Sunday, June 27, 2021

Aquaman And Mera's Wedding

According to the old DC Comics Calendar, June 27th is the date Aquaman and Mera got married, as shown by the Nick Cardy cover of Aquaman #18 (November-December, 1964), with the JLA and Teen Titans in attendance!

Friday, June 25, 2021

Remembering Artist Alex Toth

 

Remembering one of comics' greatest artists, Alex Toth (June 25, 1928 - May 27, 2006), on his birthday.  One of the most influential pieces of work he did was on the Limited Collectors' Edition #C-41 (December-January, 1975/1976), where he did the cover, and art for a special bridging story in this treasury sized book that focused on the popular animated series of the time, the Super Friends.

The story that allowed them to use two previous issues of the Justice League of America was having junior Super Friends Marvin White, Wendy Harris and the Wonder Dog are given a tour of JLA headquarters (the Hall Of Justice), as well a little history of the team as well.


Really, its just an opportunity for Toth to draw the Justice League and all its members at the time, as well as a few of the people who helped the team (which include Hawkgirl and Zatanna, as they weren't members at this time...

...likely this and a DC Super-Stars which reprinted some wonderful Zatanna tales are likely the reason she became a member of the JLA).


The treasury also had features on Super Friends animation (which Alex Toth worked on, providing model sheets for the characters.....highlighting the basics needed, which worked well for animation...).


....as well as an article on how involved animation was, which, of course, having worked there, he knew a little about!   Incredible work by an incredible talent, not unlike his work a few years before on the Black Canary series in Adventure Comics!



All this and two classic issues of Justice League of America as well (#61 and #36  from March, 1968 and June, 1965 by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky), which #61 was covered under the mystery villain of the piece, and the other needs covering in the future!  


A book collection, and artist, that had a lifelong effect on this old comic reader! 

 



Sunday, June 20, 2021

Happy Father's Day Superboy

Be happy this Father's Day, if you had a father like Superboy did with his Pa Kent in Smallville...

...here, on the cover of Superboy #69 (December, 1958) by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye, highlighting a tale from the past, when an earthbound Pa Kent taught the Boy of Steel how to fly!

 

Monday, June 14, 2021

Happy Flag Day 2021

Saluting the American flag with Mary Marvel (the Shazam Girl, according to the cover) with this Golden Age cover by Jack Binder from Wow Comics #53 (July, 1943) on Flag Day!


Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Happy Birthday George Perez

A little happy birthday to artist George Perez...


...and, here are a few DC Digests that have his art on the cover!



Best of DC 17 (October, 1981)

A cover of Supergirl by George Perez and Dick Giordano, with issues inside reprinting Supergirl stories from Action Comics #256, #285, #318, Adventure Comics #424, Supergirl #1 and Superman Family #165!



Great tales summarizing the career of Superman's cousin, Kara Zor-El, aka Linda Lee aka Linda Danvers!





Best of DC 21 (February, 1982)

The Justice Society of America are rebuilding on this cover, all by George Perez himself, with stories in this issue including DC Special #29, All-Star Comics #35 and Brave and the Bold #62!


These tales include the original of the JLA, the first appearance of Per Degaton and a Starman/Black Canary team up!





DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest 19 (March, 1982)

The original Doom Patrol are on view on this little cover by George Perez and Frank Giacoia, with stories inside including My Greatest Adventure #80, Doom Patrol #86, #91 and #90!

These tales include the first appearance of the Doom Patrol, the Brotherhood of Evil, Mento and battle royale!

Didn't forget about the New Teen Titans Digest, but that one is so special, it will get its own coverage!




Monday, June 7, 2021

Remembering Dean Martin

Remembering singer, comedian and roast master Dean Martin (June 7, 1917 - December 25, 1995) on his birthday, with a look at a few of the covers The King of Cool shared with his partner, Jerry Lewis, of The Adventures Of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, which ran 40 issues from July-August, 1952 to October, 1957.


10 and 12 by Owen Fitzgerald



19 and 24 by Bob Oksner



30 and 33 by Owen Fitzgerald





When Martin and Lewis split, the title continued with just Jerry, and more information on that is here!

But, why didn't Martin get his own title?

 

Friday, June 4, 2021

Happy Doughnut Day 2021

Enjoy National Doughnut Day with Jughead Jones, as he works hard on the cover of Jughead #222 (November, 1973) by Dan DeCarlo and Rudy Lapick.


Wonder what the eating machine that is Jughead did with those donut holes?


Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Happy Birthday Pat Boone

Hoping singer, actor, songwriter and author Pat Boone has himself a super birthday today....and, back in the day he was being vexed by Superman, in Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #9 (May, 1959), under this cover by Curt Swan.


In "Superman's Mystery Song" by Robert Bernstein, Dick Sprang and John Forte, Superman had to prevent Pat and Lois from singing a song about Superman that Clark had co-wrote!  


Clark had accidentally put a little too much information into the song....and, if heard by the public, his identity could be deduced. 



This issue also was to get the comic reading audience ready for Pat Boone's own comic book title, which had photo covers, and lasted for five issues, from September-October, 1959 to May-June, 1960.



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