Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles, and ends, this time for March 28 through April 3, 2025...
220 years ago April 2, 1805 Hans Christian Andersen is born. Do I need to tell you that many of his stories have been adapted to the animated cartoon format (in such cases as Frozen and The Little Mermaid)?
160 years ago March 29, 1865 Writer-artist Dan Smith is born. He’s known for The Jungle Folk, Biblical comics stories, and cover art.
140 years ago April 3, 1885 Pioneering cartoonist Bud Fisher is born. He creates Mutt and Jeff.
135 years ago March 28, 1890 Belgian political cartoon pioneer Joz De Swerts is born.
115 years ago March 29, 1910 The Wigglemuch by Herbert Crowley begins.
110 years ago March 29, 1915 Charlie Chaplin’s Comic Capers begins. The gag-a-day strip is created by Stuart Carothers.
110 years ago March 29, 1915 Artist William Wallace Denslow dies at age 58. The editorial cartoonist was best known for illustrating L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
105 years ago March 30, 1920 Teacher and award-winning artist Tex Blaisdell is born. He estimates for The National Cartoonists Society that he produces “22 synd. features and 69 million comic book pages” in the course of his career.
105 years ago April 3, 1920 Arnold H. Clerkx is born. The Dutch artist is known for Ling Khi Tong and Joessoef.
100 years ago April 1, 1925 Belgian artist Henri Taymans (who also works as “Timme”) is born.
100 years ago April 2, 1925 Fritz Raab is born. He writes the Taro comic strip (drawn by Franz-Werner Richter-Johnsen).
95 years ago March 29, 1930 Belgian artist Nine Culliford is born (as Janine Devroye). The wife of “Peyo” (Pierre Culliford) colors the Smurfs from their first appearance and is the one who decides they should be colored blue.
95 years ago April 1, 1930 “Mickey Mouse in Death Valley” begins. It’s the first Mickey Mouse strip written and drawn by Floyd Gottfredson and it will introduce Clarabelle Cow and others to the strip.
95 years ago April 3, 1930 Dutch artist Chris Roodbeen is born.
95 years ago April 3, 1930 German artist Chlodwig Poth is born. He co-founds the satirical magazine Pardon and Titanic magazine.
90 years ago March 29, 1935 British cartoonist David Austin is born. He creates Hom Sap and contributes to The Guardian.
90 years ago March 31, 1935 German artist Ladislaus Elischer is born.
90 years ago April 2, 1935 French writer-artist Henri Avelot dies at age 62.
80 years ago March 30, 1945 The first installment of the “Suske en Wiske” series (De avonturen van Rikki en Wiske) by Willy Vandersteen is published.
80 years ago March 31, 1945 Spanish artist Gaietà Cornet dies at age 66. He co-founded the satirical magazine ¡Cu-Cut!
75 years ago March 29, 1950 Artist and actor Val Mayerik is born. The games and storyboard artist co-creates (with Steve Gerber) the character Howard the Duck and is a member of Upstart Associates (with Howard Chaykin, Walt Simonson, and Jim Starlin).
70 years ago April 2, 1955 Artist Mike Barreiro is born.
65 years ago March 29, 1960 Writer-artist G. Raymond Eddy is born.
60 years ago March 31, 1965 Teacher and freelance writer Steven T. Seagle is born. He’s known for It’s a Bird and for his participation (with Duncan Rouleau, Joe Casey, and Joe Kelly) in Man of Action Studios, which creates Ben 10.
55 years ago April 1, 1970 Award-winning and bestselling writer and historian Brad Meltzer is born. He co-creates the Siegel & Shuster Society.
50 years ago April 1, 1975 The French satirical comics series Fluide Glacial is published.
50 years ago April 1, 1975 Arzach by Moebius begins in Métal Hurlant.
50 years ago April 3, 1975 Cartoonist Otto Soglow dies at age 74. He created The Little King and was a co-founder (and 1953-1954 president) of the National Cartoonists Society.
45 years ago March 28, 1980 Czech artist Helena Bochořáková-Dittrichová dies at age 85. She created the woodcut storytelling book Childhood.
45 years ago March 30, 1980 David Sharpe dies at age 70. The career of the “Crown Prince of Daredevils” included stunting as Captain Marvel in the 1941 Republic serial.
