TODAY IN COMIC BOOK HISTORY15515
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| December 15 Like his two brothers, Ivar is immortal, ages very slowly, is exceptionally strong and fast, and is able heal quickly. However, he also has the unique ability to sense “time arcs” that allow him to pass from one time period to another but he has no control over what time period the “time arcs” will take him to. He travels these arcs as often as he can, searching for the arc that will lead him back to ancient Egypt and the woman he loves. Because he has no control over what time period the time arcs take him, Ivar could be in the future one day and the past the next. He tries to carry gum with him as it pleases people throughout history, such as Genghis Khan. Several of Ivar’s time-arcs have taken innocent people instead of him. Many of these end up in London circa 1992. They successfully kidnap Ivar. Along for the chaos is his brother Armstrong and the man’s monk apprentice Archer. Ivar has become involved in many historical periods throughout history. Ivar the Timewalker first appeared in Archer and Armstrong #8 (December 15, 1992).  |
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| December 16 Jason “Jay” Todd is the son of circus acrobats, Joseph Todd and Trina Todd, killed by a criminal (Killer Croc) and is later adopted by Bruce Wayne. Distinguished by strawberry blond hair, Todd is wearing various pieces of Dick Grayson’s old childhood disguises as costume to fight crime until Grayson presents him with a Robin costume of his own. At that point, Todd dyes his hair black, and in later stories blossoms under Batman’s tutelage. Jason Todd was created as Dick Grayson’s replacement as Robin but was almost a complete clone of the first Robin until Crisis on Infinite Earths. He first appears as Robin in Batman #357 (December 16, 1982). Following the 1985 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths, DC took the opportunity to reboot many of its properties. The character was completely revamped and the new version of the character was not well received by fans. Dennis O'Neil, who took over as Batman editor in 1986, said, “They did hate him. I don’t know if it was fan craziness—maybe they saw him as usurping Dick Grayson’s position. Some of the mail response indicated that this was at least on some people’s minds.”  |
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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 December 17-22, 2021... 190 years ago December 18, 1831 Dutch poet, historian, teacher, and creator of then-unpublished comic Hanenpoot Willem Bilderdijk dies at age 75. 125 years ago December 20, 1896 Australian Fatty Finn comic strip artist and comic book publisher Syd Nicholls is born. 105 years ago December 17, 1916 Dutch artist Fiep Westendorp is born. She is especially known for Tante Patent, co-created with Annie M.G. Schmid. 105 years ago December 17, 1916 Mr. Hubby by William Steinigans ends. 105 years ago December 22, 1916 British cartoonist and Disney artist Basil Reynolds is born. 90 years ago December 20, 1931 Writer and comics collector Raymond Miller is born. His “Information Center” column in RB/CC provides data on Golden Age comics. 80 years ago December 21, 1941 Canadian artist Arthur Racey dies at age 70 or 71. 70 years ago December 19, 1951 Dark Horse VP of Product Development (1993-2017) David Scroggy is born. His career includes working for Comic-Con International: San Diego, managing comics shops, writing, and editing. 70 years ago December 22, 1951 Writer-editor Tony Isabella is born. “America’s Most Beloved Comic Book Writer & Columnist” creates Black Lightning and co-creates many other comics characters. 65 years ago December 18, 1956 Artist Ted Boonthanakit is born. He’s especially known for his work on MICRA. 65 years ago December 22, 1956 Writer-artist Bill Willingham is born. He’s especially known for Elementals and Fables. 60 years ago December 18, 1961 “Funny animal” writer-artist and Comics Buyer’s Guide cartoonist Gary Fields is born. 55 years ago December 20, 1966 Artist-writer-editor Oskar Lebeck dies at age 63. Best known for helping to set up Dell Comics publications in the Golden Age, he sometimes assigned copyrights of non-licensed Dell Comics material to himself. 50 years ago December 20, 1971 Roy Disney dies of an intracranial hemorrhage at the age of 78. Co-founder (with his brother Walt) of the company now known as The Walt Disney Company, he served as CEO, president, and chairman of the firm and named Walt Disney World. 50 years ago December 22, 1971 Dutch writer Godfried Bomans dies of a heart attack at age 58. 45 years ago December 21, 1976 Writer-artist Munro Leaf dies at age 71. Known for writing The Story of Ferdinand (illustrated by Robert Lawson), Leaf was a cartoonist whose Watchbirds ran in Ladies’ Home Journal and whose children’s book Sam and the Superdroop made fun of comics. 40 years ago December 19, 1981 Writer-artist Frank J. Jupo dies at age 77. Born as Julius Potzernheim, he was a political cartoonist, children’s book creator, and Dell comics contributor. 35 years ago December 19, 1986 Prolific Belgian artist Frank Sels commits suicide at age 44. He set up his own Studio Sels. 30 years ago December 17, 1991 Steve Geppi sells the “Mile High” copy of Detective Comics #27 for $75,000 to Marvin Foreman. (Heritage will sell a 7.0 copy in 2020 for $1,500,000.) 30 years ago December 18, 1991 Sotheby’s holds its first auction of comic books and comic book art. Results include sales of a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #1 for $15,400. (Heritage will sell a 9.6 copy in 2021 for $3,600,000.) 30 years ago December 21, 1991 Artist, writer, and editor Sheldon Mayer dies at age 74. Instrumental in bringing Superman to Action Comics, he also created Sugar and Spike, Scribbly, The Red Tornado, Black Orchid, and Three Mouseketeers. 25 years ago December 22, 1996 Artist and teacher Jack Hamm dies at age 80. Lambiek says he was the first known comics artist to host an educational TV show about cartooning: The Jack Hamm Show. 20 years ago December 19, 2001 Cartoonist Dan DeCarlo dies at age 82. He created Sabrina, Josie and the Pussycats, and Cheryl Blossom. 15 years ago December 17, 2006 Golden Age writer Joe Gill dies at age 87. He co-created Captain Atom, Peacemaker, and Judomaster. 15 years ago December 18, 2006 Hanna-Barbera co-creator Joe Barbera dies at age 95. 15 years ago December 19, 2006 Jack Burnley dies following a fall at age 95. Born Hardin J. Burnley, he was a sports cartoonist who followed Joe Shuster as artist on Superman and co-created Starman with Gardner Fox. 10 years ago December 21, 2011 New Zealand artist Eric Resetar dies at age 83. Lambiek says he was the country’s first self-published comics creator. The Eric Awards for New Zealand Comics were named in his honor. 5 years ago December 20, 2016 Swiss cartoonist Philippe Becquelin (who worked as “Mix & Remix”) dies at age 58. 5 years ago December 20, 2016 Writer-artist Paul Peter Porges dies at age 89. He was especially known for his work for Mad, starting with the cover concept for #106. |
