February closes with a silly character emceeing a serious subject.

Adventure Comics (1938) 303

Matter-Eater Lad, first seen in Adventure Comics 303, is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. The last Monday in February is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

The week was spawned to spotlight the dangers associated with eating disorders. These disorders include, but are not limited to, Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge-eating.

Eating disorders are a mental disorder that may cause illness and possibly death. They are suffered by an estimated 30-million Americans at some point during their lifetime.

To seek help for yourself or someone you know, contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).

Matter-Eater Lad, Tenzil Kem, of course doesn’t suffer from any eating affliction. He’s a fictional character designed to entertain. Jerry Siegel and John Forte are his parents.

The Legionnaire is the 15^th member of the Legion, following Bouncing Boy. His origins stem from the planet Bismoll. The in habitants developed the ability to consume any manner of matter as a survival tool.

While he rarely appears in Legion adventures, Kem has survived the various incarnations of both the Legion and DCU. Outside of the comic book medium, Matter-Eater Lad found a stage in television on the Legion of Super Heroes animated series. Alexander Polinsky voiced him. He was also licensed in plastic as part of Mattel’s DC Universe Classics Legion of Super-Heroes 12 pack of action figures.

Holidays Calendar defines National Caregivers Day as “a holiday that recognizes and honors all of the hard work and dedication that caregivers offer all year round. It’s a day that’s held on the third Friday of each February and helps to honor the millions of caregivers who work all over the world.”

The face we’re putting on the non-holiday is Linda Carter.

Night Nurse (1972) 1

Not that Linda Carter.

Linda Carter, formerly Linda Carter Student Nurse, who graduated to Night Nurse.

The medical-drama comic book series lasted four issues. Featured were three female roommates – Carter, Georgia Jenkins and Christine Palmer – working the night shift at Metropolitan General Hospital in New York City.

Though the title failed, writer Brian Michael Bendis resurrected Carter in 2004 in Daredevil 58 as a nurse for super heroes. Former roommate Palmer was also given a makeover in Nightcrawler 1.

In 2015, Carter appeared in a one-shot titled Night Nurse. It reprinted all four issues of the original series as well as Daredevil 80.

She was upgraded to a surgeon in the 2016 Doctor Strange feature film, played by Rachel McAdams.

Coincidently (?) enough, National Caregivers Day began in 2015, the same year as the Night Nurse reprint.

To commemorate the day, take time out to thank these hardworking individuals for their dedication and selflessness. To promote on social media, use #NationalCaregiversDay and spread the word.

For the cheese enthusiasts out there prepare to celebrate, today is National Cheddar Day.

The birthday boy is a native of Cheddar in Somerset, England.

Shazam (1972) 1

No, lie.

Cheddar is so popular it accounts for about a third of all cheese sales in the United States. Half the sales in the United Kingdom are cheddar.

The (non) holiday hails from Tillamook County, Oregon, where the cows outnumber the humans. It’s a relative newcomer to the calendar of days Hallmark doesn’t recognize. The first event was held Feb. 13, 2019.

Maybe of more interest is the history of our mascot, the Big Red Cheese himself:  Shazam.

While the character began at Fawcett Publishing in 1940 under the moniker Captain Marvel, he’s better known these days as a house hero for DC Comics.

How Shazam came into the DC fold has already been covered at Four Color.

Focusing on his reemergence, Shazam returned to spin racks in late 1972 with his self-titled book. Superman buried the hatchet with his former rival and appeared side-by-side on the cover, introducing the Big Red Cheese to a new era of comic book reader.

Not long after his return to the comic book world, Shazam became part of Saturday morning television in a live-action series by Filmation. The series ran from 1974 to 1977 on CBS. In in 1975 Shazam became a double feature with The Secrets of Isis.

Later the character would appear as part of Hanna-Barbera Productions Legends of the Superheroes in 1979.

