Daily Birthdays and Events in Sci-Fi, Comics and related areas

October 31, 2010

Space: 1999, Captain Planet, THX 1138, The Angry Beavers, Stargate Atlantis, Hoodwinked, Jason of Star Command.

One of the great things about growing up in the 1970's was Space: 1999. I not only collected the comics along with watching the show but I even had a few posters of the shuttle pods. Good times.


Enjoy !!!



Birthdays

Anton Philips 1943, actor, Dr. Bob Mathias - Journey Through the Black Sun (1976) (TV), Dr. Bob Mathias - Space: 1999 (23 episodes, 1975-1976), Dr. Bob Mathias - Cosmic Princess (1982) (TV).
David Coburn 1969, actor, Leslie / Gordon Grimsley - Out of this World (2 episodes, 1988-1990), Ensign Brower - Star Trek: The Next Generation (1 episode, "The Nth Degree", 1991), Captain Nemo - Space Strikers (1995) TV series(unknown episodes), Captain Planet / Opening Narrator - Captain Planet and the Planeteers (63 episodes, 1990-1996), Minbari Ranger - Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (1999) (TV).
David Ogden Stiers 1942, actor, Announcer - THX 1138 (1971) (voice), Leonard Mead - The Ray Bradbury Theater (1 episode, 1989), Timicin - Star Trek: The Next Generation (1 episode, "Half a Life", 1991), Cogsworth / Narrator - Beauty and the Beast (1991) (voice), Governor Ratcliffe / Wiggins - Pocahontas (1995) (voice), Archdeacon - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) (voice), Cogsworth - Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997) (V) (voice), J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter - Justice League of America (1997) (TV), VLAD - 101 Dalmatians: The Series (1 episode, "Out to Launch/Prophet and Loss", 1998), Cogsworth - Belle's Magical World (1998) (V) (voice), Ratcliffe - Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998) (V) (voice), Reverend Dr. Thomas Tilford - The Outer Limits (1 episode, "The Shroud", 1999), Byron Beaver - The Angry Beavers (1 episode, "Kreature Komforts/Oh, Brother?", 1999), Karroo - The Wild Thornberrys (1 episode, "Luck Be an Aye-Aye", 2000)(voice), Cogsworth - Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001) (V) (voice), Fenton Q. Harcourt - Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) (voice), Kamajii - Spirited Away (2001), Solovar - Justice League (3 episodes, 2002-2006), Jumba - Lilo & Stitch (2002) (voice), Dr. Jumba Jookiba - Stitch! The Movie (2003) (V) (voice), Dr. Jumba Jookiba - Lilo & Stitch: The Series (11 episodes, 2003-2007)(voice), Penguin - Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003) (V) (voice), Narrator - Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo (2004) (V) (voice), The King/The Prime Minister - The Cat That Looked at a King (2004) (V) (voice), Mr. Jolly - Teacher's Pet (2004) (voice), Dr. Jumba Jookiba - Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005) (V) (voice), Narrator - Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie (2005) (V), Nicky Flippers - Hoodwinked! (2005) (voice), Oberoth - Stargate:Atlantis (3 episodes, 2006-2007), Nicky Flippers - Hoodwinked Too! Hood VS. Evil (2010).
Charlie Dell 1943, actor, Professor E.J. Parsafoot - Tarzan and the Super 7 (1978) TV series (voice), Professor E.J. Parsafoot - Jason of Star Command (28 episodes, 1978-1979), Salesman - Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories (1 episode, "Remote Control Man", 1985), Mr. Cross - Invaders from Mars (1986), Dr. Hubert - Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1 episode, "Witness", 1994).


Events

1993, Star Trek:DS9, "Melora" airs.
1994, Star Trek:DS9, "The Abandoned" airs.
2001, Star Trek:Enterprise, "The Andorian Incident" airs.

October 30, 2010

The Abyss, Justice League, Killraven, Elric of Melnibone, Iron Man: Armored Adventures, Adventures of Don Quick.

One of my favorite comic book artists has always been P. Craig Russell and the amazing work he's done. Let's all wish him a Happy Birthday today.


Enjoy !!!



Birthdays

Michael Beach 1963, actor, Barnes - The Abyss (1989), Nathaniel Simpson - Quantum Leap (1 episode, "Justice - May 11, 1965", 1991), Terry Fitzgerald - Spawn (3 episodes, 1999), Devil Ray / Michael Holt / Mr. Terrific / Agent - Justice League (6 episodes, 2004-2006), Colonel Abe Ellis - Stargate: Atlantis (5 episodes, 2007-2009).
Philip Craig Russell 1951, comic book writer, artist, and illustrator. Russell broke into comics in 1972, and first became well known with his 11-issue Amazing Adventures run and subsequent graphic novel featuring Killraven, hero of a future version of H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, collaborating with writer Don McGregor. Russell's first Elric story, the Roy Thomas scripted "The Dreaming City", was published by Marvel Comics in 1982 as Marvel Graphic Novel #2, following initial publication of the first half of the graphic novel in Epic Magazine. For the next series, "Elric of Melnibone", (also written by Roy Thomas) Russell shared art duties with Michael T. Gilbert. This story was published by Pacific Comics as Elric issues 1-6 in 1983-1984.
Daniel Bacon 1970, actor, Ken - Seven Days (1 episode, "Brother, Can You Spare a Bomb?", 2000), Technician - Stargate SG-1 (9 episodes, 1999-2001), FBI Agent - Smallville (2 episodes, 2004), Wilson - The 4400 (1 episode, "Carrier", 2005), Bridge Reporter - Fantastic Four (2005), Dr. Watson - Stargate: Atlantis (1 episode, "Sunday", 2007), Winslow - The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008), Spokesperson - The Andromeda Strain (1 episode, "pilot", 2008), James 'Rhodey' Rhodes / War Machine - Iron Man: Armored Adventures (26 episodes, 2008-2010), Bill - Human Target (1 episode, "Tanarak", 2010).


Events

1970, The Adventures of Don Quick begins. Only 6 episodes were made in the UK. Only the 1st episode has been found, the other have gone missing.
1989, Star Trek:TNG, "Booby Trap" airs.
1993, Star Trek:TNG, "Dark Page" airs.
1995, Star Trek:DS9, "Rejoined" airs.
1995, Star Trek:Voyager, "Persistence of Vision" airs.
1996, Star Trek:Voyager, "Sacred Ground" airs.
2002, Star Trek:Enterprise, "Marauders" airs.

October 29, 2010

Batman Theme, Conan the Adventurer, UFO, Challenge of the GoBots.

It's a small but feisty crew of birthday people today but I do recommend reading about Neal Hefti.


Enjoy !!!



Birthdays


Neal Hefti 1922, jazz trumpeter, composer, tune writer, and arranger. He was perhaps best known for composing the theme music for the Batman television series of the 1960s, and for scoring the 1968 film The Odd Couple and the subsequent TV series of the same name.
Jack Donner 1928, actor, Master of Ceremonies - My Favorite Martian (1 episode, "I'd Rather Fight than Switch", 1965), Subcommander Tal - Star Trek (1 episode, "The Enterprise Incident", 1968), Blind Man - Conan the Adventurer (1 episode, "The Labyrinth", 1998), Commander Kinwon - Power Rangers in Space (3 episodes, 1998), Clayton Wheeler - Roswell (2 episodes, 2002), Vulcan Priest - Enterprise (2 episodes, 2004).
Michael Jayston 1935, actor, Russell Stone - UFO (1 episode, "The Sound of Silence", 1971), The Valeyard - Doctor Who (14 episodes, 1986), Jack Donovan - Highlander III: The Sorcerer (1994), Admiral John E. Sellings - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1997/I) (TV).