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| December 17 Spider-Girl first appeared in a one-shot story in the ongoing series What If #105 (December 17, 1997). Following positive fan response to the concept, Spider-Girl and two other series (A-Next and J2) set in the same alternate future universe were launched under the MC2 imprint. Although each of these titles were slated to be 12-issue limited series, Spider-Girl’s initial sales justified their continuation as ongoing titles. May “Mayday” Parker is the child of Peter and Mary Jane Parker in a future, alternate universe continuity. Peter and Mary Jane named their daughter after his Aunt May. For years, they chose to keep their past from May and hoped that she wouldn’t develop powers of her own. May began developing versions of her father’s spider-powers when she was 15. At the same time, Normie Osborn, grandson of the original Green Goblin, set out to restore the family name. May donned Ben Reilly’s Spider-Man costume to stop him and soon took to crime-fighting, at first hindered, then helped, by her worried parents. May Parker inherited many of the same abilities as her father, Peter Parker. Spider-Girl can adhere to almost any surface through a bio-magnetic field her body generates, allowing her to scale the sides of a building, just like a spider. Wall-crawling doesn’t come as naturally to May as Peter; she has to concentrate to keep herself from slipping off surfaces. In addition to adhering to surfaces, May can also repel herself like an opposing magnet, or she can repulse and adhere another object or person through a shared medium. For example, she can cause a person to stick to a wall they’re touching just by touching that same wall and willing them to, or she can just as easily violently push them away.  |
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| December 18 Pantha was a cat-like member of one of the incarnations of the Teen Titans. During her time with the Titans, she had no knowledge as to her origins: whether she was a woman or a female panther before the Wildebeest Society mutated her. But tragically, her ultimately fruitless search led her to many dead-ends. While many of the other Titans were close friends, Pantha went out of her way to alienate herself from the team. Pantha was overtly hostile towards her teammates, often ridiculing and berating them. Despite her attitude, her feral abilities made her a valuable asset to the team. Pantha’s human/panther physiology gave her superhuman strength, speed, and agility, as well as heightened senses (such as hearing, smelling, and night-vision), enhanced reflexes, and retractable claws on her hands and feet. She first appeared in New Titans #73 (December 18, 1990).  |
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| December 19 Writer/artist Bob Layton said of his story: “I’m gonna quote David Michelinie here, that it was never our intention to do anything relevant. We were paid to, basically, do the next episode of Iron Man.” “Demon in a Bottle” was originally only the title of the final issue in the storyline. The storyline ran for 9 issues in Iron Man beginning in #120 (December 19, 1978). The story concerns Tony Stark’s alcoholism. Layton said “that particular issue, alcoholism was the bad guy. Instead of Doctor Doom or somebody like that, it was the bottle. That was our villain of the month. And that’s really the way we treated it.” “Demon in a Bottle” has been recognized by critics as “the quintessential Iron Man story,” “one of the best super-hero sagas of the 1970s,” and “one which continues to influence writers of the character today.”  |
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| December 20 Legion, a psychotic mutant, traveled back in time to kill Magneto before he can commit various crimes against humanity. Legion accidentally kills Professor Charles Xavier, his father, leading to a major change in the timeline. The death of Professor Xavier in X-Men #41 (December 20, 1994) leads Apocalypse to attack 10 years sooner than he did in the original timeline, taking control of earth and altering everything that happened from that point forward. The Age of Apocalypse briefly replaced the universe of Earth-616 and had ramifications in the main Marvel Comics universe when the original timeline was restored. During the entirety of the Age of Apocalypse event the regularly published X-Men comics were replaced by new X-Men related mini series, focusing on various teams and individuals in the Age of Apocalypse world. The only person aware of how history has changed is Bishop, a time traveling mutant who followed Legion.  |
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| December 21 As one of the New Gods, Steppenwolf is the younger brother of Heggra, and the uncle of Uxas (Darkseid). He is also a member of Darkseid’s Elite. He leads the military of Apokolips and also rides a hover bike which may be at the same level of technology as Orion’s. Most of Steppenwolf’s appearances under the pen of Jack Kirby are in flashbacks: his debut, in New Gods #7 (December 21, 1971), was a flashback story where he is introduced and helped Darkseid murder the wife of Darkseid’s hated rival, Highfather. Highfather later tracks down and kills Steppenwolf in retaliation as the murder reignites the war between the two sides. Steppenwolf is an immortal with superhuman strength, speed and stamina appropriate to his race. He is an experienced military leader, having served as the head of Apokolips’s armed forces, and when going into battle personally often commands units of the dog cavalry - warriors riding enormous dogs, for the carnage and mass deaths he causes when he leads forces. Steppenwolf wields several weapons, including a cable-snare in which he can entrap opponents and from which he can fire lethal radion beams. His main weapon is his electro-axe. He is a master swordsman and a formidable hand-to-hand combatant.  |
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| December 22 Henry Heywood, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps prior to the United States involvement in the war, but was injured when saboteurs, spearheaded by the man who would become Baron Blitzkrieg, attacked his base. Heywood had been a biology student under the tutelage of Doctor Gilbert Giles, and his former professor performed extensive surgery on him, enhancing his damaged body with mechanized steel devices that gave him superhuman strength, speed, and durability. At the request of Doctor Giles, Heywood kept his newfound gifts a secret, and was returned to service in a desk position. Frustrated at his inability to help more directly, Heywood adopted the masked-hero persona “Steel”, and was attempting to steal armaments from the military base where he worked—to send to those more directly in the war’s fray—when some fifth columnist saboteurs broke into the base. Heywood defeated the saboteurs, and embarked on a career fighting foreign threats and other criminals before America went to war. Steel appeared in Steel, The Indestructible Man #1 (December 22, 1977).  |
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| December 23 I…Vampire is a mini series that first appeared in House of Mystery #290 (December 23, 1980). In 1591, after being turned into a vampire himself, Lord Andrew Bennett turned his lover, Mary Seward, into a vampire, and she became corrupted by the power. She took the name Mary, Queen of Blood and created a group of vampires called The Blood Red Moon bent on taking over the world. The series followed Bennett into the modern day as he tried to undo his mistake and take down Mary and The Blood Red Moon. He was helped by his two companions Deborah Dancer, a beautiful young woman who Bennett saved from Mary at Woodstock and Dmitri Mishkin, a Russian man whom Bennett rescued from Mary when Mishkin was a child. To try to keep his humanity, Bennett made a vow to only drink the blood of animals and bottled human blood. In the original series, Bennett keeps his companions at arm’s length, particularly Dancer. For a time he stays away from them altogether for fear of putting them in danger.  |
