With flags at half mast, today is a day of remembrance for the American military men and women who died while in the service of their country.

Memorial Day is commemorated the last Monday of May each year. The day is used to visit the fallen in their resting places, where possible, around the country. Graves are adorned with flowers and markers ensuring those who have passed and their sacrifice is not forgotten.

Originally called Decoration Day, what is now Memorial Day was first observed May 30, 1868. to honor the fallen Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. The National Cemetery Administration, a division of the Department of Veterans Affairs, credits Mary Ann Williams with the idea of laying flowers on the graves of the fallen, both Union and Confederate.

According to the Richmond-Times Dispatch, the first Civil War grave to be decorated with flowers was John Quincy Marr who died June 1, 1861, during the Battle of Fairfax Courthouse in Virginia. His grave was showered with flowers June 3, 1861. Other southern states followed during the War Between the States. In 1868 some of the southern states added Confederate to the memorial name as related in G.I. Combat (1952) 87 post.

By 1890, all of the Union states were recognizing the day and in 1968, Congress moved its observance to the final Monday in May.

Four Color honors the fallen with Unknown Soldier 216 and the cover story Taps at Arlington.

The Unknown Soldier was first introduced in Our Army at War (1952) 168. Appropriately enough, the character is given his name based on The Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.

Arlington National Cemetery was Acquired by the federal government following a tax dispute with Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s family. It was established May 13, 1864, and, as of this writing, the final resting place for over 400,000 persons. It is comprised of 639 acres.

Unknown Soldier was created by comic book veteran Joe Kubert and Robert Kanigher. His first appearance was Our Army at War (1952) 168 in 1966.

He was granted his own feature in Star Spangled War Stories beginning in issue 151 through 204. The title changed to The Unknown Soldier with issue 205 lasting to the final issue 268 in 1982.

The decorated veteran returned before the end of the decade in a,12-issue mini simply titled The Unknown Soldier spanning 1988 to 1989.

Garth Ennis revived him for another four issues in 1997.

The Unknown Soldier took shelter under the Vertigo imprint for 25 issues before low sales retired him a final time.

Thank you to all who served and take time to remember those who  never came home.

Continuing the Star Wars celebration this month is today’s quirky Talk Like Yoda Day.

Star Wars 41 (1977)

While the history of the day is muddled, the choice for the day is not. May 21, 1980, was the release date for the much anticipated sequel to Star Wars. Opening weekend box office receipts tallied almost $5 million for 126 theaters. That translates to nearly $20 million in 2025 dollars.
Yoda was a result of Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi’s death in Star Wars. Writer and director George Lucas realized he had nothing for Ben to do for the last quarter of Star Wars, so he had Darth Vader kill him.
Kenobi’s death meant Luke Skywalker had no one to teach him in the ways of the Force. Enter Yoda and his odd syntax. Rather than the more common subject-verb-object American’s use, Yoda spoke in objective-subject-verb. While highly uncommon – only found in 0.3 percent of known languages – it does occur.

So, remember the excitement as the saga continued with a rereading of Yoda’s first appearance in comic books or a rewatching of The Empire Strikes Back or both.

Like an excuse is needed for a pizza party, but just in case welcome to National Pizza Day.

We’ve visited this non-holiday on several occasions, usually with the X-Men, but have included those teen heroes in a half shell, too.

Pizza Hut has hosted the party each time and today is no different.

The Wichita, Kansas, native has plumbed the four color field often to entice us comic book fans to stop in for a slice. To date, this is the earliest cross promotion we’ve found.

In 1977 America’s largest pizza franchise partnered with DC Comics to offer six reprints featuring the big three from the Golden Age.

Batman, issues 122 and 123; Superman 97 and 113; and Wonder Woman 60 and 62 were reproduced almost exactly as they were when first published. The main differences being size and advertisements.

If anyone has any information on how these were obtained through Pizza Hut or how they were issued, please let us know.

First, take time out for a pie and some hero worship of your choice.

The official trailer for Peter Gunn’s eponymous epic slated for July 11 drops (or, depending on when you read this, dropped) today.

Donning the cape for the 11th live-action film is David Corenswet. His incarnation is to be the cornerstone of what DC is touting as movie one of its new cinematic universe.

To celebrate, we’re dusting off Superman’s Last Christmas from

Superman (1938) 369

Superman (1938) 369. The book hit spin racks way back in December 1981 though cover dated March 1982.

A festive cover proves to be the most excitement the issue offers with a pedestrian Parasite story set against a red and green backdrop.

