Guardians’ base is destroyed and the team disbands. In his Devil form, he has super strength, savage claws, and razor sharp fangs.  |
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| July 15 Trunks first appears in Dragon Ball #331 The Young Boy of Mystery, published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on July 15, 1991. Here he is a mysterious seventeen year old capable of transforming into the Super Saiyan state, who appears and singlehandedly kills Freeza and his father, King Cold. Upon Goku’s return from Planet Namek, Trunks confides in Goku his tragic story. Trunks has traveled from twenty years in the future where the world is in constant ruin due to the terror of the two androids #17 and #18which were created by Doctor Gero, the former chief scientist of the Red Ribbon Army. By this time, Goku has succumbed to an unknown heart virus and everyone, with the exception of Gohan, has fallen at the hands of the artificial humans. Trunks has been living with Bulma and secretly training with Gohan. After Gohan’s inevitable death, Trunks assumes the mantle of Earth’s sole protector against the artificial humans for the next three years until Bulma finishes her time machine. Once he informs Goku of the events to come, Trunks gives Goku a special medicine and returns to his own time.  |
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 TURNING POINTS by Maggie Thompson Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles, and ends, this time for July 15-21, 2022... 110 years ago July 20, 1912 Golden Age artist John Lehti is born. His work includes Tales from the Great Book, Sgt. Rock, and The Losers. 100 years ago July 17, 1922 Billy DeBeck’s Barney Google strip introduces Spark Plug. (The strip title will be changed to Barney Google and Spark Plug at one point.) 95 years ago July 15, 1927 Artist Jack Abel is born. He works for several comics companies (sometimes as Gary Michaels) on such characters as Superman, Iron Man, and Hulk. 95 years ago July 17, 1927 Belgian writer-artist Liliane Funcken is born. She’s known for work with her husband, Fred, on historical strips for Tintin. 95 years ago July 21, 1927 German animator and artist Willy Moese is born. 90 years ago July 20, 1932 Artist, editor, and DC vice president and executive editor Dick Giordano is born. He also serves on the board of directors of The Hero Initiative. 85 years ago July 16, 1937 Psychedelic poster artist Wes Wilson is born. 80 years ago July 15, 1942 Fawcett’s Wow Comics #6 introduces Commando Yank and Phantom Eagle. 80 years ago July 16, 1942 Artist, writer, and editor Russ Jones is born. He creates Warren’s Creepy magazine. 80 years ago July 21, 1942 Italian artist Franco Tarantola is born. 80 years ago July 21, 1942 Italian artist Giove Toppi dies at age 53. Lambiek says he created the first Italian police series, Renato Gallo. 70 years ago July 17, 1952 Historian and critic Mike Tiefenbacher is born. Among the credits of the Street Enterprises co-founder (with Jerry Sinkovec) is work as editor of The Comic Reader. 70 years ago July 19, 1952 Flaming Carrot creator artist-writer Bob Burden is born. 70 years ago July 20, 1952 Writer Mark Hamlin is born. 65 years ago July 16, 1957 Artist Louis Biedermann dies at age 82. He was especially known for his illustrations for Jack Lait’s All the Funny Folks: The Wonder Tale of How the Comic-Strip Characters Live and Love ‘Behind the Scenes.’ 60 years ago July 17, 1962 Artist Steven S. Crompton is born. 60 years ago July 21, 1962 Bill Knapp is born. The writer-artist is especially known for The Furies. 50 years ago July 15, 1972 Funny Aminals from Apex Novelties goes on sale. In that anthology underground is a three-pager titled “Maus,” the start of Art Spiegelman’s classic. 50 years ago July 19, 1972 Writer-artist, art director, teacher, and editor Jamal Yaseem Igle is born. He creates Molly Danger. 40 years ago July 16, 1982 The first day of the Chicago Comicon at the Americana-Congress hotel kicks off three days of what becomes known as “Sweatcon,” thanks to its air conditioning failing to compete with the event’s major Doctor Who component. It’s the last downtown Chicago year for the con, which moves next to the Ramada O’Hare. 30 years ago July 17, 1992 Micronauts and Rom writer and Cloak and Dagger and Rocket Raccoon creator Bill Mantlo is struck by a car while rollerblading and permanently brain-injured. 15 years ago July 19, 2007 Argentine artist Roberto Fontanarrosa (who worked as “El Negro”) dies at age 62. 5 years ago July 15, 2017 Actor and artist Martin Landau dies at age 89. Though best known as a movie and TV actor, he began his career as a cartoonist and assisted Gus Edson on The Gumps during the 1940s and 1950s. |
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| July 16 The Badoon are older than the Kree and the Skrulls. They first appeared in Silver Surfer #2 (July 16, 1968). They are notable for living under strict gender segregation, resulting in two separate societies; the Brotherhood of Badoon (ruled by a “Brother Royal”) and the Sisterhood of Badoon (ruled by a Queen). There was a natural hatred between the two genders, and they fought each other in long gender wars. Eventually, the males won, placing the females in captivity. In time, the males developed technology and abandoned Lotiara, returning only when their mating drive made it necessary. The Brotherhood live on the planet Moord in the Lomora star system while the Sisterhood reside on the Badoon homeworld of Lotiara. The males became conquerors of worlds, while the females became pacifists, content to remain in peace on their homeworld and ignorant of the males’ star-spanning empire. Badoon invasion attempts of Earth have been overcome by the Silver Surfer, Namor, and the New Warriors. They were also opposed by the combined forces of the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and Arkon in order to liberate Arkon’s homeworld and prevent an invasion of the Shi'ar empire.  |
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| July 17 Lyonel Feininger was born in New York City on July 17, 1871. In 1888, he moved to Berlin and studied at the Königliche Akademie Berlin under Ernst Hancke. He started as a caricaturist for several magazines including Harper’s Round Table, Harper’s Young People, Humoristische Blätter, Lustige Blätter, Das Narrenschiff, Berliner Tageblattand Ulk. Feininger’s career as cartoonist started in 1894. In February 1906, when a quarter of Chicago’s population was of German descent, James Keeley, editor of The Chicago Tribune traveled to Germany to procure the services of the most popular humor artists. He recruited Feininger to illustrate two comic strips “The Kin-der-Kids” and “Wee Willie Winkie’s World” for the Chicago Tribune. The strips were noted for their feyhumor and graphic experimentation. Art Spiegelman wrote of him in The New York Times Book Review, that Feininger’s comics have “achieved a breathtaking formal grace unsurpassed in the history of the medium.”  |
