This Day in Comic Book History: July 27
This Day in Comic Book History: July 27
Happy Birthday, Jim Davis! July 27 is one of the richest birthdays in all of comic book history — the creator of the world's most widely syndicated comic strip shares his birthday with one of Batman's greatest artists and several of Marvel's finest modern creators.
July 27, 1945: Birth of Jim Davis, Creator of Garfield
Jim Davis Born — July 27
Creator of Garfield (1978) · Guinness World Record · 2,580+ newspapers · Billions in licensing · The world's most successful cartoonist
Jim Davis was born on July 27, 1945, in Fairmount, Indiana, and grew up to create Garfield — the orange tabby cat who debuted in 41 newspapers on June 19, 1978, and became the Guinness World Record holder for the world's most widely syndicated comic strip, eventually appearing in over 2,580 newspapers with 263 million readers worldwide. Davis's genius was recognizing that a comic strip character needed to embody universal, relatable emotions — laziness, love of food, disdain for Mondays, and a complicated relationship with one's owner — that could transcend language and culture. Garfield's global licensing empire, spanning everything from plush toys to animated specials, built Davis into one of the most financially successful cartoonists in history. He is also one of the most generous — donating extensively to literacy and children's causes throughout his career.
July 27, 1915: Birth of Dick Sprang, Batman's Definitive Golden Age Artist
Dick Sprang Born — July 27
Batman artist 1941–1963 · Defined Batman's visual look during the Golden and Silver Ages · Beloved by collectors worldwide
Dick Sprang was born on July 27, 1915, and became the most important Batman artist of the Golden Age, drawing the Caped Crusader from 1941 to 1963 — over two decades of stories that defined the look and feel of Batman before Neal Adams modernized the character in the 1970s. Sprang's Batman was bold, dynamic, and full of the playful inventiveness that characterized DC's output during those decades. His Joker, Penguin, and Riddler designs shaped how those villains looked for a generation of readers. Collectors adore Sprang's work and his later career as a fine artist celebrating the Western landscapes of his Arizona home.
July 27, 1930: Birth of Jean Roba, Creator of Boule et Bill
Jean Roba Born — July 27
Belgian comics artist · Creator of Boule et Bill (1959) · Spirou et Fantasio · One of Belgium's most beloved cartoonists
Jean Roba was born on July 27, 1930, and became one of Belgium's most beloved comic book artists, best known for creating Boule et Bill in 1959 — a warm, funny strip about a young boy and his lovable Cocker Spaniel that became one of the most enduring Belgian comics of the Franco-Belgian tradition, running for decades and beloved across generations of European readers.
July 27, 1964: Birth of Salvador Larroca, Marvel's Spanish Master
Salvador Larroca Born — July 27
Spanish Marvel artist · Iron Man · X-Men · Darth Vader · Star Wars · Acclaimed modern superhero and sci-fi artist
Salvador Larroca was born on July 27, 1964, in Spain, and became one of Marvel Comics' most prolific and acclaimed artists, known for his long runs on Iron Man (with Matt Fraction) and Star Wars: Darth Vader (with Kieron Gillen) — one of the most acclaimed licensed comics series in modern history. His clean, detailed style and ability to render both mechanical detail and human emotion with equal skill have made him one of Marvel and Disney's most trusted visual storytellers.
🏆 Top 10 Key Comics Tied to July 27 History
- Garfield: His 9 Lives (Ballantine, 1984) — Jim Davis's (born this date, 1945) most ambitious Garfield book; nine illustrated stories in different artistic styles, demonstrating his creative range far beyond the daily gag strip.
- Garfield at Large (Ballantine, 1980) — The first Garfield collection; the book that launched the unprecedented Garfield licensing empire and made Jim Davis one of the most successful cartoonists in history.
- Batman #11 (June 1942) — Early Dick Sprang Batman art; his work from this era defined the Caped Crusader for a generation of Golden Age readers.
- Detective Comics #140 (October 1948) — First appearance of the Riddler, designed by Dick Sprang (born this date, 1915); one of the most important Golden Age Batman villain debuts.
- Invincible Iron Man #1 (January 2008) — Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca's (born this date, 1964) acclaimed Iron Man run; one of the finest Tony Stark stories of the modern era.
- Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 (April 2015) — Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca's landmark; one of the most acclaimed Star Wars comics ever published.
- Boule et Bill #1 (1959) — Jean Roba's (born this date, 1930) beloved Belgian strip; one of the most enduring boy-and-dog comics in the Franco-Belgian tradition.
- Spirou et Fantasio (Jean Roba era) — Jean Roba's work on the classic Belgian adventure series, continuing the tradition of Franquin before him.
- Garfield and Friends Vol. 1 (1988) — The animated series that brought Jim Davis's Garfield to Saturday morning television, demonstrating that the comic's universal appeal translated perfectly to animation.
- Batman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 1 (DC) — Collects the Golden Age Batman stories including Dick Sprang's definitive art; the best way to experience Sprang's contribution to Batman's legacy.
Happy Birthday, Jim Davis! Find Garfield collections, Batman Golden Age books, and Marvel essentials at Epic Panels Comics!