Celebrating Artist Steve Rude

Celebrating legendary artist Steve Rude on his birthday (December 31st, 1956) with his two painted covers featuring Wonder Woman for Legends Of The DC Universe #4 and #5 (May and June, 1998).

 

Merry Christmas With Sugar And Spike

A Merry Christmas to one and all, and may Santa Claus have left you many a gift, as he surely did for talking babies Sugar Plumm and Spike Wilson in Sugar and Spike #56 (December-January, 1964/1965) by Sheldon Mayer....

...and check here to see them with their Christmas presents!

Harley Quinn Steals Christmas

Here's to hoping you don't have a Harley Quinn near your house this evening...

...as you wouldn't want her to take Rudolph and Santa Claus' Christmas presents like she did on this Frank Cho cover to Harley Quinn #68 (February, 2020).

A Mary Marvel Christmas

Celebrate Christmas with Mary Marvel, as she does on this cover to Mary Marvel #8 (December, 1946) by Jack Binder.

Today is also the birthday of Mary Batson, the alter ego of Mary Marvel, who calls her super powered self into existence by calling the name of the wizard, Shazam!

Alf's Trouble With Santa

Poor Alf can't catch a break even around Christmas.  

The little alien from Melmac makes the trip to the North Pole, but can't find a job with Santa Claus, as seen on this cover to the Alf Holiday Special #1 (Winter, 1989) by Dave Manak.

Celebrating Superman The Movie

45 years ago, you could go to a movie theater and believe a man could fly.

That was when Superman the Movie was released to the general public...

...with Christopher Reeve as Superman, looking quite heroic as the title character (and amusing as his alter ego, Clark Kent, mild mannered reporter for the Daily Planet).  

Supported by Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen and Jackie Cooper as Perry White, and facing Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, as well as Marlon Brando as Jor-El and Glenn Ford as Pa Kent, this well loved movie, directed by Richard Donner, with music by John Williams, defined the big budget super hero movie for generations.

DC Comics celebrated this release with a special treasury sized comic, the All-New Collectors' Edition #C-62 (March, 1979), with features encapsulating the history of Superman's comic cast, as well as behind the scenes pictures of the movie covering cast as well as locations such as Krypton, the Phantom Zone, Smallville, the Fortress Of Solitude and Metropolis.

One of the most important parts of the movie was how much (especially Christopher Reeve) captured the look of the comic, with his costume...or, to quote a character from the movie: "Say, Jim...That's a bad outfit".

Remembering Artist Dan DeCarlo

Remembering artist Dan DeCarlo on his birthday (December 12, 1919 - December 2001) with a couple of Christmas covers, with Archie surprising Betty and Veronica for Christmas in Archie Giant Series Magazine #536 (January, 1984) and in Archie Giant Series Magazine #558 (January, 1986).

Remembering Artist Matt Baker

Remembering artist Matt Baker on his birthday (December 10, 1921 - August 11, 1959).  

Known for his good girl art, Matt drew Phantom Lady for Fox in the 1940s, and is well remembered for his work (even if the cover of issue #17 was used in Frederic Wertham's persecution of the comic industry).

Phantom Lady #13 and #14 (August and October, 1947)

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Phantom Lady #15 and #16 (December 1947 and February, 1948)

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Phantom Lady #17 and #18 (April and June, 1948)

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Phantom Lady #19 and #20 (August and October, 1948)

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Phantom Lady #21 (December, 1948)

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National Cookie Day 2023

Celebrating National Cookie Day today, but hopefully you have better cookies than the Christmas cookies Veronica has, as Betty points out to Archie and Reggie, on this cover to Archie and Friends #45 (February, 2001) by Rex Lindsey.

Celebrating Artist Frank Cho

Celebrating artist Frank Cho on his birthday (December 2, 1971)...

... with his covers for the 7 issue Shanna The She-Devil mini-series for Marvel Knights from 2005, which he both wrote and drew.

Shanna The She-Devil #1 and #2 (April and May, 2005)

Shanna The She-Devil #3 and #4 (June and July, 2005)

Shanna The She-Devil #5 and #6 (August and September, 2005)

Shanna The She-Devil #7 (October, 2005)

A slightly more risque look at this 1970s fan favorite queen of the jungle, with dinosaurs and just a hint of outrage!

Sgt. Rock With War's Christmas Present

A grim reminder, headed into the holiday season, that war is still with us, and the only winner in war is death, with this cover to Sgt. Rock #21 (February, 1992) by Joe Kubert.

A careful reminder of the balance that must be maintained, fighting for the right, but not descending into evil ourselves.

Not much of a Christmas present for readers either, this, the last issue of this run of Sgt. Rock specials, featuring reprints of classic tales, with this issue including tales from Our Army At War #236, #257, and #262, including two Sgt. Rock tales from Our Army At War #228 (February, 1971) and Our Army At War #271 (August, 1974), also with covers by Kubert.