Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles, and ends, this time for August 30 through September 5, 2024...

165 years ago September 2, 1859 French artist Firmin Bouisset is born.

160 years ago September 4, 1864 Dutch artist Willem van der Nat is born.

155 years ago September 5, 1869 Punch contributor British artist George Morrow is born.

130 years ago September 3, 1894 British cartoonist Frank Minnitt is born. He’s especially known for his work on the “Billy Bunter” feature.

125 years ago September 5, 1899 French artist Louis Morel-Retz dies at age 74. Working as “Stop,” he was known for Les Aventures de Monsieur Verdreau.

115 years ago August 31, 1909 Larry Antonette (also known as “Dean Carr”) is born. The artist works via the Eisner-Iger shop and Funnies Inc. and becomes Northwest School of Art Director.

100 years ago September 5, 1924 French animator and artist Robert Bressy is born.

95 years ago September 3, 1929 French artist Ramon Monzon is born.

95 years ago September 3, 1929 Prolific and award-winning Italian-Brazilian artist and teacher Eugênio Colonnese is born. He co-founds Estúdio D-Arte and Editora D-Arte with Rodolfo Zalla.

95 years ago September 5, 1929 Actor and comedian Bob Newhart is born. His TV series roles include “Bob McKay,” creator of the Mad-Dog comic book.

90 years ago September 2, 1934 Voice artist, actor, and kids’ show host Chuck McCann is born. He voices such characters as “Sonny the Cuckoo Bird” and “The Thing.”

85 years ago September 5, 1939 Dutch politician, engineer, and artist Marten Bierman is born.

80 years ago September 2, 1944 Dutch writer-artist Jan Feith dies at age 70. He wrote picture books and drew an overview of Dutch history in silhouettes.

75 years ago September 2, 1949 Swiss political cartoonist Raymond Burki is born.

70 years ago August 31, 1954 Writer-artist, editor, and publisher Michael Cohen is born. He’s known for such work as Strange Attractors.

70 years ago September 1, 1954 Writer-editor Patricia Jeres is born. The former DC Comics Director of Marketing Communications is also Prism Comics Talent and Industry Relations Chair.

70 years ago September 4, 1954 Dutch comics magazine Grabbelton releases its last issue.

65 years ago September 1, 1959 Artist Joseph Wirt Tillotson dies at age 54.

65 years ago September 3, 1959 Artist Flint Henry is born. He’s especially known for his work on Grimjack and Manbat.

65 years ago September 5, 1959 Walkabout Publishing writer-artist, editor, and publisher Stephen D. Sullivan is born. He also produces material for TSR.

60 years ago September 2, 1964 Influential actor, musician, and comics writer Keanu Reeves is born. The acting roles of the creator of the BRZRKR franchise include John Constantine.

60 years ago September 5, 1964 Artist Ray Burnley dies at age 59. (Note: This is based on his dates as provided on the Grand Comics Database website; other sources have a different date of death and guess at his date of birth.) He inked Curt Swan’s Jimmy Olsen in addition to other DC work.

55 years ago September 1, 1969 French artist Auguste Liquois dies at age 67.

55 years ago September 1, 1969 Artist Alex Blum dies at age 80. His comics work began in the Eisner-Iger shop, and he freelanced to Fox, Quality, Fiction House, and the Classics Illustrated line.

50 years ago September 1, 1974 Writer-artist Jhonen Vasquez is born. He creates Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Invader Zim, and Squee!

50 years ago September 5, 1974 James Swinnerton dies at age 98 of complications from a broken leg. He created such features as The Little Bears, which some consider the first comic strip. He was also a landscape artist whose work included backgrounds for Chuck Jones’ animated cartoon “Mighty Hunters.”

30 years ago September 5, 1994 Canadian artist Yvette Lapointe dies at age 82. One of the earliest female Canadian comics artists, the creator of the Les Petits Espiègles strip was posthumously awarded the Prix Albert-Chartier.

25 years ago August 30, 1999 French artist Raymond Poïvet dies at age 89. He co-created (with Roger Lécureux) Les Pionniers de l’Espérance and (with Jean-Pierre Dionnet) Tiriel.

20 years ago August 30, 2004 Dutch writer Bart Huges dies of heart disease at age 70.

