TODAY IN COMIC BOOK HISTORY15515
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| December 27 Ben 10 is about a 10-year-old boy named Ben Tennyson who gets a watch-like alien device called the “Omnitrix”. Attached to his wrist, this allows him to transform into various alien creatures. He then uses these powers to fight evil from Earth and space. The show premiered on December 27, 2005. Ben Tennyson, is a ten-year-old boy on a cross-country summer vacation, with his cousin Gwen and their grandfather Max. On their first night camping in their grandfather’s RV affectionately named the “Rust Bucket,” Ben finds an alien pod with a mysterious watch-like device named the Omnitrix. The device then permanently attaches itself to his wrist giving him the ability to transform into a variety of alien life-forms each with its own unique skills and powers. With his new found super powers Ben has to learn the responsibilities of being a hero. During their vacation, the Tennysons are attacked by various enemies ranging from space aliens to supernatural entities.  |
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| December 28 Bebop and Rocksteady were introduced in the Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles series in the episode “Turtle Tracks” on December 28, 1987 as part of a human street gang in New York City that was employed by Shredder. Rocksteady was a short and stocky blond Caucasian man and Bebop was a taller African American man with a purple mohawk. With the other members of their gang, they were sent out to stop a Channel 6 reporter named April O'Neil from doing a report about crime in the city. April ran down into the sewers while being chased by the street gang and met the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, who then defeated the gang in a fight. After this humiliating setback, The Shredder developed a plan to defeat the Turtles by mutating members of the street gang that Rocksteady and Bebop are a part of so that they would have abilities greater than the Turtles’. Rocksteady and Bebop both volunteered to undergo the procedure first with the promise that it would allow them to exact revenge on the Turtles. As the result of being brought into contact with a common warthog and a black rhinoceros that Shredder had abducted from the zoo, Bebop mutated into a humanoid mutant warthog while Rocksteady mutated into a humanoid mutant black rhinoceros.  |
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| December 29 In the days of prehistory, 50,000 BC, Vandal Savage was a caveman named Vandar Adg, leader of the Cro-Magnon Blood Tribe. He was bathed in the radiation of a mysterious meteorite, which gave him incredible intellect and immortality. An observer from the Bear Tribe would later approach that same meteorite and become Savage’s eternal nemesis, the Immortal Man, possessing the power to resurrect as a new persona every time he is killed. Savage’s first mark in the history came when he and a select group of people successfully undermined and destroyed the lost city of Atlantis. That group of people became known as the Illuminati, with Savage serving as its leader. He claims to have ruled hundreds of civilizations under hundreds of names: Khafre, Cheops, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Blackbeard, and Vlad the Impaler, to name a few. He realized that his prominence could cause him to be killed accidentally, so he decided to work behind the scenes. Savage battled the Justice Society of America after first meeting Green Lantern. He first appeared in Green Lantern #10 (December 29, 1943). He attempted to capture the members of the Justice Society out of revenge and place them in suspended animation using technology developed by the ISW member Brainwave, but was thwarted by the Golden and Silver Age Flashes.  |
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| December 30 Like her father, the X-Men’s Banshee, Theresa Maeve Rourke Cassidy is an Irish mutant who possesses a “sonic scream” capable of incapacitating and injuring an opponent’s hearing and sending powerful vibrations through the air. She can use these vibrations to fly. Theresa was raised by Banshee’s cousin and nemesis Black Tom Cassidy without Banshee’s knowledge. By her early teens, she left Black Tom and eventually joined the X-Men offshoots X-Force and later X-Factor. Siryn first appeared in Spider-Woman #37 (December 30, 1980), where she appears as a villain.  |
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 TURNING POINTS by Maggie Thompson image image Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles, and ends, this time for December 30, 2022, through January 5, 2023... 165 years ago December 31, 1857 Artist and political cartoonist Edward Williams Clay dies of tuberculosis at age 58. 130 years ago December 30, 1892 Award-winning British artist, political cartoonist, and Guinness ad artist Sidney Strube is born. He creates the character “The Little Man.” 125 years ago January 2, 1898 Prolific animator, director, and writer Dick Huemer is born. His career begins with silent cartoons, and he goes on to work at Walt Disney and other studios. 120 years ago January 3, 1903 French artist René Brantonne is born. 100 years ago December 30, 1922 Prolific and award-winning Belgian artist Marcel Neels is born. The Flemish-Belgian cartoonist known by the pseudonym “Marc Sleen” is the Guinness Book of Records recordholder for drawing the same strip (The Adventures of Nero) solo for 45 years. (In 1992, Dirk Stallaert begins to draw it, while Sleen continues supervising its production.) 100 years ago January 4, 1923 Charles Eber “Chic” Stone is born. The Golden Age artist returns to comics in the 1960s, inking Jack Kirby’s work for Marvel and freelancing for DC, Tower, Dell, ACG, Skywald, and Archie. 90 years ago December 31, 1932 The Italian Disney magazine Topolino begins. 90 years ago January 2, 1933 In the Fritzi Ritz comic strip by Ernie Bushmiller, Nancy is introduced. 85 years ago December 30, 1937 The Italian Disney comic book Paperino (Donald Duck) e Altre Avventure begins. 80 years ago December 30, 1942 Mike Nesmith is born to Bette Nesmith Graham, inventor of the correction fluid Liquid Paper. As a member of the Monkees band, he’s featured on photo covers of Dell’s Monkees series. 80 years ago January 4, 1943 Petr Sadecký is born. The Czech artist creates Octobriana by adapting art by Bohumil Konečný and Zdeněk Burian. 80 years ago January 5, 1943 Underground comix artist Roger Brand is born. 75 years ago January 5, 1948 Stanley Link’s The Dailys begins. 70 years ago December 30, 1952 Timely artist Norman Steinberg dies by exhaust inhalation suicide at age 29. 70 years ago December 31, 1952 Bunny Hampton-Mack is born. She writes with Bo Hampton for Eclipse. 70 years ago January 2, 1953 Italian artist Salvatore Deidda is born. 70 years ago January 5, 1953 Turkish artist Ramiz Gökçe dies at age 52. 65 years ago January 2, 1958 John Heebink is born. He draws features including “Elvira” and “Soulsearchers & Co.” 65 years ago January 2, 1958 Artist Harry G. Peter dies at age 77. He’s the first artist to draw Wonder Woman for stories created and scripted by William Moulton Marston. 65 years ago January 2, 1958 Marvel penciller Ernie Stiner is born. He works on characters including Nick Fury and G.I. Joe. 60 years ago January 2, 1963 Joaquin Buigas, Spanish writer of La Familia Ulises, dies at age 76. 55 years ago December 31, 1967 Artist Robert de Jesus is born. 55 years ago January 1, 1968 Austrian artist Käthe Olshausen-Schönberger dies at age 86. 55 years ago January 2, 1968 Writer-artist Timothy T. Markin is born. He creates Breakneck Blvd. 40 years ago January 3, 1983 Having contributed to both magazines when they were published by Alan Light, Don and Maggie Thompson begin editorial work on Comics Buyer’s Guide and Movie Collector’s World at Krause Publications’ offices. 40 years ago January 3, 1983 British-Canadian artist Doug Wright dies at age 65. He created the Doug Wright’s Family comic strip. The Doug Wright Awards honor special achievements in Canadian Cartooning. 35 years ago January 3, 1988 The Sable TV series features comics pros in its final episode. 35 years ago January 4, 1988 Brazilian writer-artist, director, and animator Henrique de Souza Filho (who worked as “Henfil”) dies of AIDS at age 43. 35 years ago January 4, 1988 In an auction, Roz Kirby sells original Jack Kirby art for several complete stories. 25 years ago January 4, 1998 Mae Questel dies of Alzheimer’s Disease at age 89. The voice artist was best known as the voice of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl. 25 years ago January 5, 1998 Prolific Spanish artist Gustavo Martz-Schmidt dies of lung cancer at age 75. 20 years ago December 31, 2002 Marc Sleen ends The Adventures of Nero after 55 years of continuous publication. 20 years ago January 1, 2003 Artist Warren Whipple dies at age 92. He worked on Jimmy Hatlo’s newspaper features. 20 years ago January 2, 2003 Artist Jack Keller dies at age 80. He was especially known for his work on Kid Colt and on Charlton’s hot rod and race car titles. 15 years ago December 30, 2007 Tumbleweeds by Tom K. Ryan ends after 42 years in newspaper syndication. 15 years ago January 3, 2008 Dutch artist and editor Johan van Dijk dies at age 80. He was an illustrator for De Telegraaf. 