Halloween isn’t always about the scares. It’s about fun, sweets and sharing with friends. Scream Comics demonstrates all three on its cover of issue 17.

   With the popularity of Archie Andrews and the like of the Riverdale gang, teen comics proved to be one of the strong successors in the wake of the Second World War. When the masked mystery men began to lose favor, other genres stepped forward.

   The teen adventures were simple fare. Writers targeted a younger audience attempting to mirror their interests and habits. While the cover depiction may not preview what lay within, Scream authors merely wished to sell the concept of seasonal fun poking humor at teen fears.

   The first recorded evidence of spin-the-bottle doesn’t exist until the late 1920’s, sometime around 1927.

   Conventional rules state players must reward the bottle spinner with a kiss if the spun bottle neck is pointed toward them. Over time variations on the game were implemented, but its roots never faltered.

   The game fell out of favor until it is more a tradition to be reminded of on a Golden Age comic no cover.

   Superman and Batman have been linked to each other since 1941. They first appeared in the same comic book, All-Star Comics (1940) seven in 1941.

   They had shared covers on World’s Fair Comics and World’s Finest, but All-Star issue seven paired them on a mission with the Justice Society to raise $1 million dollars for war orphans. However, they would not share the same panel.

   It wasn’t for another 11 years that DC’s big two would meet – for the first time.

  It would take an over-booked cruise ship to pair Superman and Batman. Superman (1939) 76 thrust Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne together as they shared a room on an ocean liner. When a tanker exploded near their cruise ship, they were each found out in the moon light’s shine through the portal in their room.

   They would promise to keep each other’s secret as the teamed to help with the disaster.

   History would be repeated when DC kicked off their New 52. This time in Justice League (2011) one.

   In other media, Batman and Superman met at different times and for different reasons.

   They would join forces even before their comic book encounters during the Adventures of Superman radio serial story arc Mystery of the Wax Men in 1945.

   Another first would be for the Superman: The Animated Series two-parter World’s Finest. Together they thwarted Lex Luthor and the Joker.

   Yes, they did meet on the big screen, but the less said about that, the better.
It would be interesting to know when these costumes were paired for sale allowing kids to have their own World’s Finest adventures.

At first glance this Ben Cooper classic looks like Gotham’s guardian, but upon closer inspection it’s really Hell’s Kitchen’s protector.

Daredevil first appeared in his self-titled comic book cover dated April 1964. DD was the creation of Stan Lee, Bill Everett and Jack Kirby. The protagonist’s alliterative alter ego became part of Lee’s stable of damaged heroes in which they battled more than just crime. Matt Murdock’s handicap was his lack of sight. As a lawyer it also proved the axiom Justice is blind.

For his initial six issues, Daredevil sported a red and yellow costume, but illustrator Wally Wood made the executive decision to change it to all red for the seventh book.

By that point Wood had been working through the Marvel Method meaning he was plotting, penciling and inking the book. Lee would receive the pages and make editorial changes as well as filling in the dialogue.

Daredevil remained a second tier character until young artist Frank Miller began penciling the book with issue 158. He would assume writing duties, in addition to illustrating, 10 issues later. Daredevil 168 would also introduce Elektra.

Miller would leave the title only to return for the Born Again story arc running through issues 227-233. The title may sound familiar having been adapted for the Disney+ channel this year.

Makes ya wonder how much candy wearers reaped way back when.

Welcome to October.

The 10th month is the first of the big Trifecta leading to Thanksgiving and Christmas. To celebrate, we’re going down another rabbit hole like we did last December and February.

First, we’re gonna look at the costumes that defined our hobby. The costumes we begged mom and dad for each Halloween so we could represent the good and bad of the four-color universe we lived in.

Check out this Uber cool Doctor Doom costume from Ben Cooper. Yes, the mask may seem a bit flimsy, but that was part of the charm. Ben Cooper costumes were mass manufactured and marketed, filling Woolworth, Ben Franklin and other now defunct department store chain aisles.