Events


1984, Challenge of the GoBots animated series begins.
1990, Star Trek:TNG, "Legacy" airs.
1997, Star Trek:Voyager, "Scientific Method" airs.
2003, Star Trek:Enterprise, "The Shipment" airs.
2004, Star Trek:Enterprise, "Borderland" airs.

October 28, 2010

Matt Smith, Doctor Who, Nightwing, Tom Strong, Guardians of the Galaxy, ShadowHawk, Flash Gordon, Out There, Fireball XL5, Z'ha'dum.

Although I haven't truly accepted him as the new Doctor Who, it's Matt Smith's birthday. I should also mention it's artists Karl Story and Jim Valentino's birthday also.


Enjoy !!!



Birthdays

Matt Smith 1982, actor, now the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor in the British television series Doctor Who, first appearing in part two of The End of Time on 1 January 2010.
Karl Story 1967, comic book artist/inker, Story is one of the original members of Atlanta's influential Gaijin Studios, which has long held an industry-wide reputation for quality and as a training ground for some of comics' most prominent talents. Story is considered by many peers and fans to be one of the finest inkers of his generation. Over a career of almost two decades, he has carved a vast body of well-regarded work on Nightwing, Batman, Star Trek: Debt of Honor, Aliens versus Predator, X-Men, Wildstorm Summer Special, Terra Obscura, Tom Strong, Ocean, The American Way, and Midnighter, as well as many others.
Jim Valentino 1952, writer, penciler, editor, In the late 80s he began working for Marvel Comics on their super-hero titles. His most notable work for the company was as writer and artist on the future-set super-hero series Guardians of the Galaxy and selected issues of What If...? plus fill-ins on most of Marvel's major titles. He left Marvel in 1992 to co-found Image Comics with Erik Larsen, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane and Marc Silvestri. Valentino originated several projects at Image, which he published through his own Shadowline imprint. Unlike at Marvel, where Valentino worked on characters owned by that company, the original Shadowline titles were all creator-owned. Of these the titles the most notable was the super-hero series ShadowHawk, on which he was both writer and artist. In 1997 he began another series in black and white called A Touch of Silver, a semi-autobiographical novel about a young comic book fan coming of age in the 1960s. Also during this time he repackaged most of his earliest autobiograpical work into a trade paperback called Vignettes. In 1999 he became the publisher of Image Comics. In 2003, Valentino was replaced as publisher of Image Comics by Erik Larsen, another co-founder of the company. Since then Valentino has resurrected Shadowline, his own arm of Image and has published a wide variety of books including a revived ShadowHawk series, The Collected normalman, a new auto-bio book, Drawing From Life as well as creator owned properties including Bomb Queen, After the Cape and Sam Noir. He also serves on the board of directors of the comic industry charity The Hero Initiative. In 2008 Valentino created Silverline Books an all-ages imprint for original graphic novels.
Ian Marter 1944, actor, Surgeon Lt. Harry Sullivan - Doctor Who (31 episodes, 1973-1975).
Jack Murdock 1922, actor, Beggar - Star Trek: The Next Generation (1 episode, "Time's Arrow: Part 1", 1992).
Jasmine Jessica Anthony 1996, actress, Talla (hologram) - Star Trek: Enterprise (1 episode, "These Are the Voyages…", 2005).


Events

1935, The Further Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon debuted as a daily radio show, running five days a week. This series strayed farther afield from Raymond's strip, involving Flash, Dale and Zarkov in an adventure in Atlantis. The series aired 74 episodes, ending on February 6, 1936.
1951, "Out There" first airs (1951-1952) One of the first adult-oriented science fiction series of the early-fifties.
1962, Fireball XL5 airs on ATV.
1991, Star Trek:TNG, "The Game" airs.
1996, Babylon 5 Episode 66 - "Z'ha'dum" first aired
1996, Star Trek:DS9, "The Assignment" airs.
1998, Star Trek:DS9, "Chrysalis" airs.
1998, Star Trek:Voyager, "Extreme Risk" airs.
1998, Babylon 5 Episode 106 - "The Fall of Centauri Prime" first aired

October 27, 2010

Star Wars Comics, Project U.F.O., Berni Wrightson, Swamp Thing, House of Mystery, Stargate Universe, Blade: The Series, Level 9.

If you liked Swamp Thing then you'll be happy to know Berni Wrightson is having a birthday.


Enjoy !!!



Birthdays

Jan Duursema 1954, comic book artist known for her work on the Star Wars comics franchise. She was the creator of Denin and Vila from Naldar, the Twi'lek Jedi Aayla Secura and the Kiffar Jedi Quinlan Vos. She was the basis for the character Ur-Sema Du.
Leif Erickson 1911, actor, Mr. George MacLean - Invaders from Mars (1953), William Henry Cameron - The Six Million Dollar Man: Solid Gold Kidnapping (1973) (TV), Ben Wallace The Fantastic Journey (1 episode, "Vortex", 1977), Frederick Carlson - Project U.F.O. (1 episode, "Sighting 4004: The Howard Crossing Incident", 1978).
Bernie "Berni" Wrightson 1948, comic book artist, known for his horror illustrations and comic books. His first professional comic work appeared in House of Mystery #179 in 1968. He continued to work on a variety of mystery and anthology titles for both DC and its principal rival, Marvel Comics. In 1971, with writer Len Wein, Wrightson co-created the muck creature Swamp Thing for DC. He also co-created Destiny, later to become famous in the work of Neil Gaiman. In 1971 he also published BadTime Stories, a horror/science fiction comics anthology featuring his own scripts and artwork, each story being drawn in a different medium (ink wash, tonal pencil drawings, duoshade paper, screen tones, e.g., along with traditional pen-and-ink and brushwork). By 1974. he had left DC to work at Warren Publishing, for whose black-and-white horror-comics magazines he produced a series of original work as well as short story adaptations. In 1975, Wrightson joined with fellow artists Jeff Jones, Michael Kaluta, and Barry Windsor-Smith to form The Studio, a shared loft in Manhattan where the group would pursue creative products outside the constraints of comic book commercialism. Though he continued to produce sequential art, Wrightson at this time began producing artwork for numerous posters, prints, calendars, and even coloring books. He also drew sporadic comics stories and single illustrations for National Lampoon magazine from 1973 - 1983. Wrightson spent seven years drawing approximately 50 detailed pen-and-ink illustrations to accompany an edition of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, which the artist considers among his most personal work. Wrightson illustrated the comic book adaptation of the film Stephen King-penned horror film Creepshow. This led to several other collaborations with King, including illustrations for the novella "Cycle of the Werewolf", the restored edition of King's apocalyptic horror epic, The Stand, and Wolves of the Calla, the fifth installment of King's Dark Tower series.
Robert Picardo 1953, actor, Tony Sepulveda - Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories (1 episode, 1986), Agent Richard Morse - The Man Who Fell to Earth (1987) (TV), The Cowboy - Innerspace (1987), Rick Raddnitz - Amazon Women on the Moon (1987), Voice of Johnnycab - Total Recall (1990) (voice), Eddie G. - Batman: The Animated Series (1 episode, "The Man Who Killed Batman", 1993), Pirate - The Pagemaster (1994) (voice), The Doctor - Star Trek: Voyager (170 episodes, 1995-2001), Emergency Medical Hologram - Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Dr. Lewis Zimmerman / EMH Mark I - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1 episode, 1997), Emmet Harley - The Outer Limits (1 episode, "Sarcophagus", 1998), Ralph, Clean Room Technician - Small Soldiers (1998), Professor Reddschift - Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (1 episode, "First Missions", 2000), Maj. Michael McGrath - Seven Days (1 episode, "Revelation", 2001), Cod Commando - Grim & Evil (1 episode, "Little Rock of Horrors/The Pie Who Loved Me/Dream a Little", 2002) The Doctor - Star Trek: The Experience - Borg Invasion 4D (2004), Amazo / Reporter / Blackhawk - Justice League (6 episodes, 2002-2004), Richard Woolsey - Stargate SG-1 (7 episodes, 2004-2007), Trent Appelbaum - The 4400 (1 episode, "Weight of the World", 2005), Principal White - Ben 10: Race Against Time (2007) (TV)(voice), Edward Teague - Smallville (2 episodes, 2008), Richard Woolsey - Stargate: Atlantis (26 episodes, 2006-2009), Milton - Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey (2010) (voice), Richard Woolsey - SGU Stargate Universe (1 episode, "Seizure", 2011).
Elias Toufexis 1975, actor, Donny Flannigan - 1977 - Blade: The Series (1 episode, "Sacrifice", 2006), Replicator - Stargate: Atlantis (2 episodes, 2006), Rundle - Flash Gordon (1 episode, "Sorrow", 2007), McCulloch - Ba'al (2008) (TV), Injured Driver / Adam Barlowe - Eureka (3 episodes, 2010), Luke / Bronson / Emil LaSalle - Smallville (3 episodes, 2004-2010).