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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 December 23-29, 2021... 120 years ago December 25, 1901 Radio, film, and TV producer and comics writer (Red Ryder and King of the Royal Mounted) Stephen Slesinger is born. Wiki calls him “father of the licensing industry,” representing such characters as Tarzan and Winnie the Pooh. 120 years ago December 29, 1901 Writer William Ritt is born. He co-creates Brick Bradford with Clarence Gray. 110 years ago December 25, 1911 Illustrator, educator, and Tarzan artist Burne Hogarth is born. 105 years ago December 24, 1916 Writer-artist Joe Buresch is born. He’s a Golden Age artist for Centaur, and his strip contributions include work on the Dinah Mite panel. 100 years ago December 26, 1921 Award-winning artist John Severin is born. Known for his work on E.C. and Marvel comics, he draws for Cracked and co-creates American Eagle. 95 years ago December 26, 1926 Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay ends. 90 years ago December 24, 1931 Writer-artist-publisher Lyn Chevli is born. She is a feminist underground comix pioneer. 90 years ago December 26, 1931 The first episode of the text comic Illustrated Sunday School Lesson is published. 75 years ago December 24, 1946 Italian writer-artist Vittorio Giardino is born. He creates such characters as Max Fridman, Little Ego, and Jonas Fink. 65 years ago December 26, 1956 Writer-editor Steve Saffel is born. His work includes Spider-Man the Icon: The Life and Times of a Pop Culture Phenomenon. 60 years ago December 24, 1961 Prolific British writer Charles Hamilton (who also worked as Frank Richards) dies at age 85. 55 years ago December 24, 1966 Writer Wade Winningham is born. 55 years ago December 27, 1966 DC editor Joan Hilty is born. 50 years ago December 23, 1971 British-Belgian artist Gray Croucher (who signed his work “Gray”) dies at age 51. He was especially known for Rikske en Fikske. 50 years ago December 26, 1971 Robert Lowery dies of heart failure at age 58. He was the second actor to play Batman; that performance came in the 1949 Batman and Robin serial. 50 years ago December 28, 1971 Animator and director Burt Gillett dies of a heart attack at age 80. He was especially noted for his work on the Oscar-winning Silly Symphonies cartoons “Flowers and Trees” and “The Three Little Pigs.” 45 years ago December 27, 1976 French animator and artist André Daix dies at age 75. 35 years ago December 24, 1986 Prolific pulp magazine and comic book writer Gardner Fox dies at age 75. He created and co-created many superheroes including the Golden Age Sandman, The Flash, Doctor Fate, and Hawkman. Then, he helped DC to revamp characters in the Silver Age, including the recreation of his original Justice Society of America in the form of the Justice League of America. 30 years ago December 29, 1991 Tony Strobl dies at age 76. The writer-artist and animator was especially known for his work on Disney films and comic book stories. 25 years ago December 27, 1996 Marvel Entertainment files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. 15 years ago December 24, 2006 Award-winning Italian writer-artist Gino d’Antonio dies at age 79. He created Il Storia del West and Bella e Bronco for Bonelli. 10 years ago December 26, 2011 Belgian artist Jo Dustin dies at age 75. He was house cartoonist of Le Drapeau Rouge. 10 years ago December 26, 2011 Swedish artist Ola Ericson dies at age 91. He drew Broknäsflickorna for Min Häst magazine. 5 years ago December 25, 2016 Spanish writer-artist-editor-director Núria Pompeia dies at age 85. She edited Saber and was awarded Barcelona’s Gold Medal of the city (the Creu de Sant Jordi). 5 years ago December 26, 2016 Writer-artist Don “Duck” Edwing dies at age 81 or 82. He joined the crew of Mad’s “usual gang of idiots” starting with #70. 5 years ago December 27, 2016 Artist John Calnan dies at age 84. He was especially known for his work for DC. 5 years ago December 28 or 29, 2016 Swiss political cartoonist Raymond Burki dies in the night of cancer at age 67. 5 years ago December 29, 2016 Award-winning Italian artist and director Emilio Uberti dies at age 83. 5 years ago December 29, 2016 Luxembourgian artist Roger Leiner dies at age 61. He was known for the satiric Superjhemp co-created with Lucien Czuga. |
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| December 24 Leo Zelinsky is a fictional tailor who repairs ordinary clothes and as a sideline, patches costumes of both superheroes and villains. He first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #502 (December 24, 2003). His first customer was The Thing, whose clothes were burned off by a fire-wielding villain. After that, it snowballed. Word got around, and eventually members of the Avengers began commissioning costumes. Then the X-Men. Costumes became his specialty. He described working for Captain America as an honor - Cap had taken a slash across the waist, but went to Zelinsky before seeing a doctor, stating that “The important things come first.” Doctor Doom eventually showed up demanding repairs to his cloak, and soon a veritable rogues gallery formed in his shop. He got around this by serving heroes and villains on alternating days - heroes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and villains on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. He even alternates his magazine rack - newspapers, Newsweek and Time for the heroes, Penthouse and Guns and Ammo for the villains.  |
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| December 25 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was released on December 25, 1993 to widespread acclaim from critics, who praised the film for its animation style, dialogue and acting. However, due to the decision to release the film in theaters on such short notice, it failed at the box office. The film’s storyline introduces Andrea Beaumont, Bruce Wayne’s former girlfriend, who returns to Gotham City, restarting their romance. Two weeks prior to her return, a new mysterious vigilante begins systematically murdering Gotham’s crime bosses. Due to the person’s dark appearance, he is mistaken for Batman. Now on the run from the police, the Dark Knight must apprehend the killer, clear his name, and deal with the romance between himself and Andrea. The original idea was to release the film as direct-to-video, but Warner Bros. ultimately decided for a theatrical release, giving the filmmakers a strenuous eight-month schedule. Phantasm features the vocal talents of Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, and Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., in addition to the voices of Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Stacy Keach, and Abe Vigoda.  |
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| December 26 Tasmia Mallor is an alien from Talok VIII. She has the power to project darkness. Like all natives of Talok VIII, she has dark blue skin and pointed ears. She and her cousin Grev received their powers from their ancestors, whose spirits reside in a cave on Talok VIII. As her ancestors before her from the past thousand years, Tasmia is the hereditary shadow champion of Talok VIII. Her 20th century ancestors, Lydea Mallor and Lyrissa Mallor, were also shadow champions and members of the interstellar police force L.E.G.I.O.N. Shadow Lass joined the Legion after her homeworld was invaded by the Fatal Five. She helped the Legion to defeat them. After joining, she became romantically involved with Lar Gand and eventually married him after he was mortally wounded fighting the Time Trapper as part of the conspiracy to avenge Superboy’s death at the Trapper’s hands. Their marriage was rocky for many years despite their strong feelings for each other, and Tasmia went into mourning when Gand died. The mourning was temporary, as he returned to her, inhabited briefly by the Time Trapper’s essence, until a cataclysmic battle erased the Trapper from existence and completely rewrote reality. Shadow Lass first appeared in Adventure Comics #365 (December 26, 1967).  |