Filmation optioned Shazam for an animated series on NBC from 1981 to 1982.

The former Captain Marvel remained in the DC animated universe appearing in animated films Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and Justice League: The New Frontier. In 2010 Superman and Shazam teamed for an animated short in The Return of Black Adam.

His 2019 feature film earned $74 million at the box office after expenses.

Oh, and if you’ve read this far and aren’t aware, Shazam was christened The Big Red Cheese by arch nemesis Dr. Sivana. Hence, he’s our ambassador du jour.

February 11 is the day we commemorate the people who have made our lives easier, more interesting or just plain cool. February 11 is National Inventors’ Day. A day to remember those who allowed us to fly, to communicate with anyone anywhere on Earth and beyond, to allow Jeff and I into your homes without worrying about cleaning the bathroom or put out finger foods before our visit.

Whiz Comics (1940) 2

The inventors we want to remember are not as keen on advancing mankind. They prefer their own personal advancement. Normally associated with world domination.

Today Doctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana is in the spotlight.

For those unfamiliar with the multi-syllabic honoree, he is Captain Marvel/Shazam’s arch villain. Much like Batman’s main nemesis, the Joker, Doctor Sivana shared his debut in the shade of Captain Marvel’s in Whiz Comics 2.

He would continue to co-star as Fawcett’s most notorious bad guy, appearing in half of Marvel’s adventures. That included the first four of the Captain’s stories.

Sivana wasn’t born bad. He became embittered when big business blocked his every attempt to help humanity.

The doctor followed Marvel from Fawcett to National Comics in 1972.

He continued to be a force in the DCU surviving Crisis on Infinite Earths and Final Crisis. In the New 52 Sivana is different in that he pursues magic to aid in his scientific endeavors. And, after the DC Rebirth, became  a resident of the Rock Falls Penitentiary following continued battles with the Marvels.

Back to reality.

To properly observe National Inventors’ Day, recognize someone who has made your life easier. Research who made the world wide web a reality. There will be many answers. Or, whatever invention you can’t live without. It’s origins stem from somewhere.

Those so inclined may use the day as inspiration to become part of the society celebrated today. Explore and expand. See what game changer you can create.

When you need a break, learn from the hard-earned lessons presented by Doctor Sivana.

Just because there is such a thing as National Periodic Table Day, Four Color Holidays is gonna honor it since that allows us to dust off the little used, much misunderstood Metamorpho.

Let’s start with the hero of the piece; Metamorpho is the love child of Bob Haney and Ramona Fradon. Metamorpho and alter ego Rex Mason first appeared in Brave and the Bold issue 57 in 1965. Mason became a walking periodic table after being cursed by an ancient artifact the adventurer had retrieved.

Brave and the Bold (1955) 57

The morphing elemental man proved popular enough in the beginning to be given his own title. It folded after 17 issues in 1968 and Mason became a wandering guest throughout the DC universe.

His Silver and Bronze Age journeys passed him through the pages of the Justice League of America, Aquaman, and Superman titles. He finally became a founding father of the original Outsiders in 1983 and emerged from Crisis on Infinite Earths as a member of Justice League Europe.

Since then, Mason has continued to make guest appearances with the occasional self-titled mini series tossed in to keep his name copyrighted.

As for the (non)holiday, National Periodic Table Day is celebrated Feb. 7 of each year. It is designed to recognize the first table of elements created in the 19^th century. It was first celebrated (?) in 2016 when chemistry teacher and inventor David T. Steineker decided the creation needed to be recognized.

To celebrate, spend some time researching the history of the table or toss around some trivia regarding Johann Dobereiner’s creation.

Yeah, right.

Go find some of Keith Giffen’s and J.M. DeMatteis’s JLEs. These are some of the most fun and funniest comic books ever crafted. The same is true of their entire Justice League catalog that ended all too soon. Metamorpho is one of the inmates and is given a speaking role on the cover to JLE issue one.