Events

1954, The ABC TV network airs the first Disneyland TV show, on Wednesday night, 7:30 to 8:30. The first episode is titled The Disneyland Story. Approximately 30.8 million American viewers watch the show.
1966, Star Trek:TOS, "Miri" airs.
1967, Star Trek:TOS, "Catspaw" airs.
1973, Star Trek:TAS, "The Magicks of Megas-Tu" airs.
1997, Star Trek:DS9, "Favor the Bold" airs.
1997, Babylon 5 Episode 88 - "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars" first aired
2000, Level 9 airs.

October 26, 2010

Power Pack, Brenda Starr, Larry Lieber, Rawhide Kid, Atom Man vs. Superman, The Invaders, V: The Series.

The brother of Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, is having a birthday today. Stan and Larry have worked together in the past on my great projects.


Enjoy !!!



Birthdays


June Brigman 1960, comic book artist, graphic novelist and illustrator. She is best known for creating the pre-teen superhero characters Power Pack with writer Louise Simonson in 1984. She has been the artist of syndicated newspaper strip Brenda Starr since 1996.
Larry Lieber 1931, comic book artist and writer, and the younger brother of Marvel Comics' writer, editor and publisher Stan Lee. In the early 1960s, Lieber scripted several Marvel Comics stories. Lieber scripting credits included Thor in Journey into Mystery, Iron Man in Tales of Suspense, and Ant-Man in Tales to Astonish. Lieber went on to script stories in western titles such as Rawhide Kid. Lieber also drew The Amazing Spider-Man daily strip.
Terry Frost 1906, actor, Marine Guard Drake - Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc. (1941)[Ch. 1], Male Nurse - Batman (1943)[Ch. 7], Police Broadcaster - Captain America (1944) (voice)[Ch. 3], Henchman Brock - Superman (1948), Baer (medium henchman) - Atom Man vs. Superman (1950), Ayrton, (the wild man) - Mysterious Island (1951), Agent 29 [Ch. 1]/Agent 172 [Ch. 3] - Captain Video, Master of the Stratosphere (1951), Tom, Policeman - Creature with the Atom Brain (1955), Bates / Harris - Captain Midnight (2 episodes, 1955), Deputy Terry - Science Fiction Theatre (1 episode, "Killer Tree", 1957), Spud / Fake Police Officer - Adventures of Superman (2 episodes, 1953-1957).
Edwin Warren "Ed" Reimers 1912, actor, Admiral Fitzpatrick - Star Trek (1 episode, "The Trouble with Tribbles", 1967).
K.L. Smith 1922, actor, Trooper - Them! (1954), Link - Jungle Moon Men (1955), Plainclothesman - Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond (1 episode, "Rendezvous", 1960), Guard #1 - The Invaders (1 episode, "Doomsday Minus One", 1967), Klingon - Star Trek (1 episode, "Elaan of Troyius", 1968).


Events

1966, Location scenes are filmed at Vasquez Rocks for TOS: "Shore Leave".
1984, V: The Series airs on NBC.
1987, Star Trek:TNG, "Where No One Has Gone Before" airs.
1992, Star Trek:TNG, "True Q" airs.
1994, Babylon 5 Episode 22 - "Chrysalis" first aired

October 25, 2010

Archie Comics, Power Pack, Batman comic strip, Flying Disc Man From Mars, The Amazing Colossal Man, Alien Nation: Dark Nation.


Yesterday was the birthday of Batman creator, Bob Kane and by coincidence the Batman comic strip began today. That certainly must have been a nice birthday present for him back in 1943.



Enjoy !!!



Birthdays

Al Hartley 1921, comic book writer-artist known for his work on Archie Comics, Atlas Comics (the 1950s precursor of Marvel Comics), and many Christian comics. He wrote and drew the backup feature "Roger Dodger" Exciting Comics #51-67 (Sept. 1946 - May 1949), from pulp magazine publisher Ned Pines' mix'n'match Better Publications/Nedor/Standard Publishing. Hartley also did humor one- and two-pagers for that company's America's Best Comics #20-28 (Dec. 1946 - Nov. 1948), "Zippie" in The Fighting Yank, and pieces for Startling Comics and Wonder Comics. During this time he also did the backup features "Debbie" and "Teen Tales" in Michel Publications' Cookie, The Funniest Kid in Town; and "Peg" for ACG's The Kilroys. As well his worked appeared in the titles All Romances, Dotty, Dotty and Her Boyfriends, and Vicky for A. A. Wyn, Inc.'s Ace Comics. Hartley hit his stride, however, at Atlas, where he worked across a gaggle of genres and made his mark with a more than decade-long stint on the Patsy Walker teen-girl titles. Also for Atlas, Hartley co-created Leopard Girl with writer Don Rico in Jungle Action, and drew such features as "The Black Rider" in Wild Western, and "Cliff Mason, White Hunter" in Jungle Tales. Hartley drew as well for the horror/suspense titles Mystic, Spellbound, Strange Tales, Adventures Into Terror, and Mystery Tales, among many other Atlas books.
June Brigman 1960, comic book artist, comic book artist and illustrator. She is best known for creating the pre-teen superhero characters Power Pack with writer Louise Simonson in 1984. Brigman has been the artist of the syndicated newspaper strip Brenda Starr since 1995. Brigman broke into comics with AC Comics in 1983, and was then featured in DC Comics' New Talent Showcase in 1984. From there, Brigman became part of the Power Pack team, a book she penciled through issue #17. For the next seven years, Brigman worked exclusively for Marvel, mostly on short runs; she also contributed illustrations to various editions of The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Brigman pencilled DC's Supergirl mini-series in 1994, following that with 1995's Dark Horse Comics' River of Chaos Star Wars mini-series (which was written by her former Power Pack collaborator Louise Simonson). In addition to her syndicated strip, Brenda Starr, she has illustrated (and colored) Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? comic strip for National Geographic World magazine. Brigman also illustrated a series of Star Wars novels and Choose Your Own Adventure books for Bantam Doubleday Dell. In 2005, Puffin Books published Brigman's Black Beauty adaptation graphic novel.


