John Wells Comics
@johnwellscomics.bsky.social
Writer of AMERICAN COMIC BOOK CHRONICLES: 1960-1964 & 1965-1969, the Eisner-nominated COMIC BOOK IMPLOSION (w/Keith Dallas) and lots of other things. Major DC Comics historian and consultant. Newspaper comic strip fan/preservationist. I contain multitudes.
This wonderful original by Scott Koblish arrived today! A few months back, Scott reached out to see if I had a list of every established Green Lantern in DC's history. He needed reference for his upcoming GREEN LANTERN #600 variant cover. I came up with--gulp!--eleven pages of names!
December 19, 2025 at 11:56 PM
This wonderful original by Scott Koblish arrived today! A few months back, Scott reached out to see if I had a list of every established Green Lantern in DC's history. He needed reference for his upcoming GREEN LANTERN #600 variant cover. I came up with--gulp!--eleven pages of names!
Hagar the Horrible, by Dik Browne: December 18, 1973.
December 18, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Hagar the Horrible, by Dik Browne: December 18, 1973.
Charles Addams, for The New Yorker: December 21, 1946.
December 18, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Charles Addams, for The New Yorker: December 21, 1946.
December 17, 1950: excerpt from Little Annie Rooney, by Brandon Walsh and Darrell McClure.
December 17, 2025 at 11:19 PM
December 17, 1950: excerpt from Little Annie Rooney, by Brandon Walsh and Darrell McClure.
Little Dot #29 (1957). Art by Warren Kremer.
December 16, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Little Dot #29 (1957). Art by Warren Kremer.
Frank Miller for the Des Moines Register: December 14, 1958.
December 14, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Frank Miller for the Des Moines Register: December 14, 1958.
December 20, 1964: Lolly, by Pete Hansen.
December 13, 2025 at 6:18 PM
December 20, 1964: Lolly, by Pete Hansen.
Joseph Leyendecker for the Saturday Evening Post (Dec. 26, 1936).
December 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Joseph Leyendecker for the Saturday Evening Post (Dec. 26, 1936).
Christmas 1988: Neither snow nor rain nor Skrulls nor Doctor Doom would keep Willie Lumpkin from his appointed rounds. Art by John Byrne from Marvel Comics Presents #18.
December 12, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Christmas 1988: Neither snow nor rain nor Skrulls nor Doctor Doom would keep Willie Lumpkin from his appointed rounds. Art by John Byrne from Marvel Comics Presents #18.
The Family Circus, by Bil Keane: December 11, 1968.
December 11, 2025 at 12:09 PM
The Family Circus, by Bil Keane: December 11, 1968.
December 10, 1950: A full-page ad in the Sunday comics section.
December 10, 2025 at 11:34 PM
December 10, 1950: A full-page ad in the Sunday comics section.
When Schulz recycled this line from his November 18, 1961 strip for 1965's "A Charlie Brown Christmas," he transferred the key dialogue in panel two from Linus to Sally.
December 9, 2025 at 11:23 PM
When Schulz recycled this line from his November 18, 1961 strip for 1965's "A Charlie Brown Christmas," he transferred the key dialogue in panel two from Linus to Sally.
A year after "A Charlie Brown Christmas" first aired, Charles Schulz recalled Linus’ show-stopping scene in the December 18, 1966 Sunday strip. Scan via Fantagraphics’ The Complete Peanuts.
December 9, 2025 at 11:22 PM
A year after "A Charlie Brown Christmas" first aired, Charles Schulz recalled Linus’ show-stopping scene in the December 18, 1966 Sunday strip. Scan via Fantagraphics’ The Complete Peanuts.
December 9, 1965: Written by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, the CBS special “A Charlie Brown Christmas” drew dialogue directly from earlier comic strips and faithfully translated the heart and bite of the feature to a degree that few adaptations have ever pulled off.
December 9, 2025 at 11:20 PM
December 9, 1965: Written by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, the CBS special “A Charlie Brown Christmas” drew dialogue directly from earlier comic strips and faithfully translated the heart and bite of the feature to a degree that few adaptations have ever pulled off.
Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts has been detained by ICE agents. Protests are happening in Des Moines now!
www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/202...
www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/202...
September 26, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts has been detained by ICE agents. Protests are happening in Des Moines now!
www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/202...
www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/202...
"Whether Alvin is right or wrong, he should have been allowed to speak." -- Superman PSA by Jack Schiff and Win Mortimer, published in all DC comics published in February 1951.
September 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM
"Whether Alvin is right or wrong, he should have been allowed to speak." -- Superman PSA by Jack Schiff and Win Mortimer, published in all DC comics published in February 1951.
Happy Batman Day! In the early 2000s, Robert Greenberger graciously sought my input on a number of DC collected editions, including Batman In the 80s (2004). I not only nominated its reprints and 1989 Jim Aparo cover art but wrote a history of the 1980s Batman era interspersed throughout the volume
September 20, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Happy Batman Day! In the early 2000s, Robert Greenberger graciously sought my input on a number of DC collected editions, including Batman In the 80s (2004). I not only nominated its reprints and 1989 Jim Aparo cover art but wrote a history of the 1980s Batman era interspersed throughout the volume
Joe Palooka, by Ham Fisher and Moe Leff: September 5, 1948.
The Bedford, Indiana statue of Joe is real, as seen in the photos here, although it was later relocated to Oolitic, Indiana.
The Bedford, Indiana statue of Joe is real, as seen in the photos here, although it was later relocated to Oolitic, Indiana.
September 6, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Joe Palooka, by Ham Fisher and Moe Leff: September 5, 1948.
The Bedford, Indiana statue of Joe is real, as seen in the photos here, although it was later relocated to Oolitic, Indiana.
The Bedford, Indiana statue of Joe is real, as seen in the photos here, although it was later relocated to Oolitic, Indiana.
Now that it's officially solicited, I can announce that I've written the foreword for WONDER WOMAN: THE SILVER AGE OMNIBUS #3, on sale in January 2026. I'm very excited to be part of this volume and very grateful to DC Library curator Benjamin Le Clear for recommending me for the intro.
August 30, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Now that it's officially solicited, I can announce that I've written the foreword for WONDER WOMAN: THE SILVER AGE OMNIBUS #3, on sale in January 2026. I'm very excited to be part of this volume and very grateful to DC Library curator Benjamin Le Clear for recommending me for the intro.
Pogo, by Walt Kelly: August 15, 1961.
August 15, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Pogo, by Walt Kelly: August 15, 1961.