Comics in the Golden Age

A poster for The Ipcress File (1965) starring Michael Caine.

Movie night at my dad's.

A black and white photo of Gaines

Issues of Mad, Tales from the Crypt, Weird Science, and Shock SuspenStories.

Today is the birthday of Bill Gaines (March 1, 1922-June 3, 1992), publisher of EC Comics & Mad Magazine.

A black and white photo of him

An issue of Incredible Science Fiction from EC Comics, the first House of Mystery paperback, an issue of House of Secrets from DC Comics, and an issue of House of Mystery also from DC.

Today is the birthday of writer Jack Oleck (March 1, 1914-March 10, 1981), most remembered by comic fans for his work on horror comics.

The first appearance of Superman’s extradimensional adversary, Mr. Mxyzptlk, was March 1, 1944, in the Man from Krypton’s newspaper strip. (His name was originally spelled “Mxyztplk,” but for whatever reason its spelling later became fixed as Mxyzptlk.) This appearance preceded his comic book debut.

It's too small for me to make out but I think their logo is a circle, so maybe that?

Drake wearing his "I'm Deadman's Daddy" t-shirt.

"It Rhymes with Lust," written by Drake & Leslie Waller, with art by Matt Baker & Ray Osrin, plus the covers to the first appearances of Doom Patrol, Deadman, and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Today is the birthday of writer Arnold Drake (March 1, 1924-March 7, 2007). Most remembered by comic fans for co-creating Deadman, Doom Patrol, Stanley & His Monster, and the original Guardians of the Galaxy.

The black and white photo shows 15 members, including those mentioned above, gathered for a meeting. They are all in suits and there is a board with several of their drawings on display.

On March 1, 1946, the National Cartoonists Society was formed. Early membership included Rube Goldberg, Milton Caniff, Joe Shuster, Ernie Bushmiller, Ham Fisher, & more. (Photo from a 1949 meeting, with a growing membership that included Hal Foster & Alex Raymond.)

A black and white photo of Gaines

Issues of Mad, Tales from the Crypt, Weird Science, and Shock SuspenStories.

Today is the birthday of Bill Gaines (March 1, 1922-June 3, 1992), publisher of EC Comics & Mad Magazine.

And yes, the third story showcased on that first cover is about explorer Matthew Henson, the great-great-granduncle of actress Taraji P. Henson.

A photo of McDuffie

Four characters from the Milestone universe: Icon, Rocket, Static, and Hardware.

The characters of Justice League Unlimited.

Two issues of Damage Control written by McDuffie.

Today is the birthday of writer, producer, and editor Dwayne McDuffie (Feb. 20, 1962-Feb. 21, 2011). #BlackHistoryMonth

I wish he'd never left the Avengers. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Negro Heroes #1 (1947). The cover features George Washington Carver, Charles French, and Matthew Henson.

Negro Heroes #2 (1948). The cover features Jackie Robinson.

Published in 1947, this was the first comic book series entirely devoted to showing real life Black Americans in a positive light. The stories were reprinted from various issues of True Comics, Real Heroes, & Calling All Girls. #BlackHistoryMonth

The cover to the second issue of Negro Romances shows a young Black couple embracing.

The cover to the third issue shows a young Black couple sitting at a table. She is holding a red rose in her hand.

Published in 1950, this was the first comic book series to feature typical romance stories with Black characters that largely avoided the ugly stereotyping that was very common in many comics of the era. #BlackHistoryMonth

A black and white photo of Campbell looking up from his drawing table.

A cover he did for Esquire magazine, which shows a couple sitting together in the snow on a park bench while a cop walks by, next to a painting of a Jazz band playing before an audience in a club.

The famous night club map of Harlem that he designed. First published in 1933.

