We close our celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Scooby-Doo with a look at Scooby's most unheralded comic book publisher, dovetailing into next year's 60th Anniversary of The Flintstones!
Can't wait to see how we pull-off this one...
In early 1974, Charlton Comics assumed publication of SCOOBY-DOO, from Gold Key Comics, adding everyone's favorite cowardly Great Dane and his ghost-getting gang to the stable of Hanna-Barbera comics that were also formerly published by Gold Key.
Okay, maybe a little too much empty space at the top of that first issue, but an otherwise good cover by artist Bill Williams!
Inside, are three so-so stories written by Charlton veteran Joe Gill that were nicely drawn by Williams, who seemed to be emulating the style of Dan Spiegle - who had famously drawn the SCOOBY-DOO title for Gold Key!
At least one of those stories would never pass muster today...
...For more reasons than I'd even wish to consider!
Oh, the Cavalry (Are they reenactors? Joe Gill's story never makes it clear!) are firing SACKS OF FLOUR, for whatever reason! ...Oh, wait... I know the reason for ALL of it... IT'S CHARLTON! (...Silly me!)
But, the primary reason for showcasing this sequence is to highlight this rare Hanna-Barbera in-joke!
Clearly, the Native American warrior at the far right, is speaking some ancient language that has become "lost to history"...
...Or some "place right out of his-tor-ree"!
Good one, Charlton!
4 comments:
Reminds me of the early-80s episodes, where there's more comedy than usual, only the whole gang is in the act, rather than just Shaggy, Scooby & Scrappy.
I have one issue from this run - about a witch that was showering people with dollar bills while flying on broomstick...given how at times the current book is so "on point" that you don't quite feel like you're missing something even if it's a team-up story, the older material has more spontaneity, even after the curtain was peeled back and it was likely done by people who never watched the show and took a guess at how things played out.
It might also be interesting to note that Henry Corden played a Native American character on a first-season episode of "The Doris Day Show." Although on that occasion he didn't make with the famous Fred Flintstone yell.
By 1974 the PC tide was already turning, yet cliched situations like that depicted in the referenced Scooby Doo comic book continued to appear in various mainstream media. Native American stereotypes continued to be exploited even though they were known to be a misrepresentation.
Scarecrow:
Yes, now that you mention it, I could definitely see (“hear”, actually) Henry Corden in the role, which would make a good joke even better!
‘Rehab:
You write: “…the older material has more spontaneity, even after the curtain was peeled back and it was likely done by people who never watched the show and took a guess at how things played out.”
With the exception of Mark Evanier, I’d agree that was exactly the case! And, even among the “people who never watched the show”, some were clearly better than others.
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