20 years ago September 5, 2004 Argentine artist Carlos Leopardi dies at age 57.

15 years ago August 31, 2009 The Walt Disney Co. announces it will buy Marvel Entertainment for about $4 billion.

10 years ago August 31, 2014 Stan Goldberg dies of a stroke at age 82. The award-winning comic book artist started his career as a Timely colorist and designed colors for such Marvel characters as Spider-Man and The Fantastic Four. He was also known for drawing Binky, Millie the Model, and many Archie characters.

10 years ago September 5, 2014 Italian artist Paolo Del Vaglio dies at age 86. He created the “Pigy” strip for Il Giornalino.

5 years ago August 30, 2019 Gordon Bressack dies at age 68. He was the producer and Emmy-winning writer of such animated shows as Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain.

5 years ago August 31, 2019 British writer-artist Donald Rooum dies at age 91.

5 years ago September 2, 2019 Award winner Lee Salem dies at age 73. He was an editor for and then president of Universal Press Syndicate (now Andrews McMeel Syndication) and edited or helped to develop such strips as Calvin and Hobbes, Cathy, The Far Side, and For Better or for Worse.

5 years ago September 2, 2019 Japanese writer Naoya Abe (who worked as “George Abe”) dies at age 82.

5 years ago September 5, 2019 Belgian artist and publisher Charles Jarry dies at age 76. He founded the Synopsis publishing house.

5 years ago September 5, 2019 Czech writer, artist, and actor Jaroslav Weigel dies at age 88.

And here are the anniversaries spanning the month of September…

90 years ago September 1934 Eastern Color’s Famous Funnies #2 is the first second issue in U.S. comics, making it the first monthly newsstand comic book.

85 years ago September 1939 A-Man the Amazing Man, written and drawn by Bill Everett, first appears in Centaur’s Amazing Man Comics #5 (the first issue with that title). Superpowered John Aman comes from Tibet to do good.

85 years ago September 1939 All-American’s (later, DC’s) All-American Comics #6 cover features Sheldon Mayer’s Scribbly, but the “first” for the issue is the Art Helfant feature introducing “the typical American boy” Popsicle Pete to comic books. Karl McCready (also known as McReady) will become famous for representing the “frozen drink on a stick.”

85 years ago September 1939 DC’s Detective Comics #31 introduces the Batarang (here spelled “Baterang”) in a story by Gardner Fox, Bob Kane, and Sheldon Moldoff.

85 years ago September 1939 Dell’s first Four Color series begins with the first comic book appearance of Dick Tracy.

80 years ago September 1944 In DC’s Superman #30, “The Mysterious Mr. Mxyztplk!” by Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, and Ira Yarbrough introduces the character under that name; it’ll change.

80 years ago September 1944 Frank Comunale’s Yellowjacket Comics #1 for Charlton introduces crime writer, beekeeper, and bee controller Yellowjacket (Vince Harley, drawn by Ken Battefield).

75 years ago September 1949 St. John’s Casper the Ghost #1 introduces Paramount’s Casper and Baby Huey to comic books. Poor Casper! The cover shows his evaluation from Ghost Finishing School: 0 in all subjects: Haunting, Shrieking, Horrifying, and Effort. “Very bad, is much too friendly for a ghost.” Aww.

75 years ago September 1949 Harvey’s Sad Sack Comics #1 (“1st issue! Loved by millions!”) introduces Li’l Dot (and her Mama Polka) by Alfred Harvey and Vic Herman.

75 years ago September 1949 DC’s Detective Comics #151 introduces the 20th century “Indian Lawman” Pow Wow Smith in a story by Don Cameron and Carmine Infantino. The Sioux sheriff is named Ohiyesa but accepts the nickname.

75 years ago September 1949 Marvel’s Wonder Duck #1 introduces (yep!) Wonder Duck.

70 years ago September 1954 Marvel’s The Outlaw Kid #1 introduces Outlaw Kid (Lance Temple), drawn by Doug Wildey (and, on the cover, by Joe Maneely). (Mind you, Kid Colt Outlaw began with #5 in May 1949, and The Texas Kid (Lance Temple) appeared in 1951 in Texas Kid #1. But this is apparently a different Marvel cowboy kid outlaw from either of the other two Marvel cowboy kid outlaws.)

