Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles, and ends, this time for September 30 through October 6, 2022...

145 years ago October 6, 1877 Henri Berthelot begins Le Canard, a satirical Canadian weekly that will carry many cartoons.

130 years ago October 4, 1892 Robert Lawson is born. He wins the Caldecott Medal for They Were Strong and Good and the Newbery Award winner for Rabbit Hill. His Disney connections include creation of Ben and Me and illustrations for Munro Leaf’s The Story of Ferdinand the Bull.

120 years ago October 1, 1902 Swedish artist Gunila Stierngranat is born. She draws Lilla Lena och Jon Blund.

115 years ago October 4, 1907 Finnish artist Erkki Tanttu is born. He creates the Rymy-Eetu strip.

110 years ago October 5, 1912 Animator and artist Riley Thomson is born. He works for Warner Brothers and Walt Disney and draws Disney stories for Dell comics.

105 years ago October 4, 1917 Disney comics artist Bill Wright is born.

105 years ago October 6, 1917 Rafael Fornés Collado is born. The Cuban editor-artist creates the strips José Dolores and Don Sabino.

100 years ago October 5, 1922 The award-winning writer-artist of The Family Circus Bil Keane is born. He serves as NCS president from 1981 to 1983.

95 years ago October 4, 1927 Croatian writer-artist Oto Reisinger is born. He’s estimated to have produced more than 70,000 cartoons.

85 years ago October 1, 1937 Award-winning editor, publisher, and letterer Bill Spicer is born. He’s especially known for his Graphic Story Magazine.

80 years ago September 30, 1942 Dutch artist Lode Pemmelaar is born.

80 years ago October 1, 1942 Simon & Schuster publishes Little Golden Books, printed by Western and priced at a quarter each. The first release is of 12 titles, which include The Poky Little Puppy.

70 years ago October 4, 1952 Artist Tod Smith is born. He works on comics for DC, Marvel, Claypool, and Archie as well as on the Zorro newspaper strip.

70 years ago October 5, 1952 Will Eisner’s The Spirit concludes its run as a newspaper comics section.

65 years ago October 5, 1957 Writer-artist Tim Burgard is born.

60 years ago October 1, 1962 William Byrne is born. He writes and draws Max Burger P.I.

60 years ago October 5, 1962 Writer-artist and self-publisher Jeff Nicholson is born. He’s known for such comics as Ultra Klutz and Through the Habitrails.

60 years ago October 6, 1962 Artist Jim Nelson is born.

60 years ago October 6, 1962 The British comics magazine Valiant begins.

55 years ago October 1, 1967 Robert Powell dies at age 50. Born Stanislav Robert Pawlowski, he was the Golden Age artist of Sheena and Mr. Mystic, co-wrote the debut of Blackhawk, penciled Mars Attacks gum cards, and was the art director of Sick.

55 years ago October 3, 1967 Comics creator Rob Liefeld is born. One of the co-founders of Image, he co-creates such characters as Cable and Deadpool before producing such Image series as Youngblood.

55 years ago October 3, 1967 Award-winning cartoonist, teacher, and researcher Ivan Brunetti is born. He’s known for Schizo.

55 years ago October 3, 1967 Cartoonist and voice artist Pinto Colvig dies of lung cancer at age 75. The original voice of Pluto, Goofy, and Bozo was declared to be a Disney Legend for his contributions to Disney films. (He was also a Nevada newspaper cartoonist.)

40 years ago October 1, 1982 EPCOT Center opens at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

40 years ago October 3, 1982 Award-winning artist Noel Sickles dies at age 72. He’s known for the Scorchy Smith newspaper strip.

35 years ago September 30, 1987 Writer Alfred Bester dies of complications of a broken hip at age 73. Known for his science fiction (including the award-winning The Demolished Man), he also contributed to comics, including creation of supervillain Solomon Grundy and stories for The Phantom and Mandrake.

35 years ago October 1, 1987 A California earthquake damages several comics shops.

35 years ago October 5, 1987 Artist Ed Stevenson dies at age 91. He drew King Features comic strips based on books by Frank Buck.

15 years ago October 2, 2007 Archie Comics President and Co-Publisher Richard Goldwater dies of cancer at age 71.

15 years ago October 3, 2007 Spanish artist Manfred Sommer dies at age 74.

15 years ago October 5, 2007 Josette Niesen Macherot dies at age 77. She colored comics by Raymond Macherot.