40 years ago March 28, 1985 Austrian-Dutch artist Ferry Zipper dies at age 74.
35 years ago March 30, 1990 Prolific Brazilian artist and teacher João Mottini dies at age 66.
30 years ago March 29, 1995 Dutch artist Willy Schermelé dies at age 90. She created the “Wikie” series in 1957.
30 years ago March 29, 1995 Award-winning Golden and Silver Age and storyboard artist Mort Meskin dies at age 78. The Mark Merlin creator began with work in the Eisner & Iger studio and for Harry “A” Chesler and went on to contribute to a variety of companies on a variety of series, including Harvey’s Boys’ Ranch.
30 years ago March 31, 1995 British writer-artist Dennis Malcolm Reader dies at age 67.
10 years ago March 29, 2015 Cartoonist Jim Whiting dies at age 88. He created the Vincent the Magician strip.
10 years ago March 30, 2015 Writer-producer Roger Slifer dies at age 60 from the effects of a 2012 hit-and-run accident. He co-created Lobo with Keith Giffen.
10 years ago April 1, 2015 British writer-artist Cynthia Powell (who – married to John Lennon 1962-1968 – was also known as Cynthia Lennon) dies of cancer at age 75.
10 years ago April 3, 2015 DC Comics closes its Manhattan offices in the process of a move to California.
5 years ago March 28, 2020 The last daily episode of Bob Weber’s Moose & Molly appears.
5 years ago March 30, 2020 Artist Tom Gianni dies at age 60.
5 years ago March 31, 2020 French artist Emmanuel Malot (who worked as “Malotruf”) dies of COVID-19 at age 51.
5 years ago April 2, 2020 Award-winning Argentine writer-artist Juan Giménez dies of COVID-19 at age 76. He co-developed Metabarons with Alejandro Jodorowsky.
And here are the anniversaries spanning the month of April…
85 years ago April 1940 Lex Luthor is introduced in DC’s Action Comics #23 in a story written by Jerry Siegel and drawn by Joe Shuster and Paul Cassidy. Well, actually, Luthor is introduced but he doesn’t get a first name in this issue.
85 years ago April 1940 He might be the first costumed hero sidekick, at least in comics. Dick Grayson is introduced in DC’s Detective Comics #38. “The Sensational character-find of 1940” appears in a story by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson. Before you know it, his parents are dead and he adopts the guise of Robin (also known as “The Boy Wonder”).
85 years ago April 1940 In Prize Comics #2, The Black Owl is introduced in a six-page story drawn by Pete Nebird and Jack Binder.
85 years ago April 1940 Fox’s Weird Comics #1 introduces such characters as Bird Man (nothing about The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance; the art is signed Arnold Inagos) and Thor (yeah, nothing about Dr. Blake, though the story involves a guy who changes appearance and gets Thor’s form and powers; it’s drawn by Pierce Rice).
85 years ago April 1940 Standard’s Exciting Comics #1 introduces Raymond Thayer’s The Mask. And, sure, a bunch of others (such as, for example, Jim Hatfield and Make-Believe Mickey and, for that matter, Major Mars – whose only appearance is adapted from a “Captain Future” story).
85 years ago April 1940 Fox’s Mystery Men Comics #9 introduces The Moth (or, on the cover, Moth Man), drawn by Jim Mooney.
85 years ago April 1940 Marvel’s Daring Mystery Comics #3 features The Purple Mask by Will Harr and Maurice Gutwirth. This can be considered a first appearance of some sort, because the guy was known as The Laughing Mask in #2. Just saying. (Mind you, the issue did really introduce such characters as Breeze Barton, The Phantom Reporter, Marvex the Super-Robot, Dale of the FBI – well, you get the idea. Shovel a bunch of folks between the covers and see what catches on, right? Hey, do you think it’s time for Marvel to revisit a super-robot named Marvex? Me, too.)
85 years ago April 1940 He created the science fiction magazine in 1926, but it took him a while to get to the comics medium. Superworld Comics #1 is Hugo Gernsback’s first comic book. Cover is by pulp artist fave Frank R. Paul. “Super action wonders – adventures!”
75 years ago April 1950 EC begins two of its best-known series with the debuts of The Crypt of Terror #17 (taking over the numbering of Crime Patrol and soon to become Tales from the Crypt) and Vault of Horror #12 (taking over the numbering of War against Crime).
