Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles, and ends, this time for May 31 through June 6, 2024...
155 years ago June 6, 1869 Dutch artist Alexander Cranendoncq dies at age 69.
145 years ago June 4, 1879 British artist Mabel Lucie Attwell is born. The children’s book illustrator draws the Wot a Life strip.
130 years ago June 2, 1894 Wiki says that, in one of the cartoons Richard Outcault drew for the magazine Truth, there’s a background character that looks as if he’s an early version of The Yellow Kid.
130 years ago June 3, 1894 French writer-artist Jehan Sennep is born.
125 years ago June 2, 1899 Award-winning German animator and director Lotte Reiniger is born. She is a pioneer of silhouette animation and comes up with an early form of the multiplane camera.
125 years ago June 5, 1899 Canadian artist Arthur LeMay is born.
110 years ago June 6, 1914 Dutch writer-artist Nelly Donker is born. She creates the Tommie Lukkie comic strip and draws a variety of children’s features.
105 years ago June 3, 1919 Artist and animator Gene Hazelton is born. Among his credits are his designs for Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm.
95 years ago June 3, 1929 British artist and animator Brian Lewis is born.
95 years ago June 4, 1929 Pioneering comics fan writer-artist-editor Biljo White is born. His Batmania is among the foremost fanzines of its era.
95 years ago June 4, 1929 Dick Tracy artist and Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Dick Locher is born.
95 years ago June 5, 1929 Normand Hudon is born. The Canadian animator and artist works as “Rémy.”
95 years ago June 6, 1929 V.T. Thomas is born. The Indian artist-editor (who works as “Toms”) is known for his series Bobanum Moliyum.
90 years ago June 3, 1934 Writer-artist Chic Jackson dies of a heart attack at age 57. He created the Roger Bean comic strip, which focused on a family with characters aging as time went on.
85 years ago May 31, 1939 Italian artist Roberto Raviola is born. He works as “Magnus.”
85 years ago June 2, 1939 William Hamilton is born. The writer-artist is known for his cartoons for The New Yorker.
80 years ago May 31, 1944 Colorist Andy Yanchus is born.
80 years ago June 5, 1944 Johnny Hazard by Frank Robbins begins.
70 years ago June 1, 1954 Linus Van Pelt’s security blanket is introduced in Charles Schulz’ Peanuts.
70 years ago June 2, 1954 Writer-artist Richard Sala is born. He’s known for quirky horror stories including “The Chuckling Whatsit.”
65 years ago June 6, 1959 The Three Bears by Leo Baxendale is introduced in The Beano #881.
55 years ago June 4, 1969 Artist Martin Edmond is born.
55 years ago June 8, 1969 The Italian Donald Duck alter ego Paperinik is introduced.
50 years ago May 31, 1974 Writer-artist Adrian Tomine is born. The cartoonist is best known for his creation of Optic Nerve and art for The New Yorker.
40 years ago June 4, 1984 Artist Sol Brodsky dies at age 61. He was Marvel Comics’ Silver Age production manager and known as “Stan Lee’s righthand man.”
35 years ago June 4, 1989 Reuben Award-winning cartoonist Dik Browne dies at age 71. The father of Chance and Chris Browne worked on Hi and Lois, created Hagar the Horrible, and in 1963 was president of the National Cartoonists Society.
30 years ago June 1, 1994 French artist Bob Leguay dies six days before his 68th birthday.
30 years ago June 4, 1994 The first Alternative Press Expo is held in Parkside Hall, San Jose, California.
20 years ago June 3, 2004 Marvel Comics announces the prose imprint Marvel Press.
20 years ago June 6, 2004 Writer Kate Worley dies of cancer at age 46. She co-created Omaha the Cat Dancer with Reed Waller.
15 years ago June 2, 2009 The Hergé Museum opens in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
5 years ago June 4, 2019 Italian comics promoter Rinaldo Traini dies at age 88. He was a co-founder of the Salone Internazionale dei Comics.
5 years ago June 5, 2019 German artist Helmut Nickel dies at age 95.
5 years ago June 6, 2019 Dutch writer-artist Kees Sparreboom dies of cancer at age 79.
And here are the anniversaries spanning the month of June…
85 years ago June 1939 Quality’s Feature Funnies is renamed Feature Comics with #21, continuing to publish reprints of such newspaper strips as Joe Palooka and Dixie Dugan along with new content.
80 years ago June 1944 Rural Home’s Blazing Comics #1 introduces Green Turtle (created and drawn by Chu Hing) and Red Hawk. (The same month, Rural Home also releases Blue Circle Comics #1, which introduces The Blue Circle and The Steel Fist, the latter drawn by Henry Kiefer. It was a colorful month for Rural Home.) (By the way, Blazing Comics #1 also introduces “Ace detective, Mr. Ree” in a story drawn by Kiefer. Exhaustive online research [which is to say: I checked a couple of sites] doesn’t disclose whether it’s based on the board game “Mr. Ree! The Fireside Detective!” – which was introduced in toy stores in 1937.)