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| July 18 General Zahl is a former Nazi U-boat captain who tangled from time to time with the Doom Patrol. He first appeared in Doom Patrol #121 (July 28, 1968) as “Captain Zahl.” As a U-boat captain, Zahl was ruthless and effective, achieving the highest kill number of any commander in the German fleet. After the fall of the Nazis, Captain Zahl worked as a mercenary, until a conflict with the Doom Patrol forced him into retirement. Due to the conflict, he was forced to wear a neck and back brace. Later, Zahl assisted Madame Rouge in apparently killing the Doom Patrol. Madame Rouge had previously succeeded in destroying the other members of the Brotherhood of Evil. Years later, Changeling, Robotman and the Teen Titans tracked down Zahl and Rouge. Near the conflict’s end, Zahl, determined to not be taken alive, fired upon Robotman, knowing the bullets would ricochet and strike Zahl, which they did. As Zahl lay dying, he declared “I die now, but that is all right. I haff the last laugh, Robotman!” Unrepentant to the end, his final words were “Hei…Heil Hitl…”  |
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| July 19 In 4001 A.D., a massive machine known as the Host covers the entire island of Japan. Fifty billion Japanese dwell inside this mighty construct, which is, in fact, a single, enormous robot. The populace dubbed it “Grandmother” because of its clearly benevolent desire to care for and protect the people of Japan. To insure her own safety, Grandmother created a security force of one, her Spirit Guardian. It is called Rai, the kanji word for “spirit”. Rai is the hereditary defender of the Host – its living immune system. Rai draws weapons from his own body to protect the people of Japan and his creator Grandmother, the sentient artificial intelligence that controls Japan. The line of Rai were created by Grandmother in the image of the 20th century hero Bloodshot. She hoped to inspire her people by invoking his heroism. He first appeared in a flipbook back-up feature in Magnus Robot Fighter #5 (July 19, 1991).  |
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| July 20 The Phoenix Force is an immortal and mutable manifestation of the prime universal force of life and passion. The Phoenix first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #101 (July 20, 1976). Born of the void between states of being, the Phoenix Force is a child of the universe. It is the nexus of all psionic energy which does, has, and ever will exist in all realities of the multiverse, the Guardian of Creation, and of the dangerously powerful M'Kraan Crystal. The Phoenix is among the most feared beings in all of existence — having the power to cut and re-grow any part of the universe, as well as destroy it entirely, which is part of the Phoenix’s purpose: “The Judgment of the Phoenix”, to burn away the obsolete. The Phoenix Force is described as being “the embodiment of the very passion of Creation – the spark that gave life to the Universe, the flame that will ultimately consume it.” The Phoenix Force returned to Earth when it felt the mind of a human transcend the physical realm, a mind that resonated with the Phoenix Force’s energy. A young Jean Grey had telepathically linked her mind to her dying friend, Annie Richardson, to keep Annie’s soul from moving to the afterlife. In doing so, Jean’s mind was being dragged along to the “other side” with Annie. Phoenix lent its energy to break the connection, and kept close watch on young Jean, as it felt a kinship with the young mutant. Years later when Jean was dying on a space shuttle, her mind called out for help and the Phoenix Force answered and saved her, transforming Jean into the Phoenix.  |
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| July 21 Stuart “Stu” Moseley, co-owner of “EATS”, a skid row diner in the ghetto section of Delta City, fights the injustices and slightly goofy criminal element as The Heckler, armed only with his sarcastic wit and a brightly colored costume. Stu’s motivations and origins are unknown. Possibly he’s just a glutton for punishment, for it seems that he receives no respect from his contemporaries in either his civilian or costumed alter ego’s existence. It is notable that while walking around as Stu, he ends up coming across as slightly anal, frustrated and awkward. When wearing his costume, however, he seems to become a completely different person, endlessly confident and insanely daring with a talent for trickery and a smart-mouthed sense of humor that he uses to irritate, annoy and insult his foes until they usually pretty much defeat themselves in a style highly reminiscent of cartoon character Bugs Bunny. A costumed fighter with only average strength and agility, Stu relies heavily on his razor-sharp wit to enrage and baffle his adversaries to the point of blinding frustration, opening a window of opportunity that he will exploit to his benefit. He first appeared in The Heckler #1 (July 21, 1992).  |
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TURNING POINTS by Maggie Thompson Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles, and ends, this time for July 22-28, 2022... 215 years ago July 24, 1807 German diplomat and writer-artist Johann Hermann Detmold is born. 135 years ago July 25, 1887 Henry Mayhew dies at age 74. He co-founded and co-edited Punch. 125 years ago July 25, 1897 Russian-Serbian pioneering cartoonist Ivan Šenšin is born. 115 years ago July 24, 1907 Beryl Antonia Yeoman is born. The Punch cartoonist signs her work “Anton.” 115 years ago July 27, 1907 Golden Age Dell artist and animator Jesse Marsh is born. He begins his career at the Disney Studio and works on Dell’s Gene Autry but is especially known for his work on Dell’s Tarzan series (based on films in which actor Lex Barker appeared). 110 years ago July 23, 1912 Voice artist Jackson Beck is born. Among countless accomplishments, he narrates the Adventures of Superman radio show and voices such animated characters as Bluto. 110 years ago July 23, 1912 Canadian artist and teacher Maurice Raymond is born. 105 years ago July 23, 1917 Editor and DC writer Francis Edward Herron is born. The co-creator of Clock King, Golden Gladiator, and Cave Carson is also credited with co-creating Captain Marvel Jr. (with Mac Raboy) and The Red Skull and Mr. Scarlet (with Jack Kirby). 105 years ago July 23, 1917 Gordo comic strip creator writer-artist Gus Arriola is born. 100 years ago July 23, 1922 Italian film writer-director Damiano Damiani is born. He begins his career as an artist, part of the “Group of Venice” working on the title Asso di Picche. 100 years ago July 26, 1922 Gérard Calvi is born as Grégoire Krettly. The French composer provides scores for three Astérix films. 95 years ago July 27, 1927 Award-winning Italian writer-artist Guido Buzzelli is born. His work includes Angélique. 80 years ago July 24, 1942 Actor Chris Sarandon is born. His voice artistry includes Jack Skellington in The Nightmare before Christmas. 75 years ago July 25, 1947 French artist Ted Benoît is born. 70 years ago July 25, 1952 Editorial cartoonist Chip Bok is born. 65 years ago July 25, 1957 Cartoonist Ray Billingsley is born. He creates the Curtis newspaper strip. 