70 years ago September 1954 Marvel’s Jungle Tales #1 introduces Jann of the Jungle by Don Rico and Art Peddy.

70 years ago September 1954 Dell’s Walt Disney’s Uncle Scrooge #7 features Carl Barks’ story of the Seven Cities of Cibola. Story elements will inspire a scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).

65 years ago September 1959 DC’s Showcase #22 introduces the Silver Age Green Lantern (Hal Jordan – oh, and Abin Sur, while we’re at it) and Carol Ferris. (Who’d have thought she’d become Star Sapphire?) The stories are by John Broome, Gil Kane, and Joe Giella.

60 years ago September 1964 In the first issue of Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man Annual, Dr. Octopus organizes the Sinister Six. Doggone it! The story is by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

60 years ago September 1964 “We think Hawkeye is so terrific, we plastered him all over our cover!!” Indeed, Marvel’s Tales of Suspense #57 provides two exclamation marks for the first appearance of “one man with a strange bow and arrow.” The Iron Man story is by Stan Lee and Don Heck and features The Black Widow as a bonus.

60 years ago September 1964 “Will the mysterious Diablo finally be the villain who succeeds in breaking up the fabulous F.F.?” Given that it’s only #30 in Marvel’s Fantastic Four run, you can guess the answer. Diablo is introduced, when The FF visit Transylvania in a story by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Chic Stone.

60 years ago September 1964 Marvel’s The Avengers #8 introduces Kang, “destined to rank as one of the most unique villains of all time!” Aside from quibbling over the grammar, he is a timeless character, right? The story is by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Dick Ayers.

60 years ago September 1964 DC’s Adventure Comics #324 introduces Duplicate Boy (suggested by reader Steven Cohen) and Beast Boy (featured on the cover and suggested by reader Thomas Raimondo), among the Heroes of Lallor. The story is by Edmond Hamilton and John Forte.

55 years ago September 1969 “Tales to blow your mind!” Marvel introduces its Tower of Shadows anthology. Stories are by Jim Steranko, Johnny Craig, John Romita, Stan Lee, John Buscema, and Don Heck.

55 years ago September 1969 Charlton releases the last issue of its anthology Strange Suspense Stories series with #9.

55 years ago September 1969 “The Coming of … The Falcon!” by Stan Lee, Gene Colan, and Joe Sinnott introduces the character in Marvel’s Captain America #117.

55 years ago September 1969 Frank Frazetta paints her for the cover of Warren’s Vampirella #1, and the story by Forrest J Ackerman and Tom Sutton tells of how she came from Draculon. Welcome, Vampirella!

55 years ago September 1969 In “…And Death Came Riding!” by Roy Thomas, Gene Colan, and Syd Shores, Marvel’s Daredevil #56 introduces Death’s Head. The identity of the glowing horseman involves someone close to Matt Murdock. Just saying.

50 years ago September 1974 Marvel’s Giant-Size Conan #1 introduces Robert E. Howard’s Belit to comics in the first part of an adaptation by Roy Thomas, Gil Kane, and Tom Sutton of Howard’s The Hour of the Dragon.

50 years ago September 1974 “You! Harry Osborn! But it can’t be you who’ve turned against me! It Can’t Be!!” Yep, he gets two exclamation marks from Peter Parker, who is unprepared for Osborn’s response. Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #136 introduces Green Goblin II in a story by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru, Frank Giacoia, and Dave Hunt.

50 years ago September 1974 Marvel’s Captain Marvel #34 introduces Nitro, “the man who killed Captain Marvel!” The “man who explodes into atoms – then lives again” is in “Blown Away!” by Jim Starlin, Steve Englehart, and Jack Abel.

50 years ago September 1974 “Are you ready for …” OMAC? DC’s OMAC #1 by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer introduces “a startling look into … the world that’s coming!” (OMAC has the right to be all in caps, since the initials stand for “One Man Army Corps.”)

50 years ago September 1974 “An Afterword. This is the last issue …” Yup. The letters column breaks the news: Marvel’s Sub-Mariner #72 is the last issue (for a while).

50 years ago September 1974 DC’s Supergirl #10 is the last issue (for a while).

45 years ago September 1979 Marvel’s The Invaders #41 is the last issue (for a while).