It’s no accident National Wear Red Day is celebrated in February. American Heart Month goes all 28 days – 29 when an election is brewing – and Feb. 14 is Valentine’s Day; maybe most associated with the heart – and red.

National Wear Red Day is celebrated the first Friday in February. Wearing of the scarlet color is to bring attention to heart disease awareness as the leading cause of death for Americans.

Rather than Jeff or I donning some embarrassing adult diapers with curly wigs, we’ll recall a bittersweet romance rekindled and snuffed by revenge.

As evidenced from the comic book cover today, Daredevil and Elektra are our sweethearts.

Daredevil (1964) 168

Stan Lee, Bill Everett and, to some extent, Jack Kirby, created the Man Without Fear. He debuted in his own title cover dated April 1964. Alter ego Matt Murdock would continue to star in his own book, but the character never advanced beyond minor status in the Marvel Universe.

That is until up and coming writer/artist Frank Miller, already penciling the book, settled into the driver’s seat.

For the first time in existence, Daredevil was cool. He was sleek and sexy.

To compliment the hero, Miller gave him a mate. Not just any woman, but a former lover from Murdock’s college days: Elektra Natchios.

The ill-fated romance died on the vine when she and her father, Hugo Kostas Natchios, were kidnapped by terrorists. Hugo was killed in a botched attempt to rescue both.

Elektra left shortly after.

When Matt is reunited with her in issue 168, she has become an assassin for the Kingpin. Her weapon of choice is a pair of sai. She and Daredevil become lovers – again – only to die on the ends of her own weapons at the hands of Bullseye in issue 181.

Elektra proved a fan favorite and was soon brought back – to life. Since then, she has starred and guest starred throughout the Marvel U. In 2005 Jennifer Garner portrayed her in a self-titled movie as a sequel to the Daredevil movie from 2003. A decade later, Elektra played a major role in Netflix’s season two of Daredevil.

Miller’s muse for the Greek national is based on myths by Sophocles and Euripides. The character’s vengeful soul mirrors Miller’s creation. All live on in their own tragedies of others makings.

Don’t let this day go by without doing something to remember the tragedies that can become our own without proper care. Work the red; be a symbol of prevention rather than a statistic.

Since Eve took some bad advice in Eden snakes have been reviled. Feared. Hunted.

Today they may show their faces. Today they may slither forth from their dens. Today they may bask in the sun – if there is any. Today is their day. Today is National Serpent Day.

Captain America (1968) 163

To celebrate, National Day Calendar suggests you go to the zoo and commune with these scaly counterparts you share this Earth with. There are over 3,000 different breeds from four inches in length to J. Lo’s nightmare in Anaconda.

Three of those make up our ambassadors:  Viper, Eel and Cobra. The three original members of the Serpent Squad who first appeared in Captain America 163.

Wait, is an Eel a snake? And, is Viper just a generic term? Just work with us, please.

Cap and Falcon made short work of the new team. They were followed by a second incarnation who were defeated by Captain America’s alter ego Nomad. The team consisted of Madam Hydra as the new Viper and Princess Python in addition to Eel and Cobra.

The Serpent Squad shed its skin once more, this time to battle the Thing and Stingray in Marvel-Two-In-One 64. The latest team consisted of Sidewinder, Anaconda, Black Mamba and Death Adder.

Other squads included Copperhead, Fer-de-Lance, Puff Adder and Black Racer, all normally trounced by Cap.

If you insist on recognizing the real thing, you are encouraged to post with #NationalSerpentDay. That’s what Jeff would do.

Me?

I’d prefer to flip some four-color pages as Cap and company open a can of whup asp (ouch).

I don’t normally do this, but I do – highly – recommend Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) 46. It’s just Spidey and Cobra, but I always enjoyed that issue.

January 27 is the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, also known as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Though those numbers are thinning, their stories should never be forgotten.

Spiegelman has captured one of those in his Pulitzer Prize winning Maus.

