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 October 30-November 5, 2015…
255 years ago October 31, 1760 Influential artist and printmaker of the Edo period Hokusai Katsushika is born.
100 years ago November 5, 1915 Italian comics artist Walter Molino is born. He co-creates (with Federico Pedrocchi) Capitan l’Audace and draws many “cineromanzi.”
80 years ago October 30, 1935 Writer-editor Don Thompson is born. The comics historian and essayist was a pioneering comics amateur magazine publisher, and collector. He co-edited Comic Art, Newfangles, and Comics Buyer’s Guide with his wife, Maggie.
65 years ago November 5, 1950 Award-winning cartoonist and publisher Jacques Hurtubise is born. He founds Coopérative des Petits Dessins and co-founds Croc magazine.
55 years ago November 1, 1960 Artist Tony Akins is born. He’s especially known for his science fiction and fantasy work on such titles as Elementals, Fables, and Hellblazer.
45 years ago November 3, 1970 Writer-artist Aaron Sowd is born.
40 years ago November 1, 1975 Writer-artist Mell Graff dies at age 68. His newspaper strips included Adventures of Patsy, Secret Agent X-9, and Captain Easy.
20 years ago November 2, 1995 Ollie Harrington dies at age 83. He created the Dark Laughter panel cartoon featuring Bootsie, and Langston Hughes called him “America’s greatest African-American cartoonist.”
And here are the anniversaries spanning the month of November…
75 years ago November 1940 Crash Comics Adventures #5 from Tem Publishing Co. (the last issue of the series) contains the first appearance of The Cat-Man, drawn by Irwin Hasen. “With eyes that shine like searchlights: That’s The Cat-Man.” Wow. Moreover, he’s “the only human with 9 lives.” Just saying.
75 years ago November 1940 Fox’s Weird Comics #8 introduces electrical expert Dynamo (drawn by “Harold Weber”), who fights super-science spies (and is no relation to the Tower character introduced a quarter of a century later), and The Eagle (drawn by “Lester Raye,” who’s Louis Cazeneuve), who combats a trucking mob.
75 years ago November 1940 Street & Smith’s Shadow Comics #7 contains the first appearance of The Hooded Wasp and teen sidekick Wasplet (though Wasplet isn’t named in the issue); they go to Egypt in search of a magic scarab—as one does.
75 years ago November 1940 Quality’s National Comics #5 introduces Quicksilver (“a smashing new star to thrill you!”) by Jack Cole and Chuck Mazoujian. No relation to Pietro, introduced in 1964.)
75 years ago November 1940 Uh oh! Dinky and Sisty are kidnapped, and Scribbly inspires Ma Hunkel to become The Red Tornado in All-American Comics #20 in a four-page story by the creator of Scribbly (and Ma Hunkel): Sheldon Mayer.
75 years ago November 1940 In Novelty Press’ Target Comics #1 (Feb 1940), Bill Everett’s “Bull’s-Eye” Bill Target apparently gave his name to the series, but he was quickly shoved into a back-up spot. “As the Target dropped through the skylight, the thugs’ guns roared!” With #10, Dick Wood (as Dick Hamilton) and Bob Wood introduce The Target (yeah, upper-case “The” elsewhere) and The Targeteers to fight the villainous Boss Barone.
75 years ago November 1940 Marvel’s (well, OK, Timely’s, then) Marvel Mystery Comics #13 provides the “Sensational new feature,” The Vision by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Ghosts, alternate universes, a professor: Yep, these are surely all the ingredients for fantastic adventures.
75 years ago November 1940 In tales of the “World’s greatest adventure-strip character” in DC’s Superman #7, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, and Wayne Boring introduce Perry White (though his first name won’t be revealed for another three issues).
70 years ago November 1945 The cover of Marvel’s Terry-Toons Comics #38 features Terry-Toons characters with signs that include “Welcome, Mighty Mouse!” and “Welcome to Terry-Toons Comics, Mighty Mouse.” Oh, and Gandy Goose has the key to Terryville ready to present. (Originally named Super Mouse, the character first appeared on movie screens in 1942 in “Mouse of Tomorrow” (Standard introduced Supermouse in Coo Coo Comics #1, dated October that year, which was probably on newsstands before the animated cartoon was on-screen; let’s move along) and he was renamed Mighty Mouse for “The Wreck of the Hesperus” in 1944. I am the master of run-on sentences.)
65 years ago November 1950 Marvel’s Two Gun Western #5 (the first issue) provides the first look at The Apache Kid (“Is he man or devil?”) in “Massacre at Fort Madison!” drawn by John Buscema.
65 years ago November 1950 ACG’s Blazing West #14 contains the first appearance of Hooded Horseman. Yaahoo!
60 years ago November 1955 DC’s Detective Comics #225 introduces Martian Manhunter (also known as J’Onn J’Onzz). In “The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel” by Joe Samachson and Joe Certa, the visitor to our planet is stuck on Earth so he decides to become a police detective. As one does.
60 years ago November 1955 She first appeared in Little Dot #1 (September 1953) but she begins her own series with Little Lotta #1 from Harvey.