15 years ago October 5, 2007 Steve Massarsky dies at age 59. The entertainment lawyer set up Voyager Communications to publish Valiant Comics.

10 years ago October 5, 2012 Disney and Tim Burton release the Frankenweenie animated feature with voice artists including Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, and Martin Landau.

10 years ago October 6, 2012 French artist Charlie Kiéfer dies of leukemia at age 75.

And here are the anniversaries spanning the month of October…

115 years ago October 1907 A.D. Condo’s Mr. Skygack, from Mars begins.

110 years ago October 1912 The All-Story publishes the first episode of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes, “A Romance of the Jungle.”

95 years ago October 1927 Russell Johnson’s Mr. Oswald comic strip begins in the trade journal now called Hardware Retailing. He will draw it for the next 62 years.

85 years ago October 1937 Quality’s Feature Funnies #1 stars comic strip characters in their comic book debuts via strip reprints. Included are Dixie Dugan, Joe Palooka, and Mickey Finn.

80 years ago October 1942 Quality’s Police Comics #12 introduces Ebony to newsstand comics in a reprint of the Spirit story from June 16, 1940. (The Spirit himself first appeared in the Spirit supplement of June 2, 1940, which was reprinted in Police Comics #11.)

80 years ago October 1942 Marvel’s Terry-Toons Comics #1 features the introduction to comic books of Paul Terry characters including Gandy Goose, Sourpuss, and Dinky Duck.

80 years ago October 1942 Lev Gleason’s Daredevil Comics #13 cover features Daredevil’s Little Wise Guys. Scarecrow, Meatball, Pee Wee, and Jock are introduced in “Blackhearts in White” by Charles Biro.

80 years ago October 1942 Pines’ Coo Coo Comics (“America’s funniest magazine”) kicks off its run by introducing Supermouse, drawn by Kin Platt.

75 years ago October 1947 “Radio’s famous coast-to-coast favorite” (which began on NBC on June 24, 1941) comes to comics with DC’s A Date with Judy #1. Art is by Graham Place.

75 years ago October 1947 Gentleman Ghost is introduced in the Hawkman story in DC’s Flash Comics #88. The story is by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert.

75 years ago October 1947 DC’s All-American Comics #90 announces that it’s “Introducing the Icicle! The coldest criminal in history!” “The Icicle” is by Robert Kanigher, Irwin Hasen, and John Belfi.

75 years ago October 1947 OK, we know about The Justice Society of America. But what’s The Injustice Society of the World? DC’s All-Star Comics #37 teams the villainous Gambler, Brain Wave, Vandal Savage, The Wizard, Per Degaton, and The Thinker in stories by Robert Kanigher, Irwin Hasen, John Belfi, Joe Kubert, Carmine Infantino, and Alex Toth.

70 years ago October 1952 Harvey Kurtzman puts together an anthology of “tales calculated to drive you” Mad for EC. This first issue may be the first comic book of satire and parody. (OK, Supersnipe #6 (its first issue) had a satire of Blue Beetle, but this is an entire issue devoted to that sort of thing.) Contributors include Kurtzman, Jack Davis, Wally Wood, Bill Elder, John Severin, and Marie Severin.

70 years ago October 1952 Quality offers “battlefield adventures” in G.I. Combat #1.

65 years ago October 1957 Harvey’s Hot Stuff, the Little Devil begins with his saying to readers, “I’m Hot Stuff … Who are you?”

60 years ago October 1962 Tales from the Tomb #1 (and only) is a Dell Giant with “nightmare stories of ghosts, ghouls and other grisly … ‘things’” written by John Stanley.

60 years ago October 1962 “I challenge you to match your powers against mine, Thor!” I say thee nay! Marvel’s Journey into Mystery #85 introduces its version of a bunch o’ folks from Norse Myth. In “Trapped by Loki, the God of Mischief” by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, and Dick Ayers, Loki, Balder, Odin, Heimdall, and more make their first Marvel appearance.

60 years ago October 1962 The Little Annie Fanny feature by Harvey Kurtzman and Will Elder begins in Playboy.

60 years ago October 1962 It’s the first Johnny Storm Human Torch solo story and it’s in Marvel’s Strange Tales #101. The tale by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, and Dick Ayers even lets readers peek into the house shared by siblings Johnny and Sue Storm.

60 years ago October 1962 Uh oh! DC’s The Atom #3 introduces Chronos. “The Time Trap!” is by Gardner Fox, Gil Kane, and Murphy Anderson.