Cartoonist & illustrator E. Simms Campbell (Jan. 2, 1906-Jan. 27, 1971). The 1st Black cartoonist published in a national magazine, his work appeared in Esquire, Playboy, & more. His comic strip, Cuties, ran from 1940–71, but he is most known for his 1932 night-club map of Harlem. #BlackHistoryMonth

A black and white photo of Commodore.

A four panel installment from The Sparks comic strip.

A political cartoon showing the Prime Minister of South Africa shaking hands with a Dixiecrat, which a crow (with the label "Jim Crow" on his hat) stands between them smiling. Above them is a sign that says "Birds of a Feather."

A two panel sample of the comic strip Bungleton Green from his time on the strip.

Cartoonist Chester Commodore (Aug. 22, 1914-April 10, 2004) started with The Chicago Defender, the biggest newspaper in the Black press in 1948. He drew editorial cartoons and worked on comic strips such as The Sparks, Bungleton Green (taking over for Jay Jackson), & more. #BlackHistoryMonth

A black and white photo of Shearer working at his drawing table.

Promotional art for Quincy showing him and other kids from the strip.

Two daily Quincy strips.

A cartoon image of Billy Jo Jive and his partner Smart Susie Sunset.

Thaddeus "Ted" Shearer (Nov. 1, 1919–Dec. 26, 1992) was a cartoonist, advertising art director, veteran of WWII, & creator of the comic strip Quincy. He also illustrated the book series about young detective Billy Jo Jive, which became an animated segment on Sesame Street. #BlackHistoryMonth

A black and white photo of him sketching.

The cover he did for a Western pulp magazine that shows a cowboy holding his gun and crouching behind a bar during a gunfight.

The cover to a book he wrote called "Contemporary Black Leaders." It shows sketches of Malcolm X, Coretta Scott King, Thurgood Marshall, Fannie Lou Hamer, Charles Evers, Bayard Rustin, and more.

A sample strip from Susabelle. She is slicing onions and is making her cry so she goes to put on a gas mask

Elton Fax (Oct. 9, 1909-May 13, 1993) was a cartoonist, illustrator, and teacher. He worked on pulp magazines and comic books, and in 1942, created the comic strip Susabelle, about a young girl. He wrote and illustrated over 30 books on various topics, including Black history. #BlackHistoryMonth

A black and white photo of Baker

Four covers by Baker: Cinderella Love #25, Amazing Ghost Stories #14, Canteen Kate #1, and Wartime Romances #9.

Artist Matt Baker (Dec. 10, 1921 - Aug. 11, 1959). Active in the Golden Age, he is most remembered for his amazing covers & beautiful women. Tragically, he died of a heart attack at the young age of 37. #BlackHistoryMonth

A black and white photo of Turner.

A sample Sunday strip from Wee Pals. Diz is short of money to see a movie with the kids so they ask Ralph for a loan, who responds "get lost!" In the final two panels, Diz notes "That's the problem with this world, George. The wrong people have all the money!"

Two paperback collections of his strip, Kid Power and God is Groovy.

Cartoonist Morrie Turner (Dec. 11, 1923–Jan. 25, 2014), a WWII veteran & mechanic for the Tuskegee Airman. He created the comic strip Wee Pals, the first with an integrated cast. It ran from 1965-2014, and was adapted into an animated series (Kid Power) by ABC in 1972. #BlackHistoryMonth 1/2

Four examples of his work. A cover to Kid Colt Outlaw #13 (1954), and three splash pages; "The Milton Berle Story" from Uncle Milty #2 (1950), "Murder Perfectly Disguised" from The Perfect Crime #2 (1950), and "Vacation Love" from Teen-Age Romances #27 (1949).

Today is the birthday of Calvin Massey (Feb. 10, 1926-June 10, 2019), a painter, illustrator, and sculptor, who also worked as a comic book artist in the 1940s & 50s. He drew for several companies, including Marvel, St. John Publishing & Lev Gleason. #BlackHistoryMonth

A black and white photo of Jackson.