The price tag was a mere $1.98. American. Not Latverian. Makes you wonder if Doom allowed Latveria to adopt the Euro.

Probably not.

Anyway, Ben Cooper was the answer to cheaply dressing children in masks that restricted breathing and costumes guaranteed to rip after the second wearing.

Ben Cooper costumes were more about anticipation. There was no subtlety with crude characterizations of who you were imitating drawn on the front along with the name of that choice.

With Doom’s ego, this isn’t a problem.

For those, if any, not familiar with Fantastic Four founder Reed Richard’s former college roomie, Doom was born Victor Von. A misadventure caused an explosion scaring his face. Doom would adopt his trademark mask to cover his shame. His armor would house his many defenses.

Over the past 60 years and into the next 60, Doom and the Fantastic Four have clashed. Theirs is the first big rivalry of the Marvel Universe.

My favorite throw down will always be the epic showdown that climaxed in issue 200. Len Wein and Marv Wolfman planned and penned for over a year to deliver the over-sized anniversary payoff.

Doom has had a huge impact on the Marvel U appearing in pretty much every title offered since his creation.

Today has nothing to do with the board game.

Today’s mascot has nothing to do with the actual day.

So, what are we talking about?

National Checkers Day.

National Checkers Day is the second non-holiday inspired by the 37th president of the United States. But, this time he was running for the 36th vice presidential office.

On this day in 1952 Richard M. Nixon delivered what became known as his Checkers Speech. When confronted with allegations of receiving improper election funds, Nixon trotted his family out in front an estimated 60-million viewers and orated his now famous 30-minute speech. During his talk Nixon announced his intention that his children would keep Checkers the dog though it had been gifted to he and his family.

Presidential hopeful Dwight D. Eisenhower chose to leave his running mate to the whims of public opinion. The result was Nixon expertly maneuvering the new medium to his own ends. The same medium that would help propel his competition to the the White House in 1960.

For our purposes, checkers represents National Periodicals, later DC Comics, marketing strategy beginning in February 1966 through August 1967. Known as the checkerboard stripe, DC branded its most popular titles so consumers would recognize their books on newsstands and spin racks.

Common belief is the campaign wasn’t as eye catching as hoped.

To celebrate, wear some checkered clothing, learn more about Nixon, play the board game or simply read some Silver Age DC.

Oh, and this is also known as National Dogs in Politics Day. Woof.

Remember when you really noticed comic books? Not just as bathroom reading material or a quick way to pass a lazy summer evening. No, I’m talking about when you actually started collecting them; putting together story arcs. Seeking out what came before.

For me it was the late 1970s. By the early 80’s I was smitten. The life-long affair was underway.

Amazing Spider-Man was always a first choice. This was about the time Spidey was celebrating his bicentennial. Today that era isn’t highly regarded, but will always be part of my literary pantheon.

I followed his adventures through Mesmero and Kraven and Fusion to the first Hydro Man. The Black Cat made her second appearance and Madam Web began to help our hero.

Along the way we were introduced to Peter’s neighbors. One of which had a hankering for some country and western and would caterwaul loud enough to keep Pete up at night.

Peter couldn’t be sure who it was, but he had his suspicions. Namely a tall, lanky gentleman with a penchant for cowboy shirts.

Imagine Peter’s surprise when he accidentally knocked a hole in their shared wall only to find the culprit was a short, bearded man he’d seen around the building in a business suit: Joseph Pincus.

Though he went by the stage name Lonesome Pincus.

The awkward meeting led to a passing friendship. When Pincus landed a gig at the Brooklyn western hotspot, Mickey’s, he slipped Peter an invitation and a pass.

The initial outing could not have gone worse. Pinky’s set was booed and jeered until broken up by villain of the week Ramrod. Mad he’d been denied a chance to perform at the same bar, Ramrod had poisoned the beer causing patrons to riot. Switching genre’s, Pinkus turned off the country and poured out the blues. The old adage of music calming the savage beast proved true and Pincus saved the day.