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| @OGJackster I appreciate this thread. It has a lot of good information, especially the lesser-known first appearances. It's neat that Maggie Thompson is acting as curator of comic book history, thanks for sharing it. When I was finishing High School I had a mail order subscription to the Thompson's weekly comic book newspaper. I've bought some books based on information in this thread. Bought a couple copies of Jimmy Olsen 133 which I think could approach the value of J.O. 134 one day. Also been looking for a good deal on House of Mystery #290. The whole thread is full of interesting history, keep it up! | ||
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@EbayMafia Thanks I appreciate it!  |
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| December 27 Marvel made an initial public offer of 40% of the stock in 1991. Marvel Entertainment Group then began expanding with acquisitions and forming new divisions. They purchased the trading card company Fleer and acquired 46% of ToyBiz, for the rights to make Marvel toys. In 1993 and 1994, Marvel’s holding companies — Marvel Holdings, Inc. and Marvel Parent Holdings, Inc. — were formed between Andrews Group and MEG and issued over half a billion dollars in bonds under the direction of Perelman, secured by Marvel’s rising stock, which was passed up in dividends to Perlman’s group of companies. Marvel continued making acquisitions with Panini, an Italian sticker-maker, and SkyBox International. Marvel also purchased Heroes World Distribution, a regional distributor to comic-book shops. Marvel’s attempt to distribute its products directly led to a decrease in sales and aggravated the losses which Marvel suffered when the comic book bubble popped, the 1994 Major League Baseball strike massacred the profits of the Fleer unit, and Panini, whose revenue depended largely on Disney licensing, was hobbled by poor Disney showings at the box office. The Marvel group of companies filed for bankruptcy on December 27, 1996, but the noteholders, led by Icahn, initially blocked this.  |
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| December 28 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was shown during the week of December 28, 1987 in syndication as a five-part miniseries and the show began its official run the following year. Since then the show and franchise has become a world-wide phenomenon. The series featured the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created in comic book form by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The property was changed considerably from the darker-toned comic, to make it more suitable for children and the family. The initial motivation behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series was that, upon being approached to create a toy line, Playmates Toys was uneasy with the comic-book characters’ small cult following. They requested that a television deal be acquired first, and after the initial five-episode series debuted, the California toy company released their first series of Ninja Turtles action figures in the summer of 1988. The two media would correspond in marketing style and popularity for many years to come. Splinter was formerly human, an honorable ninja master named Hamato Yoshi who studied art history as a hobby. He was banished from the Foot Clan after one of his students, the power-hungry and seditious Oroku Saki, set him up for an offense against a visiting master sensei. Sometime later, Yoshi adopted four turtles after they were accidentally dropped into the sewer system by an unnamed boy, who had recently bought them from a pet store. He returns from his explorations around New York City one day to find the turtles covered with a strange glowing ooze. This substance caused the turtles, who were most recently exposed to Yoshi, to become humanoid, while Yoshi, who was most recently exposed to sewer rats, became a humanoid rat, and was given the name “Splinter” by the turtles. |
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| December 29 Daredevil in the 1980s under the direction of Frank Miller had taken a far darker route to the portrayal of its characters. Instead of the traditional romantic nature of most characters, Daredevil’s love life was fraught with disaster, and Elektra was a major part of that. Frank Miller on creating the character, “I worked on giving her a personality, a weapon and a means of fighting that would make it believable that someone who isn’t as physically powerful as Daredevil could function in his kind of situation” adding about her famous choice of weapons the sai “Since it makes every karate blow more powerful, it would be a natural weapon for a woman to use” added how it would extend her reach. After escaping from the control of the Hand, Elektra moves back to New York City and starts to work for the Kingpin. She undertakes numerous missions for the criminal mastermind, including an attempt to kill Foggy Nelson when she drives the cab he is in. When Elektra realizes it is Foggy Nelson, Matt’s old friend, she moves the car and let’s an astonished Foggy go. She soon met up with Matt after this, and his alter-ego Daredevil. Although the two have an instant connection again, Daredevil is angered of how she turned out to be. Not only Matt is angered, also the Kingpin, for letting Foggy Nelson go. He hires a new assassin named Bullseye whom wishes to be Kingpin’s main assassin. His first task, kill Elektra. Although the fight is generally pretty close, Bullseye eventually gets one of Elektra’s sais-daggers and stabs her in the chest. Elektra then managed to escape her assassin and crawl to Matt’s house, managing to reach him alive, only before dying in his arms. Elektra is killed in Daredevil #181 (December 29, 1981).  |
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| December 30 Shadow Knight is a nemesis of the superhero Moon Knight, as the two are brothers and have both at certain points been chosen as the avatar of the Egyptian moon god Khonshu. Randall Spector grew up with his brother Marc from birth, playing army with him often. He followed his brother into the Marines and eventually both became mercenaries in Northern Italy. It was later discovered that Randall killed Marc’s then nurse girlfriend. Marc hunted his brother down until there was a standoff. Marc threw a grenade into Randall’s treetop sniper position, thinking he killed him, but later Randall returns to New York on a killing spree focused on killing nurses. Moon Knight then uses his girlfriend Marelene as bait, but is unable to stop her from getting stabbed. He vows revenge, but is unable to kill his brother. Randall then leaps at Marc, but dodges him; however, Randall stabs himself into a tree branch. Randall first appeared imitating his brother Marc in Moon Knight #35 (December 30, 1991).  |
