A lot of people (...if by "a lot of people", I mean nobody - ever, past present, and very likely future) have been wondering (...if by "wondering", it would never cross their minds if they lived forever-and-a-day) what an encounter between Bob Hope and The Beagle Boys would be like!
(...If by "encounter", we mean three B-Boys jump one comedian, of course!)
I mean, we've had The Beagle Boys vs. Uncle Scrooge...
...Even achieving a title of its own!
The Beagle Boys vs. Donald Duck!
...And, on occasion, even The Beagle Boys vs. Mickey Mouse (...via the Phantom Blot)!
...Or Gyro Gearloose!
But... BOB HOPE?
Wait no longer, because the moment is at hand (why am I thinking about the name of this Blog, all of a sudden?)... or WAS at hand way back in THE ADVENTURES OF BOB HOPE # 40 (DC Comics, Cover Date: August-September, 1956)!
Ready... Wait for it... Okay, HERE GOES!
...So, what did you expect, a REAL multi-company crossover?
If the Beagle Boys existed in Bob Hope's tiny corner of the DC Comics Universe, they would have to be "human-like" and this is probably how such an unlikely occurrence would appear!
In fact, since they have no prison numbers on their shirts, I'm betting they'd even have names... like "Bo, Barry, and Burly Beagle"!
But their "accosting actions" would remain the same, regardless of "Universe"!
Awww, no... something that off-the-(prison)-wall, could never happen... could it?
Why that would be as preposterous as Bob Hope meeting The Marvelous Mad Madam Mim!
...In her alias as "Madam Olga", of course!
16 comments:
Fun!
You speak of "Bob Hope's tiny corner of the DC Comics Universe" — is there an official DC doctrine about in what continuity their Bob Hope comics existed? I was under the impression that it was just a-comic-they-happened-to-publish, before DC and Marvel went all-in on the idea — un, but ultimately taken to somewhat decadent lengths — that the whole of each publisher's respective output took place, if not on the same Earth, then at least in one unified multiverse. But I may be wrong. Did Comic-Bob ever cross paths (or "Team-Up", even) with the likes of Batman?
Aside from general curiosity, that info would also help me with implement Wiki coverage of that Madam Mim easter-egg you found. If I can refer to Madam Olga as Mim's counterpart in a particular parallel world, that would simplify the status of the story greatly when I do get around to covering it. (Although there are of course always more urgent matters to attend to on the Wiki. Case in point, as I have finally tracked down a copy of the Woody Woodpecker Yellow Beak story, I am now writing up all the Finds Pirate Gold-related pages. Look forward to the one about …Again! sometime this week or the beginning of the next!)
Achille:
Since the time that issue of BOB HOPE was published, it’s become almost a REQUIREMENT for fans to compartmentalize every person, place, or thing into one of the myriad “comics universes” (“Uinvi”, if you will)… or make one up to suit your purpose.
Sure, back then BOB HOPE was “just a-comic-they-happened-to-publish”, as was Jerry Lewis, Fox and Crow featuring Stanley and his Monster, Sugar and Spike, etc. but as THIS WONDERFUL ISSUE OF SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP shows… Universes (“Uinvi”?) are nothing if not… um, universal!
So, Bob Hope exists in the same tiny corner of the DC Universe that Scooby-Doo inhabits – and so would any Beagle Boy or Madam Mim clones he happens to meet! That’s MY thesis, anyway!
Please let me know when those entries are available. I’ll even give them their own Blog Posts!
I will! At any rate, quick update: if the DC Wiki is to be believed, the Bob Hope comics take place in a continuity known as Earth-Twelve (not to be confused, I am told in no uncertain terms, with Earth 12 or Earth-12… aaah, the vagaries of overly documented comic-book continuity), which they share with the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comics as well as an inept team of parodical superheroes called the Inferior Five. On the other hand, not only does said Wiki not think Scooby-Doo's adventures exist on this Earth-Twelve, but they don't even have a name for the Scooby-Doo universe(s). For shame!