This took place between Amazing Spider-Man issues 213 and 221.

All this to set up today’s non-holiday, International Country Music Day.

International Country Music Day was established some time around 2003 on September 17 to commemorate the birth date of Hank Williams.

Williams is considered one of the most influential country and western recording artists. In a short 29 years, Williams recorded 35 singles, each reaching a top 10 spot on the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart. Eleven of them topped the list.

Even if you don’t turn the dial over to some honky tonk, pick up those Spidey issues and give ‘em another try.

I’ve said it before and I’ll remind everyone, it wasn’t always as easy as it is today to fly your colors. There was a time when comic book fans made due with an iron on patch on a shirt or a – yes, I’m going to go there – 7-Eleven cup.

Mego brought us the World’s Greatest Superheroes. Mead had some notebooks for school. There were some cheap rack toys licensed throughout the years.

But, where did we have to go for some reach comic book merch back in the day?

Hero’s World solved that conundrum.

This was better than the Sear’s Wishbook – for those who might remember that perennial prize that heralded the Christmas season.

I can still recall coming in the door after school and finding that grail sitting on the end table,  ready to be worshipped while pursuing hoped for presents for the coming Christmas season.

You knew the holidays were coming when this arrived.

Hero’s World began in the Marvel Comics offices with Ivan Snyder, head of licensing for the House of Ideas. He was in charge of the mail order business in the early 1970’s. Marvel was later purchased and the licensing portion of the company farmed out.

Snyder formed his own company in 1975 titled Superhero Enterprises out of his basement. He would expand to a brick and mortar location in New Jersey including a catalog showroom store. Business grew and he opened a second store where he added DC Comics merchandise.

When Marvel and DC trademarked Superhero, Snyder was forced to change the business name to Heroes World. Business continued to grow and soon Heroes World had expanded to 12 locations. In addition, the catalog portion continued.

Along the way, Heroes World began to distribute comics. Coming full circle, Heroes World was purchased by Marvel Comics in 1994. It’s purpose was to serve as Marvel Comics sole distributor.

However, it proved incapable to keeping up with demand causing Marvel to admit defeat and return to Diamond Distributors in 1997 to continue book disbursements.

Here’s the first issue of Heroes World catalog.

Maybe this will bring back memories. If not, it acts as a curiosity from a past time before the Internet and ease of current purchasing practices.

I thought about posting this a day late to stay faithful to the non-holiday, but then how would any of you know that today is National Be Late for Something Day?

Today is a day to procrastinate. Not concerning anything important, but one aspect of our life that may cause us to miss something important we may not realize we’re missing.

In short, focus on something we normally take for granted like a relaxing walk, a good book or paying attention to those around us we may take for granted.

Now, if you can believe what you read on the Internet, it was the Procrastinators Club of America who founded National Be Late for Something Day in keeping with their bylaws and beliefs. September 5 became the magic day for some reason.

Though not a member of the Procrastinator’s Club – that we are aware of – Bartholomew Henry “Barry” Allen has been named spokesperson for the day.

Those familiar with the bringer of the Silver Age understand why; Mr. Allen was habitually late for pretty much everything in his alter ego life. Future wife Iris West was the first to chide Barry on his tardiness as she was often on the end of his late arrivals.

Of course, the late-to-the-party quark was the yin to his Flash’s yang.

His trademark tardiness was evident as early as his first appearance in Showcase issue four that heralded the dawn of the Silver Age and opened the door for super heroes to return to the four color world.

With origins and emcees over, return to your regularly scheduled day, but slow down and relax. If it’s not life threatening, put it on the back burner and see what you can find that is probably more important than you thought.

I don’t know about you, but I’m already anticipating Halloween. Closing out the month with Frankenstein Day just fuels the desire.

Yes, yes, this is supposed to be about the man, the myth, not the monster. But, it’s gonna be.