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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 December 30, 2021 through January 6, 2022... 190 years ago January 6, 1832 Artist, engraver, and illustrator Paul Gustave Doré is born. 175 years ago December 31, 1846 French artist Achille Lemot is born as Désiré Achille Valentin. 165 years ago January 1, 1857 Frederick Burr Opper is born. The comic strip pioneer and political cartoonist creates Happy Hooligan, Alphonse and Gaston, and And Her Name Was Maud. 155 years ago December 30, 1866 French artist Victor Adam dies at age 65. 130 years ago January 3, 1892 “Father of High Fantasy” John R.R. Tolkien is born. He writes The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. 115 years ago January 1, 1907 Italian artist Carlo Cossio is born. He draws the “Dick Fulmine” series for Audace magazine. 115 years ago January 4, 1907 Artist Bruno Premiani is born. He co-creates Doom Patrol with Arnold Drake and works on stories for Tomahawk, Pow-Wow Smith, and Classics Illustrated. 115 years ago January 5, 1907 The Dutch satirical magazine De Notenkraker begins. 110 years ago January 1, 1912 British artist Tony Weare is born. 100 years ago January 1, 1922 Artist, researcher, DC creative consultant, and award-winner Jerry Robinson is born. (Clearly, this entry should be much longer. Look him up. Just saying. OK, then, start with the fact that the award-winner co-creates Robin and The Joker for DC. But he writes the 1974 The Comics and does more, more, more.) 80 years ago December 31, 1941 Writer Sol Hess dies at age 69. He scripted The Gumps and The Nebbs. 75 years ago January 4, 1947 Argentine artist Carlos A. Killian is born. He creates Perloto. 70 years ago January 6, 1952 Peanuts Sunday strips begin, written and drawn by Charles Schulz. 65 years ago December 31, 1956 Award-winning artist Steve Rude is born. He co-creates Nexus with Mike Baron. 65 years ago December 31, 1956 Lela Dowling is born. She draws such features as The Weasel Patrol. 65 years ago December 31, 1956 Australian artist Norm Rice dies in a car accident at age 45. 65 years ago January 3, 1957 Artist Jeff Anderson is born. 65 years ago January 5, 1957 Artist Clarence Gray dies at age 55. He co-created the Brick Bradford newspaper strip written by William Ritt. 60 years ago December 31, 1961 Writer-editor Fabian Nicieza is born. Known for his work on a variety of titles including Cable and Deadpool, he creates and co-creates a number of characters (including Deadpool, Domino, Shatterstar, and Silhouette) and is president and publisher of Acclaim in the 1990s. 60 years ago December 31, 1961 Brazilian artist Péricles Maranhão commits suicide at age 37. He created O Amigo da Onça. 55 years ago January 4, 1967 Inker Bob Almond is born. 50 years ago January 3, 1972 Frans Masereel dies at age 82. The woodcut artist specialized in wordless novels, especially Mon Livre d’Heures, which in turn inspired such later graphic artists as Lynd Ward and Art Spiegelman. 50 years ago January 5, 1972 Stan Lee performs “Stan Lee at Carnegie Hall” from Steve Lemberg Productions: “an erudite evening of cataclysmic culture with your friendly neighborhood bullpen gang.” 50 years ago January 5, 1972 Artist Bud Counihan dies five days before his 85th birthday. He originated the Betty Boop comic strip, based on the Fleischer character. 45 years ago January 1, 1977 Armenian-Egyptian artist Alexander Saroukhan dies at age 78. He was known for his caricatures. 45 years ago January 3, 1977 The Amazing Spider-Man newspaper strip (written by Stan Lee and drawn by John Romita) begins with more than 100 newspapers to start. 40 years ago January 2, 1982 Red Ryder writer-artist Fred Harman dies at age 79. He was one of the founders of The Cowboy Artists of America. 35 years ago January 2, 1987 The first episode of Heinz by René Windig and Eddie de Jong is released. 35 years ago January 2, 1987 French artist Jacques Laplaine (who worked as “J. Lap”) dies at age 65. He was a frequent contributor to the satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaîné. 25 years ago January 5, 1997 Frans Piët dies at age 91. He drew the Dutch feature Sjors van de Rebellenclub. 25 years ago January 5, 1997 Award-winning writer-artist André Franquin dies at age 73. He was known for his long-time work on Spirou et Fantasio, where he created Marsupilami, Gaston Lagaffe, and Idées Noires. 20 years ago December 31, 2001 Stephan Pastis’ Pearls before Swine begins from United Feature Syndicate, launching in The Washington Post. 15 years ago January 1, 2007 Italian writer-artist Tiberio Colantuoni dies at age 71. He created Bongo (not the Disney character). 15 years ago January 3, 2007 Golden Age artist Sam Burlockoff dies at age 82. He worked for MLJ, Quality, and DC and inked comic strips. 15 years ago January 4, 2007 Colorist and pin-up artist Drew Posada dies of pancreatitis at age 37. 10 years ago December 30, 2011 Ronald Searle dies at age 91. The award-winning satirical cartoonist created St. Trinian’s School and the credits for the film Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. 10 years ago January 3, 2012 Chilean cartoonist Victor Arriagada Ríos (who worked as “Vicar”) dies of leukemia at age 77. The founder of the Vic-Art studio was especially known for his Disney Duck comics. 10 years ago January 4, 2012 Richard Alf dies at age 59 of pancreatic cancer. He was co-chair of San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Con in 1970, the forerunner of Comic-Con International: San Diego. The owner of the Comic Kingdom comics shop in the 1970s was a longtime Comic-Con staffer. 10 years ago January 6, 2012 Artist John Celardo dies at age 93. The King Features Syndicate comics editor was also known for his work on Wings Comics and the Tarzan comic strip. 5 years ago December 30, 2016 Italian writer-artist Giovanni Degli Esposti Venturi dies at age 62. 5 years ago January 1, 2017 Chinese artist and animator Alfonso Wong dies at age 93. He created the popular manhua Lao Fu Zi (“Old Master Q”). And here are the anniversaries spanning the month of December… 135 years ago January 1887 The first issue of the Norwegian illustrated children’s magazine Norsk Barneblad is published. 125 years ago January 1897 The French comics magazine Le Cri de Paris begins. 85 years ago January 1937 DC’s New Comics is renamed New Adventure Comics with #12. 80 years ago January 1942 The last issue (#8) of Marvel’s Daring Mystery Comics features “smashing thrill-packed adventures” of “popular favorites” The Thunderer, Citizen V, The Fin, Silver Scorpion, and Captain Daring. (Note: Just because this series ends doesn’t mean the characters won’t show up elsewhere.) 80 years ago January 1942 Remember that afterthought last month, when she wasn’t even mentioned on the cover of DC’s All-Star Comics #8, though her first appearance was in that issue? Well, relax. Wonder Woman commands the cover of “The Newest of the ‘DC’ Magazines,” Sensation Comics #1. Other characters get intros in the issue: Mr. Terrific (by Charles Reizenstein and Hal Sharp); The Gay Ghost (by Gardner Fox and Howard Purcell), Little Boy Blue (by Bill Finger and Jon L. Blummer); and Wildcat (by Bill Finger and Irwin Hasen). 75 years ago January 1947 Avon’s Eerie #1: Yeah, there is only one issue, but some consider it the first standalone horror comic. (Is this the time to note that Avon begins an actual ongoing Eerie series in 1951? Just saying.) 75 years ago January 1947 Gilberton’s Classic Comics #33 introduces the classic sleuth to comic book adaptation with The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, adapting A Study in Scarlet and The Hound of the Baskervilles with art by Henry C. Kiefer, Louis Zansky, and Fred Eng. 75 years ago January 1947 Despite its title, DC’s Real Fact Comics #6 introduces Tommy Tomorrow in a “sensational forecast” story by Jack Schiff, George Kashdan, Bernie Breslauer, Howard Sherman, and Virgil Finlay. Tommy is the first to set foot on another planet – in 1960. 70 years ago January 1952 “Introducing a new hero – Rex the Wonder Dog in exciting stories of danger and courage!” DC’s The Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #1 has two Rex stories: one by Robert Kanigher, Alex Toth, and Sy Barry, the other by Kanigher, Toth, and Frank Giacoia. 70 years ago January 1952 “Look!! It’s found us! It’s The Walking Death!” Marvel’s first issue of its Adventures into Weird Worlds horror anthology features that and “The Mad Men,” “The Terrible Tree,” and “The World That Vanished.” 