80 years ago June 1944 Tiger Girl (also known as Princess Vishnu) first appears in Fiction House’s Fight Comics #32 in a story written by “Allan O’Hara” and drawn by Robert Webb: “a jungle legend … shadowy, elusive, lovely …” Oh, and she’s New! And Startling!)
75 years ago June 1949 Marvel’s Sub-Mariner Comics ends with #32. Namor’s next appearance will be in a feature in Marvel’s Young Men #24 (December 1953).
75 years ago June 1949 Marvel’s All Western Winners becomes Western Winners with #5.
70 years ago June 1954 Carl Barks (anonymouosly) teaches readers economics with his tale of Tralla La in Dell’s Walt Disney’s Uncle Scrooge #6.
65 years ago June 1959 The Double Life of Private Strong #1 is the first Silver Age heroic Archie comic book (“New action champ of comics!”), and Joe Simon and Jack Kirby introduce their new version of The Shield, this time (yes) Army Private Lancelot Strong. The issue also marks the debut of The Fly (also by Simon and Kirby), whose origin tale waits a couple of months for The Fly #1.
60 years ago June 1964 “We’ve done it! We’ve created the greatest villain of all for ol’ Spidey! Who, or what is he?” He’s Mysterio! Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #13 introduces Quentin Beck in a story by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
60 years ago June 1964 In “The Code of the Legion” by Edmond Hamilton, John Forte, Sheldon Moldoff, and Al Plastino, DC’s Adventure Comics #321 may provide the introduction of Time Trapper – though DC has already introduced a Time Trapper who may or may not be the same. Just saying. (Comics continuity keeps us researching, doesn’t it?)
60 years ago June 1964 It’s not the first time fans have seen DC’s Robin, Kid Flash, or Aqualad. But “The Thousand-and-One Dooms of Mr. Twister” is the first time they come together as the prototype of The Teen Titans in DC’s The Brave and the Bold #54. The story is by Bob Haney, Bruno Premiani, and Charles Paris.
55 years ago June 1969 I hope you’re buying your DC comics while they’re cheap. They’re priced at 12¢ this month, but that’s about to change!
55 years ago June 1969 Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #73 introduces the Maggia mobster Silvermane in “The Web Closes!” by John Buscema, John Romita, Stan Lee, and Jim Mooney.
55 years ago June 1969 Gentleman Ghost began adventures in DC’s Flash Comics in 1947 but he first appears in the Silver Age in DC’s The Atom & Hawkman #43 in “Come to My Hanging” by Robert Kanigher and Murphy Anderson.
55 years ago June 1969 Remember Toro from the Golden Age? Well, here he is in Marvel’s Sub-Mariner #14 in “Burn, Namor … Burn!” by Roy Thomas, Marie Severin, and Mike Esposito. And he’s married! (Time does pass.)
50 years ago June 1974 It’s the first Doctor Strange #1 from Marvel. (The first Doctor Strange solo was in June 1968 – but it was #169, so there’s that.) And it introduces Silver Dagger. “Through an Orb Darkly” is by Steve Englehart, Frank Brunner, and Dick Giordano.
50 years ago June 1974 “New! Her name is Lilith! She is – Dracula’s Daughter!” She’s introduced in Marvel’s Giant-Size Chillers Featuring Curse of Dracula #1 (and only) in “Night of the She-Demon” by Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan, and Frank Chiaramonte.
50 years ago June 1974 Harvey Bullock is introduced in DC’s Detective Comics #441 in “Judgment Day!” by Archie Goodwin and Howard Chaykin.
45 years ago June 1979 Gold Key begins Battle of the Planets, based on the TV series (itself based on Science Ninja Team Gatchaman).
40 years ago June 1984 Chris Claremont, Sal Buscema, Tom Mandrake, and Kim DeMulder introduce a slew of new characters (as in the Hellions Catseye, Empath, Jetstream, Roulette, and Tarot) in “Away Game!” in Marvel’s The New Mutants #16.
40 years ago June 1984 Blue Devil is introduced in DC’s The Fury of Firestorm #24 in a “special free 16-page comic!” by Gary Cohn, Dan Mishkin, Paris Cullins, and Pablo Marcos. Oh – and also in Blue Devil #1 by the same team.
40 years ago June 1984 Only her hands are on the cover, when Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #253 introduces mob boss Rose. “By Myself Betrayed!” is by Tom DeFalco, Rick Leonardi, and Bill Anderson.