10 years ago January 3, 2013 The staff of Comics Buyer’s Guide is informed that the magazine is canceled, effective immediately. The final issue is #1699. And here are the anniversaries spanning the month of January… 80 years ago January 1943 Street and Smith’s Red Dragon Comics #5 (actually the first issue, continuing the numbering from Trail Blazers Comics) introduces Red Dragon in the one page text “Who Is The Red Dragon?” 80 years ago January 1943 Quality’s Crack Comics #27 introduces Captain Triumph in a story drawn by Alfred Andriola. Brothers (one a ghost) team to fight evil. 75 years ago January 1948 Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #88 (vol. 8 #4) introduces Carl Barks’ Gladstone Gander, the luckiest duck in the world. Donald has to swim in Frozenbear Lake on Christmas or lose his home in a bet with Gladstone. 75 years ago January 1948 “Based on radio’s No. 1 hit!” DC’s Mr. District Attorney #1 brings the show (which began in 1939 and stars Jay Jostyn in 1948) to comics. 75 years ago January 1948 DC’s Western Comics #1 introduces The Cowboy Marshal (drawn by Ed Smalle) and The Wyoming Kid (drawn by Howard Sherman). 75 years ago January 1948 The last Dell Four Color featuring Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan was #161 (August 1947). Dell’s Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan #1 is scripted by Robert P. Thompson and drawn by Jesse Marsh (apparently basing the character’s appearance on Johnny Weissmuller’s look in movies). 75 years ago January 1948 The last Dell Four Color featuring The Lone Ranger was #167 (October 1947). Dell’s The Lone Ranger #1 reprints the King Features strip drawn by Charles Flanders. 70 years ago January 1953 Osamu Tezuka’s Princess Knight (also known as Ribbon no Kishi) begins in Shōjo Club. 60 years ago January 1963 DC’s Superman #158 introduces the identities of Flamebird and Nightwing in “Superman in Kandor, Part II” by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan, and George Klein. 60 years ago January 1963 EC’s Mad #76 features “A Mad Look at the U.S. Space Effort” by Sergio Aragonés, his first contribution to the publication. 60 years ago January 1963 Marvel introduces “the most fantastic foe of all” in Strange Tales #104. “My paste-gun will defeat you, Torch, as it has defeated all the others!” says Paste-Pot Pete. (He’ll become The Trapster later.) The story is by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, and Dick Ayers. 60 years ago January 1963 DC’s Detective Comics #311 introduces Cat-Man in “Challenge of the Cat-Man!” by Bill Finger and Jim Mooney. (Is this the time to bring up the complicated two different Golden Age Cat-Man Comics series? No, not now.) 55 years ago January 1968 Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #56 introduces Captain George Stacy in “Disaster!” by Stan Lee, John Romita, and Mike Esposito. 55 years ago January 1968 “The Black Knight lives again!” Marvel’s The Avengers #48 says it – introducing the new Black Knight (Dane Whitman). The story is by Roy Thomas and George Tuska. 55 years ago January 1968 Yikes! Marvel’s Tales of Suspense #97 introduces Whiplash in a story by Stan Lee, Gene Colan, and Frank Giacoia. He’s whipping up problems for Iron Man in this introduction and will be an ongoing threat. 55 years ago January 1968 “Introducing: The pounding power of The Wrecker!” Marvel’s Thor #148 features “Let There Be … Chaos!” by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Vince Colletta. It does, indeed, introduce The Wrecker (accidentally created by Loki). 50 years ago January 1973 “The most famous, most fearsome monster of all!” Marvel’s Frankenstein #1 tells “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” in an adaptation by Gary Friedrich and Mike Ploog. 50 years ago January 1973 Marvel’s Iron Man #54 introduces Moondragon (though she’s called “Madame MacEvil”). “Sub-Mariner: Target for Death!” is by Bill Everett, Mike Friedrich, George Tuska, and Vince Colletta. (And, hey, this is considered by some to be the first Thanos War story, an adventure that really gets going in #55.) 50 years ago January 1973 Remember that I told you about the Rutland, Vermont, Halloween Parade crossover last month? It’s still continuing this month. Check out Marvel’s Thor #207 and Amazing Adventures #16. 50 years ago January 1973 The first issue of Marvel’s War Is Hell anthology reprints stories from the 1950s. 50 years ago January 1973 DC’s Teen Titans #43 is the last for a while. (It will come back with #44, dated November 1976.) 45 years ago January 1978 Marvel’s Captain America #217 introduces Marvel Boy (later known as Quasar), Blue Streak, and others. “The Search for Steve Rogers!” is by Roy Thomas, Don Glut, John Buscema, and Pablo Marcos. 45 years ago January 1978 “At last! Marvel’s British superhero sensation explodes on the stateside scene” in Marvel Team-Up #65. The story by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Dave Hunt introduces the villainous Arcade (and a bunch of other villains) and is the first American appearance of Captain Britain. 45 years ago January 1978 It’s the “100th Smash Issue!” for DC’s Green Lantern. So there are two guys named Hal Jordan and and and ... “Rider of the Air Waves” is by Denny O’Neil, Alex Saviuk, Vince Colletta, and Frank Giacoia. 45 years ago January 1978 Meet DC’s Madame Xanadu in Doorway to Nightmare #1. The story is by David Michelinie and Val Mayerik. 45 years ago January 1978 DC Super Stars #18, Marvel’s The Champions #17, and Marvel’s The Eternals #19 are the last issue of each. 40 years ago January 1983 DC’s The New Teen Titans #27 introduces Atari Force in the 16-page preview insert story “Freedom or Death” by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru, and Dick Giordano. 40 years ago January 1983 Marvel UK kicks off the “1st great issue!” of The Daredevils. (They’re identified on the cover as Captain Britain, Daredevil and (hyphenless!) Spiderman.) 35 years ago January 1988 “From the Macabre World of Swamp Thing 40 Pages of Sheer Terror.” DC’s Hellblazer #1 is “suggested for mature readers.” The John Constantine story “Hunger” is by Jamie Delano and John Ridgway. 35 years ago January 1988 DC releases Millennium #1-4 as a weekly event (continuing its eight issues into February) by Steve Englehart, Joe Staton, and Ian Gibson. 35 years ago January 1988 “Can even D.D. halt the rampage of Bullet?” Marvel’s Daredevil #250 brings in the mercenary Bullet in “Boom” by Ann Nocenti, John Romita Jr., and Al Williamson. 35 years ago January 1988 Marvel’s X-Factor #24 features the first full appearance of Warren Worthington/Angel as Archangel in “Masks” by Louise Simonson, Walt Simonson, and Bob Wiacek. 35 years ago January 1988 In DC’s “Millennium Week 2,” Superman #13 introduces the post-Crisis Toyman in “Toys in the Attic” by John Byrne and Karl Kesel. 30 years ago January 1993 Marvel’s The Punisher War Journal #50 introduces Punisher 2099 (Jake Gallows) in a sneak preview by Pat Mills, Tony Skinner, Tom Morgan, and Jimmy Palmiotti. 30 years ago January 1993 DC’s Doom Patrol #63 is Grant Morrison’s last issue writing the series. “The Empire of Chairs” is drawn by Richard Case. 30 years ago January 1993 “Here Lies Earth’s Greatest Hero.” DC’s Superman #75 features “Doomsday!” the seventh part of “The Death of Superman.” The story is by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding. (The story continues in Justice League America #70 and doesn’t end there.) 20 years ago January 2003 Viz introduces Shonen Jump with #1, the “288-page premiere issue!!!” “Shonen Jump has finally leapt into the hands of American comics fans.” 15 years ago January 2008 Blizzard’s World of Warcraft game was released in 2004. The first of DC’s World of Warcraft assortment of licensed series features “Stranger in a Strange Land” by Walter Simonson, Ludo Lullabi, and Sandra Hope. 15 years ago January 2008 Speaking of licensing, IDW’s Doctor Who #1 begins its sequence of licensed series of the BBC TV show. The story (featuring the “tenth Doctor”) is by Gary Russell, Nick Roche, Joe Phillips, and German Torres. 15 years ago January 2008 Dark Horse introduces the miniseries Evil Dead “featuring Sam Raimi’s classic characters!” The story is by Mark Verheiden and John Bolton. 15 years ago January 2008 Dynamite’s Project Superpowers #0 returns a whole bunch of Golden Age superheroes to comics in “Last Gleaming” by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, Doug Klauba, and Stephen Sadowski. Included are such characters as Fighting Yank, Black Terror, and Green Lama. 10 years ago January 2013 Marvel’s Thor: God of Thunder #1 begins “The God Butcher” with “A World without Gods” by Jason Aaron and Esad Ribić. 10 years ago January 2013 Seriously? The first issue of Marvel’s Fantastic Four? Yes. You must be used to these new first issues by now, right? Anyway, “Unstable” is by Matt Fraction, Mark Bagley, and Mark Farmer. 10 years ago January 2013 Captain America #1 from Marvel: The first issue of Marvel’s Captain America? I said get used to it! “Castaway in Dimension Z” is by Rick Remender, John Romita Jr., and Klaus Janson. 10 years ago January 2013 Marvel’s first and second issues of All-New X-Men feature stories by Brian Michael Bendis, Stuart Immonen, and Wade von Grawbadger. 