60 years ago October 1962 “An atomic accident turns a young scientist into a fantastic being!” Gold Key’s Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #1 introduces (yep!) Doctor Solar by Paul S. Newman and Bob Fujitani. (Doc won’t get his costume until #5.)

60 years ago October 1962 There’s no mention of it on the cover of Archie’s Madhouse #22, but “Presenting Sabrina the Teen-Age Witch” by George Gladir, Dan DeCarlo, and Rudy Lapick introduces (yes) Sabrina the Teen-Age Witch, as well as Della and Sabrina’s cat, Salem. (Archie and Betty make guest appearances.)

60 years ago October 1962 Another uh oh! Who’s the mystery woman hurling a repelling ray at Green Lantern in DC’s Green Lantern #16? Carol Ferris becomes Star Sapphire in “The Secret Life of Star Sapphire!” by John Broome, Gil Kane, and Joe Giella.

55 years ago October 1967 “This man who was just murdered is our hero!” DC’s Strange Adventures #205 features “Who Has Been Lying in my Grave?” by Arnold Drake, Carmine Infantino, and George Roussos, who create the first Deadman story.

55 years ago October 1967 “Introducing the first chapter of the continuing saga of ‘The Lonely War of Capt. Willy Shultz!’” Charlton’s Fightin’ Army #76 introduces Captain Willy Schultz in “The Charge Is Murder” by Will Franz and Sam Glanzman.

55 years ago October 1967 Marvel’s “At last you will learn what lives … within the cocoon!” Marvel’s Fantastic Four #67 introduces Him (Adam Warlock) in “When Opens the Cocoon!” by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Joe Sinnott.

55 years ago October 1967 “If this be … MODOK!” Yes, it be. Marvel’s Tales of Suspense #94 introduces MODOK as the new leader of AIM in a story by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Joe Sinnott. Note: He gets to be all in caps, because his name is an acronym for Mechanized/Mental/Mobile Organism Designed Only for Killing.

50 years ago October 1972 Marvel’s version of Doc Savage is introduced in Doc Savage #1. “Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze!” by Steve Englehart, Roy Thomas, Ross Andru, and Jim Mooney adapts the character created by Lester Dent and introduced in the Doc Savage adventure pulp in 1933.

50 years ago October 1972 “Beasts that act like men! Men who act like beasts! See the world of …” Kamandi, the Last Boy on Earth #1. It’s “a sensational DC Jack Kirby blockbuster.” The story by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer begins in an issue dated less than four years after Planet of the Apes hit theaters.

50 years ago October 1972 In its “first startling issue,” DC’s Swamp Thing #1 introduces Swamp Thing. “Dark Genesis” is by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson.

50 years ago October 1972 Lorna (Queen of the Jungle!), Tharn (The Magnificent!), and Jann (of the Jungle!) return to comics in Marvel’s Jungle Action #1, which reprints stories from the 1950s.

50 years ago October 1972 Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #113 introduces Hammerhead in “They Call the Doctor … Octopus!” It’s not enough that Spidey has an ulcer, right? The story is by Gerry Conway, John Romita, Jim Starlin, and Tony Mortellaro.

50 years ago October 1972 “Captain America must be captured – or destroyed!!” It’s complicated and is getting more complicated. “The Falcon Fights Alone” is by Steve Englehart, Sal Buscema, John Verpoorten, and Tony Mortellaro. Captain America #154 features the first full appearance of Jack Monroe, who will – but Spoilers…

45 years ago October 1977 Marvel’s Omega the Unknown #10 is the last issue. “The Hottest Slot in Town!” is by Steve Gerber, Mary Skrenes, and Jim Mooney. Stuff happens, and the story continues in Defenders #75.

45 years ago October 1977 DC’s Starfire #8 is the last issue. “The Dwellers of the Dark Domain!” is by Tom DeFalco, Mike Vosburg, and Vince Colletta.

45 years ago October 1977 They’re “searchers for a homeworld with a galaxy against them!” DC’s Star Hunters begins with “Junkworld!” by David Michelinie, Don Newton, and Bob Layton.

45 years ago October 1977 DC’s Super Friends #7 introduces Godiva, Impala, Owlwoman, and Seraph. “The Warning of the Wondertwins” is by E. Nelson Bridwell, Ramona Fradon, and Bob Smith.