The account is to comic books what Schindler’s List is to movies.

Art Spiegelman released his father’s pain over an 11-year period – serialized in the pages of Raw – a legacy of humanized suffering. The tale does more than relate a first-hand account of Jewish life under Nazi rule; it offers Spiegelman a chance to understand and connect with his father as he was never able to growing up.

Readers begin the journey in 1978, but soon are transported to pre-war Czestochwa, Poland. Papa Spiegelman, Vladek, paints a backdrop of normalcy that paves a path to Auschwitz.

Neither elder or young Spiegelman shy from the horrors learned or passed on.

Vladek’s story was later collected in two volumes and has been lauded by the National Book Critics Circle, American Jewish Committee, Christian Testimony, Angoulemem International Comics Festival Awards, Urhunden Prize, Max & Mortiz Prize, Eisner Award, Harvey Award, Los Angeles Times and with a Pulitzer Prize.

Maus: A Survivor’s Tale is a monument to the victims who died within the concentration camps and those who died after. One is Art’s mother who committed suicide when he was 20.

It is estimated six million Jews were murdered under the Nazi regime.

Oh, bother, it’s Monday. Maybe celebrating with a cuddly, stuffed bear will raise spirits since today is National Winnie the Pooh Day.

January 18 remembers Pooh’s creator, A.A. Milne’s birthday through his most famous creation.

Winnie the Pooh (1977) 1

Pooh became a beloved children’s book that became a franchise. Much of the success of Pooh comes courtesy of Walt Disney who licensed Pooh Bear in 1961.

Milne’s stories have been translated into over 50 languages and are considered classics. Disney’s adaptation consisted of five theatrical shorts:  Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966), Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968), Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974), Winnie the Pooh Discovers the Seasons (1981) and Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore (1982). Theatrical feature films included The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977), The Tigger Movie (2000), Piglet’s Big Movie (2003), Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (2005), Winnie the Pooh (2011) and Christopher Robin (2018).

Pooh starred in five different television series beginning in 1983 and continuing through 2014. He also shared his name with television holiday specials for Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day and Thanksgiving.

Dell played host to Pooh for 33 issues beginning in 1977, predating the Winnie the Pooh comic strip by a year and a half. The comic book series ran until 1984.

Dark Horse Comics released a collection of reprints featuring the strips Sunday pages, 365 Days with Winnie the Pooh.

To celebrate, grab a pot of honey, read the books or whatever makes you feel Pool-like.

For whatever reason, today is National Appreciate a Dragon Day.

Normally the backgrounds of these non-holidays are easy to find. Some are just plain goofy in origin, but there is a beginning.

National Appreciate a Dragon Day seems to be shrouded in some mystery as the day seems to float through the various pages of the calendar based on what people wish to associate dragons with.

For those at Cornell University, it’s occurs the Friday before Spring Break. First-year architecture students create a giant likeness of a winged lizard and parade it around campus.

Dragon Day is celebrated by some on the 26^th of November.

X-Men (1963) 166

We’re recognizing it today: January 16.

With Lockheed as our official mascot this year.

That would be Kitty Pryde’s pet first mentioned in Uncanny X-Men 153 in Kitty’s Fairy Tale. For more information, look to our celebration of National Tell a Fairy Tale Day.

Today we’ll focus on Lockheed’s first canonical appearance.

This takes place in the final story arc of the Bronze-Age X-Men’s run. The cat-sized dragon-like extraterrestrial bonds with the teenage mutant and helps save the team.

Lockheed has been associated with Kitty since.

This is really a stellar swansong to the “new” X-Men’s early adventures. Their return to Earth is met by the New Mutants and the beginning of multi-mutant titles that continue to flourish today.

Forget Game of Thrones and the magical Pete and enjoy an old school adventure. Grab whatever comfort food or drink – or both – you need and spend a wintery day warming to a story of a girl and her dragon.