Welcome to the non-holiday that doesn’t have a specific date. Welcome to National Flying Ant Day. At least in Great Britain.

Flying Ant Day is officially recognized sometime in July or August. Usually when the weather turns sultry. The hot and muggy temperatures seem to bring the Lasius niger for a nuptial flight to start their own colony.

Which is why ants sprout wings; they strike out to colonize when their current community becomes too large to support additional numbers.

While that’s all well and good for the whole circle of life concept, we’re gonna focus on a different species of ant. The Ant (Man) of the Marvel Comics genus. Specifically the one created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby.

Tales to Astonish
(1959) 27

Dr. Henry Pym was first introduced in Tales to Astonish number 27 in 1962. With super heroes retaking the four colored world, Pym was quickly inducted into the spandex society eight issues later.

Pym would battle crime and injustice to avenge the death of his first wife. With the aid of his Pym Particles, that allowed him to alter his size, and a cybernetic helmet to communicate with ants, the shrinking hero became a founding member of the Avengers with his second wife, Janet van Dyne, the Wasp.

Others would adopt the mantle when Pym doffed his original persona for other alter egos including Giant-Man, Goliath and Yellowjacket.

Tying the hero with the day is Pym’s ability to communicate with ants, even the flying variety, and use them as a mode of transportation.

So, if you see the winged insect, don’t worry, they’re not interested in you or your picnic. They’re just off on their honeymoon.

The decade that brought us disco, Watergate and leisure suits wasn’t a complete waste of time.

That same decade also brought us Star Wars, Megos: The Worlds Greatest Superheroes, and any number of new characters from both Marvel and DC. The 70s also brought these heroes to life. Or, Power Records did. Or at least their voices.

An imprint of Peter Pan Records, Power Records served up vinyl platters of adventures straight from the comic books and, later, new stories to thrill over.

The parent company began in 1940 as Synthetic Plastic Company pandering to the youth market with music. Later they formed Peter Pan Records and became known for book-and-record sets.

Peter Pan would license popular trends like G.I. Joe and television shows offering recorded stories complete with voice actors like the old radio shows. The difference being the stories would were accompanied by an illustrated booklet to follow along with.

Peter Pan turned its attention to comic books as their popularity grew. Under Power Records, Spider-Man: Mark of the Man-Wolf (PR 10) was released as a 45 RPM complete with abridged 20-page comic book adapting Amazing Spider-Man (1962) issues 124 and 125.

It would later be re-released on a long playing (LP) 33 1/3 with three other Marvel comic book adaptations.

They would include The Incredible Hulk: The Hulk at Bay (PR 12) from Incredible Hulk (1968) issue 171; Captain America and the Falcon: A Phoenix Shall Arise (PR 12) adapting Captain America (1968) 168; and The Fantastic Four: The Way it Began (PR 13) from Fantastic Four (1961) 126.

Power Records 14 through 17 would celebrate Marvel’s monster mags. The Monster of Frankenstein, Dracula Terror in the Snow, The Man-Thing: Night of the Laughing Dead and The Curse of the Werewolf were adapted stories from each of the titles.

Marvel also retained the rights to the Planet of the Apes franchise, first publishing the movie adaptations in a black and white magazine, then colored versions in comic book format. Four of the five films were used by Power Records: Planet of the Apes: Planet of the Apes (PR 18), Planet of the Apes: Escape From the Planet of the Apes (PR 19), Planet of the Apes: Beneath the Planet of the Apes (PR 20), and Planet of the Apes: Battle for the Planet of the Apes (PR 21).

For PR 24, Power Records and Marvel would release Spider-Man: Invasion of the Dragon Men, an original adventure. 

It was a theme DC Comics would use for its subsequent offerings.

Batman: Stacked Cards (PR 27) was DC’s first outing followed by Superman: Alien Creatures (PR 28). Robin Meets Man-Bat (PR 30) followed.

All were original stories. Each was done either by Neal Adams or he and Dick Giordano’s art house Continuity Associates.