45 years ago October 1977 “Beginning! The incredible saga of – The Starjammers! Will it be the end of The X-Men?!” (At a guess, the answer would be no. Just saying.) Anyway, Marvel’s The X-Men #107 has the first full appearance of The Starjammers and introduces a bunch of characters. “Where No X-Man Has Gone Before!” is by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, and Dan Green.

40 years ago October 1982 “They’re back – the greatest fighting team of all!” DC revives Blackhawk with #251. (#250 was dated January 1977.) “A Time to Fight … a Time to Die!” is by Mark Evanier and Dan Spiegle.

40 years ago October 1982 The cover of #287 says it’s “loved by millions,” but, after 33 years, Harvey’s Sad Sack Comics ends with this issue.

40 years ago October 1982 Comico begins publishing with Primer #1, “Presenting Comico’s Creative Cast of Curious Characters: Victor, Slaughterman, Az, Mr. Justice and Skrog.”

40 years ago October 1982 Archie cancels Josie and the Pussycats with #106.

40 years ago October 1982 Justice League of America #207 and All-Star Squadron #14 feature a “Crisis on Earth-Prime” crossover with a zillion of DC’s characters. The project is by Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas, Don Heck, Romeo Tanghal, Adrian Gonzales, and Jerry Ordway.

40 years ago October 1982 Pacific Comics begins Ms. Mystic. “From this day onward the planet Earth is under my protection. Defile it not or suffer the wrath of Ms Mystic!” (Yeah, that’s the way she’s spelled on the cover.) The story is by Neal Adams and Michael Netzer.

40 years ago October 1982 Marvel’s The Defenders #112 introduces Arcanna, Nuke, and Power Princess. It’s an alternate universe thing in “Strange Visitor from Another Planet!” by J.M. DeMatteis, Don Perlin, and Mike Gustovich.

40 years ago October 1982 Marvel’s Iron Man #163 introduces Obadiah Stane and The Chessmen in “Knight’s Errand” by Denny O’Neil, Luke McDonnell, and Steve Mitchell.

35 years ago October 1987 “From this day onward the planet Earth is under my protection. Defile it not or suffer the wrath of Ms Mystic!” Sound familiar? Continuity restarts Ms. Mystic, reprinting that Pacific Comics issue (complete with the cover spelling).

35 years ago October 1987 Marvel mini-comics go on sale. “The Safe Halloween Treat for Girls and Boys!” are sold (16 comics per bag) for $2.95: four each of Captain America, Heathcliff, Care Bears, and Spider-Man.

35 years ago October 1987 “Final issue all secrets revealed”: DC ends Electric Warrior with #18. “Love for All Things Living” is by Doug Moench, Jim Baikie, and Dennis Janke.

35 years ago October 1987 Marvel’s last issue of the “New Universe” series Kickers, Inc. is #12.

35 years ago October 1987 DC’s Doom Patrol returns, kicking off a new series with a story by Paul Kupperberg, Steve Lightle, and Gary Martin. The team consists of Celsius, Tempest, Negative Woman, and Robotman.

35 years ago October 1987 DC’s “twelve issue future shocker!” Outcasts begins. “Lady, Ya Got Yaself a Team!” is by John Wagner, Alan Grant, Cam Kennedy, and Steve Montano.

35 years ago October 1987 Marvel’s Marshal Law begins under the Epic imprint. The satiric take on superheroes is by Pat Mills and Kevin O’Neill.

35 years ago October 1987 DC’s Swamp Thing #65 introduces Sprout (and includes a shout-out to Marvel’s Man-Thing). “(We Could Be) Diving for Pearls” is by Rick Veitch and Alfredo Alcala.

35 years ago October 1987 “Introducing … The Once and Future Thor!” Marvel’s Thor #384 provides the first appearance of a Thor of the year 2537: Dargo Ktor. “Who Shall Be Worthy?” is by Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, and Brett Breeding.

35 years ago October 1987 “Introducing … The Mime!” It says so on the cover. DC’s Batman #412 introduces Mime in “The Sound of Silence” by Max Allan Collins, Dave Cockrum, and Don Heck.

30 years ago October 1992 DC’s Batman: Sword of Azrael #1 introduces Azrael in “Vanishing Angels & Sudden Death” by Denny O’Neil, Joe Quesada, and Kevin Nowlan. Things will get complicated.

30 years ago October 1992 The Image title Cyberforce begins. The first part of “The Tin Men of War” is by Marc Silvestri with script credit to Eric Silvestri.