40 years ago September 1984 DC’s Jemm, Son of Saturn begins the 12-issue limited series. “The Arrival” is by Greg Potter, Gene Colan, and Klaus Janson.

40 years ago September 1984 Charlton ends its Haunted anthology series with #75.

40 years ago September 1984 “Injured … Helpless … and Stalked by Puma!” Yikes! It’s too bad for Spidey, when Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #256 introduces Thomas Fireheart, hired to do damage to The Web-Slinger. And damage he does in the story by Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, and Joe Rubinstein.

40 years ago September 1984 The cover of Marvel’s Transformers #1 announces that it is the first in a four-issue Transformers limited series. Not so fast, Marvel! The first of many, many issues introduces Hasbro’s toys to comics continuity, starting with this installment by Bill Mantlo, Ralph Macchio, Frank Springer, and Kim DeMulder.

35 years ago September 1989 Marvel’s West Coast Avengers becomes Avengers West Coast with #48. The issue carries the next installment of the story that began in West Coast Avengers #47.

35 years ago September 1989 Marvel’s Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. begins with the death of a longtime buddy. “The Past Still Haunts” is by Bob Harras, Bob Hall, and Kim DeMulder.

30 years ago September 1994 DC’s L.E.G.I.O.N. ’94 wraps up with #70. “Down to Zero” is by Tom Peyer, Arnie Jorgensen, Derec Aucoin, and James Pascoe.

30 years ago September 1994 DC’s Justice League International #68 is the last issue (for a while) in a “Zero Hour” tie-in.

25 years ago September 1999 DC’s Top 10 begins with a story by Alan Moore, Gene Ha, and Zander Cannon. It will win the Eisner Award for Best New Series.

25 years ago September 1999 Whiteout: Melt by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber begins from Oni. It will win the Eisner Award for Best Limited Series.

15 years ago September 2009 Marvel’s The Amazing Spider-Man #600 has six cover variants and the wedding of Aunt May and J. Jonah Jameson. (Hey, it’s not the JJJ you’re thinking it is. That JJJ performed the ceremony that united his dad and Aunt May.) Oh – and Captain America: Reborn #1 also has cover variants (but no wedding).

15 years ago September 2009 Marvel’s Captain America #601 (cover-identified as “a very special issue”) will win the Eisner Award for Best Single Issue/One-Shot. “Red, White & Blue-Blood” is by Ed Brubaker, Gene Colan, and Dean White.

10 years ago September 2014 Marvel offers a bunch of 100th Anniversary Special issues. They feature Avengers, Fantastic Four, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man, and X-Men.

10 years ago September 2014 The DC fantasy detective series Bodies begins. It’s by Si Spencer, Meghan Hetrick, Dean Ormston, Tula Lotay, and Phil Winslade.

10 years ago September 2014 Hah! You thought there were a whole bunch of comics variants five years earlier? Well, this time around, the first printings of DC’s Grayson #1 has five cover variants, but Marvel’s Legendary Star-Lord #1 ends up with 15 variants, and Rocket Raccoon #1 releases an eventual 14 variants. Those shortboxes are going to fill up fast.

5 years ago September 2019 Archie’s Archie vs. Predator II begins with “The Darkeness at the End of the Lane” by Alex de Campi and Robert Hack. There’s a dream and dimensions…

5 years ago September 2019 Speaking of variant editions, the first issue of Valiant’s Bloodshot has a bunch. The story is by Tim Seeley, Brett Booth, and Adelso Corona.

5 years ago September 2019 The six-issue History of the Marvel Universe begins with Galactus telling Franklin Richards the story. The 22-page installment is by Mark Waid, Javier Rodríguez, and Álavaro López.

5 years ago September 2019 Yep, first issues do seem to be an occasion for variant covers. That’s the case for Marvel’s House of X, anyway. The six-issue series is by Jonathan Hickman and Pepe Larraz.

5 years ago September 2019 Surely, it’s not a stunner that the first issue of Marvel’s Powers of X six-issue miniseries has (wait for it) variant covers. Right? The story is by Jonathan Hickman and R.B. Silva.

5 years ago September 2019 Well, sure, the hat tips have tended to focus on first issues. Let’s wrap them up this time with respect for Todd McFarlane’s Spawn from Image. It’s #300 – and the variant covers (yes, there are some) pay tribute.