Achille:
Considering that SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP # 36 not only shows Bob Hope and Jerry Lewis (as “fair-use-named” parody characters – but certainly still them) AND ALSO prominently features The Inferior Five, I’d say, without equivocation, that Scooby-Doo belongs on that “Earth”… whatever they choose to call it!
And, for even a glimpse into how many different Scooby-Doo “Earths” there are, read Sholly Fisch and Scott Jeralds’ magnificent SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP # 50, unfortunately the final issue of that favorite title!
…I’ll bet most folks couldn’t name ‘em all – or all the different Batman “Earths” also depicted! Even *I* only came close!
Wow! They really do look like the Beagle Boys! So much so you almost have to wonder if it was deliberate. I would venture to say probably not, but it's not impossible. Great find!
Funny you should post this. Not long ago, on my own newly relaunched and rechristened blog (warning: you're not going to like the name), I translated and dialogued a Dell story from Portuguese "back" into English. In this story, Bugs Bunny meets human versions of Huey, Dewey, and Louie.
Well, not really, but in my translation I named these characters Huey, Dewey, and Louie. I did so because they resemble the three Disney duck nephews in that they wear red, green, and blue suits. What's more, the three seem to all have the same personality, to the point that, like the ducks, they regularly complete each others' sentences!
You can read the story here, if you're interested: https://greatsqueak.blogspot.com/2020/05/heir-by-hare-part-1.html
Sergio:
Quite the contrary, I *DO* like the name… as the name of a Blog, or maybe a cheese, or even a lubricating oil!
It just doesn’t (or maybe *didn’t*) sound like something MY Mickey would say! Though I’ve since relented, and have even used it myself on occasion… for MICKEY, that is… not actually ME!
More than likely, in 1956, the “Beagle Boys inspiration” would seem a coincidence – though I maintain NOT SO with the Madam Mim clone.
Everyone, go take Sergio’s link and read that story! Right Here, Folks!
And, if you have a copy of Dell LOONEY TUNES # 175 (May, 1956) where it originally appeared, you can read that alongside Sergio’s version.
Tony Strobl is the artist on this story, if you wish to add that, or add a label for him.
Also, to everyone, please do add Sergio’s new Blog to your “Favorites” list. It’s a bit more varied than my more narrowly focused Blog, but the stuff he posts is always interesting – especially that on comics!
Thank you so much for your kind words about my blog, Joe. I'm glad you like it, and I hope you (and other folks reading this) will be frequent visitors.
No doubt the original version's dialogue is totally different from mine, since localization is part of the translation process. No doubt, the Western stories were not just translated into Portuguese, but rewritten in a way to make them more likely to resonate with Brazilian readers, while still of course maintaining the meaning of the original text. Localization is an art in its own right, I'd say. I, on the other hand, mostly stuck to the letter of the Portuguese text I had at hand. (Though it seems to sound authentic enough in English, I think).
Thanks also for mentioning that Tony Strobl is the artist. I will definitely add that and add a label for him. Interestingly, someone on Facebook told me the artist was Ralph Heimdahl, who did the "Bugs Bunny" strip. But I think you're right. The Lambiek encyclopedia makes no mention of Heimdahl working for Western, while Strobl is widely known to have worked for them. See their Heimdahl page here: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/heimdahl_ralph.htm
And their Strobl page here: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/strobl_tony.htm
Sergio:
There is a great deal of misinformation out there on the uncredited work done for Western Publishing.
Ralph Heimdahl is actually the COVER ARTIST of Dell LOONEY TUNES # 175, but not the artist of the interior Bugs Bunny story! And, since Heimdahl *did* that cover (and many, many others for decades), he did indeed work for Western (who I believe also packaged the Bugs Bunny newspaper strip, during the years Heimdahl was involved).
And Tony Strobl, who may have done the widest variety of characters for Western, from Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, to Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig, to The Jetsons – and even one Atom Ant story, is without question the artist of that Bugs Bunny story.