35 years ago June 1989 Predator comes to comics in Dark Horse’s Predator #1 in “The Heat” by Mark Verheiden, Chris Warner, Sam de la Rosa, and Randy Emberlin.
35 years ago June 1989 In “Reawakening” by Mark Gruenwald, Kieron Dwyer, and Al Milgrom, Marvel’s Captain America #354 introduces USAgent (John Walker).
35 years ago June 1989 The Maze Agency ends from Comico with #7. It will be back.
35 years ago June 1989 He first appeared in Marvel’s Werewolf by Night #32, but hey! Here he is again! Marc Spector: Moon Knight begins with “New Moon” by Chuck Dixon, Sal Velluto, and Mark Farmer.
30 years ago June 1994 DC’s Action Comics #700 is a special issue, a “double-sized anniversary blow-out!” – and “Swan Song” in this issue is one of Curt Swan’s last jobs.
30 years ago June 1994 Marvel’s take on Robert E. Howard’s Conan returns with two titles: Conan the Adventurer and Conan Classic.
30 years ago June 1994 Marvel’s The Incredible Hulk #418 is a wedding issue (presided over by writer Peter David and drawn by Gary Frank and Cam Smith) with guests including the DC Sandman character Death.
30 years ago June 1994 Marvel’s Thor #475 reintroduces Don Blake and Jane Foster and revamps Thor’s costume. “Survival of the Fiercest” is by Roy Thomas, M.C. Wyman, and Mike DeCarlo.
25 years ago June 1999 Marvel’s Black Widow #1 gives two different Black Widows their own miniseries (and introduces Yelena Belova). Surprise! There will be future series with that title.
25 years ago June 1999 Eric Powell’s The Goon is introduced in an ad in Avatar Press’ Avatar Illustrated #2.
25 years ago June 1999 With “How Tom Strong Got Started” by Alan Moore, Chris Sprouse, and Al Gordon, Tom Strong #1 begins the series from DC’s “America’s Best Comics” imprint. It will win the year’s Eisner Award for Best Single Issue/One-Shot.
20 years ago June 2004 With #1595, Krause Publications’ Comics Buyer’s Guide changes from a weekly tabloid newspaper to a monthly squarebound magazine and adds a price guide.
15 years ago June 2009 Chew begins from Image. It’s by John Layman and Rob Guillory and it will win the Eisner Award for Best New Series of the year.
15 years ago June 2009 The first issue of DC’s The Flash: Rebirth six-issue miniseries features Barry Allen trying to catch up while he’s been away. “Lightning Strikes Twice” is by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver and features many guest stars. (Ma Hunkel!)
10 years ago June 2014 Outcast by Kirkman & Azaceta begins from Image with a bunch o’ variants. Yes, it’s by Robert Kirkman and Paul Azaceta.
10 years ago June 2014 Hah! You thought the Spider-Verse sometimes has quite a few options? Marvel confirms it via The Amazing Spider-Man #1 with an amazing number of variants. Which is to say A-Y and Z01-Z23. Roughly $6 @. Geez. Heck, Valiant only has 10 varieties of its first issue of Armor Hunters. And (back to Marvel) Hulk #1 has only 9 versions. Pikers.
10 years ago June 2014 In Marvel’s 2013 series Deadpool #27, you’ll find “The most important Issue #27 in the history of comics!” It’s the Guinness World Records Record Holder for the most comics characters on the cover of a single issue. (Note: Guinness says there are 224, because the dozen creators/editors who also appear don’t count as “characters.” I do beg to differ. They remain characters, as those who know them would surely testify.)
5 years ago Major X by Rob Liefeld begins by introducing the time-traveling son of Cable and Storm in an alternate universe. (The miniseries will end with a #0, by the way. Just saying.)
5 years ago June 2019 How many variant covers can Marvel provide for the kick-off of a six-issue miniseries? Oh, sure … Anyway, the interior of this War of the Realms “Chapter One: the Last Realm Standing” is by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman. There are Norse aspects – and New York and New Jersey aspects, too.
5 years ago June 2019 The first issue of Marvel’s Symbiote Spider-Man miniseries, you’ll be amazed to learn, has a whole bunch of variant covers. Collect them all! Contents are by Peter David, Iban Coello, Greg Land, and Jay Leisten.
5 years ago June 2019 Valiant introduces Psi-Lords with two stories: the first part of “Gods in Cages” by Fred Van Lente and Renato Guedes and “Killers” by B. Clay Moore and Fernando Dagnino.
5 years ago June 2019 Marvel has had more than one first issue of Thanos. This time, it begins a miniseries with “Zero Sanctuary” by Tini Howard and Alriel Olivetti. Gamora discusses how Thanos adopted her.