10 years ago January 2013 How many Deadpool series has Marvel published? Anyway, this starts another one. “In Wade We Trust” is by Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn, and Tony Moore. 10 years ago January 2013 How many Iron Man series has Marvel published? Anyway, this starts another one. Déjà vu? “Believe 1 of 5: Demons and Genies” is by Kieron Gillen, Greg Land, and Jay Leisten. 10 years ago January 2013 You say you need an adjective? Well, Marvel also provides Indestructible Hulk #1. “Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.” is by Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Yu, and Gerry Alanguilan. 10 years ago January 2013 “The Death of Everyone” (part three of three) is featured in Image’s Invincible #100. The story is by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, and Cliff Rathburn. 10 years ago January 2013 Dark Horse’s Star Wars series begins with the first part of “In the Shadow of Yavin” by Brian Wood and Carlos D’anda. 5 years ago January 2018 The first issue of DC’s Doomsday Clock features “That Annihilated Place” by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. 5 years ago January 2018 The most recent series of The Jetsons from DC begins with “Meet the Jetsons” by Jimmy Palmiotti and Pier Brito. 5 years ago January 2018 The Mighty Crusaders #1 begins the most recent of Archie’s series by that name. “Heroes for Today” is by Ian Flynn and Kelsey Shannon. 5 years ago January 2018 And, yes, the most recent Deadman series from DC also begins this month with “Still Dead … After All These Years” by Neal Adams. |
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| December 31 Pearls Before Swine is an American comic strip written and illustrated by Stephan Pastis. It chronicles the daily lives of five anthropomorphic animals: a Pig, a Rat, a Zebra, a Goat, and a fraternity of crocodiles, as well as a number of supporting characters. Each character represents an aspect of Pastis’ own personality and world view. United Feature Syndicate launched the strip in newspapers on December 31, 2001 in The Washington Post. The strip’s style is notable for its dark humor, breaking of the fourth wall, and mockery of other comic strips. Rat is an insensitive character in the strip, whose interactions with others are typically sarcastic, condescending, self-centered, insulting and often violent. In particular, he will frequently berate his creator on general quality of the strip. Pig’s jokes generally involve his stupidity; Pastis once stated that Pig is easy to write for because he misunderstands everything said to him, and, once it is explained, he misunderstands the explanation. Pig has a habit of talking to inanimate objects such as food, stop lights, or bait. Goat has a hard time dealing with both Pig’s stupidity and Rat’s cruelty and occasional ignorance. He is sometimes seen telling other characters about various philosophical, political, and social issues, though usually the others do not care.  |
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| January 1 Tok Tok was first published on January 1, 2011. The founders of the magazine are five Egyptian graphic artists, namely Shennawy, Makhlouf, Hisham Rahma, Andil, and Tawfeek. They are also contributors of the magazine which funds itself. The goal of the magazine is to offer a forum for Egypt’s comic scene and for informing people about their predecessors using comics and graphics. The title of the magazine, Tok Tok, is a three-wheeled covered scooter used as a main method of motorized transportation in areas and roads in Egyptian cities where cars cannot be used. Based in Cairo, the magazine contains graphic short stories and satirical comics. The stories published are mostly about love, joblessness, the attitudes of the elders and the authorities or the chaos of Cairo.  Christopher Powell was born in Queens, New York. While witnessing his policeman father accept a bribe from a crime boss at an abandoned amusement park, teenager Chris Powell discovered a mysterious amulet. This amulet allowed him to switch places with a powerful android that his mind controlled. Powell vowed to use the amulet as “an edge against crime.” In this role, he worked with other superheroes and battled a number of costumed villains. Powell discovered that the android was stored and repaired aboard a starship in a dimension called Null Space. When he used the amulet to access the android body, his human body switched places with it. Five Darkhawk amulets were commissioned by an alien crime lord named Dargin Bokk. The scientists who created the technology eventually used them to assault Bokk. After Bokk destroyed the other scientists two of the scientists beamed their minds to Earth and merged with two Earth scientists there. Byron/Ned Dobbs and Mondu/John Trane created a sixth amulet which is the one that turned Christopher Powell into Darkhawk. He first appeared in Darkhawk #1 (January 1, 1991).  |
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| January 2 Buck Danny is a Franco-Belgian comics series about a military flying ace and his two sidekicks serving (depending on the plots) in the United States Navy or the United States Air Force. The series is noted for its realism both in the drawings and the descriptions of air force procedures as part of the storyline. In particular the aircraft depicted are extremely accurate. Mixing historical references with fiction, Buck Danny is one of the most important ‘classic’ Franco-Belgian comic strips. Starting in Spirou on January 2, 1947, the first albums were set against the backdrop of World War II, but from 1954 onwards, the series started to play in 'the present’ and has so ever since. Like this, the series reads as a chronology of military aviation as well as the events that were catching people’s imagination at the time of publishing, ranging from the Korean war, the cold war, UFOs, international terrorism and drug running, the space race, rogue atomic bombs, the collapse of the Soviet bloc and recently the conflicts in Sarajevo and Afghanistan.  The Wendigo is not one specific person, but instead a curse that strikes different people over time if they commit acts of cannibalism in the northern parts of Canada. Originally only one person can become the Wendigo at the time, which has led to one Wendigo being cured if another person was struck with the curse. In later years it has been revealed that a pack of Wendigos lived in the Bering Strait. At one point the Wendigo curse infected the Hulk, turning him into Wendihulk, although he was later cured. Several people have been afflicted with the curse of the Wendigo, including Paul Cartier, Georges Baptiste, Francois Lartigue, Lorenzo, Mauvais and others. The curse is regional to the woods of Northern Canada and takes place, under the right conditions, when a person in the forests of Canada feeds on human flesh. This “Curse of the Wendigo” was created by the Northern Gods (also known as “the Inua”) in an effort to deter human cannibalism. The monster first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #162 (January 2, 1973).  Hob Gadling, also known as Robert, Robbie, or Bobby, first appears in The Sandman #13 (January 2, 1990). A soldier who has recently fought in the Hundred Years’ War, Gadling argues with friends about the nature of death in an inn located in what will become modern-day London. Gadling is arguing that if he refuses to die, he will have eternal life. Dying, he argues, is merely a habit, something that people do simply because everybody does. It is, as Gadling puts it, “a mug’s game.” This catches the attention of Death, who encourages Dream to listen. Death agrees, at the request of her brother, who says that “it might be amusing” to grant Gadling eternal life. Dream strikes up a conversation with Gadling who agrees to meet him again in the same inn once every hundred years. They do so, and Gadling recounts each century of his life. In the penultimate meeting in 1889, Gadling suggests to Dream that the true purpose for meeting was friendship. Dream rejects the suggestion angrily and walks out. In 1989 Dream, freshly escaped after decades of captivity, returns, stating that it is impolite to keep a friend waiting, confirming their friendship.  |
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| January 3 Crisis on Infinite Earths was produced by DC Comics to herald a simplification of its then 50-year-old narrative continuity. The series removed the multiverse concept from the fictional DC Universe, depicting the death of long-standing characters Supergirl and the Barry Allenincarnation of the Flash. Continuity in the DC Universe is divided into pre-Crisis and post-Crisis periods. Crisis is considered by many to be one of the most important and most influential comic book storylines of all time. Before Crisis on Infinite Earths was published, DC storylines had many continuity problems; no character’s backstory was entirely consistent and reliable. Marv Wolfman and Len Wein saw Crisis as a chance to clean up DC’s convoluted continuity. Early in planning, a list was made of characters that were part of the DC Universe. The crossover was fleshed out and coordinated at a meeting attended by president Jenette Kahn, Paul Levitz, vice president and executive editor Dick Giordano and DC’s editors. The groundwork for Crisis was laid the year before it was published and made use of the shadowy, potentially villainous Monitor. The conflicting origins and stories of the DC universe are explained as a Multiverse, containing many parallel universes and alternate versions of the characters, with the primary DC continuity referred to as Earth-1. A cosmic being from the beginning of time known as the Monitor catalogues these realities, but unfortunately he has an evil counterpart, the Anti-Monitor, who comes from an antimatter universe. After an accident with Anti-matter on one universe, the Anti-Monitor begins destroying many of the realities with a wave of antimatter, planning on becoming sole ruler of all realities. The event began in Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 (January 3, 1985).  |
