This Day in Comic Book History: June 29
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This Day in Comic Book History: June 29
June 29 carries both tremendous joy and tremendous loss for comic book fans — the birth of trailblazing creators, the debut of an iconic comic strip heroine, and the passing of one of the most visionary artists in the history of the medium.
June 29, 1940: Brenda Starr, Reporter Makes Her Debut
Brenda Starr Debuts — June 29
Created by Dale Messick · First major female-created newspaper comic strip heroine · Ran for 70+ years
On June 29, 1940, Dale Messick launched Brenda Starr, Reporter in the Chicago Tribune Sunday supplement, introducing one of the most significant female characters in American comics history. Brenda Starr was an intrepid, glamorous red-haired newspaper reporter who went on daring adventures that were both modern and aspirational for women readers of the era. The strip ran for over 70 years and was one of the very few major newspaper comics created and drawn by a woman — Dale Messick (born Dalia Messick) had submitted her strip under the ambiguous name "Dale" specifically to avoid gender discrimination from editors.
June 29, 1961: Birth of Christopher Priest, Comics Trailblazer
Christopher Priest Born — June 29
First Black writer-editor in mainstream American comics · Black Panther · Quantum and Woody · Deathstroke
Christopher Priest (born James Christopher Owsley) was born on June 29, 1961, and made history as the first African American writer-editor to work in mainstream American comic books, breaking barriers at both Marvel and DC during the 1980s. He is best known to modern readers for his acclaimed 1998 run on Black Panther for Marvel — a run that redefined T'Challa as a sophisticated, politically complex international figure and is widely considered the definitive modern Black Panther story. His work on Quantum and Woody and Deathstroke further demonstrated his range and sharp storytelling intelligence.
June 29, 1958: Birth of Shawn McManus, Sandman Artist
Shawn McManus Born — June 29
The Sandman · Arkham Asylum · Fairy tales for grown-ups drawn with dark whimsy
Shawn McManus was born on June 29, 1958, and is best known for his distinctive, whimsical-yet-dark artwork on Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, where his contributions to the "Fables and Reflections" and "World's End" storylines helped define the series' kaleidoscopic visual identity. McManus's loose, expressive style created a dreamlike quality perfectly suited to Gaiman's mythological narratives, and his work remains among the most beloved in the entire Sandman library.
June 29, 2018: Death of Steve Ditko, Co-Creator of Spider-Man
Steve Ditko — June 29
Co-creator of Spider-Man · Co-creator of Doctor Strange · One of the most visionary and reclusive artists in comics history
On June 29, 2018, Steve Ditko passed away at age 90, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential and visionary artists in the history of American comic books. Ditko co-created Spider-Man with Stan Lee in 1962 and gave the character his visual identity, his web-shooters, and the original design of every villain in Spidey's rogues gallery. He also co-created Doctor Strange and his entire mystical universe. After leaving Marvel in 1966, Ditko spent decades creating deeply personal philosophical comics expressing his Objectivist worldview, becoming one of comics' most fascinating and reclusive figures. The comics world mourned him deeply.
June 29, 1959: First Appearance of Asterix in Pilote
Asterix First Appears — June 29
Created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo · Pilote magazine promo issue · Became the best-selling Franco-Belgian comic of all time
On June 29, 1959, Asterix made his first appearance in a promotional issue of Pilote magazine, created by writer René Goscinny and artist Albert Uderzo. The comic about a tiny Gaulish village resisting Roman conquest through wit, magic potion, and physical comedy became the best-selling Franco-Belgian comic series in history, translated into over 100 languages and selling more than 380 million copies worldwide. Asterix is a genuine global phenomenon and the crowning achievement of the Golden Age of French comics.
🏆 Top 10 Key Comics Tied to June 29 History
- Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962) — First Spider-Man by Steve Ditko (died this date, 2018) and Stan Lee. One of the most valuable and important comics ever published.
- Strange Tales #110 (July 1963) — First Doctor Strange by Steve Ditko; introduced the Master of the Mystic Arts and Marvel's entire magical dimension.
- Black Panther #1 (November 1998) — Christopher Priest's (born this date, 1961) landmark run; redefined T'Challa as a sophisticated global figure. The definitive modern Black Panther.
- Asterix the Gaul #1 (1961, Dargaud) — First Asterix album; the character debuted on this date in 1959 in Pilote promo and became the best-selling Franco-Belgian comic ever.
- Sandman #19 (September 1990) — "A Midsummer Night's Dream"; Shawn McManus (born this date, 1958) contributed key artwork to Gaiman's Sandman series.
- Brenda Starr, Reporter #1 (1940) — The newspaper strip that debuted on this date; Dale Messick's landmark comic about a female journalist heroine ran for 70+ years.
- Quantum and Woody #1 (June 1997) — Christopher Priest and M.D. Bright's acclaimed buddy superhero series; sharp, funny, and years ahead of its time.
- Mr. A #1 (1973) — Steve Ditko's Objectivist superhero; one of the most philosophically distinctive creator-owned comics ever published.
- Deathstroke #1 (2016) — Christopher Priest's acclaimed DC run that turned Slade Wilson into one of comics' most complex anti-heroes.
- Pilote #1 (October 1959) — The French comics magazine where Asterix debuted in its promo issue on this date; one of the great institutions of European comics.
Find Spider-Man keys, Black Panther runs, and Asterix collections at Epic Panels Comics!