First, let’s look at the creation of both man and monster. It starts in the “Year Without a Summer” in 1816. The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora caused a long, cold volcanic winter. Like many, Mary Shelley, 18, and her lover and husband-to-be, Percy Bysche Shelley were vacationing in the Switzerland Alps by Lake Geneva.

As the log fire radiated warmth and comfort, the small group attempted to make themselves uncomfortable with French ghost stories from the book Fantasmagoriana. Host Lord Byron tasked his charges to write a ghost story of their own.

While spectral tales eluded her, Mary found herself focused on the possibility of a reanimated corpse. 

So began what she believed would be a short story. Percy Shelley encouraged her to bring not only the protagonist to life, but the yarn as well. What began as a day dream soon transformed into a full fledged novel.

Over time, the classic has been adapted into pretty much any medium imaginable. We’re concerned with its first foray into the four color world: Prize Comic’s Frankenstein.

The monster, now named Frankenstein, was first introduced to comic readers in Prize Comics issue seven in 1940. Writer Dick Briefer – using the non deplume Frank N. Stein – brought the good doctor’s creation into the 20th century setting him against the New York City backdrop. Helping with today’s confusion of monster and doctor, Briefer dubbed the monster Frankenstein.

Being a patriotic monster, Frankenstein joined America in its fight against the forces of evil in Europe during World War II. He would join with a female vampire and male zombie for the remainder of the conflict.

Following the war they would return to the states – New York City – and open a hotel for monsters.

In 1945, the monster was given his own comic book. He would settle in a small town with neighbors Dracula, the wolfman and others of the creature ilk. This humorous take would last three years before Breifer returned the monster to his more horrific roots for three remainder of three title’s run that ended with issue 33 in November of 1949.

Frankenstein Day is celebrated Aug. 30 each year in honor his creator’s birthday. Commemorate with some Universal horror, Hammer color or some simple vintage four color.

Today is not to be confused with National Frankenstein Day celebrated Oct. 31.

Of the 365 days in the year – 366 during Leap Year – today is tailor made for myself, Jeff and most readers of this page.

Today is Find Your Inner Nerd Day.

Most of us need not dig that deep.

If you’re here, it’s probably out of more than curiosity. Hopefully it’s to share in the culture we embrace.

In celebration of Find Your Inner Nerd Day, we’re turning the dial back on our television sets to Dec. 10, 2010, for the 11th episode of the fourth season of Big Bang Theory. More specifically, The Justice League Recombination.

If you tuned in that Monday evening, you were one of 13.24 million viewers.

Even though the episode aired before Christmas, it commemorated New Year’s Eve. The gang, plus Penny’s early on-again, off-again boyfriend Zac, gathered at Stewart’s comic book shop to celebrate with a costume contest. Dressed as the Justice League, Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, Raj, Penny and Zac took first place as the countdown began for 2011.

For 12 seasons – 279 episodes – Big Bang showed us it’s all right to fly that geek flag with pride. We watched kindred spirits live in the spotlight a life many of us hid in the shadows. They moved (super) hero worship, D&D and Japanese animation from the back of the bus to a front row seat. It was a revelation – and revolution – making Star Wars t-shirts fashionable.

Big Bang Theory took a season to gain traction, but by its fifth season had a premiere viewing audience of 14 million. The show was in the top 10 for seven of its 12 seasons. It reached number one during the 11th.

It was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series between 2011 and 2014. Jim Parsons would take home the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series four times and the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Comedy Series.

Coincidentally enough, Find Your Inner Nerd Day was founded a month prior to Big Bang airing, Aug. 23, 2007.

Find Your Inner Nerd Day was founded by Christopher Reaves Messina when he posted a tweet that created the modern hashtag. Since that time, #FindYourInnerNerd has become a digital hotspot to meet and greet those with similar interests and discuss fandoms and other geek topics.

Oh, and the name “nerd” was created by none other than Dr. Seuss in his book If I Ran the Zoo.

Fly the colors high today – and every day – as we celebrate our individual and shared interests. This is a life meant for us.