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| January 4 A gold medal-winning Olympic decathlete, Jefferson Pierce, returned to his old neighborhood in the Southside (Suicide Slum) section of the city of Metropolis, with his wife Lynn Stewart and his daughter Anissa to become the principal of Garfield High School. Southside, as it was once known, was where his father - renowned journalist Alvin Pierce - had been murdered. Guilt over this event was a factor in his decision to leave the city of Metropolis. Suicide Slum was being torn apart by a local organized criminal gang called the 100, shady corporations, and crooked local politicians like Tobias Whale. A family friend and tailor, Peter Gambi, had taught a much younger Jefferson how to suppress his inborn metahuman abilities so that he would not accidentally hurt any of the people he cared about. Upon his return, Gambi suggested to Jefferson that he should use his powers to help the neighborhood, and refers him to a plaque with the paraphrased Milo Sweetman quote “Justice, like lightning, should ever appear to some men hope, to other men fear.” Appalled by the public murder of Earl Clifford, one of his more promising students, Pierce tried to intervene on behalf of the schoolchildren, but quickly learned that the 100 objected violently to any interference. Pierce adopts the costumed identity “Black Lightning”. He first appeared in Black Lightning #1 (January 4, 1977).  |
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| January 5 Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber was a Belgian comic series about two friends, Piet Pienter and Bert Bibber and their female friend Susan. It was published in the Flemish dialect and notable for being one of the few comics series who never adapted the standard Dutch language and, apart from the final album, remained published in black-and-white. Creator Pom also enjoyed making puns and drawing funny signs in the background, often spoofing well known advertisements. He was particularly notorious for adding ironic commentary about his own stories while narrating the story. Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber ’s popularity was considerable, but proved to be mostly a local Flemish phenomenon. Over the years Pom started to dislike his profession, causing new albums to appear less and less frequent. In 1995 the series was terminated, because a certain type of paper that he used for all his stories wasn’t produced anymore. The first story was published on January 5, 1950, in the newspaper Het Handelsblad. Piet is the hero and straight man of the series. He is very smart and usually more calm and level-headed. He is furthermore notable for smoking pipe. Bert is Piet’s best friend and shares the same house as him. He is kind of a coward. Due to his impulsive nature, tendency to panick or get aggressive and general stupidity he provides most of the comic relief in the series. Susan is the daughter of an American billionaire. She is a feisty and attractive young woman who has often helped Piet and Bert with their problems, especially when they don’t have enough money. Bert is secretly in love with her. Over the course of the series she moves in to live at Piet and Bert’s house.  |
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| January 6 Astra is one of Magneto’s first recruits from his original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. She first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #366 (January 6, 1999). However, she does not share Magneto’s goals, and the two part ways as enemies. She resurfaced years later to revive Magneto (who had been mindwiped by Professor X) and create a clone of him. Astra ordered the clone to kill Magneto, but the clone lost the battle. The clone, using the name “Joseph”, affiliated with the X-Men. Astra later returned and used Joseph against Magneto and the X-Men. When Joseph died, Astra fled and was at one point considered deceased, as Apocalypse claimed that he had dealt with the original Astra, after he used a Skrull to impersonate her to stop the Master of Magnetism. However she made her presence known and even recreated Joseph without memories and programmed him to hate humankind.  |
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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 January 6-12, 2023... 165 years ago January 10, 1858 Influential German artist Heinrich Zille is born. 145 years ago January 12, 1878 Cartoonist Charles W. Kahles is born. He’s best known for pioneering daily strip continuity with Clarence the Cop and creates Sandy Highflyer and Hairbreadth Harry. 135 years ago January 6, 1888 Portuguese artist Emmérico Nunez is born. 115 years ago January 8, 1908 William Hartnell is born. As the first Doctor in the BBC TV series Doctor Who, he is featured in comics adventures of the character. 115 years ago January 9, 1908 Max und Moritz creator Wilhelm Busch dies at age 75. 110 years ago January 12, 1913 Bringing up Father by George McManus begins. 105 years ago January 10, 1918 Artist Ken Ernst is born. With a career beginning with Golden Age comic books, he’s known for his work on the Mary Worth newspaper strip. 95 years ago January 7, 1928 Writer-artist Pete Morisi is born. Alhough he works for many different projects starting in 1948, he may best be known as “PAM,” especially for his work for Charlton. 90 years ago January 8, 1933 Floyd Gottfredson and Webb Smith introduce Dippy Dog (later known as Goofy) to newspapers in a Sunday Mickey Mouse comic strip. 85 years ago January 7, 1938 Cartoonist Werner Wejp-Olsen is born. 85 years ago January 7, 1938 Surrealist writer-artist-film maker Roland Topor is born. 85 years ago January 9, 1938 Raggedy Ann and Andy creator Johnny Gruelle dies of heart failure at age 57. 80 years ago January 7, 1943 Artist Liz Berube is born. She contributes to DC’s romance comics and creates the Karen newspaper strip. She works as a colorist for Archie and DC comics. 75 years ago January 11, 1948 Writer-artist and editor Bill DuBay is born. He edits for a number of publishers and is especially known for his work for Warren. 70 years ago January 6, 1953 Inker and First Comics production coordinator Bruce Douglas Patterson is born. 70 years ago January 7, 1953 Writer and Amazing Heroes and DC editor Kevin J. Dooley is born. 70 years ago January 7, 1953 Writer-artist Bob Wiacek is born. Beginning as one of the “Crusty Bunkers,” he eventually works for DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, and Valiant. 70 years ago January 12, 1953 Teacher and artist Wilfred R. Cyr dies at age 63. Although he had a form of partial paralysis – limiting use of his head, neck, wrists, hands, and ankles – he created the comic strips Cabin Boy and Exploits of Eve. 65 years ago January 11, 1958 Writer-artist Terry Beatty is born. The Ms. Tree co-creator (with Max Allan Collins) draws King Features strips The Phantom and Rex Morgan, M.D. (and now writes Morgan, as well). 65 years ago January 11, 1958 Moon Mullins creator cartoonist Frank Willard dies at age 64. He was one of the first members of the National Cartoonists Society. 60 years ago January 11, 1963 Writer-artist Sam Kieth is born. The creator of The Maxx and Zero Girl draws Epicurus the Sage and pencils Sandman #1-5. 55 years ago January 8, 1968 Artist Don Flowers dies of emphysema at age 59. He was known for his newspaper Glamor Girls feature. 55 years ago January 11, 1968 Letterer Trevor Tamlin is born. 55 years ago January 12, 1968 Writer-editor-historian John Jackson Miller is born. Known for his Star Wars, Star Trek, and Halo franchise fiction, the former Comics Buyer’s Guide Editorial Director maintains online resources regarding comic book circulations. 50 years ago January 10, 1973 Charles Flanders dies at age 65. He drew King Features’ Robin Hood, King of the Royal Mounted, and The Lone Ranger. 45 years ago January 9, 1978 Dutch artist Tijs Dorenbosch dies at age 66. 40 years ago January 9, 1983 Freckles and His Friends creator Merrill Blosser dies at age 90. 25 years ago January 7, 1998 Writer-artist and animator Eli Bauer dies at age 69. He created Hector Heathcote and formed Ariel Productions with Al Kouzel. 25 years ago January 11, 1998 Joe Shuster Hall of Fame inductee Win Mortimer dies at age 78. The artist was especially known for his work on Superman, Batman, and Spidey Super Stories. He created the David Crane newspaper strip and co-created Stanley and His Monster (with Arnold Drake). 20 years ago January 8, 2003 Prolific Belgian artist Franz Drappier (who worked as “Franz”) dies at age 54. 20 years ago January 10, 2003 Spanish artist Ramón Sabatés dies at age 87. 15 years ago January 6, 2008 Artist Martha Arguello (who worked as “Marty Links”) dies at age 90. She created the teen comic Bobby Sox, which changed its name to Mary Lou. 5 years ago January 8, 2018 Award-winning Australian political cartoonist Ron Tandberg dies of esophageal cancer at age 74. He created the newspaper strip Fred and Others. 5 years ago January 8, 2018 Writer-editor William F. Harris dies at age 84. He worked on Western Publishing’s Gold Key comics and set up its King Comics line. |