DC also released Superman The Man from Krypton and City Under Siege, PR 32 and 33 respectively. The last outing would be Wonder Woman: The Secret of the Magic Tiara (PR 35).

Marvel’s was Conan the Barbarian: The Crawler in the Mists (PR 31).

Extended Plays, or EPs, also existed. These were usually offered without booklets.

These may seem a bit outdated when multi-million dollar movies adapting these same characters are available to anyone with a cellphone, but they do capture the technology of the time straining to keep up with entertainment desires.

For a taste of the past, click below.

In an effort to de-homogenize the world’s collection of the greatest super heroes, Hanna-Barbera created several new members for the Super Friends. Among the tokens is our emcee, Apache Chief who is heading up International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.

Representing the indigenous population of North America, Apache Chief first appeared in The All-New Super Friends Hour. Regis Cordic voiced the addition before Michael Rye replaced him in Challenge of the Superfriends.

Viewers learned Apache Chief’s origin in History of Doom. The young brave and a tribal elder are attacked by a bear. The elder gives his protege a magic powder allowing the youth to grow to 50 feet when reciting the nonsense words “inee choh.” In Hanna-Barbera Native American, it means “man big.” Translated from true Western Apache, man big or great man is really “nde zhoo.”

Rather than create a villain for Apache Chief, Giganta became part of his lore. Originally a Wonder Woman foe, the towering villainess was written in after she stole the pouch of magic powder from the Chief.

Apache Chief would appear as window dressing in every episode but one, yet only have a speaking part in half of said cartoons.

Other heroes created to flavor the animated cultural melting pot included Black Vulcan, El Dorado, Rima the Jungle Girl and Samurai.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is observed Aug. 9 to raise awareness and celebrate the triumphs and achievements of indigenous peoples. The United Nations adopted a resolution in 1992 to make 1993 the International Year for the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

The following year the UN General Assembly passed resolution 49/214 proclaiming Aug. 9 each year for the following decade as International Day of the World’s Indigenous People for the coming decade.

After the first 10 years had passed, the UN extended the day for another decade. Since then it has been on the calendar each year.

Today, an estimated 2.51-million Native Americans are recorded. An estimate of nearly 60 million were said to have inhabited North American in 1492.

Manifest Destiny fueled relocation and genocide toward Native Americans since the time of settlement by Europeans. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 followed years of conflict between colonists and Native Americans. Over 100,000 indigenous peoples were forcibly removed from their native lands due to the Removal Act.

In addition to relocation, invaders used forced marches resulting in the deaths of thousands much like the Jewish genocide a century later.

Today is a day to remember all indigenous peoples; while we do, maybe we should start at home.

Art theft closes out International Clown Week.

The Joker attempts to divert attention from his painting pilfering by tossing pies at the police.

Spoiler alert: it doesn’t work.

While Laugh, Clown, Laugh is a fictional piece of art the Joker attempts to steal, there are many famous clown paintings.

Master of modern art Pablo Picasso crafted Harlequin Head, a piece stolen in 2012 as part of the heist of the century. Stolen from the Kunsthal Museum, the Picasso piece was the most famous of the seven works still missing. The thieves were apprehended, but the Harlequin is feared to have been destroyed.

The master is also known for his The Blue Clown. Appropriately enough, it is symbolic of Picasso’s Blue Period.

Other well known artists noted for their work regarding the joyful jesters include Antoine Watteau, Claude Gillot, Francisco Goya, Honore Daumier, Gustavo Courbet, George’s Seurat, James Ensor, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Andre Derain, Vino Severini, Max Beckmann, Pa Hooper and Walt Kuhn.

Maybe the most notorious was John Wayne Gacy. His penchant for portraying a clown – Pogo – prior to his arrest may have led to his choice of subjects while painting on death row.

Convicted of murdering 33 adolescent males, the infamous serial killer used a portion of his 14 years behind bars creating over 2,000 paintings.

