Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles and ends, this time for October 14-20, 2016...
120 years ago October 18, 1896 The American Humorist is introduced by Publisher William Randolph Hearst as a section of the New York Journal. “Eight full pages of color that make the kaleidoscope pale with envy” include The Yellow Kid by Richard Outcault.
110 years ago October 20, 1906 Crockett Johnson is born as David Leisk. The cartoonist creates, writes, and draws the Barnaby newspaper strip but is probably better known for his children’s book series featuring “Harold and the Purple Crayon.”
100 years ago October 14, 1916 Award-winning writer-artist Bob Oksner is born. With a career beginning in the Golden Age, he produces comics including many licensed humor titles from DC (featuring such characters as Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope, and Sgt. Bilko) as well as superhero series, writing Dondi, and co-creating Soozi.
90 years ago October 14, 1926 The first Winnie-the-Pooh book is released in Great Britain, created by Alan Alexander Milne. (The teddy bear first appeared in Punch February 13, 1924, but wasn’t named until December 24, 1925.) Disney acquires the character in 1961 and releases the first animated film in 1966.
90 years ago October 16, 1926 Treasure Chest and Marvel artist-inker Joe Sinnott is born. He’s especially known for work on the Spider-Man comic strip and Fantastic Four comic books.
85 years ago October 19, 1931 Judge Dredd letterer Tom Frame is born.
75 years ago October 16, 1941 Milton Caniff’s Terry and the Pirates newspaper strip features [Spoiler!] the death of Raven Sherman.
75 years ago October 17, 1941 [Spoiler continues!] Terry Lee and Dude Hennick bury Raven Sherman in Terry and the Pirates.
60 years ago October 14, 1956 Actress, writer, and comedian Arleen Sorkin is born. She’s especially known for voicing (and partly inspiring) the first appearances of Harley Quinn in Batman: The Animated Series.
60 years ago October 20, 1956 Writer-artist Jim Engel is born. He creates Dick Duck, Duck Dick.
55 years ago October 19, 1961 Artist and animator Mike Manley is born. He co-creates Marvel’s Darkhawk (with Tom DeFalco) and edits Draw! magazine.
35 years ago October 14, 1981 Artist Jim Raymond dies of cancer at age 64. He drew the Blondie newspaper strip for 40 years.
30 years ago October 15, 1986 American Splendor’s Harvey Pekar makes his first appearance on Late Night with David Letterman.
25 years ago October 18, 1991 Dark Horse announces it is acquiring the trademark and copyright for Nexus so as to return ownership to co-creators Mike Baron and Steve Rude.
20 years ago October 14, 1996 Texas Slim and Lovey Dovey creator Ferd Johnson dies at age 90. He was the long-time writer-artist of Moon Mullins.
15 years ago October 16, 2001 Smallville begins on The WB, featuring Tom Welling as a young Clark Kent, Michael Rosenbaum as a young Lex Luthor, and Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang.
10 years ago October 18, 2006 Animator, cartoonist, illustrator, writer, and inventor Don Christensen dies at age 90. (He was also well known as “Don Arr.”)