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| January 7 In 1955, an explosion in Antarctica draws the attention of a group of scientists. There they discover dozens of charred bodies, some of which do not appear to be human. Among them is a creature in a mechanical exoskeleton, named Sathanas, who kills all but one of the scientists, whom Sathanas uses to meet Senator Aldus Hilltop. Together, with Sathanas’ existence kept secret, the three construct “Project Next Men”, whose goal is to create superhumans. The project used babies who were given up for adoption by single mothers. Due to Hilltop’s racial concerns, all of the mothers were white. The children were experimented on and grew to maturity in a lab while in their minds they experienced an idyllic virtual-reality world. Eventually five of these “Next Men” manage to escape from confinement, but once free, they find that their powers are very greatly enhanced from how they were in their virtual world. They first appeared in John Byrne’s Next Men #1 (January 7, 1992).  |
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| January 8 The cat-like mutant Feral attempted to escape from the tyrannical rule of the Morlock, Masque. She was saved from Masque by Cable, and agreed to join Cable’s paramilitary group X-Force in return for protection. Feral was always the ticking time bomb of X-Force especially when it came to teammate Siryn, barely capable of controlling her deadly temper. Prior to joining the group, it was later revealed that Maria and her sister Lucia had to leave home and lived with the Morlocks. It was later discovered that both girls had been molested by their cocaine addict stepfather; in retaliation, Feral killed the man and shoved his body into the wall. Her mother, who was also addicted to cocaine, found out and sought vengeance on the girl by killing all of her pet pigeons. This infuriated Feral to the point where she also killed her mother in a fit of rage. It was also hinted that she purposely pushed their younger sister down the stairs, leading to her death, as well as allowed their younger brother to fall to his death from their roof. Ultimately, Feral betrayed X-Force and became the enemy of her former teammates when she was convinced to join the terrorist group known as the Mutant Liberation Front, although her alliances would continue to shift. She formerly had a feline mutation that endowed her with a thin layer of light orange fur covering her body, sharp claws and fangs, pointed ears, superhumanly acute senses including night vision and sense of smell, enhanced strength, speed, agility, reflexes, coordination, balance, and endurance paired with enhanced healing capabilities as well as a prehensile tail. She was deported at M-Day. Feral first appeared in New Mutants #99 (January 8, 1991).  Shatterstar comes from the planet Mojoworld which is ruled by the alien tyrant Mojo. There, Shatterstar was created to be a slave; he claims to have had no parents, only a “gestation chamber.” He was genetically engineered to have enhanced physical capabilities so he could serve as an arena gladiator. Shatterstar learned the arts of battle as a warrior in arenas on Mojoworld, where he participated in combats staged for Mojo’s television programs. It’s assumed it was here he developed his strong sense of honor and pride as a warrior, to combat the constant violence and death in his life. Eventually he escaped and joined the Cadre Alliance, the rebel group that sought to overthrow Mojo’s dictatorship. From there, he learned the Cadre’s language and began taking part in missions. Shatterstar was either teleported or traveled back in time to Earth at the point just before Cablereorganized the New Mutants into X-Force. At first, he battled Cable, Domino, and the New Mutants, but after they talked with him the mutants aided him against the Imperial Protectorate. With Cable’s assurance that they would help him defeat Mojo, Shatterstar became a founding member of the new team, X-Force. Shatterstar first appeared in The New Mutants #99 (January 8, 1991).  |
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| January 9 Agent Ted Howards makes his first appearance as part of a small team of Bureau agents who are investigating an abandoned factory in Chicago in B.P.R.D.: Hell On Earth #103 (January 9, 2013). After being lead inside by a local, the three agents open an old door and learn that the warehouse used to be a meeting place for the Heliopic Brotherhood of Ra. While searching the abandoned hideout Howards picks up a strange weapon; a broken Hyperborean blade fashioned into a primitive sword. After picking up the weapon Howards falls to the ground. Although alive, his fellow agents were unable to wake him or remove the broken Hyperborean sword from his hands. Howards’ body remained in a coma in the present, but his mind traveled to the distant past, into the body of a prehistoric man named Gall Dennar. Gall Dennar was a warrior and tribal leader, who wielded the broken Hyperborean blade in the distant past. The broken blade had been discovered by Gall’s grandfather, who managed to turn the blade into a powerful weapon. The sword passed from Gall’s grandfather, to his father, and finally to Gall Dennar himself. A team of B.P.R.D. agents led by Johann Kraus are sent into Chicago to investigate the disappearance of Howards’ team. They stumble upon the still sleeping Howards and the bodies of his missing team. The rescue team are soon surrounded by a large number of mutated citizens and appear overwhelmed. Howards awakens and leaps into combat, wielding the Hyperborean sword, and is able to kill the remaining monsters. The rescue team leave Chicago, with Howards, soon after.  Alex Summers, Havok, first appears in Uncanny X-Men #54 (January 9, 1969). Havok generates powerful “plasma blasts”, an ability he has had difficulty controlling. One of the sons of Corsair, he is the younger brother of the X-Men’s Cyclops, and the older brother of Vulcan. He often resents Cyclops’ authoritarian attitude and reputation as a model member of the X-Men. In contrast, Havok and his longtime love interest Polaris have had a love-hate relationship with the team, often finding themselves roped into it. Both were also members of the 1990s-era Pentagon-sponsored mutant team X-Factor. After X-Factor disbanded, Havok explored a strange alternate reality. He has since returned to the X-Men, later taking over his father’s role as leader of the Starjammers to bring Vulcan’s reign over the Shi'ar to an end.  The original Manhunter, Dan Richards, first appeared in Quality Comics’ Police Comics #8 (January 9, 1942). Donald “Dan” Richards attended the police academy with his girlfriend’s brother, Jim, who was at the top of the class, while Dan was at the very bottom. After Jim was framed for a crime he didn’t commit, Dan took up the identity of Manhunter to track down the actual killer. He caught the perpetrator and cleared Jim’s name. Afterwards, he continued to operate as Manhunter. His sidekick was a dog named Thor, who was later retconned to be a robotic sentry operating under the auspices of the Manhunter cult. Dan Richards was later killed by Mark Shaw, who had fallen back into his Dumas persona.  |
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| January 10 Rima the Jungle Girl, a primitive girl of the shrinking rain forest of South America, meets Abel, a political fugitive. Rima is based on a South American legend about a lost tribe of white people who lived in the mountains. It is a romantic adventure set in the South American jungle in which a political fugitive named Abel meets Rima, a girl living in the forest. Its theme is the loss of wilderness and the return-to-nature dream, and how unpleasant it would be for a savage to meet modern man. Rima starred in a comic book series, beginning with DC Comics’ Rima the Jungle Girl #1 (January 10, 1974). Although the DC character is a fully grown and powerful woman with ash blonde hair, the novel’s Rima was 17, small (4’ 6"  , demure, and dark-haired. Natives avoided her forest, calling her “the Daughter of the Didi” (an evil spirit). Rima’s only defense was a reputation for magic earned through the display of strange talents such as talking to birds, befriending animals, and plucking poison darts from the air. Although in the original book Rima was burned alive by Indian savages, in the comics she escaped the fire to have further adventures. Mystique is a shapeshifter who can mimic the appearance and voice of any person with exquisite precision, and her natural appearance includes blue skin and yellow eyes. She is typically portrayed as a foe of the X-Men. Throughout most of her history, Mystique has been a supervillain, founding her own Brotherhood of Mutants and assassinatingseveral important people involved in mutant affairs. She has commented that she is over 100 years old. Mystique is the mother of the villain Graydon Creed, the X-Men hero Nightcrawler, and adoptive mother of the heroine Rogue. She is forced to abandon Nightcrawler, but raises Rogue for a number of years, and the two women have mixed feelings towards one another. She first appeared in Ms. Marvel #16 (January 10, 1978).  |