His somewhat self portrait, Pogo the Clown, sold for $12,800 Oct. 31, 2022.

Gacy received his lethal injection May 10, 1994.

Continuing with International Clown Week the Joker seeks revenge on the circus that turned him down.

In all the origins of the Joker, I don’t remember him ever attempting employment with a circus. Dick Grayson, yes. Jason Todd – pre Crisis – yes.

Even Geoff John’s premise never postulated a career under the big top.

Yet, here he is, taking revenge for a slight that may have never happened. To add insult to injury, the Joker’s plan is foiled by the ring master and common clowns working the three rings.

Though first introduced in Batman (1940) issue one, his origin wasn’t revealed until Detective Comics (1939) 168 in 1951. Alan Moore would expand and expound on that origin further in 1988’s prestige one shot The Killing Joke. John’s The Three Jokers is only the latest attempt to explain the Joker.

An interesting fact is DC Comics wouldn’t allow its stars to be seen chowing down on any of the Hostess goodies so as not to endorse the product.

Guess it was all right to shill for ‘em.

So as not to be confused, there is such a thing as International Clown Day AND International Clown Week. We’ve celebrated before in 2020 with Obnoxio and Man-Thing.

For a little fun let’s go with International Clown Week. Plus, I’ve got a few Joker ads to toss in for good measure.

International Clown Day is celebrated the first day of August each year. It may be expanded by local government to encompass the whole week, as we’re observing.

Clown Week had its beginnings sometime in the mid 20th century. Walt Savage has been attributed with its creation. It wasn’t until 1966 Frank “Kelly the Clown” Kelly the president of the Clown Club of America, became the first International Clown Week chairman. American Clown Week chairman Bill “Boom Boom” Baily” lobbied Congress to recognize the event. President Richard M. Nixon declared the first recognized National Clown Week Oct. 8, 1970 as Public Law 91-443 as ratified by the 91st Congress. JJR 26 was passed by both the House and Senate. The joint resolution was signed into law by Nixon Aug. 2, 1971.

It wasn’t until 1988 it became an international happening. International Clown Week is observed from August 1 to August 7 each year.

Let’s celebrate with the Joker. He’s even brought the pie.

The Beatles sang about ‘em. We’ve all read ‘em. Today we celebrate ’em. Today is Paperback Book Day.

Paperbacks have been around since the 19th century. Reduced manufacturing costs allow for a smaller price point and more affordability. This has made paperbacks popular since their introduction to a mass market. They also allowed publishers to offer books that normally wouldn’t be top sellers without fear of big losses.

Again, we’re not worried about marketing trends other than how they benefit our collecting habits.

Newspaper strips were the first to receive the paperback treatment. Reprints of favorites became spin rack fodder at drug stores and other non traditional outlets. Mad Magazine followed offering a huge library including both original material and reprints.

I looked and couldn’t find much information for Signet’s Batman reprints. They are, really, the forerunners of the trade paperbacks that didn’t become popular until the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Signet’s first outing capitalized on the popularity of the 1966 Batman television show. Batman, the initial book, was released the same year as the TV series using Golden Age material to fill the interior. First up is/was a brief origin as originally told in Batman (1940) issue one. Next, The Batman Wars Against the Dirgible of Doom from Detective Comics (1939) 33, Web of Doom from Batman 90, Fan-Mail of Danger! from Batman 92, Crazy Crime Clown! from Batman 74, The Crime Predictor! from Batman 77, The Man Who Could Change Fingerprints! from Batman 82 and The Testing of Batman! from Batman 83.

Signet’s second outing was the novelization of three previous comic books: The State-Bird Crimes! From Batman (1940) 58, The Crime Parade from Detective Comics (1939) 124 and The Black Cat Crimes from Detective Comics 122.

For the third and fourth volumes, Signet returned to reprinting comic books. The third book featured Joker stories including The Challenge of the Joker from Batman (1940) 136, The Joker’s Winning Team (Batman 86), The Joker’s Millions (Detective Comics 180, The Joker’s Journal (Detective Comics 193) and Batman, Clown of Crime (Batman 85).