Events


1943, Batman comic strip begins.
1950, Flying Disc Man from Mars is released.
1957, The Amazing Colossal Man is released.
1975, Dr. Who, four-part serial "Pyramids of Mars" airs.
1989, Dr. Who, four-part serial "The Curse of Fenric" airs.
1994, Alien Nation: Dark Nation TV movie airs.
1995, Babylon 5 Episode 43 - "Comes the Inquisitor" first aired

October 24, 2010

EC Comics, Bob Kane, Batman, Space Patrol, The Time Tunnel, Slipstream, Taken, Seven Days, Gargoyles.


Bob Kane who made Batman famous was born today. It's enough to make you batty.



Enjoy !!!



Birthdays

Al Feldstein 1925, American painter of Western wildlife and an influential author-editor who wrote, drew and edited for EC Comics, followed by a lengthy career as the editor of Mad.
Bob Kane 1915, comic book artist and writer, credited as the creator of the famous DC Comics superhero Batman. in 1936, freelancing original material to editor Jerry Iger's comic book Wow, What A Magazine!, including his first pencil and ink work on the serial Hiram Hick. The following year, Kane began to work at Iger's subsequent studio, Eisner & Iger, In early 1939, DC's success with the seminal superhero Superman in Action Comics prompted editors to scramble for more such heroes. In response, Bob Kane conceived "the Bat-Man". Kane said his influences for the character included actor Douglas Fairbanks' movie portrayal of the swashbuckler Zorro, Leonardo Da Vinci's diagram of the ornithopter, a flying machine with huge bat-like wings; and the 1930 film The Bat Whispers, In 1943, Kane left the Batman comic books to focus on penciling the daily Batman newspaper comic strip. After the strip finished in 1946, Kane returned to the comic books. As Kane's comic-book work tapered off in the 1960s, he parlayed his Batman status into minor celebrity. He enjoyed a post-comics career in TV animation, creating the characters Courageous Cat and Cool McCool, and as a painter showed his work in art galleries, although even some of these paintings were produced by ghost artists. In 1989, Kane published the autobiography Batman and Me, with a second volume Batman and Me, The Saga Continues, in 1996.
I. Stanford Jolley 1900, actor, Roadside Thug [Ch. 1]/G-Man [Chs. 3, 7, 15]/Reporter [Chs. 7, 12]/Intern[Ch. 14] - - Dick Tracy (1937/I), Henchman Brett - Batman (1943)[Chs. 2-5], Henchman Watson - The Phantom (1943)[Chs. 7-9, 13], Sheriff - Superman (1948)[Chs. 11-12], Zarol - Captain Video, Master of the Stratosphere (1951)[Chs. 8-9], Jim Todd / Dr. Lambert - Space Patrol (3 episodes, 1953-1954), Sheriff - Captain Midnight (1 episode, "Deadly Diamonds", 1954), Hardy - Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (1 episode, "Cosmic Vengeance", 1955), Plastic Surgeon / Spike - Adventures of Superman (2 episodes, 1953-1957), Governor of Rivers - Atlantis, the Lost Continent (1961).
John Winston 1933, actor, The Guard / British Sentry - The Time Tunnel (2 episodes, 1966), Transporter Chief / Transporter Technician / Lt. Kyle - Star Trek (11 episodes, 1967-1969), Cmdr. Kyle - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Plantaganet - Max Headroom (1 episode, "Body Banks", 1987), Captain Jefferies - Star Trek: New Voyages (1 episode, "Come What May", 2004).
F. Murray Abraham 1939, actor, Cornelius - Slipstream (1989), Dr. Harry Bertram, the Whale Man - Beyond the Stars (1989), Professor Harlech - Journey to the Center of the Earth (1993) (TV), Ad'har Ru'afo - Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), Noah - Muppets from Space (1999).
Karen Austin 1954, actress, June Wright - The Twilight Zone (segment "A Matter of Minutes") (1 episode, 1986), Kalandra - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1 episode, "...Nor the Battle to the Strong", 1996), Anita - 3rd Rock from the Sun (1 episode, "Auto Eurodicka", 1998), Lydia the Secretary / Amanda Starr - Sliders (2 episodes, 1995-1999), Miral, B'Elanna Torres' Mother - Star Trek: Voyager (1 episode, "Barge of the Dead", 1999), Nun #2 - Steven Spielberg Presents Taken (1 episode, "Beyond the Sky", 2002), Lilly - Battlestar Galactica (1 episode, "Escape Velocity", 2008),.
Charley Lang 1955, actor, Hugh Travis - The Powers of Matthew Star (1 episode, "Swords and Quests", 1983), Kenny Dunstan - Alien Nation (1 episode, "The Takeover", 1989), Lt. Duffy - Star Trek: The Next Generation (1 episode, "Hollow Pursuits", 1990), Ted Whitcomb - The Flash (1 episode, "Twin Streaks",1991), Jarvis Powell - Fire in the Sky (1993), Dr. Halligan - Dark Skies (11 episodes, 1996-1997), Starke - Sliders (1 episode, "Genesis", 1998), MIB #1 - Seven Days (14 episodes, 1998-2000).


Events

1979, Quatermass airs on ITV.
1991, Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek creator, dies of a heart attack at age 70 (born 1921).
1993, Star Trek:DS9, "Cardassians" airs.
1994, Star Trek:DS9, "Second Skin" airs.
1994, The animated TV series Gargoyles first airs.
2001, Star Trek:Enterprise, "Terra Nova" airs.

October 23, 2010

Bob Montana, Archie Comics, Age of Bronze, The Invisible Boy, Tales of Tomorrow, Richard Yager, Buck Rogers, The Imaginary Adventures of Little Orvy.

This is not a boring day when it comics to cartoonists and comic book artists especially if you find Archie and Buck Rogers great things to read.


Enjoy !!!