70 years ago April 1955 Remember last month, when we talked about EC’s “New Direction”? Here’s M.D. #1, the last of that bunch of titles.
65 years ago April 1960 In DC’s Superman #136, Lois Lane gets married in a story by Robert Bernstein, Wayne Boring, and Stan Kaye! Not an Imaginary Story! Did you know?
65 years ago April 1960 Nine months after printing in DC’s Superman a letter from reader Eugene Buie suggesting it, Adventure Comics #271 provides the story in which Lex Luthor’s origin is told. “How Luthor Met Superboy!” is by Jerry Siegel and Al Plastino.
65 years ago April 1960 “The Mystery of the Elongated Man” by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, and Joe Giella in The Flash #112 introduces Ralph Dibney. Could he be a villain? They say it’s a mystery!
60 years ago April 1965 Milano Libri Edizioni publishes the first issue of linus. (Yes, it cover-features Charles Schulz’ character.)
55 years ago April 1970 He’s a “strange new supervillain”! Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #83 introduces The Schemer in a story by Stan Lee, John Romita, and Mike Esposito. (He’s Richard Fisk, Kingpin’s son, and goes on to quite a career. Just so’s you know.)
55 years ago April 1970 DC’s Green Lantern #76 changes its cover logo to “Green Lantern Co-Starring Green Arrow,” and “No Evil Shall Escape My Sight!” by Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams begins a series of “ripped from today’s headlines” stories sending Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and a Guardian of the Universe on a cross-country trip.
55 years ago April 1970 Last Gasp’s Slow Death Funnies #1 is an underground comix anthology containing stories by Gary Grimshaw, Dave Sheridan, Jim Evans, Greg Irons, Gilbert Shelton, Fred Schrier, Rory Hayes, Geoffrey Hayes, Jack Jackson, Kim Deitch, and Robert Crumb. With #2, the title will change to Slow Death.
50 years ago April 1975 Wow, Seaboard/Atlas is still trying to build a line of comics. The Cougar #1 introduces (yes) The Cougar in a story by Steve Mitchell, Dan Adkins, and Frank Springer. The series lasts a couple of issues.
50 years ago April 1975 Marvel’s Strange Tales #179 introduces Pip the Troll in “Death Ship!” by Jim Starlin. (Take a look at the Code seal on the cover, if you have a copy; it’s good for a giggle.)
50 years ago April 1975 Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #143 introduces Cyclone in a story by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru, Frank Giacoia, and Dave Hunt. “Paris is my city, Web-Head! You’ve come a long way – only to die!” Dang! How about he just lets Spidey do some touristy things and then head home? “A brand new menace,” indeed! How rude!
50 years ago April 1975 Beowulf begins from DC. “The Curse of Castle Hrothgar” is by Michael Uslan and Ricardo Villamonte.
50 years ago April 1975 DC’s Rima, the Jungle Girl ends with #7.
50 years ago April 1975 Marvel’s Monsters Unleashed magazine ends with #11.
40 years ago April 1985 It’s the “1st issue spectacular!” of Crisis on Infinite Earths by Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, Robert Greenberger, George Pérez, and Dick Giordano. The installment begins to shake up the DC universe. Pariah is introduced. Things go nuts. Dogs and cats may soon be living together. The 12-issue series will win the Eisner award for Best Finite Series of the year.
40 years ago April 1985 Marvel kicks off the first issue of Web of Spider-Man. “’Til Death Do Us Part!” is by Louise Simonson, Greg LaRocque, Jim Mooney, and Vince Colletta and features Peter Parker trying to remove the black costume that is (yes) more than a costume.
35 years ago April 1990 He’s been around since the Golden Age. Marvel’s cover for Namor the Sub-Mariner #1 says, “Out of the depths … and into the 90’s!” “Purpose!” is written and penciled by John Byrne and inked by Bob Wiacek.
35 years ago April 1990 Marvel’s Saga of the Original Human Torch begins. In four issues, it recaps the story of the character who starred on the cover of 1939’s Marvel Comics #1.
35 years ago April 1990 Marvel’s Stalkers begins. “Motown Madness” is by Jan Strnad, Mark Verheiden, and Mark Texeira.
35 years ago April 1990 It will only run two issues, but it’s worth noting that Mad Love’s Big Numbers by Alan Moore and Bill Sienkiewicz begins.
