Adventures in Comic-Boxing: Nothin' Beats the Classics!

Here's another one from the TIAH Vault, while we're working on the Best Barks and Gottfredson posts!  Didn't wanna keep you waiting too long, now that we're back in BLOG-ness! 

Not a repeat, as some Blogs do/ 

This is wholly new to you! 

Nothin' Beats the Classics!  (...Hey, I later used that as a story title HERE)!  Even when they're CHARLTON "classics"!

Here's a gag - and a META reference - from TOP CAT # 3 (Charlton Comics, Cover Date: March, 1971) to bear that out...

And ya just GOTTA love this!

Come to think of it, there ARE some "Charlton Comic Books" that could get you arrested... on aesthetics charges, anyway...

...But, not this one, though!  

It's even rather GOOD... for Charlton, anyway!  

Adventures in Comic-Boxing: A Charlton Variation on an Old Joke?

Old classic jokes are great!  But when CHARLTON does its own variation on one of them - well, (as is the norm with Charlton), anything goes!

Take TOP CAT # 8 (Charlton Comics, Cover Date: January, 1972), and this sequence therein...

 

WHAT DID THE WIFE SAY WHEN HER HUSBAND ALMOST RAN OVER TOP CAT WITH HIS CAR?  

NOTHING!  SHE JUST SAT THERE WITH A "LONG PUSS"!  

GUFFAW!  It was such a classic, they didn't even need to TELL THE JOKE... just illustrate it!  

...Just as you don't need to tell me to "get out of here"!  I'll just slink-off on my own!    

Adventures in Comic-Boxing: TC, You Old Rascal, You!

Here's another example of a gag that only CHARLTON would have done! 

From TOP CAT # 8 (Charlton Comics, Cover Date: January, 1972), submitted for your approval (as Rod Serling would have said)!  Please feel free to draw you own conclusions, as I have drawn mine. 

Though I must admit "my conclusions" are rather different in 2020 than they were in late-1971, when this issue was first released.  Perhaps yours would be as well! 

TC, you old rascal, you!  

Aww!

Separated at Mirth: Cat, Fishing! ...Follows Fishing Fred!

As usual, I'm "fishing" for a "hook" for another Separation at Mirth!

It would seem that TOP CAT always follows THE FLINTSTONES!

On TV...

1960

1961

In comic books...

The first FLINTSTONES comic book! (1961)

The first TOP CAT comic book! (Late 1961)

...And, when "Separated at Mirth", with this gag!

THE FLINTSTONES # 60 (Gold Key Comics, Cover Date: September, 1970)
 

TOP CAT # 12 (Charlton Comics, Cover Date: August, 1972)

Why, they're even hauling-up the SAME NUMBER OF FISH with their octopusses, ...er, octopi... um, octopeeses...or whatever!  

"Like, you know, I hate meeces an' octopeeses to pieces!"

Another interesting note... THE FLINTSTONES # 60 was the last Gold Key Comics issue of classic Hanna-Barbera characters before that license went over to Charlton in August, 1970.

And, allowing for advance cover dating, Charlton would duplicate the octopus-fishing gag almost two years later!  

...Gosh, the things you learn by visiting this Blog!   

Oh, just one more thing...

...Exactly WHERE is Wilma standing on that tiny rock?  

Yogi Bear Goes to Disneyland – This Time for Real?

Little over a year ago, we offered a post called “Yogi Bear Goes to Disneyland”.  You can see it HERE. 

Of course, he didn’t REALLY go.  It was just “Blog Post Title Hyperbole”, designed to draw some additional hits.  But, imagine my surprise when I came across THIS AD! 

Click to enlarge all images! 

Not only did Yogi Bear ACTUALLY GO to Disneyland (if one can believe a semi-cheesy comic book print ad – and who among us would dare not?) but he brought Huckleberry Hound, Top Cat, and an unnamed happy blonde boy who is clearly wearing KEDS (Sound Alert in Link) along with him! 

But, wait… What's that curious object in Yogi’s grasp?  It’s not the expected Pic-a-nic basket!  No… It’s YOGI BEAR WHITE PASTE! 

Take a moment to un-slack your collective jaws, or reign-in your “Tex Avery Wild Takes”…

Okay?  Ready?  I said YOGI BEAR WHITE PASTE!  

Can’t ya just hear him now: 

“There’s no need for WASTE, when you use my WHITE PASTE!  Hey-hey, hey!” 

And, always the conscience of the group, Boo-Boo would likely add:  “…As long as you don’t TASTE!”    

Now, find some rhymes for "Baste" and "Haste"!

But, here’s the really WEIRD PART… There’s a contest, promoted by these Hanna-Barbera characters, and the First Prize is… (wait for it)  a TRIP TO DISNEYLAND! 

Yes, really!  I suppose it’ll probably turn out better than that time Yogi and Boo-Boo won a TRIP TO PARIS!  At least at “The Happiest Place on Earth”, the worst Yogi could do is “cheese-off” Mickey!

 

This makes far less sense than the LAST TIME we spotlighted a "Trip to Disneyland" contest at TIAH Blog.  But, I hope Yogi, Huck, TC, and the unidentified Keds Kid all had a great time! 

And, from the “Recollections and Oddities Department”: 

I actually had YOGI BEAR WHITE PASTE as a single-digit-ager!  Though, I got the TOP CAT container.  Probably because there were fewer items of Top Cat merchandise, particularly by 1965. 

Um, What’s Huck got in the BAG?   

In an ad for YOGI BEAR WHITE PASTE, you’d think that, if he were carrying the PRODUCT, it would be SHOWN!    

It can’t be his LUNCH!  The Disney concessionaires would never allow THAT! 

Maybe this time he’s a revolutionary intending to plant some explosives at “Wally (not Gator) World”!  “VIVA Hanna-Barbera!”  Why not?  He’s been just about everything else!

Includin' a ly-ron tamer, folks!

…And what’s with the HAT and STRIPED SHIRT?  Yogi and Top Cat trotted-out their normal dress for the occasion.  Did “his darling clementine” pick out his clothes for him?  

This ad appeared in neither a Disney nor a Hanna-Barbera comic book, but in Harvey Comics’ MUTT AND JEFF NEW JOKES (November, 1965)!

Finally, take a good loooong look, because you’re probably never going to see the name of DISNEYLAND, with a COPYRIGHT attributed to “Hanna-Barbera Prod. Inc.” EVER AGAIN!  

  

 

Hey, hey hey... who could have PASTED that copyright on there?

Continued “Cover-age” of Top Cat!

As we say farewell to Arnold Stang, let’s take a look at the one aspect of Top Cat that Mr. Stang did not directly influence… the comic books.


Here are some selected cover images from the mid-1960s… the best period for Gold Key comics! As you can see, they did well by the characters, as did nearly every Gold Key issue of the period. It’s easy to see why I liked them so much.

I don’t know if Arnold Stang ever saw any of these but, if so, I’ll bet he enjoyed them!

Above left – TOP CAT # 7.

Below – TOP CAT # 12, 13, 17.