Birthdays

Bob Montana 1920, comic strip artist who created the central characters published by Archie Comics. At the age of 21, he created Archie for MLJ's Pep Comics (December, 1941). The success of the character led MLJ to assign Montana to draw the first issue of Archie (November, 1942). In 1946, Montana drew the daily and Sunday Archie comic strips for 700 newspapers.
Eric James Shanower 1963, comics artist and writer, best known for his Oz novels and comics and the on-going retelling of the Trojan War as Age of Bronze.
Rayford Barnes 1920, actor, Capt. McLaren - The Invisible Boy (1957), Radar Sgt. - Steve Canyon (1 episode, "Operation Jettison", 1958), Andrew Watkins - The Twilight Zone (1 episode, "A Quality of Mercy", 1961), Alien Deputy / Alien Driver - The Invaders (2 episodes, 1967-1968), Riot Control Commander in Plaza - Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972), Pierce - The Invisible Man (1 episode, "The Klae Dynasty", 1975), Lt. Weil - Wonder Woman (1 episode, "The Feminum Mystique: Part 2", 1976), Sgt. Archer - The Astral Factor (1976).
Una O'Connor 1880, actress, Jenny Hall - The Invisible Man (1933), Edythe - Tales of Tomorrow (2 episodes, 1952).
Richard Sidney Yager 1909, cartoonist, most famous for his work on the Buck Rogers comic strip. Yager was hired by the National Newspaper Syndicate in 1933 to work on the Sunday Buck Rogers page. Thus Yager began a 25 year run in which he was to be the backbone of the popular newspaper comic strip. One of Yager's first contributions to the strip was a series of rocket ships that appeared in the last panel of each page - some of these designs would later be licensed by other companies and made into Tootsietoy rocket ships and balsa wood construction kits that sold by the tens of thousands during the Buck Rogers merchandising craze of the mid 1930's. Another of Yager's early creations was the famous "Spider Ship" which was featured in the popular pop-up book "Buck Rogers in Strange Adventures of the Spider Ship". By 1936 the multi-talented Yager was not only the strip's artist, but the feature's writer as well. Yager was responsible for many of the strip's most memorable story lines. These stories were invariably accompanied by the beautifully streamlined rocket ships that were his trademark. One such rocket was the "El Dorado", a ship made entirely of gold. Yager also dreamed up many of the feature's most beloved characters, notably "Admiral Cornplaster", the mischievous little green alien who could climb walls and hang from ceilings thanks to his vacuum-cupped hands and feet. For the first decade of his work on Buck Rogers Yager worked as a "ghost artist", which was a common practice in that era. The pages were signed by Dick Calkins, the newspaper strip's original artist, until 1943, then co-signed by Calkins & Yager until 1948. For the last decade of his work on the strip Yager was finally allowed to sign his own name to his work. During this phase of his career Yager also took over the daily Buck Rogers strip - both art and story line; he was assisted by Len Dworkins from 1951-56. At the time Yager left the National Newspaper Syndicate in 1958 due to a dispute over contracts, the circulation of the Buck Rogers daily newspaper strip was at an all time high. After having been read by millions of people every day for decades, the Buck Rogers strip fell on hard times after Yager's departure. By 1965 the Sunday page was discontinued, and in 1967 the plug was pulled on the daily strip as well which by then was down to a handful of newspapers. After leaving Buck Rogers Yager created a new Sunday only comic strip entitled The Imaginary Adventures of Little Orvy in 1959. Little Orvy began running in newspapers across the United States including many major markets as the new decade began. The strip remained popular but shortly before it was to enter its 4th year, Yager received an offer to take over the Sunday Grin and Bear It page from George Lichty. This was too good to pass up as Grin and Bear It was syndicated in more than 300 newspapers, so Yager reluctantly decided to abandon Little Orvy in order to take the reins on Grin and Bear It beginning in 1963. Few people realize, even today, that it was Yager at the helm of Grin and Bear It all those years and not Lichty himself. Yager ghosted the Sunday page for a quarter of a century, until he finally began signing the strip himself in 1988. This continued until 1992 when failing eyesight forced Yager's retirement from the strip and from cartooning altogether. From the early 1960s until the mid 1980s Yager also produced the "Cappy Dick's Young Hobby Club" page for children, which had a wide national syndication as well. During the 1930s and 1940s Yager created multiple comic book features in addition to his newspaper comic strip work. Among them were Land O' Nod, Mystery Island, Wild Bill, Buzz Balmer, and Ace Kelly. These were published in Krim Ko Komics, Tops in Comics, Komik Pages, and Bang Up Comics.
Jimmy Aubrey 1887, actor, Plainclothesman - The Invisible Man Returns (1940), Wedderburn ( the Innkeeper) - The Invisible Man's Revenge (1944), Wave Tracer - Superman (1948)[Ch.10].


Events


Nothing to mention today, but stay tuned for tomorrow.

October 22, 2010

War of the Dead, The Night The World Exploded, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Howard the Duck, Terry and the Pirates, Quatermass II.

Jeff Goldblum and Terry and the Pirates on the same day, not bad if you like both like I do.


Enjoy !!!!



Birthdays

Walt Flanagan 1967, actor, comic book artist and comic book store proprietor, art for two comic books published by IDW Karney, War of the Dead, two for DC Comics, Batman: Cacophony limited series, Batman: Wydening Gyre First 6 parts of a twelve part series, with writer/friend Kevin Smith.
John Zaremba 1908, actor, Chief Watson - The Magnetic Monster (1953), Prof. Kanter - Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956), Daniel J. Winters (Asst. Secretary of Defense) - The Night the World Exploded (1957), Dr. Judson Uhl - 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957), FCC Agent Brummer - Science Fiction Theatre (1 episode, 1957), Clerk of the Court - Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond (1 episode, "The Hand", 1959), Arthur - Dennis the Menace (1 episode, 1961), Security Officer Conducting Lineup - Moon Pilot (1962), Horn Player - The Twilight Zone (1 episode, "No Time Like the Past", 1963), Dr. Selby / Admiral Johnson - Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (2 episodes, 1964-1965), Kolevator - Batman (2 episodes, 1966), Dr. Raymond Swain - The Time Tunnel (30 episodes, 1966-1967), General / Professor Ed Harrison - The Invaders (2 episodes, 1967), Dr. Lalor - Land of the Giants (1 episode, "Deadly Pawn", 1969).
Jimmy Hanley 1918, actor, Larry Noble - Satellite in the Sky (1956).
Jeff Goldblum 1952, actor, Jack Bellicec - Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), New Jersey - The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984), Seth Brundle - The Fly (1986), Cogswell - The Ray Bradbury Theater (1 episode, "The Town Where No One Got Off", 1986), Mac - Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), Seth Brundle - The Fly II (1989), Verminous Skumm - Captain Planet and the Planeteers (5 episodes, 1990-1991), Dr. Ian Malcolm - Jurassic Park (1993), David Levinson - Independence Day (1996), MacArthur Parker - The Simpsons (1 episode, "A Fish Called Selma", 1996), Dr. Ian Malcolm - The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Aaron - The Prince of Egypt (1998) (voice), Dr. Vayzosa - King of the Hill (1 episode, "The Substitute Spanish Prisoner", 2002), White Rabbit - Legend of the Lost Tribe (2002) (TV) (voice), Bill Joel - Tom Goes to the Mayor (1 episode, "Toodle Day", 2004).
Richard McGonagle 1946, actor, Lester - The Twilight Zone (segment "Her Pilgrim Soul") (1 episode, 1985), First Cop - Howard the Duck (1986), Cop - Innerspace (1987), Dad Wilson - Quantum Leap (1 episode, "Camikazi Kid - June 6, 1961", 1989), Dr. Ja'Dar - Star Trek: The Next Generation (1 episode, "New Ground", 1992), Dr. Franklin Storm - The Marvel Action Hour: The Fantastic Four (1 episode, "Behold, a Distant Star", 1996)(voice), Dr. Howard - 3rd Rock from the Sun (5 episodes, 1996-1999), Commander Pete Harkins - Star Trek: Voyager (2 episodes, 1999-2000), Poppa Computer - Mars and Beyond (2000) (voice), Dr. Francis Orovetz - The X-Files (1 episode, "Deadalive", 2001), General Edward Chambers - Roswell (1 episode, "Control", 2001) John - The Zeta Project (1 episode, "The River Rising", 2002), Bill - Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) (voice), Slave Driver/Slave #3/Slave #4/Villiage Leader/Water Creature/Odin - Samurai Jack (4 episodes, 2001-2003), Warden - Justice League (1 episode, "Only a Dream: Part 1", 2003), General Grievous / Kit Fisto / Harvos the Nelvaanian Warrior / Orvos the Nelvaanian Shaman - Star Wars: Clone Wars (5 episodes, 2005), Dr. I.Q. Hi - Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (18 episodes, 2003-2005), Male Parent / Man / Father Time - Grim & Evil (1 episode, "Billy and Mandy Save Christmas", 2005), Four Arms - Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix (2007) (TV) (voice), Four Arms / President - Ben 10 (26 episodes, 2006-2007), Bato - Avatar: The Last Airbender (5 episodes, 2005-2007), High Elder / Evil Wizard / Chancellor / Kandorian #1 - Legion of Super Heroes (3 episodes, 2006-2007), Eight-Armed Willy / McGee / Fisherman / Ugly Beard / Big Genie - The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack (9 episodes, 2008-2009), Highbreed / Desk Sergeant / New Cop / Reinsaic III / Seedling #2 - Ben 10: Alien Force (11 episodes, 2008-2009), Sardath / Professor Carter Nichols / Chief - Batman: The Brave and the Bold (3 episodes, 2009-2010).