55 years ago November 1960 “One day, the strangest and most powerful enemy The Fly has yet battled turns out to be a beautiful girl, whose identity is steeped in frightening mystery!” In Adventures of the Fly #9, The Fly meets The Cat Girl in a story by Robert Benstein and John Giunta.
55 years ago November 1960 Richie Rich first appeared in “The Dancing Lessons” by Larz Bourne and Steve Muffati in Harvey’s Little Dot #1 (September 1953). At last, he gets his own series—with Richie Rich #1—only five years after Little Lotta achieved the same thing.
55 years ago November 1960 DC’s World’s Finest Comics #113 introduces “The Amazing Miss Arrowette” in a tale by Dave Wood and Lee Elias. (She rescues Green Arrow and Speedy. Just saying.)
55 years ago November 1960 In DC’s “Superman’s Return to Krypton!” in Superman #141, Jerry Siegel, Wayne Boring, and Stan Kaye introduce Kryptonian actress Lyla Lerrol. The tale has all sorts of events on Krypton including (choke!) deaths.
50 years ago November 1965 DC’s The Doom Patrol #99 includes the first appearance of Beast Boy (“the wildest, weirdest teen tornado in comics history!”). “The Beast-Boy” is by Arnold Drake and Bob Brown. (Oh, and you’ll find out some more when we get to one of the entries for 1980.)
50 years ago November 1965 Tower’s T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 introduces Dynamo (by Len Brown, Wally Wood, and Dan Adkins), Menthor (by Lou Silverstone, Gil Kane, George Tuska, and Mike Esposito), NoMan (by Larry Ivie and Reed Crandall), and T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Squad (by Ivie, Mike Sekowsky, and Frank Giacoia). (That’s The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves; you’re welcome.)
50 years ago November 1965 “A new bizarre hero is born!” DC’s Mystery in Space #103 provides the first look at Ultra the Multi-Alien. “Thrill to Ultra’s super-strength! See him fly like a bird! You’ll be drawn to his magnetic force! And dazzled by his lightning powers!” Got it? The story of Captain Ace Arn, who has a power in each limb, is drawn by Lee Elias.
50 years ago November 1965 He was mentioned a few issues earlier, but it’s in Marvel’s Strange Tales #138 that Eternity first appears in “If Eternity Should Fail!” by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee. (Spoiler: Eternity isn’t much help to Dr. Strange, aside from basically telling him to buck up.)
50 years ago November 1965 “Introducing the future Superman of 2965!” DC’s Superman #181 provides the first appearance of that character. (“You won’t believe your eyes! He’s so different from the original Superman of Krypton!”) Oh—and “His secret identity is Klar Ken T-5477, reporter for the Daily InterPLANETary News!” Hee! (The story is by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan, and George Klein.)
50 years ago November 1965 The cover of Marvel’s The X-Men #14 warns, “Among us stalk … The Sentinels!” Indeed. The first appearance of The Sentinels is by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Werner Roth, and Vince Colletta.
50 years ago November 1965 “What a way to spend a honeymoon!” says the cover of Fantastic Four #44. Yep. The story by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Joe Sinnott contains the first appearance of the Inhuman Gorgon.
50 years ago November 1965 “Only the batty Marvel bullpen could present such a truly dazzling display of derring-do as … ‘The Claws of The Cat!’ ” That’s what the cover of Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #30 says, and who are we to argue? The introduction of The Cat is by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee.
50 years ago November 1965 The fourth issue is the last of Charlton’s Special War Series but it introduces Judomaster (“holder of judo’s highest honor … the coveted black belt!”), who goes on to kick an assortment of butt with (as the cover notes) karate, jiu-jitsu, and judo. “Action! From cover to cover!!!” (That’s right: three exclamation marks.) The story is by Joe Gill and Frank McLaughlin.
50 years ago November 1965 “The Blockbuster was too tough an opponent for Batman—but not for Bruce Wayne!” In Detective Comics #345, “The Blockbuster Invasion of Gotham City!” is by Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella and introduces the character.
45 years ago November 1970 “I Found Monstrom, the Dweller in the Black Swamp!” So claims the cover of Marvel’s Fear #1—which is, at this point, just an anthology title of (Code-approved) “horror” stories.
45 years ago November 1970 The first edition of what comes to be known as The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is published; the print run is about 1,800, and a Mint copy of the eight-year-old Amazing Fantasy #15 is listed as worth $16, more than 100 times its original price of 12¢. Outrageous. (Did you buy it then for $16? Are you now more at ease with what you paid?)
40 years ago November 1975 Travis Morgan becomes known as The Warlord, as he’s introduced in DC’s 1st Issue Special #8. “Land of Fear!” is the underground world of Skartaris in the tale written and drawn by Mike Grell.
40 years ago November 1975 With #60, DC changes the title of Korak, Son of Tarzan to The Tarzan Family, makes it a giant, doubles the price, and includes such other Edgar Rice Burroughs characters as John Carter and Carson of Venus.