60 years ago July 23, 1962 Artist Kelley Jones is born. He draws Comet Man, Micronauts, Batman, and more. 60 years ago July 26, 1962 Artist Harry Candelario is born. 55 years ago July 22, 1967 Eleanor Lewis Packer dies at age 68. She was managing editor of Dell’s Four Color #27 and other early Dell funny animal comics. 55 years ago July 28, 1967 Writer-artist Violet Moore Higgins dies at age 80. She drew the Drowsy Dick comic strip and was a Treasure Chest artist. 50 years ago July 22-23, 1972 The Chicago Comic-Con begins, organized by Nancy Warner, who calls it “Nostalgia ’72.” It is held at the Pick-Congress Hotel. 50 years ago July 22, 1972 DC artist Seth Fisher is born. 50 years ago July 25, 1972 Artist and letterer Galen Showman is born. 50 years ago July 27, 1972 Writer-artist-editor-librarian Mark Pate is born. He’s especially known for his work on Cavewoman and Oz. 50 years ago July 28, 1972 Writer-artist Fanny Cory dies at age 94. One of the first female syndicated comics artists in the U.S., she created Ben Bolt and Little Miss Muffet. 40 years ago July 25, 1982 Writer-artist Hal Foster dies at age 89. Despite the high quality of his work on the Tarzan comic strip, he was best known for his creation of and work on the Prince Valiant comic strip. 35 years ago July 24, 1987 Superman IV: The Quest for Peace opens. Its relative lack of success is followed by a hiatus for Superman movies. 20 years ago July 23, 2002 Yugoslavian artist Đorđe Lobačev dies at age 93. Lambiek calls him “one of the classic Yugoslavian comic artists.” 20 years ago July 25, 2002 Musician and writer-artist Lucia Pamela dies of cardiac arrest at age 98. 15 years ago July 25, 2007 The United States Postal Service introduces Marvel Superhero stamps. 10 years ago July 24, 2012 Indonesian artist R.A. Kosasih dies at age 93. 10 years ago July 24, 2012 Chilean writer-artist Themo Logos dies at age 83. Born Themistocles Nazario Lobos Aguirre, he was also a publisher, creator of characters Máximo Chambónez, Ferrilo, and more, and best known for his work on the character Mampato. 5 years ago July 23, 2017 Underground (Big Apple) comics publisher and Marvel fan liaison Flo Steinberg dies of a brain aneurysm and metastatic lung cancer at age 78. (She was one of only four female attendees at the first major multiday U.S. comics convention in 1966.) 5 years ago July 27, 2017 Comedy writer Stan Hart (who contributed to Mad and worked at Topps) dies at age 88 of progressive supranuclear palsy. |
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| July 22 In the Hyborian Age, a meteoritelanded on Earth in Northern Vanaheim on the European continent, circa 8250 B.C. It was controlled by an evil extra-dimensional entity called the Hellfire Helix, which wanted to conquer the world. To that end, it sent its agent, Ulluxy’l Kwan Tae Syn, to get the meteorite and find a host for it. However, a local human hunter/gatherer found the rock, and fought Ulluxy’l Kwan Tae Syn. In the fight, the meteor was smashed, a part of it was imbedded in the human’s chest, and the explosion killed the human’s tribe. The human vowed revenge on Ulluxy’l Kwan Tae Syn. Because of the gem in his chest, he became immortal, and later became known as Ulysses Bloodstone. Ulysses Bloodstone first appeared in Marvel Presents #1 (July 22, 1975). He was one of the most successful mercenaries in the world. His long life allowed him to assemble a vast fortune, which he used to set up a series of outposts, fully staffed and equipped, in various corners of the world. He gained mastery of most of the world’s weaponry, and a large portion of the world’s martial arts and languages.  |
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| July 23 Mirage is originally one of the Teen Titans who came from the future to kill Donna Troy before she could give birth to her son, who, in Mirage’s future, became the evil dictator Lord Chaos. She first appeared in The New Titans #79 (July 23, 1991). After Donna sacrificed her powers to prevent that future from becoming real, Mirage and the other Team Titans relocated to Donna’s farm in New Jersey. She had to deal with Killowat’s intense crush on her and the more malicious intents of another man. Mirage was raped by her former lover Deathwing and became pregnant with his child. For a while she deceived her friends, using her powers to make it seem as if she had lost the child.  Carrie Levine was from an alternate timeline 10 years in the future in which a tyrant named Lord Chaos ruled Earth. Carrie’s parents were scientists involved in genetic research at S.T.A.R. Labs; exposure to radiation altered the DNA of their unborn twin children. Carrie was born with red-feathered wings and her brother Jonathan aka “Prestor Jon” was born with the ability to interface with computers. They were hidden by their parents from Lord Chaos, but their parents’ genetic research was used by Lord Chaos to find and eliminate other metahumans. After Lord Chaos killed their parents, they joined the underground. Carrie later joined Team Titans as Redwing. She first appeared in New Titans #79 (July 23, 1991). Redwing and her teammates Killowat, Terra, Mirage, and Nightrider were selected to be sent back in time. Their mission was to kill Wonder Girl (Donna Troy) before she could give birth to Lord Chaos.  David was an ordinary mortal boy growing up in London. When he was ten, he was hit by a truck. Lord Chaos took a special interest in him, making him a test subject. At fourteen, he was the subject of an experiment in which he was infused with DNA drawn from the bones of Dracula. This turned him into a blood-hungering monster he dubbed “Dagon”, because he felt as if David, the person he used to be, was dead. During the experiment, a demon attacked the research team; Dagon joined it and singled out the chief researcher for special attention. The only survivor was Charlie Watkins, who would later become the hero Killowat. Dagon joined the Team Titans to get revenge on Lord Chaos, adopting the name Nightrider. They taught him how to control his hunger and assigned him to a team. He first appeared in The New Titans #79 (July 23, 1991). Nightrider and his teammates Killowat, Terra, Mirage,and Redwing were selected by the leader of Team Titans to be sent back in time. Their mission was to kill Wonder Girl (Donna Troy) before she could give birth to Lord Chaos.  |
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| July 24 Garth was a comic strip which was first published in the British newspaper Daily Mirror on July 24, 1943. The strip recounted the exploits of the title character, an immensely strong hero who battled various villains throughout the world and many different chronological eras. Garth washed ashore in Shetland and was adopted by an elderly couple. Garth developed almost superhuman strength and eventually became a naval captain and all-round military genius. Garth travelled through many eras and confronted villains such as Madame Voss and Apollo. His true love was the ancient goddess-like figure, Astra. Garth’s sidekick and mentor was Professor Lumiere, who psychoanalyzed the hero and recovered memories of his previous experiences.  |
