Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby, the real-life Hollywood singer and actor, appeared as a fictionalized celebrity cameo in early comics and later became a recurring satirical target in EC's Mad magazine, where pop culture icons were lampooned alongside figures like Bob Hope.

Few real-world celebrities have made as many comic book appearances as Bing Crosby, whose presence in the funny pages stretches all the way back to a 1938 Platinum Age debut in the legendary Action Comics #5, courtesy of creator Sven Elvén. Over a remarkable span of nearly eight decades, Crosby turned up most frequently in EC's Mad — perfectly fitting for a publication that delighted in skewering pop culture icons — alongside an eclectic cast including Bob Hope, Superman, Alfred E. Neuman, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan. With 21 catalog appearances, a key-issue credit to his name, and a publishing footprint stretching from 1938 all the way to 2015, Crosby's comic book life is a fascinating lens on how American entertainment royalty gets immortalized, lampooned, and celebrated in the four-color world.