Maybe the most laudable mention is Superman 369 marks the end of an era with DC Comic’s final Hostess Cupcake ad featuring licensed comic characters.

Superman (2025) will be premiering in theaters July 11.

Another eBay find, here’s a three-and-a-half inch Hulk bursting with holiday cheer.

Again, this plastic/PVC miniature Marvel is dated 1991. Probably a companion piece to Spider-Man and Wolverine posted a week ago.

    PVC Hulk also compliments his first Christmas dedicated issue, Incredible Hulk 378 published the following holiday season.

These are an oddity that I ran across on eBay. They’re dated 1991, but I’ve never seen either before.

These are just a couple examples of Marvel merchandising as the comic market was coming of age after the first Batman movie. It was a period before comic books started demanding attention with gimmicks and number ones.

Spidey and Wolverine are made of plastic/PVC and are approximately 1:43 scale.

Star Wars turns 48 in a couple weeks. Though the film debuted May 25, 1977, May 4 has become Star Wars Day simply due to the reference and mantra May the Force be With You.

That works for me since it’s also my birthday.

In the past we’ve celebrated and acknowledged today with the first Marvel issue of Star Wars from 1977. Then Return to Tatoine and The Jawa Express. The final issue of the original Star Wars title and a parody just on the fringes featuring two extras just off screen of the movies.

Today it’s time to celebrate a legend and the legendary. Today we’re gonna look at Mad Magazine issue 197 and the man behind the visuals.

Mort Drucker, a veteran of over 300 parodies and 400 pieces included between the covers of Mad, created the caricatures that brought Star Roars to life.

This is one of my favorite Mad issues. I can still remember standing in A&P grocery store reading it over and over while Mom  and Dad shopped. By the time Empire was released I was buying anything and everything associated with the franchise. The Alfredized Yoda cover just made me smile. The Empire Strikes Out made me laugh. Re-Hash of the Jeti was as underrated as its source material.

Each of the lampoons were envisioned by the same man, Mort Drucker.

The Brooklyn, New York City, native became one of Bill Gaines “usual gang of idiots” in 1956 after already working for National Periodicals (DC Comics). His gift of caricatures is credited as giving rise to the television and movie spoofs Mad became known for.

Drucker retired from Mad Magazine after 55 years of continuous work. He held the longest, uninterrupted tenure of any Mad artist.

Star Wars father George Lucas first worked with Drucker when the artist illustrated the movie poster for American Graffiti. Later, when LucasFilm lawyers issued a cease and desist order on the Empire Strikes Back parody, a fan letter from Lucas himself thanking Mad for their insightful take off would make the issue a moot point.

 Drucker died April 9, 2020, a possible undiagnosed victim of Covid-19.

Hopefully there’s another Force ghost joining Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Anikan.

May the Force be With You, Mort. The farce always was.

Happy Birthday, Batman here on what is officially Batman Day.

Gotta admit he’s still looking good as an octogenarian, but he’s had some help over the years.

Of course none as helpful as the men who made him. Maybe none as influential as co-creator and almost unknown father figure Bill Finger.

Long thought of as his soul creative source, Bob Kane had out-and-out lied to remain in the spotlight. When Superman first inaugurated the men in tights genre, DC Comics rushed to populate the field. Kane was offered a substantial financial reward for the creation of a follow up hero.

His initial offering more resembled Superman than Batman. Kane would admit privately Finger provided 50 to 75 percent of the Dark Knight’s finishing touches. He would also christen his alter ego as Bruce Wayne.

Finger would pen the first script for Detective Comics 27 as well as Batman issue one.

Conducting many of the early writing chores, Finger would be instrumental in the creation of the Joker, Penguin, Scarecrow,  Riddler and many other villains.

He was also a force behind Batman’s second-in-command, Robin. Finger gave life to the Boy Wonder allowing Batman someone to talk to rather than have panels cluttered with thought balloons.

Finger would die in obscurity, alone, in January 1974. He was last seen alive January 14 and his body found January 18. Finger died of a heart attack.

Efforts by his granddaughter and fans finally allowed Finger to receive the recognition he was denied in his lifetime.

In September 2015 DC Entertainment announced Finger’s name would join Kane’s on the film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the second season of Gotham. His first official recognition would come the following month on both Batman and Robin Eternal issue three and Batman: Arkham Knight Genesis three.

Happy birthday, Batman, and welcome to your much deserved day in the sun Bill Finger.