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| July 25 Born in Milan on July 25, 1945, Anna Brandoli made her debut in 1977 in Alter Alter magazine. For that magazine, she drew La Strega (The Witch) with Renato Queirolo, who became her main scenarist. In Sweden it is called Rebecca, which was the name of the comic’s heroine. Together, Brandoli and Queirolo also published two albums for a younger audience: Colorina and Il Mago di Oz. In 1981, Brandoli started the I Testamenti di Sant'Ambrogio (Rebecca) series in the magazine Linus. This series narrates the adventures of a woman living in the 15th century Italy.  |
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| July 26 Dorothy Spinner’s mother gave her up for adoption when Dorothy was a baby. She was adopted by a Midwestern couple. Dorothy suffered a facial deformity that gave her the appearance of an ape, complete with hairy arms. Because of this, Dorothy grew up isolated from society, with only her imaginary friends for company. She eventually discovered that she had the power to bring these “friends” to life. Her imaginary friends even taught her how to read and write, because she wasn’t allowed to go to school, because people thought that she would “scare” the other children. Dorothy’s first comic appearance was in Doom Patrol #14 (July 26, 1988), when the Doom Patrol was swallowed by a Chaos Lord named Pythia. This happened near Dorothy’s home and when she went to investigate, she was swallowed by Pythia as well. Inside, she thought she witnessed the Doom Patrol and other heroes being killed, and pelted Pythia with rocks, which caused her pain and destroyed her.  |
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| July 27 2001: A Space Odyssey was a comic book adaptation of the 1968 film of the same name as well as a monthly series, lasting ten issues, which expanded upon the concepts presented in the Stanley Kubrick film and the novel by Arthur C. Clarke. Jack Kirby wrote and pencilled both the adaptation and the series, which were published by Marvel Comics beginning with 2001: A Space Odyssey #1 (July 27,1976). The story is a close adaptation of the events of the film, but differs in the fact that Kirby incorporated additional dialog from two other sources: the Clarke/Kubrick novel, and a copy of an earlier draft script of the film that included the more colloquial-sounding version of HAL 9000, as originally voiced by actor Martin Balsam before Douglas Rain took over. In addition, the comic narrative captions describe the characters’ thoughts and feelings, a significantly different approach from that taken by the film. Shortly after the publication of the treasury edition, Kirby continued to explore the concepts of 2001 in a monthly comic book series of the same name.  |
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TURNING POINTS by Maggie Thompson Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles, and ends, this time for July 29 through August 4, 2022... 165 years ago July 31, 1857 French writer-artist Adolphe Willette is born. 130 years ago July 30, 1892 The British comics magazine Funny Wonder begins. 115 years ago July 31, 1907 Belgian writer-artist and musician François Gianolla is born. 100 years ago July 30, 1922 Turkish cartoonist Turhan Selçuk is born. 95 years ago July 31, 1927 Charlton editor George Wildman is born. He draws Atomic Mouse, Popeye, and many other comic books featuring licensed characters. 85 years ago August 4, 1937 Award-winning Italian artist Sergio Zaniboni is born. He’s especially known for his work on Diabolik. 80 years ago August 2, 1942 Artist Dave Hunt is born. His comic book work includes projects for Marvel, DC, Disney, and Hanna-Barbera, and he inks a number of mainstream titles. 80 years ago August 4, 1942 Writer, editor, researcher, and mathematician Rick Norwood is born. He founds and edits Manuscript Press, especially noted for the long-running Comics Revue. 65 years ago July 29, 1957 Dutch writer, editor, and translator Piet Zeeman is born. He writes many Disney comics stories. 65 years ago July 31, 1957 Artist Gary Barker is born. 60 years ago August 3, 1962 Artist Julie Ann Sczesny is born. 45 years ago August 1, 1977 Dutch artist Bernard van Vlijmen dies at age 81. 40 years ago August 1, 1982 The Marvin newspaper strip begins. It’s created, written, and drawn by Tom Armstrong. 35 years ago August 1, 1987 Carol Kalish is promoted to the newly created Marvel Entertainment Group position of Vice President/Direct Sales. 30 years ago July 30, 1992 Artist Joe Shuster dies at age 78. Among many other accomplishments, he co-created Superman with writer Jerry Siegel. 15 years ago August 2, 2007 The Dandy becomes Dandy Xtreme with #3426. 10 years ago July 29, 2012 Dutch artist, teacher, and Stichting Alphense Ateliers co-founder Guus Kool dies at age 71. And here are the anniversaries spanning the month of August… 120 years ago August 1902 The last episode of Richard F. Outcault’s Poor Li’l Mose is published. 80 years ago August 1942 Dell’s Four Color #9 goes on sale, introducing the first comic book art by Carl Barks. It’s in “Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold,” scripted by Bob Karp and Homer Brightman and drawn by Barks and Jack Hannah. 80 years ago August 1942 DC’s Action Comics #51 introduces The Prankster in “The Case of the Crimeless Crimes” by Jerry Siegel and (according to the Grand Comics Database) John Sikela. 80 years ago August 1942 “Meet ‘Two-Face’” DC’s Detective Comics #66 introduces Two-Face in “The Crimes of Two-Face!” by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson, and George Roussos. 75 years ago August 1947 Marvel’s Hedy De Vine Comics #22 introduces Hedy De Vine in stories drawn by Ed Winiarski and Christopher Rule. 75 years ago August 1947 Fox’s Phantom Lady #13 introduces Phantom Lady, drawn by Matt Baker. 75 years ago August 1947 The cover of DC’s Flash Comics #86 features a “Stone Age menace” dinosaur vs. Flash. But “The Black Canary” by Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella is a Johnny Thunder story that, yes, introduces Black Canary. 75 years ago August 1947 In a Wildcat story in DC’s Sensation Comics #68, The Huntress is introduced, drawn by Mort Meskin. 75 years ago August 1947 Avon’s The Saint #1 introduces to comic books Simon Templar, the dashing British criminal created by Leslie Charteris. 70 years ago August 1952 “C’mon – as long as I’m standing – Baker Company’s still in business!” So shouts the soldier on the cover of DC’s Our Army at War #1, a war story anthology series. 70 years ago August 1952 “Is he man … or ghost?” Who the heck knows? DC’s Phantom Stranger #1 introduces The Phantom Stranger. To be more specific, “Out of the swirling mists of nowhere looms a mysterious figure to shield the innocent from the dark forces of evil … and then to disappear again into the void!” OK, I guess we can be clear on that. “The Haunters from Beyond” is by Manly Wade Wellman (known for his fantasy stories including those about “Silver John”), Carmine Infantino, and Sy Barry. 65 years ago August 1957 Harvey Kurtzman’s Humbug begins with the cover announcement “The end of the world is coming” adding in tiny type, “Only ten billion years left. While waiting, read Humbug for laughs.” Contributors include Kurtzman and Will Elder, Jack Davis, Ira Wallach, Ken Englund, Al Jaffee, Arnold Roth, Wally Wood, and R.O. Blechman. 