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| January 11 Maxie Zeus is a former Greek history teacher who lost his mind when his wife left him. He became a gangster and used his cunning and intelligence to rise to power amidst the chaos in Gotham City’s underworld. He has fought Batman on several occasions before being committed to Arkham Asylum. Maxie escaped to form a team of Greek Mythology-based superhuman agents called the New Olympians. He attempted to kidnapOlympic athlete Lacinia Nitocris and force her to marry him and become a mother to his daughter Medea. This plot was foiled by Batman and the Outsiders, who bested the Olympians in a series of Olympic-style games. Maxie Zeus first appeared in Detective Comics #483 (January 11, 1979).  Warmaker, a former United States soldier turned supervillain, is sent by the government to be imprisoned in The Vault, a super-prison located in Golden City. He escapes and begins a rampage. He faces the superhero team Catalyst. Rebel can fly and shoot energy blasts. Mecha is a tall, yellow, mechanical construct. Titan has flight, speed and superstrength. Ruby has bright red skin and can heal others. Warmarker causes massive amounts of destruction to the city, until Grace arrives to face him. She easily defeats Warmaker, but Titan attacks him for no reason. Warmaker strikes Titan, knocking him into Rhapsody, the local healer. She falls into a nearby crater and dies of a broken neck. Warmaker escapes. Grace uses this and the death of Rhapsody as a rallying point. She announces Golden City will secede from the United States of America. Catalyst first appeared in Comics’ Greatest World: Golden City Week 4 (January 11, 1994).  |
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| January 12 Vertigo is an imprint of the American comic book publisher DC Comics. It was created in 1993 to publish stories with more graphic or adult content that could not fit within the restrictions of the Comics Code Authority, thus allowing more creative freedom than DC’s main imprint. These comics were free to contain explicit violence, substance and drug abuse, sexuality, nudity, profanity, and other controversial subjects, similar to the content of R-rated films. Although its initial publications were primarily in the horror and fantasy genres, it has also published works dealing with crime, social commentary, speculative fiction, biography, and other genres. Originally publishing a mix of company- and creator-owned work, its current focus is on the latter. It pioneered in North America an increasingly common publishing model, in which monthly series are periodically comprised into collected editions which are kept in print for bookstore sale. Vertigo originated in 1993 under the stewardship of Karen Berger, a former literature and art-history student, who began recruiting writers from the UK, including Neil Gaiman, Peter Milligan, and Grant Morrison. She “found their sensibility and point of view to be refreshingly different, edgier and smarter” than those of most American comics writers. The original seven titles, all of which carried a “Suggested for Mature Readers” label on their covers, shared a sophistication-driven sensibility the fan press dubbed “the Bergerverse”. Berger was given the mandate to place these titles under an imprint that, as Berger described, would “do something different in comics and help the medium ‘grow up’”. The first comic book published under the “Vertigo” imprint was the first issue of Death: The High Cost of Living (January 12, 1993).        |
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| January 13 Mickey first appeared in comics after he had appeared in 15 commercially successful animated shorts and was easily recognized by the public. Walt Disney was approached by King Features Syndicate with the offer to license Mickey and his supporting characters for use in a comic strip. Disney accepted and Mickey made his first comic strip appearance on January 13, 1930. The comical plot was credited to Disney himself, art to Ub Iwerks and inking to Win Smith. The first week or so of the strip featured a loose adaptation of “Plane Crazy”. Minnie soon became the first addition to the cast. Animation historian Jim Korkis notes “After the eighteenth strip, Iwerks left and his inker, Win Smith, continued drawing the gag-a-day format…” In early 1930, after Iwerks’ departure, Disney was at first content to continue scripting the Mickey Mouse comic strip, assigning the art to Win Smith. However, Disney’s focus had always been in animation and Smith was soon assigned with the scripting as well. Smith was apparently discontent at the prospect of having to script, draw, and ink a series by himself as evidenced by his sudden resignation. Disney then hired Floyd Gottfredson. Gottfredson was reportedly eager to work in animation and somewhat reluctant to accept his new assignment. Disney had to assure him the assignment was only temporary and that he would eventually return to animation. Gottfredson accepted and ended up holding this “temporary” assignment from May 1930, to November 1975. Among the characters who had appeared in the comic strip were Clarabelle Cow, Horace Horsecollar, and Black Pete as well as the corrupted lawyer Sylvester Shyster and Minnie’s uncle Mortimer Mouse. Mickey’s versions in animation and comics are considered to have diverged from each other. While Disney and his cartoon shorts would continue to focus on comedy, the comic strip effectively combined comedy and adventure. This adventurous version of Mickey would continue to appear in comic strips and later comic books throughout the 20th and into the 21st century.  |
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And on a side note... 1128 Pope recognizes Knights Templar On January 13, 1128, Pope Honorius II grants a papal sanction to the military order known as the Knights Templar, declaring it to be an army of God. Led by the Frenchman Hughes de Payens, the Knights Templar organization was founded in 1118. Its self-imposed mission was to protect Christian pilgrims on their way to and from the Holy Land during the Crusades, the series of military expeditions aimed at defeating Muslims in Palestine. For a while, the Templars had only nine members, mostly due to their rigid rules. In addition to having noble birth, the knights were required to take strict vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. In 1127, new promotional efforts convinced many more noblemen to join the order, gradually increasing its size and influence. By the time the Crusades ended unsuccessfully in the early 14th century, the order had grown extremely wealthy, provoking the jealousy of both religious and secular powers. In 1307, King Philip IV of France and Pope Clement V combined to take down the Knights Templar, arresting the grand master, Jacques de Molay, on charges of heresy, sacrilege and Satanism. Under torture, Molay and other leading Templars confessed and were eventually burned at the stake. Clement dissolved the Templars in 1312. The modern-day Catholic Church has admitted that the persecution of the Knights Templar was unjustified and claimed that Pope Clement was pressured by secular rulers to dissolve the order. Over the centuries, myths and legends about the Templars have grown, including the belief that they may have discovered holy relics at Temple Mount, including the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant or parts of the cross from Christ’s crucifixion. The imagined secrets of the Templars have inspired various books and movies, including the blockbuster novel and film The Da Vinci Code. |