Examples of his work on the Speed Jaxon comic strip. The final three panels show him dealing with racism from American soldiers because they saw him with a white woman.

A collection of his work on Bungleton Green entitled "Bungleton Green and the Mystic Commados."

Cartoonist & illustrator Jay Jackson (Sept. 10, 1905-May 16, 1954). His work appeared in science fiction magazines & newspaper comic strips such as Bungleton Green, As Others See Us, & Speed Jaxon. He also produced editorial cartoons, war bond posters, Pepsi ads, & more. #BlackHistoryMonth

A black and white photo of Pious.

Four comic & pulp magazine covers by Pious: Marvels of Science #1 (1946), Blue Bolt #53 (1945), X-Venture #2 (1947), and Sports Fiction (Winter 1943).

Robert Pious (March 7, 1908-Feb. 1, 1983) was a painter, illustrator, & cartoonist. His work appeared in books, magazines, & comic books from publishers such as Fiction House & Novelty. In 1933, he produced the comic strip, The Dopes, that was syndicated in Black newspapers. #BlackHistoryMonth

Thank you, that makes me so happy to hear.

Nice thing is that I get to post about each of them again throughout the year as part of my regular birthday posts.

A black and white proto of him

The cover to the issue of Golden Legacy that features the story of Harriet Tubman.

Bertram Fitzgerald was an accountant who grew up an avid reader, & that included Classics Illustrated comics. In 1966, he launched Golden Legacy Illustrated History Magazine, a comic book focusing on important figures in Black history that published until 1976. #BlackHistoryMonth

A black and white photo of Ormes.

A black and white photo of Ormes with two dolls, including Patty Jo.

A children's book, "Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes." Words by Traci N. Todd and pictures by Shannon Wright.

Cartoonist Jackie Ormes (Aug. 1, 1911- Dec. 26, 1985), the first Black woman to create a newspaper comic strip that was nationally syndicated. She created Torchy Brown in Dixie to Harlem, Torchy in Heartbeats & Patty-Jo ‘n’ Ginger (Patty Jo became a toy doll). #BlackHistoryMonth

A black and white photo of Graham.

The cover to Luke Cage: Hero for Hire #3, two splash pages from Black Panther, and a cover from Sabre.

Artist Billy Graham (July 1, 1935-April 4, 1997), most known for his work at Warren Magazines, and his great runs on Luke Cage: Hero For Hire, Black Panther, & Sabre. #BlackHistoryMonth

A recent color photo of Brandon-Croft.

A sample of her strip. It consists of four panels of two Black woman speaking. "Why are you so negative when it comes to race relations?" "Hey, I'm just keeping it real?" "Yeah, real negative." "But you know, the Academy has nominated..." "A record number of Blacks for Oscar consideration this year." "And I will predict a record number will lose."

The cover to a recent collection of her strip, "Where I'm Coming From" by Barbara Brandon-Croft from Drawn and Quarterly.

Cartoonist Barbara Brandon-Croft, creator of the comic strip Where I'm Coming From, the 1st comic strip by a Black woman to be nationally syndicated in mainstream press. (Jackie Ormes was restricted to Black press in her time.) #BlackHistoryMonth

A color photo of Maynard.

Four issues form Golden Legacy covering Harriet Tubman, the Amistad Mutiny, Matthew Henson, and Alexander Dumas.

Joan Bacchus Maynard (Aug. 29, 1928−Jan. 22, 2006) was an artist, author, community organizer & preservationist. She was also a writer & penciller for the Golden Legacy comic book series that showcased important figures in Black history. #BlackHistoryMonth

A black and white photo of Brandon.

The cover to a collection of Luther strips.

Three samples of the Luthor daily strip.

Brumsic Brandon Jr. (April 10, 1927-Nov. 28, 2014) served in the Army, worked as an animator & editorial cartoonist, and later created the comic strip Luther that ran from 1968-1986. #BlackHistoryMonth