70 years ago January 1952 Lev Gleason’s Daredevil Comics #82 is – Well, it’s weird. In fact, it could be a winner in the competition for “Weirdest Comic Book Cover.” The action title that by this point usually features the adventures of the kid gang The Little Wise Guys has – instead of an exciting adventure scene – a pink box containing a small white box of advertising text. Has cover artist Charles Biro missed a deadline? Is this some sort of experiment? What the heck? Anyway, it offers a “Big Chance To Win $100.00”! 70 years ago January 1952 Although Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor were featured on the cover of #106 last month, they’re gone from the cover – and contents – of DC’s Sensation Comics #107. The series turns into a spooky story anthology (and lasts only two more issues). 65 years ago January 1957 It’s only going to last four issues. But, hey, Marvel’s Six-Gun Western tells five stories in its first issue. 65 years ago January 1957 Marvel’s Navy Tales will also last only four issues – but it tells six stories in its first issue. 65 years ago January 1957 “The Golden Gorilla” introduces (yep!) The Golden Gorilla in DC’s Action Comics #224. Some contend that it’s the same “golden gorilla” as Congorilla. The story is drawn by Howard Sherman. 65 years ago January 1957 DC takes over Blackhawk from Quality with #108. 65 years ago January 1957 The cover says, “A new magazine which would like to say …. mainly HELP! Never mind other magazines – buy us.” Playboy Press publishes the first issue of the 54-page humor magazine Trump, overseen by Harvey Kurtzman. It’s priced at 50¢ at a time when most comics are a dime. (You remember correctly: When Kurtzman creates a humor magazine for Warren in 1960, it’s titled Help!) 60 years ago January 1962 “They were merciless! They were inhuman! They had powers far greater than Earthmen! They were ‘Skrulls from Outer Space!’” The Fantastic Four doesn’t have costumes by Marvel’s Fantastic Four #2, but they are already plunged into action. The story is by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and George Klein. 60 years ago January 1962 “Save me, somebody, save me!! Don’t let them drag me there! Not *gasp* into the ant hill!” Marvel’s Tales to Astonish #27 introduces Henry Pym, who doesn’t have a clue as to the job opportunity this could provide. “The Man in the Ant Hill!” is by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, and Dick Ayers. 60 years ago January 1962 OK, we know he first appeared in More Fun Comics two decades earlier, created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris, but huzzah! Aquaman finally gets his own title (or, as the cover says, “Now in a magazine of his own!”). Aquaman #1 features “A Thrilling 3-Part Novel.” “The Invasion of the Fire-Trolls!” is by Jack Miller and Nick Cardy and introduces Quisp. 60 years ago January 1962 In “Bizarro Creates a Monster!” in DC’s Adventure Comics #292, Jerry Siegel and John Forte introduce Bizarro Lana, Bizarro Lucy, and Sapollo. 55 years ago January 1967 “Begin it here! The new Blackhawk era!” DC’s Blackhawk #228 begins it with “The Junk-Heap Heroes” by Bob Haney, Dick Dillin, and Charles Cuidera. The team is now going to consist of a bunch of superheroes. 55 years ago January 1967 “Is she heroine or villainess? What is her startling secret identity?” DC’s Detective Comics #359 features the first appearance of Batgirl in “The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!” by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Sid Greene. You never know what might happen, Barbara Gordon, if you head to a costume party in a Batgirl outfit. Just saying. 55 years ago January 1967 DC’s Adventure Comics #352 introduces The Fatal Five in a story by Jim Shooter, Curt Swan, and George Klein. It’s the beginning of a two-part story that (Spoiler!) does not bode well for Ferro Lad. 55 years ago January 1967 Fightin’ Five #41 is the last issue of the Charlton series. Well, for a while, anyway. 55 years ago January 1967 Marvel’s The X-Men #28 introduces The Banshee. “The Wail of The Banshee!” is by Roy Thomas, Werner Roth, and John Tartaglione. (Ogre and Factor Three are also introduced.) 55 years ago January 1967 Gold Key looks to TV to expand its line with Hanna Barbera’s Frankenstein, Jr. (which runs one issue), Larry Harmon’s Laurel and Hardy (which runs two issues), and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (which runs five issues). 55 years ago January 1967 On the cover of Dell’s Superheroes #1, the cover proclaims that “The Fab 4” are “amazing new super heroes of science.” Yeah, the cover breaks “superhero” in two. In any case, DC and Marvel will eventually claim that the long-established generic term belongs to them. Sigh. The issue featuring the origin of this team is drawn by Bill Ely and Sal Trapani, and the series lasts four issues. 55 years ago January 1967 Following publication of Robin Moore’s book Tales of the Green Beret, Dell kicks off a series with Tales of the Green Beret #1, drawn by Sam Glanzman. It lasts five issues. 55 years ago January 1967 “After the fall, a new beginning!” Charlton’s Captain Atom #84 introduces the “new” Captain Atom – and the “new” Blue Beetle, both drawn by Steve Ditko. 55 years ago January 1967 “She’s here!” “But is she a match for the deadly Stingaree?” Metamorpho #10 introduces Element Girl in a story by Bob Haney, Sal Trapani, and Charles Paris. (Note: Urania Blackwell’s fate will be memorable in 1990’s “Façade” in DC’s Sandman #20.) 55 years ago January 1967 The Royal Guardsmen’s “Snoopy vs. The Red Baron” peaks at #2 on the pop record charts. 50 years ago January 1972 It began eight years earlier. Now, the last Gold Key issue of Korak, Son of Tarzan is #45. DC will continue the numbering in May. 50 years ago January 1972 Lashina, Stompa, Bernadeth, and Mad Harriet are introduced in DC’s Mister Miracle #6 in a story by Jack Kirby, Mark Evanier, and Mike Royer. Oh, yeah, and Funky Flashman and Houseroy are introduced, too, because subtlety is not the apparent goal. 50 years ago January 1972 “Brand new!” Gold Key introduces Grimm’s Ghost Stories #1, featuring Hephzibah Grimm, host of “a witch’s brew of the supernatural!” 45 years ago January 1977 DC’s Our Army at War celebrates its “Special 300th issue.” It lasts one more issue. 45 years ago January 1977 The award-winning “Toward the Terra” by Keiko Takemiya begins in Gekkan Manga Shōnen. 45 years ago January 1977 “He’s back! As only Jack Kirby can do it!” T’Challa first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966) in a story by Stan Lee, Kirby, and Joe Sinnott, and now he gets his own title in Marvel’s Black Panther #1. “King Solomon’s Frog!” is by Kirby and Mike Royer. 45 years ago January 1977 With “an official adaptation of the MGM production,” Marvel begins its Logan’s Run series with Part One featuring Gerry Conway, George Pérez, and Klaus Janson adapting the screenplay by David Zelag Goodman. 45 years ago January 1977 The “pulse-pounding first issue” of Rampaging Hulk features him in a newsstand $1 magazine and introduces Bereet in “The Krylorian Conspiracy” by Doug Moench, Walt Simonson, and Alfredo Alcala. 45 years ago January 1977 “At last! A bold new superheroine in the senses stunning tradition of Spider-Man!” Ms. Marvel #1 cover gloats that it’s “featuring the most mysterious woman warrior since Madame Medusa! And, if you think our leading lady is something, wait’ll you see her star studded supporting cast!” Woo hoo! “This Woman, This Warrior!” is by Gerry Conway, Carla Conway, John Buscema, Joe Sinnott, and Dave Hunt. (Mind you, Carol Danvers first appeared almost a decade earlier, but now she has superpowers. And her own title.) 45 years ago January 1977 “The she-devil with a sword” was introduced in Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian #23 (February 1973), sort of based on a character created by Robert E. Howard. Now, though, Red Sonja gets her own title “by popular demand!”: Red Sonja. “The Blood of the Unicorn” is by Ed Summer, Roy Thomas, Clair Noto, and Frank Thorne. 