Penguin took top billing for book four with a Catwoman tale to finish the book. Stories included The Parasols of Plunder (Batman [1940] 90, The Golden Eggs (Batman 70), The Penguin’s Fabulous Fowls (Batman 76), The Return of the Penguin (Batman 155) and The Sleeping Beauties of Gotham City (Batman 84)

A fifth book was released adapting the 1966 Batman movie.

Other books would follow, Marvel with Lancer Publishing the same year. Both comic companies would continue to release paperback reprints through the 1970s and into the 1980s with Tempo, Pocket, Tor and others.

Each foray is a curious venture offering previously hard to find books to fans as well as tapping markets maybe untouched before.

If clothes make the man, then the villain makes the hero.

Sadly, until Frank Miller, Daredevil was at the mercy of whatever gimmicks or cast offs others had to toss his way. Electro was a mercy guest star in issue two, but not until DD 18 did the Man Without Fear finally meet the Gladiator.

Shoot, Doctor Doom didn’t even come slumming until the 37th issue.

Daredevil (1964) 8

No, Daredevil got to face off against the likes of The Fellowship of Fear, The Matador and The Organizer. Amongst that line up Stilt-Man made his first appearance in DD eight. He’s gonna be our emcee for a day tailor made for him if ever there was, National Walk on Stilts Day.

By now you know we don’t make these up. Yes, it is a real non-holiday inaugurated somewhere around the dawn of the new millennium by Bill “Stretch” Coleman of Denver, CO.

Bill is, and remember the definition of professional is someone who gets paid to to do it, a professional stilt walker. His reasoning for singling out a special day for the activity is to encourage others to take up the sport, hobby or career. His motto: “Walk tall and stretch your imagination!”

Stilts have been used for mobility since the sixth century BC. In the Landes region of France, shepherds would use them as aids with herding sheep. In urban areas they were a means to, literally, rise above the filth. Most recently they are employed more in business practices.

Kinda how Wilbur Day envisioned them. Only for more sinister purposes. Using stolen hydraulic ram schematics, Day created a telescopic legs and body armor for use in more larcenous endeavors.

Initially Stilt-Man and Daredevil were exclusive, but over the years Day branched out into the Marvel U and has fought such heroes as Iron Man, Thor and Spider-Man.

Day was the first Stilt-Man. He eventually met his end when the Punisher killed him during Civil War. He would later return during Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy.

During the interim, an unnamed criminal happened upon the gimmick and fashioned himself as Stilt-Man. Daredevil, Luke Cage and Ms. Marvel all have had the honor of defeating this second incarnation.

A third player entered the field with the help of the Tinkerer. Michael Watts still has delusions of grandeur, but has been silent lately.

Outside comic books, the Day Stilt-Man appeared in the Iron Man episode The Armor Wars. Stilt-Man guested on the PSP version of Spider—Man: Web of Shadows and, finally, the Nintendo DS version of Iron Man 2.

So, stand tall, stand proud today. Try your luck at some stilt walking – if insurance premiums are paid up – or find some old Stilt-Man issues to read. I’m still on the fence about trying Daredevil eight. Guess I’ve done worse.

Slap a gorilla on the cover and the book will sell three times as many copies.

That was DC Comics Editor and Chief Julius Schwartz’s philosophy for the 1950s and 60s.

While it might seem insane today, it certainly seemed plausible at the time. Profits proved the fact as sales rose significantly when apes appeared on comic book covers.

Which may be how our hosts for the day got their start.

Angel and the Ape debuted in DC Showcase issue 77 in 1968, about the time comic books and apes were dissolving their unlikely and improbable relationship. The duo would star in seven self-titled issues before retiring to guest appearances and mini series.