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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 January 13-19, 2023... 160 years ago January 14, 1863 Writer-artist Richard Felton Outcault is born. The creator of The Yellow Kid and Buster Brown is considered to be the instigator of the modern comic strip. 115 years ago January 18, 1908 Publisher Martin Goodman is born. 115 years ago January 19, 1908 Bulgarian artist Georgi Danchov dies at age 61. He may have been the first artist in Bulgaria to use the comics format. 110 years ago January 14, 1913 Dutch artist-teacher Lex Metz is born. 110 years ago January 16, 1913 Marvin Bradley is born. He’s the first artist on the Rex Morgan, M.D. comic strip. 100 years ago January 13, 1923 Artist Jill Elgin is born. She is known for work on Girl Commandos. 100 years ago January 19, 1923 Voice artist Bob McFadden is born. His characters include Milton the Monster. 100 years ago January 19, 1923 Award-winning Argentine artist and composer Juan Carlos Colombres is born. He works as “Landrú.” 90 years ago January 13, 1933 Award-winning mystery, comics, and science fiction writer and historian Ron Goulart is born. In addition to his own novels and stories (sometimes written under a pseudonym), the expert on comics and pulps provides extensive background material on pop culture in such books as The Adventurous Decade and Comic Book Encyclopedia. 85 years ago January 13, 1938 French cartoonist Jean Cabut is born. Working as “Cabu,” he’s known for his character “Duduche.” 80 years ago January 16, 1943 Jean-Marie Brouyère is born. The Belgian writer-artist is best known for his work for Spirou. 75 years ago January 19, 1948 Writer-artist Joe Staton is born. The E-Man co-creator (with Nicola Cuti) is the art editor for First Comics, provides much art for DC, and teams with Mike Curtis on Dick Tracy. 70 years ago January 16, 1953 Writer-artist Randy H. Crawford is born. 65 years ago January 14, 1958 Artist-publisher Steven J. Woron is born. His companies include The Illustration Studio and The Image Guild. 60 years ago January 16, 1963 Christopher Richard Schenck is born. The artist is especially known for his work on Dark Horse’s Tarzan titles. 60 years ago January 18, 1963 Portuguese artist Francisco Valença dies at age 80. 55 years ago January 16, 1968 Yugoslavian artist and animator Vladmir Delač dies of cancer at age 40. He co-produced the first Yugoslav animated film, “Veliki Miting.” 55 years ago January 18, 1968 Artist Frank Quitely is born as Vincent Deighan. He’s especially known for work (with Grant Morrison) on such projects as All-Star Superman and (with Mark Millar) on The Authority. 55 years ago January 18, 1968 Portuguese artist Emmérico Nunes dies 12 days after his 80th birthday. 45 years ago January 18, 1978 Artist, animator, and animation producer (head of Cambria Studios) Clark Haas dies at age 58. 40 years ago January 17, 1983 Comedian, actor, and Mad contributor Winstead “Doodles” Weaver dies by suicide, age 71. 40 years ago January 19, 1983 Dutch artist Willy Kuyper dies at age 54. 35 years ago January 13, 1988 Friendly Frank’s Store Manager Michael Correa is found guilty of displaying obscene material by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Paul T. Foxgrover, fined $750, and sentenced to a year of court supervision. Lawyer Burton Joseph will take over the (successful) appeal. The case results in the creation of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. 30 years ago January 17, 1993 Award-winning cartoonist and political cartoonist F.O. Alexander dies at age 95. He took over Hairbreadth Harry when C.W. Kahles died and was a major contributor to the design of the Monopoly game. 25 years ago January 18, 1998 Spanish artist Adolfo Buylla dies at age 70 or 71. He contributed to Gold Key horror titles, Warren, and more in the United States. 20 years ago January 14, 2003 French artist Rémy Bordelet dies at age 71. 15 years ago January 18, 2008 Influential Mexican artist Joaquin Cervante Bassoco dies at age 89. He created the publishing firm Editorial GPCB. 15 years ago January 19, 2008 Belgian artist Rik Clément dies at age 87. His best known and longest series was Dees Dubbel. 5 years ago January 18, 2018 Underground comix creator and member of the Finecomix creator group Mark Campos dies by suicide at age 55. He also contributed to DC and Marvel comics. 5 years ago January 18, 2018 Indian journalist, researcher, and cartoonist Chandi Lahiri dies at age 86. He was a pioneer of Bengal animation. |
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| January 14 Scott Free is the son of Izaya (Highfather), the ruler of New Genesis, and his wife named Avia. As part of a diplomatic move to stop a destructive war against the planet Apokolips, Highfather agreed to an exchange of heirs with the galactic tyrant Darkseid; the exchange of heirs guaranteed that neither side would attack the other. Scott traded places with Darkseid’s second-born son Orion. Scott grew up in one of Granny Goodness’ “Terror Orphanages” with no knowledge of his own heritage. As he matured, Scott rebelled against the totalitarian ideology of Apokolips. Hating himself for being unable to fit in, he was influenced by Metron to see a future beyond Darkseid. Scott became part of a small band of pupils who were tutored in secret by the rebel Himon, a New Genesian living as a “Hunger Dog” on Apokolips. It was at these meetings that he met fellow pupil Big Barda, who would later become his wife. Eventually, Scott Free escaped and fled to Earth. His escape, long anticipated and planned for by Darkseid, nullified the pact between Darkseid and Highfather and gave Darkseid the excuse he needed to revive the war with New Genesis. Once on Earth, he became the protégé of a circus escape artist, Thaddeus Brown, whose stage name was Mister Miracle. Brown was impressed with Scott’s skills. Scott befriended Brown’s assistant, a dwarf named Oberon. When Thaddeus Brown was murdered, Scott Free assumed the identity of Mister Miracle. He first appeared in Mister Miracle #1 (January 14, 1971).  Louis Sadler was a Canadian superhero during World War II and the occasional ally of the Invaders in their battles against Hitler and the Nazis. He first appeared in Alpha Flight #106 (January 14, 1992). He gained his powers through an unrevealed process which appears to have affected his aging process. After the war, he went underground in his crimefighting and eventually revealed his public identity in 1963 to devote time to raising his son, Michael, his proudest achievement. After Michael’s death from A.I.D.S. he sank into a depression. Later, when the news was making a cause celebrity out of a baby with HIV, he went on a rampage, believing society did not care about Michael’s fate due to his homosexuality. He was stopped by Northstar of Alpha Flight, who came out as gay himself during their battle.  |
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| January 15 Atom Eve was created by the government to be a weapon. At birth, she was switched with a stillborn, and sent home with its birth-parents so as to avoid the government’s seizing of her. She was a prodigy in science and received a scholarship to a prestigious school. Her scientific ability turned out to be an early manifestation of her powers. A man approached her one day, warning Eve that her powers may be her downfall and encouraged her to never to use them again. Atom Eve first appeared in Invincible #1(January 15, 2003). Atom Eve joins the Teen Team as an after-school superhero. She soon starts a friendship with Invincible after the two meet saving a shipment of video game consoles from a Mauler twin. Atom Eve is able to manipulate matter at the sub-atomic level by sheer will power. Organic (not animal life, however) and inorganic matter can be changed into anything she desires. She can also fly by lowering the density of the air around her as well as creating force fields.  Born in Stuttgart, West Germany, in 1946, Johann Kraus became aware of his psychic abilities when he was ten years old. Frustrated with his inability to help the spirits that appeared to him, he sought out spiritualists in attempts to better understand his powers. Disappointed with occultism, Kraus turned to the church, which allowed him to focus on the spirits themselves rather than the occultist’s focus on study and academia. In 1971, he opened an office in Munich, where he became a well-respected medium before relocating to Heidelberg. In early 2002, Kraus was the only survivor of a seance affected by a mystical disaster. His ectoplasmic form survived when his body was incinerated, and knowing he would dissipate without a physical body, he sought out the best paranormal minds on the planet for help: the B.P.R.D. At first, he was sustained inside a transparent tank apparatus developed by the B.P.R.D. for other purposes; eventually the technology was sized down into his distinctive containment suit. Kate Corrigan has said of him that, “He’s not dead. He just doesn’t have a body anymore.” He first appeared in B.P.R.D.: Hollow Earth and Other Stories (January 15, 2003).  Groo first appeared in Destroyer Duck #1 (January 15, 1982) as a parody of the brutal sword and sorcery heroes who were popular at the time of his creation in the 1970s. Groo is a large-nosed buffoon of unsurpassed stupidity who constantly misunderstands his surroundings. Possessed of superlative skills in swordsmanship he delights in combat but otherwise is a peaceable and honest fellow who tries to make his way through life as a mercenary or by working odd jobs. He is incredibly accident-prone, and despite generally good intentions causes mass destruction wherever he goes. Most of his adventures end with him either oblivious to the mayhem he has wrought or fleeing an angry mob. His penchant for destruction has become so widely known that just the news of Groo approaching is sometimes enough to cause chaos among the population. Groo was one of the first widely successful creator-owned comics, one of the few successful humorous comic books in the United States during its time, and one of the longest-running collaborations in comic book history.  |
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| January 16 Laurel Gand replaced 20th century native Supergirl in Legion history; all of Kara Zor-El’s appearances are said to have been appearances by Laurel. She first appeared in Legion of Super-Heroes #5 (January 16, 1990). Laurel was a distant relative of Valor, and was born on an asteroid called Ricklef II. Also, upon arriving on Earth she had posed as a shy, bookish young woman with glasses. As a child, Laurel fought off a Khundian attack force threatening to invade Daxam, but not before the Khunds slaughtered her parents and other inhabitants of the Ricklef II research station. Living in exile on Earth and fearing further vengeance from the Khunds, Laurel jumped at the chance to join the Legion of Super-Heroes. Generally, the abilities of Laurel Gand (and other Daxamites) are identical to those of Superman and other natives of the planet Krypton: super-strength; speed; flight; X-ray, heat, microscopic or telescopic vision powers.  |