40 years ago November 1975 “Stop him! With power like his, he could destroy the world!!” Reed warns—with two exclamation marks, so you know they’d better watch out for another new menace, in this case, The Crusader. (Mind you, The Crusader is actually Marvel Boy from the world of Marvel in 1950. But hey.) Marvel’s Fantastic Four #164 also introduces Nova in “The Crusader Syndrome!” by Roy Thomas, George Pérez, and Joe Sinnott.
40 years ago November 1975 Young Romance may have been the first romance comic book, begun by Prize in September 1947. DC took it over in 1963, and now #208 is the last issue. The cover features a young woman’s question: “Do I Have To Give Up The Girl I Loved for The Boy I Loved?” Hmm.
40 years ago November 1975 Sigh. Marvel’s Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction (black-and-white magazine) #6 is the last issue. It features “Behold the Man!” by Michael Moorcock, adapted by Doug Moench and Alex Nino.
35 years ago November 1980 In DC’s The New Teen Titans #1, the character formerly known as Beast Boy appears as Changeling. (By the way, this issue also contains a feature by Marv Wolfman discussing how he and Len Wein broke into comics by working for DC on Teen Titans years earlier.)
35 years ago November 1980 “Hey, Spidey—Think you’re the only web-head in town?” “Meet Madame Web!” Marvel’s Amazing Spider-Man #210 introduces Madame Web in a story by Denny O’Neil, John Romita Jr., and Joe Sinnott.
35 years ago November 1980 Heather Hudson bows in via The X-Men #139 in “…Something Wicked This Way Comes!” by John Byrne, Chris Claremont, and Terry Austin. (Oh, and Wolverine’s wearing brown, now.)
35 years ago November 1980 “World War II’s Weirdest Warriors”: The Creature Commandos are introduced in DC’s Weird War Tales #93 in a story by J.M. DeMatteis, Pat Broderick, and John Celardo.
30 years ago November 1985 In DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 … Well … Spoilers and all. Let’s leave it to what the cover says: “The final fate of The Flash.” This is not a happy series. Have you noticed? The issue is by Marv Wolfman, George Pérez, and Jerry Ordway. Golly.
30 years ago November 1985 DC’s Arak, Son of Thunder #50 is the last issue. Which it says on the cover. Sigh. “The Road to the Rising Sun” is by Roy and Dann Thomas, Jean-Marc and Randy Lofficier, and Tony DeZuniga.
30 years ago November 1985 DC’s The Outsiders begins, continuing the characters from Batman and The Outsiders—minus Batman. “Beginning with a Bang!” is by Mike W. Barr and Jim Aparo.
30 years ago November 1985 “Born again!” Hey, not only does Rachel Summers become Phoenix II in The Uncanny X-Men #199, but also The Brotherhood’s Mystique, Destiny, Blob, Pyro, Avalanche, and Spiral become Freedom Force. “The Spiral Path” by Chris Claremont, John Romita Jr., and Dan Green doesn’t bode well for our plucky team of mutants.
30 years ago November 1985 In Marvel’s Iron Man #200, “Tony Stark is Iron Man!” It says so on the cover. Which is to say that Tony resumes that identity in the “double-sized” issue. “Resolutions!” is by Denny O’Neil, Mark Bright, Ian Akin, and Brian Garvey.
25 years ago November 1990 He (spoiler!) didn’t die in 1986, after all. Iron Fist is reintroduced to the Marvel Universe in Namor, the Sub-Mariner #8. “Never Bet the Devil Your Head” is by John Byrne.
25 years ago November 1990 Rage wants to be a member of the Marvel team after his exposure to some of that multi-purpose toxic waste. His first appearance is in “Wind from the East” by Larry Hama, Paul Ryan, and Tom Palmer in Avengers #326.
25 years ago November 1990 Uncanny X-Men #270 kicks off the nine-part “X-Tinction Agenda” in “First Strike” by Chris Claremont, Jim Lee, Art Thibert, and Scott Williams. The tale continues this month in The New Mutants #95 (“Shell Game” by Louise Simonson, Rob Liefeld, and Joe Rubinstein), and X-Factor #60 (“Brotherhood” by Simonson, Jon Bogdanove, and Al Milgrom).
25 years ago November 1990 Mark Schultz introduced his “Xenozoic Tales” stories of the future in Death Rattle in 1986 and gave them their own title the following year. Cadillacs and Dinosaurs begins under Marvel’s Epic imprint with reprints of the Kitchen Sink series.
25 years ago November 1990 “Atomic Secrets” by Steve Gerber, Buzz Dixon, Tom Artis, and Jim Sanders III in The Sensational She-Hulk #21 introduces the villain Abominatrix. (Yeah, kinda like Abomination—only for She-Hulk.)
20 years ago November 1995 The “Electrifying First Issue” of a new series for Marvel’s Punisher is the first under the “Marvel Edge” imprint. “Condemned!” is by John Ostrander, Tom Lyle, and Chris Ivy.
20 years ago November 1995 DC’s Vertigo title Animal Man ends with #89, featuring “Birth Pains Part Two” by Jerry Prosser, Fred Harper, and Jason Temujin.