Showcase 77 (1956)

E. Nelson Bridwell and Bob Oksner were the creators. The premise was simple and 1960s. Considering Batman was camping it up twice a week on television with high ratings, a blond model and comic book artist gorilla moonlighting as private detectives weren’t beyond the realm of possibility.

Angel O’Day was the brains. Fluent in 12 languages, but still capable of kicking butt without chipping a nail. Sam Simeon was the brawn. His gorilla dialect often mistaken for unintelligible gibberish and hairy demeanor just part of the current style; both served to mask the real truth that Sam was an ape.

After disappearing for six years, DC printed a previously unreleased story in its Limited Collectors’ Edition C-34 Christmas With the Super-Heroes cover dated 1975.

We’ve already discussed this hidden treasure, but for continuity we’re adding it to their list of appearances.

Angel and Sam were thrown a bone here and there guest starring in other titles. It wasn’t until 1991 writer/artist Phil Foglio revived the pair in a four-issue mini series. Foglio expanded their existence in the DC universe making Sam the grandson of Flash rogue Gorilla Grodd. Angel’s pedigree proved her to be half sister to Inferior Five member Dumb Bunny.

Howard Chaykin and David Tischman chose to sex the two up in 2001 for another four-issue mini that just missed the mark all the way around.

A one-page story in the DC Holiday Special ‘09 wrapped up their time prior to The New 52. What remaining ‘60s charm they had left was completely stripped away leaving one running to eBay or back issue bins to wash the taste away.

What a sad way to close out a promising career.

As I stated when reviewing LCE C-34, Angel and the Ape have an allure born of the times they were created. Their short legacy is worth a visit; it won’t take long and may actually prove to be fun.

Oh, and today? It’s National and International Private Investigators Day. July 24 commemorates the birth year of Eugene Francois Cidocq, the first private investigator. His birthday is July 24, 1774 or 24/7 using the European method of placing the year before the day. There are an estimated 80,000 PI’s in the United States alone. 

Fifty six years ago today man proclaimed his independence from Mother Earth by stepping foot on a neighboring celestial body.

Today is Space Exploration Day, commemorating the 56th anniversary of man’s first walk on the moon.

For one day the inhabitants of this planet watched in unison as the culmination of centuries of dreaming and decades of work became reality.

Today, we will celebrate with a visitor from beyond and his creation to aid him in the betterment and protection of his adopted people. Today will be remembered with technology as fanciful and far fetched as the Apollo 11 rocket was not 50 years before its historic journey.

Our host is Superman and his contribution is the Supermobile.

You read that right, the Supermobile.

Action Comics
(1978) 481

Not even the Man of Steel, capable of leaping tall buildings and outracing speeding locomotives, is immune from commercialism.

Corgi Toys took advantage of its Superman license and the popularity of the 1978 Superman movie to manufacture a line of die cast vehicles. Thinking out side the box (office), Corgi asked DC Comics to create a vehicle for Superman to use in his endeavors. Writer Cary Bates concocted the Supermobile.

Debuting in Action Comics (1938) 481, the Supermobile was launched. The rocket is constructed of an invulnerable metal called, yes,  Supermanium. Issue 481’s plot saw Superman powerless after exposure to red sun radiation. To battle Amazo, Superman crafted the Supermobile.

In addition to flight and invulnerability, the Supermobile channels Superman’s other abilities using large mechanical arms, his enhanced vision-related powers, super breath and super hearing.

No lie.

The Supermobile made limited appearances following its debut, but that didn’t stop Corgi from producing a 1/36 and 1/64 scale die cast model for store shelves.

Corgi die cast Supermobile

When DC and Kenner toys launched the multi media Super Powers campaign in 1984 the Supermobile concept was dusted off again for the toy line. The design differed a bit with a few modifications to lower production costs.

McFarlane Toys resurrected the Super Powers line in 2022, but adhered to the original design this time.

So, when looking to the skies today, remember, “…one giant leap for mankind.” And, even Superman isn’t as powerful as the almighty dollar.

Kenner’s Super Powers Supermobile