Events

1934, Terry and the Pirates daily strip by Milton Caniff begins.
1955, Quatermass II, a British science-fiction serial, airs on BBC.
1990, Star Trek:TNG, "Remember Me" airs.
2004, Star Trek:Enterprise, "Home" airs.
2006, Torchwood begins on BBC 3.

October 21, 2010

Hanna-Barbera, Richie Rich, The Phantom From 10,000 Leagues, Buck Rogers, Prince Valiant, The Time Machine, Godzilla, Damnation Alley.

A great sci-fi movie that I loved a long time ago was Damnation Alley and today back in 1977 it was released.


Enjoy !!!



Birthdays

Geof Darrow 1955, comic artist and designer, He was a student at Hanna-Barbera cartoon studios after studying at the American Academy of Arts in Chicago. In the early 80s he worked in character design for the Super Friends, Richie Rich, and Pac-Man television series. In 1990, Darrow collaborated with writer and artist Frank Miller on the comic book Hard Boiled, a 3-part mini-series.
Rodney Bell 1915, actor, Student - Blondie Goes to College (1942), Tom Henley (Class of '32) - Blondie's Holiday (1947), Truck Driver - Blondie Hits the Jackpot (1949), William S. 'Bill' Grant - The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues (1955), Policeman - Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond (1 episode, "Contact", 1960).
Carleton Young 1905, actor, Gordon Tracy, after - Dick Tracy (1937/I), Scott - Buck Rogers (1939), Henchman Martin - Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941)[Ch. 3-9], Herald - Prince Valiant (1954), John Howard - 20000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), General Narda - Space Patrol (2 episodes, 1954), Colonel #2 - The Twilight Zone (1 episode, "To Serve Man", 1962).
Georgia Brown 1933, actress, Helena Rozhenko - Star Trek: The Next Generation (2 episodes, 1990-1992).
Julie Parrish 1940, actress, Miss Piper - Star Trek (1 episode, "The Menagerie: Part I", 1966)Salem Quaker - The Time Machine (1978) (TV).
Carmen Carter 1954, sci-fi writer, Star Trek novelist. She began writing fantasy and science fiction in 1984. Her first Star Trek novel, Dreams of the Raven was published in 1987, and since then she authored three Next Generation novels.
Nathan Anderson 1969, actor, Namon - Star Trek: Voyager (1 episode, "Nemesis", 1997), Rastenn - Babylon 5 (1 episode, "Learning Curve", 1998), F-18 Pilot - Godzilla (1998), Sergeant Kemper - Star Trek: Enterprise (2 episodes, 2003), Commander Kor - Alien Siege (2005) (TV),


Events

1977, Damnation Alley is released.
1991, Star Trek:TNG, "Disaster" airs.
1996, Star Trek:DS9, "Nor the Battle to the Strong" airs.
1996, Babylon 5 Episode 65 - "Shadow Dancing" first aired
1998, Star Trek:DS9, "Take Me Out to the Holosuite" airs.
1998, Star Trek:Voyager, "Drone" airs.
2000, Deep Core is released.

October 20, 2010

Tim Tyler's Luck, The Kelly Kids, Aquaman, Teen Titans, Donald Duck, Doctor Who, Watchmen, I-Man, The Greatest American Hero, The Mutations.

Lots of great folks today especially when it comes to cartoonists and comic book artists.


Enjoy !!!



Birthdays

Lyman Young 1893, cartoonist, creator of " Tim Tyler's Luck", began career in 1924 by taking over C.W. Kahles' cartoon strip "The Kelly Kids"
Nick Cardy 1920, comic book artist best known for his DC Comics work on Aquaman, the Teen Titans and other major characters.
Bob Gregory 1921, comic book artist and writer best known for writing and/or drawing hundreds of Gold Key comics starring the Walt Disney Pictures character Donald Duck.
Anneke Wills 1941, actress, Polly Wright - Doctor Who (36 episodes, 1966-1967).
Niall Matter 1980, actor, Lt. Kemp - Stargate: Atlantis (2 episodes, 2007-2008), Gary Whitman - Warehouse 13 (1 episode, "Duped", 2009), Zane Donovan - Eureka (27 episodes, 2007-2010), Byron Lewis / Mothman - Watchmen (2009).
John Anderson 1922, actor, Capt. 'Skipper' Farver / Diedrich / Goldsmith - The Twilight Zone (4 episodes, 1960-1963), Ebonite Interrogator - The Outer Limits (1 episode, "Nightmare", 1963), Captain Farrow - My Favorite Martian (1 episode, "Raffle No.2", 1963), Dr. Janus - Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1 episode, "Cradle of the Deep", 1965), Dolan / Molsen - Tarzan (2 episodes, 1967), Captain Bergstad - Project U.F.O. (1 episode, "Sighting 4026: The Atlantic Queen Incident", 1979), General Gerald Stocker - The Greatest American Hero (1 episode, "Operation Spoilsport", 1981), Abraham Lincoln - Voyagers! (1 episode, "The Day the Rebs Took Lincoln", 1982), Holbrook - I-Man (1986) (TV), Rayfield - Starman (1 episode, "Best Buddies", 1986), Kevin Uxbridge - Star Trek: The Next Generation (1 episode, "The Survivors", 1989), Pat Knight - Quantum Leap (1 episode, "The Last Gunfighter - November 28, 1957", 1992).
Lev Mailer 1933, actor, Bilar / S.S. Lieutenant - Star Trek (2 episodes, 1967-1968), Imperial Guard #1 - The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) (TV), Frederic - The Greatest American Hero (1 episode, "Saturday Night on Sunset Boulevard", 1981).
Michael Dunn 1934, actor, Clown - Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1 episode, "The Wax Men", 1967), Alexander - Star Trek (1 episode, "Plato's Stepchildren", 1968), Burns - The Mutations (1974).
Samuel "Sam" Stewart Witwer 1977, actor, Sloth #3 - Star Trek: Enterprise (1 episode, "The Shipment", 2003), Guardian's Voice - Star Trek: New Voyages (1 episode, "In Harms Way", 2004), Crashdown - Battlestar Galactica (11 episodes, 2004-2005), Davis Bloome - Smallville (22 episodes, 2008-2009), Aidan - Being Human" (2010) TV series.