65 years ago August 1957 Marvel’s Western Kid #17 is the last issue. 65 years ago August 1957 Marvel Tales #159 is the last issue of the series. (Don’t worry. It’ll be back.) 60 years ago August 1962 In DC’s Adventure Comics #299, “The Unwanted Superbaby!” by Jerry Siegel and George Papp introduces gold kryptonite. 60 years ago August 1962 Marvel’s Amazing Fantasy #15 (continuing the numbering from Amazing Adult Fantasy) introduces Aunt May, Uncle Ben, and – oh, yes – some kid, must be their nephew, right? That’d be Peter Parker, and there’s a new character who’s named Spider-Man. Hm. Yeah, this is the last issue of Amazing Fantasy, but some of those characters might have possibilities. 60 years ago August 1962 Marvel’s Journey into Mystery #83 begins the saga of Thor. It says so on the cover. Donald Blake stars in “The Stone Men from Saturn!” by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, and Joe Sinnott. 55 years ago August 1967 America’s Best TV Comics is a one-shot packaged by Marvel for ABC-TV to publicize the network’s fall Saturday morning programming. It features Casper, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, King Kong, George of the Jungle, and Journey to the Center of the Earth – and even carries an ad for ABC’s primetime Batman. 55 years ago August 1967 “Here he is..!” Marvel’s The Avengers #43 introduces The Red Guardian. The story is by Roy Thomas, John Buscema, and George Roussos. 55 years ago August 1967 Marvel’s Strange Tales #159 introduces Val (Contessa Valentina Allegro De Fontaine) in “Spy School” by Jim Steranko. 55 years ago August 1967 “Who is the fastest man alive?” DC’s Superman #199 features a race between Superman and The Flash in (yes) “Superman’s Race with The Flash!” by Jim Shooter, Curt Swan, and George Klein. Could the race be fixed? 55 years ago August 1967 “Who says a comic book has to be good??” Marvel’s Not Brand Echh #1 proclaims that it’s “the comic magazine for nonbelievers who hate comic magazines!” 55 years ago August 1967 American Comics Group pretty much wraps things up. Adventures into the Unknown #174, Forbidden Worlds #145, and Unknown Worlds #57 are the last issues of each of its best-known fantasy anthology series. 50 years ago August 1972 Archie’s Archie at Riverdale High is the first of 113 issues. It looks as if Pop Tate’s Choklit Shoppe will be demolished. Pop says he has nothing to live for! Gee whiz! The story is by Frank Doyle, Stan Goldberg, and Jon D’Agostino. 50 years ago August 1972 “Is he alive – or dead?” Marvel Spotlight #5 introduces Johnny Blaze as Ghost Rider (“the most supernatural superhero of all”), and “a legend is born!” The story is by Gary Friedrich, Roy Thomas, and Mike Ploog. 50 years ago August 1972 DC’s The Demon #1 introduces “Jack Kirby’s startling new epic.” Etrigan the Demon makes his first appearance in “Unleash the One Who Waits” by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer. 50 years ago August 1972 In DC’s The Flash #217, Green Lantern begins as a backup feature (four months after his own title is put on pause with #89) by Denny O’Neil, Neal Adams, and Dick Giordano. (Note: the Green Lantern title will return with #90 (August 1976).) 50 years ago August 1972 Three Marvel characters appear in little circles on the cover of The Defenders #1: The Hulk, Sub-Mariner, and Doctor Strange. “I Slay by the Stars!” is by Steve Englehart, Sal Buscema, and Frank Giacoia. 50 years ago August 1972 DC’s Justice League of America #100 revives The Seven Soldiers of Victory from the Golden Age in a story by Len Wein, Dick Dillin, and Joe Giella. 45 years ago August 1977 “From the ashes of the old … a new team shall be born!” DC’s Showcase #94 revives the series and introduces a new Doom Patrol: Celsius, Valentina Vostok, and Joshua Clay. “The Doom Patrol Lives Forever!” is by Paul Kupperberg and Joe Staton. Oh, and, hey, DC’s Aquaman #57 revives that title. (Its previous issue, #56, carried a cover date of March 1971.) 45 years ago August 1977 DC cancels Superboy with #230 (but it’s really just a title change; the series is back in September as Superboy & the Legion of Super-Heroes #231), DC Special with #29, and Hercules Unbound with #12. 45 years ago August 1977 Marvel’s Howard the Duck #15 introduces the owner of “The Mysterious Island of Dr. Bong!” Dr. Bong appears in the story by Steve Gerber, Gene Colan, and Klaus Janson. 45 years ago August 1977 Marvel cancels The Inhumans with #12. (It’s announced in the issue that it’s the last issue. But they’ll be back.) And Marvel Presents is the last issue of that title with #12. 45 years ago August 1977 “Who is the man the Army knows only as Code Name: Gravedigger?” DC’s Men of War #1 introduces Gravedigger: “His very existence is classified!” The story is by David Michelinie, Ed Davis, and Romeo Tanghal. 45 years ago August 1977 “Look out, America! The mightiest menace of them all is coming your way!” The first issue of Marvel’s Godzilla features “The Coming!” by Doug Moench, Herb Trimpe, and Jim Mooney and stars (yep!) Godzilla. 45 years ago August 1977 “Introducing! The savagery of Sabre-Tooth!” So says the cover of Marvel’s Iron Fist #14. Yes, Sabretooth gets a hyphen on the cover – and even in the story. “Snowfire” is by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Dan Green. 40 years ago August 1982 The pioneering graphic novel series Sabre begins from Eclipse. “Slow Fade of an Endangered Species” is by Don McGregor and Paul Gulacy. 35 years ago August 1987 Eclipse wraps up its Alien Encounters anthology with #14. 35 years ago August 1987 DC’s The Shadow #1 brings the character back to comics yet again. “Shadows and Light: Part I: Hat Trick” is by Andy Helfer and Bill Sienkiewicz. (It’s DC’s third The Shadow series; earlier outings were in 1973 and 1986.) 35 years ago August 1987 DC’s Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters #1 introduces Shado in the first part of the graphic novel involving a move to Seattle by Green Arrow and Black Canary. The issue is by Mike Grell and Lurene Haines. 35 years ago August 1987 Dark Horse’s The American begins with “Chinese Boxes” by Mark Verheiden and Chris Warner. 30 years ago August 1992 “200th issue spectacular!” Marvel’s The Savage Sword of Conan #200 features “Barbarians of the Border” by Roy Thomas, John Buscema, and Ernie Chan – and background on the character, his creator (Robert E. Howard), and the series. 30 years ago August 1992 The Amazing Spider-Man #365 is the 30th anniversary issue and features a hologram on the cover. Stories reintroduce Peter Parker’s parents and provide a variety of approaches to the character. A story by Peter David, Rick Leonardi, and Al Williamson introduces Spider-Man 2099. 30 years ago August 1992 Remember last month, when we learned that Jim Valentino’s Shadowhawk had his first appearance in Image’s Youngblood #2? Well, now we learn all about the character in Image’s Shadowhawk #1. Or do we? Valentino is still teasing readers with the question “Who is Shadowhawk?” 30 years ago August 1992 Image’s WildC.A.T.s: Covert Action Teams #1 introduces Jim Lee’s WildC.A.T.s. “Resurrection Day” is by Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, and Scott Williams. (The issue also features an article by Lee about the formation of Image.) 