35 years ago April 1990 Concrete Celebrates Earth Day 1990 by Paul Chadwick, Charles Vess (with Henry David Thoreau), and Jean “Moebius” Giraud is published by Dark Horse. It will win the Eisner Award for Best Story or Single Issue of the year.
30 years ago April 1995 Under the tombstone shaped, die-cut, embossed cover of Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #400 is “A Death in the Family” and “The Gift” by J.M. DeMatteis, Mark Bagley, Larry Mahlstedt, and Randy Emberlin. Gosh, what do you suppose this story might involve?
30 years ago April 1995 Milk & Cheese Six Six Six #1 (alternatively titled Milk & Cheese #666) from Slave Labor contains 10 features by Evan Dorkin and will win the Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication of the year.
25 years ago April 2000 Powers by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming begins from Image. It will win the Eisner Award for Best New Series of the year.
20 years ago April 2005 The 11-page “Teenage Sidekick” by Paul Pope appears in Solo #3 from DC. It features Batman, The Joker, and Robin and will win the Eisner award for Best Short Story of the year.
20 years ago April 2005 DC’s Seven Soldiers by Grant Morrison and various artists begins with “Weird Adventures” by Grant Morrison and J.H. Williams III in #0. There will be two issues, and they will win the Eisner Award for Best Limited Series of the year.
15 years ago April 2010 The Flash: Rebirth ends with #6. “Fastest Man Alive” is by Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver, and Scott Hanna.
10 years ago April 2015 Titan’s Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor begins. “The Love Invasion” features The Doctor and Rose.
10 years ago April 2015 Dark Horse’s Archie vs. Predator kicks off an unusual crossover in a story by Alex de Campi, Fernando Ruiz, and Rich Koslowski. Eeek.
10 years ago April 2015 Bloodshot was created by Kevin VanHook, Don Perlin, and Bob Layton and first appeared in a cameo in Valiant’s Eternal Warrior #4. Now, Valiant introduces Bloodshot Reborn with a bunch of variant covers for the story by Jeff Lemire and Mico Suayan.
10 years ago April 2015 The BOOM! Studios/Archaia one-shot The Realist by Asaf Hanuka is released. It will win the Eisner Award for the Best U.S. Edition of International Material of the year.
5 years ago April 2020 Comics convention cancellations due to COVID-19 are MoCCA Arts Festival and Big Apple Comic Con in New York City, WonderCon in Anaheim, and MegaCon in Orlando.
5 years ago April 2020 Ooo, a one-shot from Archie is Archie Meets the B-52s by Alex Segura, Matthew Rosenberg, Dan Parent, and J. Bone. The Archies should get back together, and it looks as if another band could help!
5 years ago April 2020 DC releases some first issues. The first issue that is #1 of 12 is The Green Lantern Season Two. The first issues that are #1 of six are Amethyst and Plunge. The first issue that is #1 of four is Harley Quinn & the Birds of Prey. The first issue that is #1 of three is DCeased: Unkillables. And the first issues that are #1 of one are DC’s Crimes of Passion and Superman: Heroes. Hmm, I wonder whether any other companies are releasing a big batch of first issues this month…
5 years ago April 2020 Marvel releases a whole bunch of first issues. Mind you, Wolverine #1 (with lots of variants) is actually Wolverine #343, but who’s counting? First issues that are #1 of five are Ant-Man; Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown; and Falcon & Winter Soldier. The first issue that is #1 of four is X-Men/Fantastic Four. The first issue that is #1 of three is 2020 Force Works. First issues that are #1 of two are 2020 Machine Man; Dark Agnes; Gwen Stacy; Marvel’s Voices; and Nebula. And, for the Marvel completists out there, first issues that are the only ones in their respective “series” are Captain America: The End; Fantastic Four: Grimm Noir; Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost; Immortal Hulk: Great Power; Marvel’s Avengers: Hulk; True Believers: Iron Man 2020: Arno Stark; True Believers: Iron Man 2020: Jocasta; True Believers: Iron Man 2020: Pepper Potts; True Believers: Iron Man 2020: War Machine; and Wolverine: Through the Years Primer.
5 years ago April 2020 But hey! Marvel’s Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 kicks off a series that will last for 50 issues! Just saying.