45 years ago January 1977 “Based on characters created by A.A. Milne,” the Walt Disney version gets his own Gold Key series starting with Winnie the Pooh #1, drawn by Vic Lockman. 40 years ago January 1982 DC celebrates a “special thrill-filled 300th issue” of House of Mystery. 40 years ago January 1982 Marvel Super-Heroes ends with #105. The issue (reprinting Incredible Hulk #157) includes the notice “What is this?!? Marvel Super-Heroes Has Been Cancelled?!” 40 years ago January 1982 DC’s The New Teen Titans #15 introduces the new Brotherhood of Evil. “The Brotherhood of Evil Lives Again!” is by Marv Wolfman, George Pérez, and Romeo Tanghal. 35 years ago January 1987 Despite its numbering (#424), DC’s cover announces Adventures of Superman is the “Premiere issue – The adventures begin!” “Man o’ War!” is by Marv Wolfman, Jerry Ordway, and Mike Machlan, is post-Crisis on Infinite Earths, and introduces Cat Grant and Professor Emil Hamilton. (That number? It continues the numbering from Superman, whose #423 was dated September 1986.) 35 years ago January 1987 Speaking of a series titled Superman: The cover of DC’s Superman #1 says, “It’s your first issue, Superman – and it could be your last!” Because putting back issues in the proper order needs to be a bigger challenge for collectors. “Heart of Stone” is by John Byrne and Terry Austin and features the origin of Metallo, who makes his first post-Crisis appearance. 35 years ago January 1987 First’s The Chronicles of Corum #1 features the Michael Moorcock fantasy character in an issue by Mike Baron, Mike Mignola, and Rick Burchett. 35 years ago January 1987 It carries Marvel’s Star Comics imprint: Chuck Norris #1 features “The Super Cruiser” in a story by Jo Duffy, Steve Ditko, and Art Nichols. Oh, and – of course – it features Norris (and his Karate Kommandos). 35 years ago 30 years ago January 1987 In “Send for … The Suicide Squad” in DC’s Legends #3, John Ostrander, Len Wein, John Byrne, and Karl Kesel introduce a new Suicide Squad (as Task Force X). 30 years ago January 1992 Marvel’s The Original Ghost Rider Rides Again ends with #7. 30 years ago January 1992 RoboCop #23 features a “final issue!” notice on the cover. “Beyond the Law” by Simon Furman and Lee Sullivan wraps up the Marvel series. 30 years ago January 1992 Valiant’s Harbinger #1 begins with “Children of the Eighth Day” by Jim Shooter, David Lapham, and John Dixon. The super-teens may be “harbingers of the next step in human evolution.” 25 years ago January 1997 DC’s JLA series kicks off with “Them!” by Grant Morrison, Howard Porter, and John Dell featuring the best known DC heroes: Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and Wonder Woman. 20 years ago January 2002 She’s been around for quite a while (and has even had her own title before), but DC’s Catwoman #1 kicks off a new look. “Anodyne” is by Ed Brubaker, Darwyn Cooke, and Mike Allred. 20 years ago January 2002 “They’re here!!” DC’s Justice League Adventures #1 kicks off a series with a connection to the Cartoon Network versions of its characters. “Disarmed” is by Ty Templeton, Min S. Ku, and Dan Davis. 20 years ago January 2002 Tom Strong says, “Welcome to my terrific new comic, where you’ll find me, plus these other fantastic features!” America’s Best Comics releases Tom Strong’s Terrific Tales #1. Tom and Tesla Strong, Jonni Future, and Jermaal pan Pavane star in stories by Alan Moore, Paul Rivoche, Jaime Hernandez, Steve Moore, Alan Weiss, and Arthur Adams. 15 years ago January 2007 Dark Horse celebrates Usagi Yojimbo #100. Stan Sakai’s ronin rabbit first appeared in Albedo #2 in the mid-1980s, and it’s time for a celebrity roast. 15 years ago January 2007 DC’s Batman/The Spirit #1 (and only) by Jeph Loeb, Darwyn Cooke, and J. Bone is published. It later wins an Eisner Award for Best Single Issue or One-Shot of the year. 10 years ago January 2012 Dark Horse’s Dark Matter science fiction miniseries begins. “Rebirth” is by Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie, and Garry Brown. 10 years ago January 2012 Although Dark Horse’s King Conan is labeled as #1, it continues the internal numbering from King Conan: The Scarlet Citadel, and the numbering after the four issues of King Conan will be continued in King Conan: The Hour of the Dragon. In any case, this issue (“The Phoenix on the Sword”) features Tim Truman’s adaptation of a Robert E. Howard story and is drawn by Tomas Giorello. 10 years ago January 2012 Fatale #1 kicks off the Image series by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. Jo is more than she seems in the noir fantasy tale. 5 years ago January 2017 Batman Annual #1 (numbering due to DC’s “Rebirth” event) is published, featuring “Good Boy” by Tom King and David Finch, which is later the Eisner Award winner for Best Short Story of the year. |
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| A bit of Star Trek history happened today also. Since there are Star Trek comics, I figured this would be a good spot. @OGJackster, if you don't want it here, just let me know and I'll delete it. The Enterprise officially turns 57 today!!!  "Guess who -- or what -- has a birthday today? And it's a big one. It was 50 years (in 2014) ago today -- December 29, 1964 -- that the Howard Anderson Company received the original filming model of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The 11-foot model was based on a design by Matt Jefferies and built by Richard Datin, Mel Keys and Vern Sions. It was not powered, and windows were painted on the model's surface, with the model crafted to be shot only from the right side. Of course, the Enterprise would go on to be seen in "The Cage" before undergoing some modificiations later on as Star Trek: The Original Series evolved." Article |
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@Jesse_O Please, add away  ! |
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| December 31 The Dreamer is a thinly disguised autobiographical graphic novel by Will Eisner about his early years as a cartoonist for comic books in the 1930s. The book delves into the early years of the comic book industry and how the idealistic Eisner and his more pragmatic partner organized a business to supply material for publishers. The incidents Eisner adapts for the story include how Jack Kirby frightened off a mobster who was attempting to intimidate his employer. A major plot point is how Eisner’s principles and ideals sometimes complicated his business affairs such as the adaptation of the account of when he refused to perjure himself in court in a copyright infringement lawsuit over Wonder Man and thus cost his business a major account. Eventually, Eisner decides to leave this successful life behind when he accepts the opportunity to produce a comic book for a newspaper syndicate, which resulted in the creation of The Spirit. The Dreamer was published on December 31, 1985.  |