25 years ago August 1997 There’s more than one Alpha Flight series from Marvel, but this is “A bold new era!” The story in this first issue is by Steven T. Seagle, Scott Clark, Chris Carlson, and David Beaty. 10 years ago August 2012 Marvel’s Hit-Girl #1 is by Mark Millar, John Romita Jr., and Tom Palmer. 10 years ago August 2012 “The most amazing heroes of two worlds”: Marvel’s Spider-Men #1 is by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli. 10 years ago August 2012 There’s a variety of DC’s “Before Watchmen” titles. Comedian #1 is by Brian Azzarello and J.G. Jones. Minutemen #1 is by Darwyn Cooke. Nite Owl #1 is by J. Michael Straczynski, Andy Kubert, and Joe Kubert. And Silk Spectre #1 is by Cooke and Amanda Conner. 5 years ago August 2017 Marvel’s five-issue miniseries Edge of Venomverse begins. 5 years ago August 2017 Marvel’s Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1 has a whole bunch of variants. The story by Chip Zdarsky and Adam Kubert begins, “When I was a kid, my parents died.” 5 years ago August 2017 There’s more than one Iceman series from Marvel. The story in this first issue is by Sina Grace and Alessandro Vitti. 5 years ago August 2017 Oh, and there’s more than one Defenders series from Marvel, too. The story in this first issue is by Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez. |
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| July 28 The Arrow first appeared in Funny Pages #21 (July 28, 1938). After Centaur Publications went out of business, the Arrow, along with most other company properties, lapsed into public domain. The Arrow was briefly revived by Malibu Comics, appearing as part of their Protectors/Genesis imprint. Ralph Payne was a member of a U.S. intelligence agency. Feeling that he could not effectively fight crime in his civilian guise, he turns to costumed crime fighting, becoming Arrow. He went on to use his guise to fight wars throughout WWII until he, like a lot of his allies was trapped in the Urn of Pandora by the Fighting Yank. Today, the Arrow is mostly remembered for being the first American superhero to rely on archery as a primary gimmick.  |
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| July 29 Lemar Hoskins was born in Chicago, Illinois. Along with his three Army buddies, he is given superhuman strength by Dr. Karl Malus on behalf of the Power Broker, and they become wrestlers. The four later form the Bold Urban Commandos (also known as the “BUCkies”), and are employed by John Walker, now known as the Super-Patriot. He was originally introduced as a nameless member of the Bold Urban Commandos in Captain America #323 (July 29, 1986). When the Federal Commission on Superhuman Activities selects Walker to replace Steve Rogers as Captain America, Hoskins is the only one in his group allowed to accompany the new Captain America. He takes the identity of Bucky, and undergoes a rigorous training under the supervision of the Commission. Hoskins, who is African American, is persuaded by another black man that “Bucky” is a demeaning title, since American slaveholders often referred to male slaves as “bucks”. Consequently, Hoskins takes on the identity of Battlestar, wearing a new costume and wielding a shield patterned after the one Steve Rogers originally carried.  |
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| July 30 Joe Coyne began his career selling newspapers, but he was soon caught stealing pennies. He now commits crimes which center around pennies. In “The Penny Plunderers”, he leaves Batman and Robin in a deathtrap shaped like a giant penny, with a penny each as a token of their worth - just two cents. Batman turns the tables by using the coins to make a battery and signal for help. The giant penny often shown in the Batcave is a trophy of Batman’s defeat of The Penny Plunderer. Joe Coyne first appeared in World’s Finest Comics #30 (July 30, 1947).  |
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| July 31 The Bi-Beast is an android with two heads (one atop the other - the top head was given a knowledge of warfare while the bottom head was given a knowledge of culture) created many years ago by an avian race that were in turn a sub-species of the Inhumans. For reasons unknown, that species died out, and the Bi-Beast is left to its own devices in their city. Years later, the creature sees the Harpy with Bruce Banner, and is reminded of its former avian masters. The Bi-Beast captures them both and instructs Banner to fix the now-decaying machines in the city. Banner instead chooses to cure the Harpy, who reverts to the form of Betty Ross soon after. The Bi-Beast becomes aware of Banner’s deception and fights Banner’s alter-ego the Hulk, but is distracted when an A.I.M. strike force led by MODOK storms the city. Rather than allow its home to be captured, the Bi-Beast activates a self-destruct mechanism and perishes in the explosion. The Bi-Beast first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #169 (July 31, 1973).  |
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| August 1 Twisted Tales was published on a bi-monthly schedule by Pacific Comics with the first issue going on sale on August 1, 1982. With three exceptions, all of the stories in the entire run of Twisted Tales were written by Jones, who had shown a knack for horror a decade before when he was employed as a scripter for Warren Publishing, writing for their Creepy and Eerie titles. Jones, a self-described “child of the 50’s”, was heavily influenced by the horror and science fiction movies of that decade. His work in Twisted Tales, often utilizing twist endings, added huge dollops of graphic violence and sexuality to the EC formula, complete with copious female nudity, making the title a definite “adults only” item; several issues sported a “Recommended For Mature Readers” warning on the cover. After Pacific went bankrupt, two final issues were published by Eclipse Comics in 1984.  Superboy-Prime is from the universe known as Earth Prime, in which the DC heroes are fictional comic book characters. He first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 (August 1, 1985). He is the adopted son of Jerry and Naomi Kent. Naomi wanted to name their infant son Clark, after her maiden name, but Jerry, knowing he will also be named like Superman, a fictional comic book character, initially refused, but finally gave in. What the Kents do not know is that the baby, found abandoned in a forest, is actually a young Kal-El, who has been teleported to Earth by his father Jor-El moments before the planet Krypton was destroyed when its red sun went supernova. Superboy-Prime is drawn into the Crisis on Infinite Earths after his universe is consumed in the light of the Anti-Monitor. Although the loss of everything he knows causes him anguish, he finds peace in knowing that he fights the good fight alongside other heroes. After the destruction of the Anti-Monitor by Kal-L, Superboy-Prime joins Alexander Luthor, Jr. ofEarth-Three, Kal-L, and his wife Lois Lane in a “paradise dimension”. In the “paradise dimension”, Superboy-Prime secludes himself from the others, using crystals to replay events from his life on Earth Prime. Superboy-Prime becomes frustrated and angry, and he tries to reach out to Kal-L, whose attention is focused on Lois’s failing health. Over time, his convictions and morals become twisted and warped, and he came to believe that Earth-Prime is the only proper Earth and that he, Superboy-Prime, was the only one worthy of the mantle of Superboy. Prime firmly believes that becoming Superman is his calling despite the fact that he has become a psychotic and murderous villain.  