Events

1966, Star Trek:TOS, "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" airs.
1967, Star Trek:TOS, "The Doomsday Machine" airs.
1973, Star Trek:TAS, "The Infinite Vulcan" airs.
1983, Filming is completed on Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
1987, Patrick Stewart's first scenes as Dixon Hill are filmed for TNG: "The Big Goodbye".
1997, Star Trek:DS9, "Behind the Lines" airs.
1997, Babylon 5 Episode 87 - "Rising Star" first aired
1999, Star Trek:Voyager, "Alice" airs.

October 19, 2010

Buckaroo Banzai, 2010, Shrek, Invaders from Mars, Lexx, Stargate SG-1, Stonehenge Apocalypse, Batman.

If you like funny then John Lithgow is the person to take a look like today.


Enjoy !!!



Birthdays

John Lithgow 1945, actor, John Valentine - Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)(Segment #4), Lord John Whorfin / Dr. Emilio Lizardo - The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984), Dr. Walter Curnow - 2010 (1984), John Walters - Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories (1 episode, 1986), Narrator - Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (1993) (voice), Dr. Dick Solomon - 3rd Rock from the Sun (139 episodes, 1996-2001), Jean-Claude - Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (2000) (voice), Lord Farquaad - Shrek (2001) (voice), Ghost of Farquaad - Shrek 4-D (2003) (voice).
Janine Perreau 1942, actress, Kathy Wilson - Invaders from Mars (1953), Alice - Adventures of Superman (1 episode, "Joey", 1956).
David Lewis 1916, actor, Young Officer / Vosberg / Agent Kreski - The X-Files (3 episodes, 1993-1995), Fruitcake - Lexx (1 episode, "Patches in the Sky", 1999), Justin Taylor - Level 9 (1 episode, "A Price to Pay", 2000), Deputy / Oakridge / Will Carson - The Outer Limits (3 episodes, 1996-2001), Officer Cooper - Alienated (1 episode, "Nine One One", 2003), Cameron Balinsky - Stargate SG-1 (2 episodes, 2004-2005), Mark - Kyle XY (1 episode, "The Lies That Bind", 2006), Stevie - Alien Incursion (2006), Dr. Aaron Finn - Eureka (1 episode, "Duck, Duck Goose", 2007), Risko - Ba'al (2008) (TV), Plainclothes Agent - The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008), Dr. Marcus / Macy / Jeweler - Smallville (2 episodes, 2003-2008), David - Stonehenge Apocalypse (2010) (TV).
Shelby Grant 1940, actress, Nurse - Fantastic Voyage (1966), Princess Sandra - Batman (2 episodes, 1966).


Events

1987, Star Trek:TNG, "The Last Outpost" airs.
1992, Star Trek:TNG, "Schisms" airs.

October 18, 2010

Gold Key Comics, The Blue Fairy, King Kong Lives, Species, The Yellow Kid, Hi & Lois, Battlestar Galactica.

If you're partial to comic strips like myself then the events portion will interest you. Also, if you've always wondered who the voice of the Blue Fairy was then look below.


Enjoy !!!



Birthdays


Charles "Sandy" Plunkett 1955, artist and comics writer. He made his debut in the comic book world in the late 1970s, with several works for Marvel, DC and Gold Key comics. In the 1980s and 1990s he worked mostly for Marvel, occasionally writing some stories as well as drawing — mainly for covers.
Evelyn Venable 1913, actress, The Blue Fairy - Pinocchio (1940) (voice)
Herschel Sparber 1943, actor, Hunter - King Kong Lives (1986), Security Guard - A Goofy Movie (1995) (voice), President Jaresh-Inyo - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2 episodes, 1996).
Katherine Irene Kurtz 1944, sci-fi writer / fantasy writer, author of numerous fantasy novels, most notably the Deryni novels. She is known to be friends with Anne McCaffrey. She was a member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America (SAGA), a loose-knit group of Heroic Fantasy authors founded in the 1960s, some of whose works were anthologized in Lin Carter's Flashing Swords! anthologies. She appeared as an Enterprise crewmember in the recreation deck scenes in Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Mark La Mura 1948, actor, John Doe - Star Trek: The Next Generation (1 episode, "Transfigurations", 1990).
Anthony Guidera 1964, actor, Cardassian - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1 episode, "The Circle", 1993), Robbie, Guy Picking Up Sil - Species (1995), Carson Napier - Tarzan: The Epic Adventures (1 episode, "Tarzan and the Amtorans", 1997), Co-Pilot Tucker - Armageddon (1998/I).


Events

1896, McFadden’s Row of Flats comic strip featuring the Yellow Kid begins.
1954, Hi & Lois comic strip begins. Created by Mort Walker and drawn by Dik Browne.
1968, Star Trek:TOS, "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" airs.
1995, Babylon 5 Episode 42 - "Divided Loyalties" first aired
2000, Star Trek:Voyager, "Drive" airs.
2004, Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series) begins.

October 17, 2010

Jerry Siegel, Superman, Deadpan, Rip Kirby, Lois Lane, Bruce Wayne, Cosmic Stories, Doctor Occult, The Spectre, Ka-Zar.

Jerry Siegel would have been 96 years old today but his memory lives on in his co-creation of Superman. At the same time there is the coincidence that Margot Kidder (Lois Lane) shares a birthday with him.


Enjoy !!!!