30 years ago October 1992 In Valiant’s Solar, Man of the Atom #14, Fred Bender becomes Doctor Eclipse. “Rainbow’s End” is by Jim Shooter, Steve Ditko, Kevin VanHook, Howard Simpson, and Paul Autio.

30 years ago October 1992 “Introducing: the heroism of Turbo … and the villainy of Cardinal!” They appear in Marvel’s The New Warriors #28 in “Heavy Turbulence” by Fabian Nicieza, Darick Robertson, and Larry Mahlstedt.

30 years ago October 1992 DC’s The Darkstars #1 introduces the “epic adventures” of the intergalactic team of police in “Mean Streets” by Michael Jan Friedman, Larry Stroman, and Scott Hanna.

30 years ago October 1992 Marvel’s Captain Planet and the Planeteers (based on the animated TV series) ends with #12, announcing “Final issue!” on the cover.

30 years ago October 1992 Harbinger Active Resistance Division is on display in Valiant’s Harbinger #10. “New Beginnings” by Jim Shooter, David Lapham, and Gonzalo Mayo introduces H.A.R.D. Corps.

25 years ago October 1997 Batman/Spider-Man #1 (and only) is one of a few DC-Marvel crossovers. “New Age Dawning” is by J.M. DeMatteis, Graham Nolan, and Karl Kesel.

20 years ago October 2002 Image’s G.I. Joe: Frontline #1 begins a story that takes place between the Marvel series and the Image/Devil’s Due series. The first part of “The Mission That Never Was: One if by Land” is by Larry Hama, Dan Jurgens, and Bob Layton.

20 years ago October 2002 ThunderCats #0 starts another comic book series based on the TV franchise. “A Cat’s Tale” is from DC and is by Ford Lytle Gilmore, J. Scott Campbell, and Rhys Yorke.

15 years ago October 2007 DC had an earlier series, and now Booster Gold returns with this #1. “52 Pick-Up, Chapter 1” is by Geoff Johns, Jeff Katz, Dan Jurgens, and Norm Rapmund.

10 years ago October 2012 Marvel’s Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe begins. Because he’s just that kinda guy, right? The story is by Cullen Bunn and Dalibor Talajić.

10 years ago October 2012 Marvel starts a new Hawkeye series. “Lucky” is by Matt Fraction and David Aja.

10 years ago October 2012 There have been a variety of first issues of a Doctor Who comic book. This one from IDW stars Matt Smith’s Doctor (along with companion characters Amy Pond and Rory Williams). “Hypothetical Gentleman, Part 1” is by Andy Diggle and Mark Buckingham.

10 years ago October 2012 OK, sure, Marvel offers Hawkeye series before and after this. In any case, this Hawkeye #1 is by Matt Fraction and David Aja.

10 years ago October 2012 Archie introduces New Crusaders to its Red Circle Comics line more than a quarter of a century after Archie’s Mighty Crusaders series. The first part of “Ashes to Ashes” is by Ian Flynn, Ben Bates, and Gary Martin.

10 years ago October 2012 Last month, we noted DC’s offering of Ozymandias in its slew of Before Watchmen first issues. This month, Before Watchmen: Rorschach and Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan begin.

5 years ago October 2017 There were prequels to this release, and the story is a continuation from Dark Days: The Casting #1, but wow! There sure are a bucket of variants for DC’s Dark Nights: Metal #1. The story is by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, and Jonathan Glapion.

5 years ago October 2017 Valiant’s Eternity #1 introduces a slew of characters: aliens who are members of Agents of Change. The story is by Matt Kindt, Trevor Hairsine, and Ryan Winn.

5 years ago October 2017 Marvel releases a bunch of one-shots with the title beginning “Generations:.” They’re Banner Hulk & Totally Awesome Hulk, Hawkeye & Hawkeye, Phoenix & Jean Grey, The Unworthy Thor & the Mighty Thor, and Wolverine & All-New Wolverine. (Collect them! There are many different covers, after all.)

5 years ago October 2017 Speaking of a bunch of Marvel one-shots, the company also releases a variety of True Believers: Kirby 100th tributes. They feature Ant-Man and the Wasp, Avengers: Captain America Lives Again!, Black Panther, Captain America, Devil Dinosaur, Eternals, Groot, Inhumans, Introducing … The Mighty Thor, Iron Man, Nick Fury, and Thor vs. Hulk.