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Cartoons, comics, sci-fi and more reign supreme when it comes to significant pop culture moments in the month of August. Here are some notable milestones August has delivered in pop culture history.
Aug, 1947 – Black Canary soars onto the page
DC welcomed Black Canary to the scene in Flash Comics #86. The character has undergone quite a transformation across DC’s comics since debuting, and the same goes for The CW’s take on the character, with recent “Supa-Star” Juliana Harkavy the latest to take on the role as Dinah Drake in the Arrowverse.
Aug, 1962 – Spider-Man swings into the picture
The Silver Age of Comic Books introduced Peter Parker/Spider-Man on the pages of Amazing Fantasy #15. Marvel Comics then kicked off The Amazing Spider-Man the following year, with the character becoming a staple across all their platforms.
Aug, 1962 – Thor makes his first appearance
As if introducing one iconic character into the world wasn’t enough for one month, Marvel also debuted Thor in August of ‘62, with the God of Thunder first coming to life in Journey Into Mystery #83.
Aug 1, 1996 – The epic Game Of Thrones saga begins
The first novel in George R. R. Martin’s Game Of Thrones series was released, with A Song Of Ice And Fire kickstarting what would become one of the biggest pop culture franchises of all-time.
Aug 5, 1926 – Harry Houdini makes history
Legendary illusionist Harry Houdini performed one of his greatest stunts, spending 91 minutes inside a coffin at the bottom of a pool. It was one of his final spectacles, with the stunt performer passing away only a few months later.
Aug 9, 1930 – Betty Boop arrives on the scene
Viewers were introduced to Betty Boop on the small screen in animated cartoon Dizzy Dishes. After numerous other appearances across TV, comics and more, it was reported in 2014 that a Betty Boop feature film was in the works.
Aug 9, 1942 – Bambi premieres in London
Providing one of the most heartbreaking scenes in film history, Bambi premiered in London, marking Walt Disney’s fifth full-length animated film.
Aug 11, 1991 – Nickelodeon screens three iconic cartoons
‘90s fan favourites Rugrats, Ren & Stimpy and Doug all premiered on Nickelodeon. “Supa-Star” alumni Billy West voiced Doug’s title character throughout the show’s eight-year stint, and also took over the lead voicing roles in Ren & Stimpy in 1993.
Aug 13, 1997 – Comedy fans take a trip to South Park
Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s South Park premiered on Comedy Central. The controversial animated series’ 22nd season will air this September.
Aug 15, 2003 – Two horror legends face off
A Nightmare In Elm Street and Friday The 13th collided when Freddy vs. Jason opened in the US and Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees faced off. Aussie audiences got to witness the epic showdown in October of the same year.
Aug 16, 1930 – Cartoons get a series upgrade
Ex-Disney cartoonist Ub Iwerks made history with the release of Fiddlesticks, the first cartoon that was in colour and had sound. Being credited as the co-creator of Mickey Mouse, Iwerks returned to Disney 10 years later.
Aug 19, 1998 – Blade leaps to the big screen
Marvel Studios laid the groundwork for what would later become the MCU with the release of Blade in 1998. The comic book adaptation featured Wesley Snipes as Eric Brooks/Blade and opened in the US to a wealth of praise before hitting Australian shores two months later.
Aug 21, 1998 – Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six is released
The first title in the epic Rainbow Six series was released on PC 20 years ago, with a number of sequels and spin-offs hitting shelves in the years that followed.
Aug 25, 1939 – The Wizard Of Oz opens in cinemas
Dorothy and her dog, Toto, began their journey along the Yellow Brick Road toward Emerald City in The Wizard Of Oz. The film premiered in Hollywood in 1939 before making its way to Australia the following April.
Aug 28, 1993 – The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers assemble
Live-action series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers aired the US, becoming a worldwide phenomenon that resulted in numerous action figures, cartoon, comics, films and more. A number of the show’s beloved actors – including Austin St. John, Walter Emanuel Jones, Karan Ashley, David Yost and Jason David Frank – have all graced Supanova with their presence in recent years.
Aug 30, 2009 – James Marsters becomes an alien-fighting cowboy
The Syfy Channel aired TV movie High Plains Invaders, a sci-fi action horror that starred James Marsters as Sam Danville fighting aliens in the Wild West.
That’s it for this month! And don’t forget to wish “Supa-Star” Ray Park a happy birthday on August 23!
