This Day in Comic Book History: July 9
This Day in Comic Book History: July 9
July 9 is a day to reflect on Superman's origins and the tragic story of his creators — and to celebrate the inkers and artists who built the visual language of comics one panel at a time.
July 9: Joe Shuster and Superman's Creation Story
Joe Shuster — Superman's Co-Creator
Co-created Superman with Jerry Siegel · Born 1914 in Toronto · Died July 30, 1992 · Sold all rights for $130 · Fought DC for decades
Joe Shuster, the Canadian-American artist who co-created Superman with Jerry Siegel, was born in Toronto on July 10, 1914. The story of Shuster and Siegel is one of the most poignant in comics history: two young men from Cleveland who created the most valuable character in entertainment history, sold all rights for $130 in 1938, spent decades fighting DC Comics for recognition and compensation, and died with relatively little to show for having given the world its greatest superhero. A 1978 settlement finally granted them a modest stipend and creator credit, but the fight for Superman's creators remains a defining story of the comics industry's early ethical failures.
July 9: The Inker's Art — Unsung Heroes of Comics
The Inker's Craft
Tom Palmer · Terry Austin · Klaus Janson · Joe Rubinstein · The artists who made pencils into finished pages
Every great penciled page in comics history was finished by an inker — an artist who traced, refined, and interpreted the penciler's lines with brush and pen to create the final artwork that went to the printer. The greatest inkers didn't just trace; they made creative choices that defined the look of the finished page. Tom Palmer's lush brushwork on Neal Adams' X-Men and Avengers. Terry Austin's intricate inking on John Byrne's X-Men. Klaus Janson's gritty interpretation of Frank Miller's Daredevil. These collaborations produced some of the most beloved comics ever made.
July 9: The Letterer's Legacy
Hand Lettering in Comics
Gaspar Saladino · Tom Orzechowski · John Workman · The art of hand lettering that defined comics for decades
Before computer lettering became standard in the 1990s, every word balloon and caption in every comic book was hand lettered by skilled artists who created the visual voice of each character. Gaspar Saladino designed some of the most iconic logos and sound effects in DC history. Tom Orzechowski's distinctive lettering on the Claremont-Byrne X-Men is so associated with the series that many fans recognize it instantly. John Workman's bold lettering defined the look of Simonson's Thor. These craftspeople are only now receiving the recognition they deserve.
🏆 Top 10 Comics That Honor the Unsung Heroes of Comics Production
- Action Comics #1 (June 1938) — Joe Shuster's first Superman art; the most consequential drawing in comic book history, sold for $130.
- X-Men #141 (January 1981) — "Days of Future Past"; inked by Josef Rubinstein over John Byrne, lettered by Tom Orzechowski — a perfect collaboration of unsung talent.
- Daredevil #168 (January 1981) — Frank Miller and Klaus Janson's landmark run begins; Janson's inking transformed Miller's pencils into one of comics' defining visual styles.
- Avengers #93 (November 1971) — Neal Adams and Tom Palmer's landmark Kree-Skrull War issue; Palmer's inking elevated Adams' pencils to painterly heights.
- Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man (1976) — First DC/Marvel crossover; honoring Joe Shuster's Superman meeting Marvel's greatest hero.
- Thor #337 (November 1983) — First Beta Ray Bill; lettered by John Workman whose bold letterforms are inseparable from the Simonson Thor's identity.
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 (February 1986) — Klaus Janson inked Miller's masterpiece; one of the most impactful inker-penciler collaborations in comics history.
- Amazing Spider-Man #252 (May 1984) — First black costume Spidey; lettered by Joe Rosen, who lettered countless classic Marvel issues across three decades.
- Showcase #4 (October 1956) — The Silver Age Flash; a milestone whose visual impact was shaped by inker Joe Giella as much as penciler Carmine Infantino.
- Superman: Secret Origin #1 (November 2009) — Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's modern retelling; finally gave Joe Shuster's original design the reverent, detailed tribute it deserved.
Find Superman keys and classic Marvel collaborations at Epic Panels Comics!