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| January 1 Eerie was a one-shot horror comic book published by Avon Periodicals on January 1, 1947. Eerie holds the distinction of being the first true, stand-alone horror comic book and is credited with establishing the horror comics genre. The comic book’s glossy, cover depicts a red-eyed ghoul clutching a dagger and a rope-bound, voluptuous young woman in a derelict moonlit ruin. The book’s contents comprised six full-length horror feature stories and a two-page humorous tale. The issue featured six stories that were fairly tame in the depiction of the gore and violence generally found in horror fiction. Eerie disappeared from newsstands shelves after its first issue.  Savage Dragon first appeared as Dragon in Graphic Fantasy #1 (January 1, 1982). The Dragon is a large, finned, green-skinned humanoid whose powers include super-strength and an advanced healing factor. He is also an amnesiac: his earliest memory is awakening in a burning field in Chicago, Illinois. Thus, for most of the series, the origins of his powers and appearance are a mystery to readers. At the beginning of the series, he becomes a police officer and battles the mutant criminal “superfreaks” that terrorize Chicago. Savage Dragon is the only one of the original Image Comics titles that is still written and drawn by its creator, for which Larsen has been lauded. Savage Dragon is the longest-running American full-color comic book to feature a single artist/writer.  The Men in Black is an international espionage organization that monitors and investigates both good and evil paranormal activity on Earth. Their remit includes alien life, demons, mutants, zombies, werewolves, legendary creatures, and other paranormal beings. In order to keep their investigations secret, much of the global population are unaware of their activities and are liable to be neutralized to blank their memory of any interaction with the agents. Notable members include Zed, Jay, Kay, and Ecks. Ecks later became a rogue agent after learning the truth behind the MiB: That they seek to manipulate and reshape the world in their own image by keeping the supernatural hidden. They first appear in The Men in Black #1 (January 1, 1990). Creator Lowell Cunningham had the idea for the comic once a friend of his introduced him to the concept of government “Men in Black” upon seeing a black van riding the streets.  |
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| January 2 In the early 1970s author and literary agent David Obst suggested to Marvel publisher Stan Lee and DC editorial director Carmine Infantino that there should be a feature film crossover featuring Marvel’s Spider-Man and DC’s Superman characters. However, there was already a Superman movie planned by Warner Bros., and a series of Spider-Man TV movies, so instead the two companies settled for an oversize comic book entitled Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man: The Battle of the Century (January 2, 1976). In the story, Superman and Spider-Man must stop a world domination/destruction plot hatched in tandem by their respective arch-nemeses, Lex Luthor and Doctor Octopus. The issue is non-canonical, as it assumes that the heroes and their respective cities of residence, Metropolis and New York City, exist in the same universe, with no explanation given as to why they had never before met or been mentioned in each other’s individual stories.  |
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| January 3 Scarlet Witch and her brother, Quicksilver, debuted as a part of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in X-Men #4 (January 3, 1964). Scarlet Witch is able to manipulate probability via her “hexes”. Casting a hex requires a gesture and concentration on her part, though the gestures are largely a focus for the concentration. Despite this precision, the hexes are not necessarily guaranteed to work, particularly if Wanda is tired or using her powers excessively. Originally capable of running at the speed of sound, Quicksilver’s exposure to the High Evolutionary’s Isotope E made it possible for the character to run at supersonic speeds of up to Mach 10 and resist the effects of friction, reduced oxygen, and kinetic impact while moving at super-speeds. Also, he has a fast metabolism and can heal more rapidly than the average human. They were depicted as reluctant villains, uninterested in Magneto’s ideologies. When Magneto is abducted by the cosmic entity Stranger, the Brotherhood dissolves and the twins declare that the end of their allegiance to Magneto. Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch join the Avengers. Along with Captain America as leader, and former villain Hawkeye, the four become the second generation of the Avengers.  |
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| January 4 Brothers Chuck and Hal Chandler were born in Los Angeles, California. As a test pilot for NASA in 1958, Chuck was piloting the experimental XF-13 rocket plane when he was captured by Skrull invaders. They attempted to interrogate him, but Chuck escaped, damaging the Skrulls’ warp drive in the process. The Skrull saucer exploded as Chuck flew away, exposing him to strange radiation. He crashed the XF-13 in the Mojave Desert, and when his younger, crippled brother Hal attempted to rescue him, Chuck disappeared, believed to have been killed. Hal, a research scientist, discovered that Chuck’s image had been imprinted on the lenses of his glasses, and that Chuck had been transformed into a two-dimensional being. When Hal wore the glasses and concentrated, he triggered a dimensional shift that caused Chuck to materialize into a three-dimensional existence. In his new form Chuck wore a green and red bodysuit, and his normal strength, speed, and durability had been tripled. 3-D Man debuted in Marvel Premiere #35 (January 4, 1977). In addition, 3-D Man had the limited quasi-telepathic ability to perceive the distinctive aura of the Skrull race, even when a Skrull has assumed another form. As the costumed 3-D Man, Chuck fought another group of Skrull agents. He battled more Skrull infiltrators, and then battled the Cold Warrior.  |
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| January 5 Typhoid Mary is an enemy and former lover of Daredevil with low level psionic powers, including telekinesis. She has been a professional criminal employed by organized crime syndicates as an assassin in the past. She is also gravely mentally ill. Her condition was accidentally caused by a pre-Daredevil Matt Murdock. He had tracked a villain down to the brothel where Mary worked. He attacked the man, but to his surprise, the girls working there came at him. Panicking, he lashed out, knocking Mary out of the window. It was at this moment that Mary somehow became Typhoid Mary, vowing no man would ever hurt her again. Suffering from dissociative identity disorder, Mary Walker has three other abnormal personalities in addition to her seemingly healthy one. Her “Mary” personality is a timid, quiet, pacifist; her “Typhoid” personality is adventurous, lustful, and violent; and her “Bloody Mary” persona is brutal, sadistic, and misandrous. Aside from highly developed martial arts skills, Walker also possesses telekinetic powers and, more dangerously, pyrokinesis, the ability to set people or objects in her immediate vicinity aflame. Typhoid Mary first appeared in Daredevil #254 (January 5, 1988).  |
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| January 6 At the age of 10, the child who would grow up to become The Shroud saw his parents gunned down right before his eyes. He decided to dedicate his life to fighting crime. Upon graduation from college, he joined the mysterious temple called “Cult of Kali”, where he studied various styles of martial arts. After seven years of intense training, he graduated from that temple. During the celebration ceremony, he was branded with the “Kiss of Kali”, a red-hot iron. He had the image of the goddess Kali imprinted in livid scar tissue on his face from nose to hairline and from cheek to cheek. Following a period of intense pain and hospitalization, he realized that his eyesight had been replaced by a mystic extrasensory perception. Traveling back to the United States, he adopted the masked identity of the “Shroud”. The Shroud first appeared in Super-Villain Team-Up #5 (January 6, 1976). Shroud possesses the mystical ability to create an aperture into Darkforce Dimension and to project the thick, inky gas-like substance of the Darkforce Dimension into Earth’s dimension for his own use.  |
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