What can we say about Thanksgiving that hasn’t already been said?

Maybe a few facts to whet the appetite?

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 over a three day festival. Those enjoying were 50 pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians. An estimated five women were in attendance. And, turkey wasn’t on the menu. No, supper consisted of venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster, eel and fish.

Uncanny Tales (1952) 9

President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the day a national holiday Oct. 3, 1963. He was convinced by Sarah Josepha Hale’s 17-year letter writing campaign. Harry S. Truman is credited as being the first president to pardon a turkey, but in reality, he received a complimentary one from the National Wild Turkey Federation and served it for dinner. President John F. Kennedy was the first president to let a turkey go free. Richard Nixon followed suite during his presidency while George H.W. Bush was the first to formalize a pardon.

And, that’s enough literary tryptophan.

Today’s four color offering is pre-Marvel Comic’s Atlas comic book Uncanny Tales issue nine. This pre-code horror title ran 56 issues. Twenty-eight of those were prior to the Comics Code stamp of approval. It began in 1952, but this particular issue is from 1953. It’s the fifth tale, The Executioner, that interests us. Notably, it is penned by Stan Lee and illustrated by Myton Fass.

Rather than spoil the surprise, let’s just leave it at that as a cautionary tale to all turkeys. Maybe hold off reading ’till after dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy National Cashew Day.

Saluations out of the way, why? Why a National Cashew Day?

Sadly, I can’t seem to find a good answer. I did learn that the cashew nut is harvested from the cashew tree. The tree itself originates in northeastern Brazil and can soar as high as 32 feet. The flowers are small, green at first, then turning a reddish color.

Other facts include the cashew tree has a fruit called the “cashew apple.” Latin Americans make a fruit drink from the thin-skinned apple.

Maybe a more interesting fact for those with nut allergies is, the cashew causes fewer allergic reactions than other nuts or peanuts. So, it’s got that going for it.

Although native to Brazil, the Portuguese took the cashew plant to Goa, India, between 1560 and 1565. From Goa, it spread throughout southeast Asia and into Africa.

Before you become too overwhelmed with cashew trivia, let’s move on to the book that represents the day: Joker issue three.

Joker (1975) 3

DC Comics published a solo Joker series from 1975 through 1976. The run lasted nine issues, each featuring the Clown Prince of Crime’s exploits. A 10th issue was released in 2019 with the Bronze Age Joker omnibus.

Denny O’Neil was the baby daddy who sheperded the series through its short run. Irv Novik handled pencling chores.

Our choice for the day is a love letter to Charles Schulz and his Peanuts strip. To protect the innocent (if anyone still gets that reference) O’Neil used the fictional Sandy Saturn as the mastermind behind the Charlie Brown newspaper strip clone Cashews.

Wow, that may be a bit of stretch – and, yes, I did remember that was the name of the fictional strip without looking it up – but, something has to spice up National Cashew Day.

Joker kidnaps Saturn and holds the artist for (insert Dr. Evil voice) $1,000,000.

All this and the Creeper, too.

Grab a handful of cashews and Joker issue three. After reviewing the book, I think I’m gonna re-read the series. It’s been a few years. Thanks cashews.

Loren Micheals and Stan Lee can stand proudly together as visionaries; one in television and one on the printed page.

They were allowed to do so literally(?) in the pages of Marvel Team-Up 74 when Spider-Man partnered with the original Not Ready for Primetime players of Saturday Night Live in 1978.

Celebrating SNL‘s 50th anniversary and Marvel’s tenure at the top of the box office charts over the past decade, it’s hard to believe both were renegades in their respective fields. Michaels was a pioneer in guerrilla television with a 90-minute, live show that first aired in 1975. Lee was as much a rebel with his talented band of bullpen buddies rewriting the comic book formula.

Marvel Team-Up 74

Blending fantasy with reality, Lee is the host of SNL the night Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson finally recieve tickets for a live taping. A USPS mishap has SNL cast member John Belushi crossing swords with the Silver Samurai while the remainder of the troupe: Dan Akroyd, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtain and Bill Murray join the fray.

And, Spider-Man makes an appearance as well.

Why are we discussing what should have been a train wreck of a Marvel Team-Up?

Firstly, it was anything but a train wreck. While not usually mentioned in Chris Claremont’s top 10 scripts, it is a time machine and a time capsule. Issue 74 captures Marvel at its most impropbable and SNL at the height of its brilliance with the original line up.

It is a fitting choice to represent today’s non holiday: World Television Day.

The United Nation’s general assembly inaugurated World Television Day in 1996 to recognize the sway Philo Taylor Farnsworth’s invention has held over the viewing masses.

Farnsworth invented the first electronic television in 1927 at the age of 21. It wasn’t until the 1950s televisions became a driving force in most American’s lives.

Celebrate with a binge watch of a favorite show or channel surfing, but – please, please – find a copy of Marvel Team-Up 74 and enjoy a past worth remembering.