Surtur is a fire demon native to the extradimensional plane of Muspelheim land of the fire demons, one of the nine worlds in Norse mythology, and first appears in Journey into Mystery #97 (August 1, 1963), where it is claimed he sits at the end of the world waiting for the end of time where he can slay men and gods. His first encounter with the Asgardian ruler Odin is told in flashback and establishes their enmity when Surtur is imprisoned by Odin inside the Earth after forming an alliance with the Trolls and trying to destroy the world in anger for Odin defying him, although he gives Odin a winged horse, hoping to be released one day. Surtur was depicted as an immense and malevolent elemental fire demon whose power was of apocalyptic proportions. Standing over 1,000 ft. in height, Surtur possessed strength and durability by far surpassing that of Thor; the ability to generate intense heat, flames or concussive force; molecular manipulation such as transforming his fingers into serpents; levitation and inter-dimensional travel. Surtur’s scale of power is usually shown to equal that of Odin.  |
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| August 2 Blink first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #317 (August 2, 1994) when the Phalanx captured her and several other young mutants to assimilate their powers. Blink was tense and panicky and frightened of her powers. Clarice could not properly control her powers, and apparently was unable to teleport anything in an intact form. Instead, any object or person caught in Blink’s teleportation field, also known as a “blink wave”, would be shredded. She eventually used her abilities to “cut up” Harvest, a Phalanx entity guarding her and her peers, but she was caught in her own teleportation field and apparently died in the process. Blink has the ability to teleport herself and others at will. Blink can teleport large masses, including sizable groups of people. She can also use her powers in a destructive manner by teleporting only parts of objects. She can open portals that displace projectiles and even enemies that threaten her. Blink’s portals are typically pink and accompanied by a “Blink” sound.  |
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| August 3 Ohmen was a member of a faction called the Protectorate on his homeworld of Aegena. The world was mired in a long civil war, as the Protectorate fought against another faction, the Directorate, for control of the planet. The members of both factions had special “stones” embedded in their chests. The stones imbued them with a variety of powers, including super strength, flight, energy manipulation and a staff composed of pure energy. At some point during the war, Ohmen was propelled to Earth. Left severely weakened by the transit through the portal, he spent some time recovering and learning about Earth from Jill. He works as the hero Union and first appeared in Union #1 (August 3, 1993).  |
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| August 4 Born as Anna Marie in a back-to-nature hippie commune in Caldecott County, Mississippi. Anna Marie was a rebellious child and, at some point, the exact event or reasons still unclear, she ran away from home as a young teenager. At some point, Rogue grew close to a boy named Cody Robbins. During their flirtation, Cody impulsively kissed her, at which point her latent mutant power to absorb the life energy and psyche of others with skin-to-skin contact emerged. Rogue was traumatized by the experience, and Cody was left in a permanent coma. Hence, Rogue wore body-concealing clothing that eliminated the possibility of accidental skin contact. She wished she “did not have to cover up so much around folks” to protect them from her. She thought her power was a curse. Not long after, she was approached by Mystique, who sought her out on the advice of her precognitive partner Destiny. Mystique ultimately takes Rogue in as a daughter. In time, however, Mystique turned Rogue’s loneliness, envy, bitterness, and despair into anger, thus recruiting her into the Brotherhood of Mutants. When Mystique debuts her Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Destiny advises her to keep Rogue out of the action, advice which proves important when several members of the new Brotherhood are arrested and imprisoned. Mystique concocts a plan to free the other members of the Brotherhood by having Rogue absorb Ms. Marvel’s formidable powers. Rogue’s struggle to absorb her powers is prolonged, and the transfer of Ms. Marvel’s psyche and powers is permanent. She battles the Avengers using her newly acquired powers. She first appeared in Avengers Annual #10 (August 4, 1981).  |
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TURNING POINTS by Maggie Thompson Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles, and ends, this time for August 5-11, 2022... 180 years ago August 11, 1842 French artist-editor-publisher Edouard Pépin is born. 145 years ago August 11, 1877 German artist Carl Reinhardt dies at age 59. 120 years ago August 7, 1902 French artist Eugène Cottin dies at age 60. 120 years ago August 10, 1902 Maurieta Wellman is born. An artist for Children’s Activities and Highlights for Children, she was the first to draw “Goofus and Gallant.” 120 years ago August 11, 1902 Jack Binder is born. The Golden Age artist (brother of writer Otto Binder) creates the Lev Gleason Daredevil, draws Mary Marvel, and founds the Jack Binder Studio. He co-creates The Destroyer with Stan Lee. 115 years ago August 9, 1907 Writer-artist Mel Graff is born. His newspaper strips include Adventures of Patsy, Secret Agent X-9, and Captain Easy. 115 years ago August 9, 1907 Richard Bickenbach is born. The award-winning animator, voice artist, and artist works for Warner Brothers and Hanna-Barbera. 105 years ago August 11, 1917 The Reuben Award-winning cartoonist of Hi and Lois and Hagar the Horrible, Dik Browne, is born. 105 years ago August 11, 1917 Alfredo Cardona Peña is born. The Costa Rican-Mexican writer works for the publisher Novaro and is known for his science fiction stories. 100 years ago August 11, 1922 Lyle Stuart is born. The writer and EC business manager is founder of the Lyle Stuart, Inc. publishing company. 95 years ago August 9, 1927 The award-winning writer of “Flowers for Algernon,” Daniel Keyes, is born. His career includes writing and editing for Marvel and writing for EC. 85 years ago August 9, 1937 “The Monarch of Medioka” begins in Floyd Gottfredson’s Mickey Mouse strip. 80 years ago August 6, 1942 French teacher and artist Jean-Claude Gal is born. He works for Métal Hurlant and Les Humanoïdes Associés. 