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| January 17 Luc Orient was originally serialized in the weekly Tintin magazine starting on January 17, 1967. It was one of the several series simultaneously launched by then-editor Greg to give the magazine a needed facelift. Luc Orient, professor Hugo Kala from Eurocristal laboratory and his secretary Lora, share several adventures involving aliens and scientific mysteries. At the beginning, the trio discovers a stranded spaceship with a hibernating alien crew; professor Kala’s arrival brings hope to the refugees from the planet Terango. They then travel to Terango to thwart the evil tyrant Sectan who plots to invade Earth.  |
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| January 18 Doctor Moon started out as an unnamed brain surgeon who turns to a life of crime. He sells his services to finance his experiments and has taken work for the Joker and the Suicide Squad among others in the past. He was retained by Doctor Cyberafter her face was hideously burned, to transfer her brain to a new body, ideally that of Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. When Amanda Waller hired him, he was used to work on Plastique. He is also apparently an employee of the Sunderland Corporation and an associate of the Captains of Industry; he oversees the metagene operation that changes Air Wave into Maser. Doctor Moon has no superhuman abilities, but is an expert in gene therapy, psychological conditioning and torture. Doctor Moon first appeared in Batman #240 (January 18, 1972).  |
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| January 19 Random’s complete origin is unclear. It appears that he was created from a mass of protoplasm by Dark Beast, making Random the continuation of an experiment that Dark Beast began while Sinister’s lead scientist in the Age of Apocalypse reality. It is also possible that Random was born normally and then captured and experimented on by Dark Beast. Following Dark Beast’s experimentation, the young Random is given the name of Alex, and he uses this name while serving as McCoy’s helper in the sewers beneath New York City when he worked with the Morlocks. “Alex” eventually escapes, shifting his appearance to that of a muscle-bound man and creating the identity of bounty hunterRandom. It is unknown if the name Marshall Evan Stone III is his real name or just a name he created for his new Random persona. According to the memories of Charlie Ronalds, a person with Random’s powers killed Charlie’s parents when Charlie was very young, though Random has never been confirmed as the killer. Random’s body is made of morphing protoplasm which can change into almost any shape he can imagine and commonly changes his forearms into weapons that fire hardened protoplasm projectiles from his own biomatter. He is able to randomly counteract any force or mutant ability directed at him, alter his mass and strength and rapidly regenerate damaged or detached/severed biomatter and limbs. He first appeared in X-Factor #88 (January 19, 1993).  |
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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 January 20-26, 2023... 205 years ago January 26, 1818 Prolific French satiric artist Charles Amédée de Noé is born. He works as “Cham” and is called one of the first significant French comics artists. 155 years ago January 26, 1868 L’Éclipse begins. The French magazine features cartoons and comics. 145 years ago January 25, 1878 Italian artist Attilio Mussino is born. 140 years ago January 23, 1883 Artist and engraver Paul Gustave Doré dies at age 51. 135 years ago January 22, 1888 Animator, writer-artist, and teacher Win Smith is born. He’s the second artist to draw the Mickey Mouse comic strip, he creates Penguin Pete and Looney Luke, and he’s one of the first comic book artists to draw Bugs Bunny for Dell. 135 years ago January 24, 1888 Artist Neysa McMein, noted for drawing comic strip Deathless Deer, is born. 130 years ago January 22, 1893 Prolific British artist Walter Bell is born. 125 years ago January 23, 1898 Richard F. Outcault’s The Yellow Kid ends. 110 years ago January 26, 1913 Orville Peter Williams’ Gasoline Gus begins. 105 years ago January 25, 1918 Artist William Steinigans dies at age 39. His comic strips included The Bad Dream That Made Bill a Better Boy. 100 years ago January 20, 1923 John McLusky is born. He’s the first artist of Ian Fleming’s James Bond comic strip. 100 years ago January 21, 1923 Bulgarian teacher and artist Petar Grigorov is born. 100 years ago January 25, 1923 Bob Heinz is born. The German writer-artist creates Pif und Alf and Jan Maat among many others. 95 years ago January 20, 1928 Award-winning cartoonist, illustrator, and painter Mauro Malang Santos is born. Lambiek says he is the first Philippine cartoonist to publish his comics in English. 85 years ago January 20, 1938 French artist and animated film pioneer and director Émile Cohl dies at age 81. Lambiek says he created the first fully animated cartoon (“Fantasmagorie” in 1908) and was also the first to adapt a comic strip into an animated film series. 85 years ago January 24, 1938 Five years after her introduction in Fritzi Ritz by Ernie Bushmiller, Nancy meets Sluggo. 85 years ago January 25, 1938 Shotaro Ishinomori is born. The award-winning manga and anime artist creates such series as Cyborg 009, Super Sentai, and Kamen Rider. He holds the Guinness World Record for the most comics published by one creator. 80 years ago January 24, 1943 Male Call by Milton Caniff begins. 75 years ago January 24, 1948 Biffo the Bear by Dudley D. Watkins begins in The Beano. 75 years ago January 26, 1948 Rusty Riley begins from King Features, created and drawn by Frank Godwin and written by Rod Reed. 70 years ago January 23, 1953 French writer-artist Raymond de la Nezière dies at age 87. 70 years ago January 23, 1953 Dutch artist and teacher Albert Hahn Jr. dies at age 58. 70 years ago January 25, 1953 Writer John Lustig is born. He’s especially known for work on Duck stories and for rescripting romance comics panels (collected in Last Kiss). 65 years ago January 21, 1958 Writer-artist Bill Riling is born. His work includes production of Disney comics. 65 years ago January 22, 1958 Editor-writer Howard Mackie is born. He contributes to comics including Ghost Rider, Spider-Man, X-Factor, and The Ravagers. 65 years ago January 23, 1958 Bulgarian political cartoonist Ilia Beshkov dies at age 56. 65 years ago January 24, 1958 Spanish writer-artist Alfredo Pons is born. 60 years ago January 22, 1963 Jerry Craft is born. He writes and draws the 2020 Newbery Medal-winning New Kid and creates the New Boyz comic strip. 60 years ago January 26, 1963 The Boys’ World British comics magazine begins. 55 years ago January 20, 1968 Comics marketer, reporter, business analyst, and editor Marc Patten is born. 55 years ago January 20, 1968 Writer-artist Gerry Alanguilan is born. The founder of The Komiks Museum in San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines, creates the Elmer comic book and is credited with originating the term “Komikero.” 55 years ago January 22, 1968 French cartoonist Yvan Francis Le Louarn (who worked as “Chaval”) dies by suicide at age 52 after the death of his wife. 50 years ago January 25, 1973 Award-winning writer, retailer (co-owner of Earth-2 Comics), and film and TV producer Geoff Johns is born. He becomes DC Comics Chief Creative Officer in 2010. 35 years ago January 25, 1988 Movie star Colleen Moore dies of cancer, apparently at age 88 (although she said she was born in 1902). She played Ella Cinders in the film adaptation of the strip by Bill Conselman and Charles Plumb. 30 years ago January 20, 1993 Cartoonist Shunji Sonoyama dies at age 57. He created Hajime Ningen Gyatoruzu and Hana no Kakaricho. 30 years ago January 23, 1993 Wendy and Richard Pini launch the Elfquest ’93 tour at the Great Eastern Convention in New York City. 20 years ago January 20, 2003 French artist and teacher Moïse Depond (who worked as “Mose”) dies at age 85. 20 years ago January 20, 2003 Caricaturist Al Hirschfeld dies at age 99. 20 years ago January 22, 2003 Pulitzer Prize-winning political and World War II cartoonist Bill Mauldin dies of complications of Alzheimer’s disease and scalding at age 81. 5 years ago January 20, 2018 British artist Bob Wakelin (who contributed to Marvel comics) dies at age 65 or 66 from aplastic anemia. 5 years ago January 24, 2018 Belgian artist Marc Ratal dies at age 95. 5 years ago January 24, 2018 Award-winning Dutch artist Jan Steeman dies of kidney failure at age 84. He drew the Noortje strip written by Patty Klein, which ran more than 40 years; Wiki says that made it the longest running Dutch comic strip by the same artist. 5 years ago January 25, 2018 Swedish artist Torvald Sundbaum dies at age 89. |
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