Sandman (1989) 1

Dream, the repository of stories, hosts National Book Lovers Day for you and us.

Escaping the fertile mind of Neil Gaiman, Sandman began publication in 1989. Initially Gaiman wanted to resurrect the Bronze Age Joe Simon and Michael Fleisher incarnation. When that didn’t happen, Gaiman was given free rein to create his own universe. One that enveloped the existing DCU, peeking around the edges.

For 70 issues and one special, Gaiman followed Morpheus as he returned to his realm and sowed the seeds of his own destruction in hubris.

Characters flowed in and out of issues, often times stealing the spotlight from the title character. Family showed as the Endless unfolded. Others became stars or were welcomed back to the literary world.

During its run, Sandman was recognized with the Harvey, Eisner, Inkpot, World Fantasy and Comic Buyers Guide awards. It continues to remain in publication in various hardcover and trade paperback forms.

Celebrate the printed word with – what else? – a book or comic book. Discover far off worlds or the one you live in.

Harvey Comics Richie Rich ran from 1960 to 1991 and was the publisher’s cash cow for three decades. While his self-titled book ran 254 issues, he had over 50-separate books with his name somewhere on the cover.

Richie Rich (1960) 1

The beginnings of “The Poor Little Rich Boy” are clear, but the origins of National Dollar Day’s master of ceremonies, Dollar the dog, is not.

Our Dollar is a hybrid; not a Dalmatian, but a Dollarmation. Rather than have spots, this mutt is marked with dollar signs.

Named after founder Alfred Harvey, Harvey Comics Entertainment, was founded in 1941. In the 1950s the publishing company found its footing with characters like Sad Sack, Little Dot and Little Lotta.

For the next three decades Harvey enjoyed success, but the 1980s brought financial hardships. Enough so the company closed its doors. Harvey Comics found its properties bouncing around before HMH Communications bought the company. It was renamed Harvey Comics Entertainment. In 2001, Classic Media bought HCE and renamed it Sunland Entertainment.

In 2011 Richie Rich was updated and distributed courtesy of Ape Entertainment. He was described as, “A mix of James Bond and Indiana Jones with the bank account of Donald Trump, Richie Rich is an altruistic adventurer who travels the world helping he less fortunate.”

Rich has appeared, as has Dollar, in other media such as 1980’s Richie Rich animated series. Dollar was voiced by none other than Frank Welker. Another animated feature aired in 1996. Only 13 episodes were made.

Richie Rich hit the big screen in 1994 with Macaulay Culkin in the lead role. A live-action sequel followed in 1998 entitled Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish.

National Dollar Day commemorates the day Congress established the U.S. monetary system in 1786. The first dollar bill wasn’t manufactured till 1862. It featured Salmon P. Chase, President Lincoln’s Secretary of Treasury.

To observe this non-holiday, save a dollar, discover some interesting facts about the denomination or visit Where’s George to track your dollar’s trail to your pocket.

Continuing to observe International Clown Week, Four Color Holidays presents Obnoxio the Clown in his first – and only – special.

Obnoxio the Clown (1983) 1

Alan Kupperbert is judge, jury and executioner in this one-shot. He has everyone chewing the scenery like a Stan Lee-scripted comic book in Something Slimey This Way Comes.

A classic misunderstanding has the protagonists pummeling each other for a majority of the book. When the real villain is discovered, he is quickly dispatched in one panel and a witty retort.

Something Slimey is followed by Jury Duty or: “Oy, the Jury.” More slapstick and abusive asides make up the short story. The tale of tropes is not as entertaining as its predecessor, but suffices.

The book is rounded out with a few one-page puzzles and gags and wrapped up in a neat bow of homage in the form of a Marvel Masterwork Pin-Up.

Obnoxio was created by Larry Hama as a mascot to Crazy magazine. He’s described as “slovenly, vulgar and middle-aged.”

His career would cross over into comic books after Crazy. His first appearance in four color was What If..? (1977) issue 34. The second his special recounted above. Following that, the clown was basically forgotten until What The–? in 1992.

Outside of the printed world, Obnoxio made a guest appearance in Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Fear Itself episode. His likeness was used for robots in the Spider-Man and the X-Men game Arcade’s Revenge video game.

Steve Gerber and Mike Ploog combine for the chilling And When I died…! for our macabre salute to International Clown Week.

Let’s face it, clowns are the yin and yang of our childhoods. They either tickle our funny bones or terrify our souls.

International Clown Week, the first week of August, is to remember them as the fall guys of the circus. Clown week began in the 1950s, courtesy of Walt “Wabo” Savage. At least he’s believed to be the originator.

Man-Thing (1974) 5

Ray Bickford, then president of the Clown Club of America, appointed Frank Kelly as the first International Clown Week chairman in 1966. President Richard M. Nixon proclaimed the first National Clown Week in 1970.

The representative we recognize is a clown named Darrel. His laughter had faded long before the retort of the pistol that took his life. Over the love of a woman. The love of a woman and the mistaken belief she had taken that love back.

His ghost lingered long enough to exact revenge on those who tainted that love and turned the painted crimson grin upside down.

As with many of the Man-Thing tales, the title character is more host to the story than member of it. One swipe of his muck-encrusted arm is enough to bring justice to the villains.

Man-Thing began in Savage Tales (1971) issue one. The swamp creature sloughed his way to Adventure into Fear issue 10 for a solo story. There he remained until issue 19 when he shambled into his own book. The first book ran 22 issues with five giant-size comics from 1974 to 1975.

The second run, 1979 to 1981, ran 11 issues. Afterward, Man-Thing bounced from feature to feature as well as guest starring with the remainder of the Marvel Universe.

To celebrate the week, show the world the clown you are in private.