Tom Heintjes

Happy 75th birthday to "The Far Side" creator Gary Larson, who was born on August 14, 1950.

The well-known phrase "truth, justice and the American way" was first used in the intro to Superman's radio show on August 31, 1942. (Superman had been on the radio since February 1940, but introductions in previous episodes only mentioned Supes fighting for "truth and justice." Ah, mission creep.)

Krazy Kat creator George Herriman, one of the great geniuses of cartooning who showed the medium’s literary potential, was born on August 22, 1880.

"Betty Brown, Ph.G." by Boody Rogers, originally published on November 1, 1937, and titled "High Aspirations." Go to bettybrownbook.com and enter the code GHOSTWRITER20 at checkout to get 20% off The Complete Betty Brown in hardcover or paperback. The 20% off deal doesn’t occur often, so jump on it!

Pre-Code horror: “League of the Damned,” from Witches Tales #7 (January 1952), page 6.

Angelo Siciliano, better known to generations of scrawny, aspirational comics fans as Charles Atlas, was born on October 30, 1893. Here’s a 1933 advertisement.

Pre-Code horror: “League of the Damned,” from Witches Tales #7 (January 1952), page 5.

Pre-Code horror: “League of the Damned!” from Witches Tales #7 (January 1952), page 4.

Wordless Wednesday:

Pre-Code horror: “League of the Damned!” from Witches Tales #7 (January 1952), page 3.

The Great Gazoo (voiced by Harvey Korman) first appeared on "The Flintstones" 60 years ago, on October 29, 1965. His debut was in the seventh episode of the sixth and final season, titled (appropriately) “The Great Gazoo.”

Pre-Code horror: “League of the Damned!” from Witches Tales #7 (January 1952), page 2.

Topper Tuesday (“The Van Swaggers,” topper to “Tillie the Toiler”):