70 years ago August 8, 1952 Colorist Janice Cohen is born. 65 years ago August 5, 1957 Reg Smythe’s Andy Capp begins. 65 years ago August 7, 1957 Artist Mark Bagley is born. He’s known for his work on Spider-Man, Thunderbolts, and Justice League of America, among other projects. 65 years ago August 7, 1957 Paul Dini is born. The award-winning producer and writer for many Warner Bros. series is best known for his work on Batman: The Animated Series, including co-creation (with Bruce Timm) of Harley Quinn. He also creates Jingle Belle and writes the autobiographical Dark Night. 65 years ago August 9, 1957 Writer-artist Steve Moncuse is born. He creates Fish Police. 65 years ago August 10, 1957 Colorist Christie “Max” Scheele is born. 60 years ago August 5, 1962 British artist John Willie dies at age 59. 60 years ago August 7, 1962 Award-winning Russian artist Mikhail Cheremnykh dies at age 71. He was co-founder of the satirical magazine Krokodil. 50 years ago August 9, 1972 Belgian artist Noël Bissot dies at age 55. 50 years ago August 10, 1972 Artist Mike Leonard is born. 30 years ago August 8, 1992 Animator and artist Lynn Karp dies at age 82. The brother of comics writers Bob and Hubert Karp drew Dell funny animal comics and also worked for ACG/Creston, Fawcett, and Nedor/Standard. 25 years ago August 5, 1997. Actress Olivia Holt is born. She plays Dagger in the TV series Cloak & Dagger. 20 years ago August 5, 2002 Richard “Grass” Green dies of lung cancer at age 63. The cartoonist created Xal-Kor and founded a company that made REGCo art boards. 5 years ago August 3, 2017 Czech artist and professor Pavel Kantorek dies at age 75. 5 years ago August 6, 2017 Artist Dick Locher dies at age 88 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. The Dick Tracy artist was a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist. 5 years ago August 8, 2017 Mexican cartoonist Eduardo Del Río (who worked as “Rius”) dies at age 83. The co-founder of the magazine El Chamuco was especially known for Los Supermachos and Los Agachados. 5 years ago August 11, 2017 Malaysian cartoonist Zainuddin bin Saleh (who worked as “Lengkuas”) dies at age 52. |
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| August 5 After an implied global nuclear catastrophe Japan has been reduced to a desert and the surviving humans seek out a meagre living in the hot sands. Desert Punk focuses on the adventures of a wandering mercenary named Kanta Mizuno, nicknamed Desert Punk (Sunabōzu), due to his seemingly incredible feats of skill and daring while on the job. Throughout the series, he acquires an apprentice and makes a few friends as well as enemies. Kanta Mizuno is also known as the “Demon of the Desert”. An 19-year-old member of a mercenary group known as the Handyman Guild, he is outwardly obsessed with large female breasts and sex. Although thought of as a despicable person, he is highly professional in accomplishing assigned tasks. His legendary reputation is due to his good luck, practicality, sharp wit, specialist equipment, and his grandiose self-promotion. Later, he changes sides in the civil war raging between desert oases, betraying his old friends in the hope of trading them as captives for a promotion. He offers Taiko the chance to join him, telling her that she has no trade value. She declines, and after this point, Taiko becomes the main character. Taiko Koizumi is the former apprentice of the Shimmer Sniper with a goal to become the desert’s number one “power babe” mercenary. Desert Punk debuted on August 5, 1997.  |
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| August 6 In a now alternate future timeline, Lord Chaos is the son of Donna Troy and her husband Terry Long. He is born with the full powers of a god and full awareness of them, which drives him mad. He instantly ages himself, kills his mother, and becomes the dictator Lord Chaos. He rules the entire Earth for many years. His various ways of repression cause many super-powered teens to form a resistance army. Inspired by the legend of the original Titans, a group of dozens of super-powered youths who call themselves the Team Titans travel to the past to kill Donna before her child is born. Lord Chaos follows the teens to the past and is able to prevent the Team Titans from killing Donna, and her son Robert Long is born. However, the Titans of Myth intervene at Donna’s request, and strip the baby and herself of their godlike powers. The Titans of Myth take Lord Chaos with them to make him learn humility. He first appeared in New Teen Titans Annual #7 (August 6, 1991).  |
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| August 7 A former member of the US Army’s Special Forces, Cole Cash’s natural talent for combat landed him in black ops, taking the dirtiest jobs as part of a squad known as Team 7. He debuted in WildC.A.T.S. #1 (August 7, 1992). Cash’s codename during these operations was Deadeye. The group was deliberately exposed to an experimental chemical called the Gen Factor, which activated a variety of psi powers in them, but which also detrimentally affected their mental health and sense of morality. Cole suspects that in fact their own superiors, International Operations (I.O.), were behind the experiment, while their superiors claimed that it was an unknown chemical weapon. Cole ends up working as an assassin for International Operations (I.O.), but he soon became disenchanted with them too. He went freelance, and it was during this period of his life he encountered the ancient Kherubim warrior Zealot. They fell in love, and she took the unprecedented measure of teaching him, a male, the ways of the Coda, the warrior order she had once belonged to. Her Coda-teachings stabilized Cole’s sanity and locked away what remained of his psionic powers. Some time later Cole and Zealot broke up; for Zealot it was just another relationship, but Cole had become devoted to her, being eternally grateful to her for restoring his sanity. However they remained on good terms, and both were recruited to become part of Lord Emp’s Daemonite hunting team, the WildC.A.T.s.  Thousands of years ago, a war raged between the alien races the Kherubim and the Daemonites. One of the high-ranking Kherans was lord Yohn Kohl, crash landed on Earth during one of the battles. Yohn Kohl called himself John Colt and became a renowned adventurer and hero. He was asked to join Team One, a group of superheroes and gifted military men. During their disastrous first mission, Yohn Kohl convinced teammate Lord Majestros to kill him to stop Daemonites from launching a nuclear warhead. Majestros obliged, but Lord Emp was later able to transfer Colt’s personality to a prototype Spartan. Colt’s body was left for dead, but regenerated. Spartan was an android constructed by Lord Emp, using technology from the rogue island of Gamorra. Yohn Kohl’s memories were locked away and Emp worked on perfecting the android. Spartan was named after a series of bodyguard cyborgs used by Kherubim Lords on their homeworld of Khera. When Emp assembled the Covert Action Team, also known as WildC.A.T.s, Spartan was chosen to lead them. He debuted in WildC.A.T.S. #1 (August 7, 1992).  |
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