Birthdays

David Heatley 1974, cartoonist, illustrator, graphic designer and musician. Fantagraphics has published two issues of his solo comic book series, Deadpan, and Pantheon Books released his first full-length book, My Brain is Hanging Upside Down, in September 2008.
John Prentice 1920, cartoonist who took over the comic strip Rip Kirby upon the death of the strip's creator, Alex Raymond. Prentice drew the strip for the next 43 years.
Margot Kidder 1948, actress, Lois Lane - Superman (1978), Lois Lane - Superman II (1980), Lois Lane - Superman III (1983), Solitaire - GoBots: War of the Rock Lords (1986) (voice), Lois Lane - Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), Gaia - Captain Planet and the Planeteers (2 episodes, 1994), Rebecca Madison - Phantom 2040 (1 episode, "The Whole Truth", 1996)(voice), Mistress Helga - Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (1 episode, "Episode dated 16 November 1997", 1997), Serena - The Outer Limits (1 episode, "Revival", 2000), Madame Soretski - The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne (1 episode, "The Eyes of Lazarus", 2000), Dr. Josephine Mataros - Earth: Final Conflict (1 episode, "Termination", 2001), Bridgette Crosby - Smallville (2 episodes, 2004).
Robert Lowery 1913, actor, Prince Selim - Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943), Batman / Bruce Wayne - Batman and Robin (1949), Don Jackson - The Joe Palooka Story (1 episode, "A Date for Murder", 1954), Gary Allen - Adventures of Superman (1 episode, "The Deadly Rock", 1956).
Jerry Siegel 1914, comic book artist, co-creator of Superman (along with Joe Shuster), the first of the great comic book superheroes and one of the most recognizable of the 20th century. Siegel was a fan of movies, comic strips, and especially science fiction pulp magazines. He became active in what would become known as fandom, corresponding with other science fiction fans. In 1929, Siegel published what might have been the first SF fanzine, Cosmic Stories, which he produced with a manual typewriter and advertised in the classified section of Science Wonder Stories. He published several other booklets over the next few years. Jerry broke into comics with Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson's landmark New Fun, debuting with the musketeer swashbuckler "Henri Duval" and the supernatural-crimefighter strip Doctor Occult in issue #6 (Oct. 1935). Siegel and Shuster created a bald telepathic villain named "The Superman," bent on dominating the entire world. He appeared in the short story "The Reign of the Super-Man" from Science Fiction #3, a science fiction fanzine that Siegel published in 1933. Siegel and Shuster then began a six-year quest to find a publisher. Titling it The Superman, Siegel and Shuster offered it to Consolidated Book Publishing, who had published a 48-page black-and-white comic book entitled Detective Dan: Secret Operative No. 48. Although the duo received an encouraging letter, Consolidated never again published comic books. Shuster took this to heart and burned all pages of the story, the cover surviving only because Siegel rescued it from the fire. Siegel and Shuster each compared this character to Slam Bradley, an adventurer the pair had created for Detective Comics #1 (March 1937). In 1938, after that proposal had languished among others at More Fun Comics — published by National Allied Publications, the primary precursor of DC Comics — editor Vin Sullivan chose it as the cover feature for National's Action Comics #1 (June 1938). The following year, Siegel & Shuster initiated the syndicated Superman comic strip. Siegel also created the ghostly avenger The Spectre during this same period. In 1946, Siegel and Shuster, nearing the end of their 10-year contract to produce Superman stories, sued National over rights to the characters. In 1947, the team had rejoined editor Sullivan, by now the founder and publisher of the comic-book company Magazine Enterprises; there they created the short-lived comical crime-fighter Funnyman. Siegel went on to become comics art director for publisher Ziff-Davis in the early 1950s, and later returned to DC to write uncredited Superman stories in 1959 under the control of Silver Age Superman editor Mort Weisinger. When he sued DC over the Superman rights again in 1967, his relationship with the hero he had co-created was again severed. Siegel's later work would appear in Marvel Comics, where under the pseudonym "Joe Carter" he scripted the "Human Torch" feature in Strange Tales #112-113 (Sept.-Oct. 1963), introducing the teenaged Torch's high school girlfriend, Doris Evans; and, under his own name, a backup feature starring the X-Men member Angel, which ran in Marvel Tales and Ka-Zar. Siegel wrote as well during this time for Archie Comics, where he created campy versions of existing superheroes in Archie's Mighty Comics line; Charlton Comics, where he created a few superheroes; and even England's Lion, where he scripted The Spider. In 1968, he worked for Western Publishing, for which he wrote (along with Carl Barks) stories in the Junior Woodchucks comic book. In 1986, Siegel was invited by DC Comics' editor Julius Schwartz to write an "imaginary" final story for Superman, following Marv Wolfman's Crisis on Infinite Earths limited series and John Byrne's The Man of Steel miniseries, which reintroduced Superman. Siegel declined, and the story was instead given to another writer to complete.


Events

1993, Star Trek:DS9, "Invasive Procedures" airs.
1994, Star Trek:DS9, "Equilibrium" airs.
2001, Star Trek:Enterprise, "Unexpected" airs.

October 16, 2010

Joe Sinnott, Strange Tales, The Day the Earth Caught Fire, Doctor Who, Bleeding Gums Murphy, The Funnies, Lost in Space, Smallville.

It's the 13th Anniversary of the fictional launch of the Jupiter 2 spacecraft carrying the Robinson family in the 1965 series, Lost in Space. After watching the first few episodes of the show over the past few weeks I found they really dragged on the show and should have actually made it a 30 minute show for the amount of action and plot in it.


Enjoy !!!



Birthdays

Joe Sinnott 1926, comic book artist, Working primarily as an inker, Sinnott is best-known for his long stint on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, from 1965 to 1981 (with a brief return in the late 1980s), initially over the pencils of industry legend Jack Kirby. Years before, he had inked Kirby's The Fantastic Four #5 (July 1962), the issue introducing Dr. Doom, plus a science fiction monster story in Strange Tales #94 (March 1962). During his nearly sixty years as a Marvel freelancer and then salaried artist working from home, Sinnott inked virtually every major title, with notable runs on The Avengers, The Defenders and The Mighty Thor.
John Dearth 1920, actor, Dick - The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961), Boss (voice) / Lupton - Doctor Who (11 episodes, 1973-1974).
Guy Siner 1947, actor, General Ravon - Doctor Who (2 episodes, 1975), Religious #1 - Babylon 5(1 episode, "Rumors, Bargains and Lies", 1997), Stuart Reed - Star Trek: Enterprise (1 episode, "Silent Enemy", 2002), Man Ray - SpongeBob SquarePants (2 episodes, 2000-2002).
Kimberly Farr 1948, actress, Langor - Star Trek: The Next Generation (1 episode, "Symbiosis", 1988).
Ron Taylor 1952, actor, Orderly - Batman: The Animated Series (1 episode, "Dreams in Darkness", 1992), Reverend - A Cool Like That Christmas (1993) (TV) (voice), Klingon Chef - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2 episodes, 1993-1994), Bleeding Gums Murphy - The Simpsons (2 episodes, 1990-1995).


Events

1930, The Funnies, a short-lived newspaper tabloid insert, ended. It ran for 36 issues on Saturdays and was produced by Dell Publishing.
1989, Star Trek:TNG, "Who Watches The Watchers" airs.
1993, Star Trek:TNG, "Gambit, Part II" airs.
1995, Star Trek:DS9, "Hippocratic Oath" airs.
1997, Fiction date that Jupiter 2 launches from Earth in the 1965 TV classic, Lost in Space.
1997, Star Trek:DS9, "Sons and Daughters" airs.
2001, Smallville airs on The WB.
2002, Star Trek:Enterprise, "A Night in Sickbay" airs.