GCD is a very good source for such identification, as is INDUCKS for Disney stuff only, but sometimes even GCD gets it wrong. I’ve done my best to correct those wrongs whenever I’ve seen them.
Two of the VERY BEST sources of such information, to whom I will defer without question, are Alberto Becattini (who’s written some wonderful books on the subject – with another one coming, on which I’m contributing research) and Mark Evanier, who taught me A LOT back in the 1980s! Anyone or anything else is open to discussion.
If info comes from Alberto or Mark (or me), you can take it to the bank. Other sources, you will learn to trust (or not) by the depth of your own research. Yeah, it’s tricky… but it’s FUN! Keep going!
Thank you very much for the tips, and for the information. I can see now why that person on Facebook (who, by the way, is Rodinei Campos da Silveira, someone I think you're familiar with) would have thought it was Ralph Heimdahl. As you may recall, Rodinei was a frequent commenter on the Yowp during its heyday, and would always identify the artists of the strips Yowp posted. I'll be adding labels for both Strobl and Heimdahl to that post, explaining that Heimdahl drew the cover and Strobl drew the story.
I've always admired people like you and Rodinei who are able to identify a story's artist just by examining the artwork.
It’s always a pleasure to share such information, Sergio!
And, yes… I know Rodinei… fine fellow, with a great passion for this stuff.
“I've always admired people like you and Rodinei who are able to identify a story's artist just by examining the artwork.”
That’s the EASY part! Learn to recognize certain styles, and attach a name to them.
Now, WRITING… that’s what’s hard! Yet, we try our best!
At one of the ceremonies where Bob Hope presented Walt Disney with an award, Bob suggested that Walt might consider using him in one of his pictures. Walt replied, "Thanks, Bob, but I already have a duck!"
To stretch the connection further--apparently (according to a Jim Korkis article) one of the artists who worked on the Bob Hope comic books for DC had previously worked for Disney. Could account for the parallel universe versions of Mad Madam Mim and the Beagle Boys (is it a coincidence that THEY were a team-up in the early to mid 60's?).
Considering the many "Earths" developed and alternately destroyed, rebuilt, destroyed, rebuilt by DC comics, there surely is an Earth where the non-super hero comics characters (maybe I should say quasi-super hero?) all exist together. Certainly Doodles Duck, Dizzy Dog, Bo Bunny, and the Dodo and the Frog co-existed in the same universe, possibly along with the Three Mousketeers or maybe even with Rudolph and the North Pole gang. The Captain Carrot title merged some of these characters, and even managed an adventure or two with Superman.
Then in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, Bernie the Brain from the Sugar and Spike comics made a non-speaking appearance in one panel of one chapter. This would suggest that these characters are also part of DC's extended multi-verse, especially as grown-up versions of Sugar and Spike are now acting as investigators of meta-human phenomena for the mainstream super heroes.
The Scooby Doo characters have interacted with DC personnel both major and minor as well as with many of the stars of the H-B Universe, so they definitely can and should be included among any lists of DC stars.
I believe there is room for a Bob Hope meets Scooby Doo and Company crossover (beyond the above-mentioned cameo). A little trickier but no less welcome would be a team-up wherein Bob meets Uncle Scrooge and/or Donald Duck. I can just imagine the wisecracks and wise QUACKS that would ensue!
Scarecrow:
You write:
“To stretch the connection further--apparently (according to a Jim Korkis article) one of the artists who worked on the Bob Hope comic books for DC had previously worked for Disney. Could account for the parallel universe versions of Mad Madam Mim and the Beagle Boys (is it a coincidence that THEY were a team-up in the early to mid 60's?).”
There were essentially only THREE artists for most of the life of the BOB HOPE title (though Neal Adams – yes, THE Neal Adams, and maybe others snuck in there during the closing “monster and Super Hip” period, when “Bob” was kinda shunted into the background of his own title – not unlike what also occurred with “The Fox and the Crow” at or about that time).
Those three artists who covered the title’s prime period were Owen Fitzgerald (the primary artist) from the beginning and for the most issues far and away, Mort Drucker (best known for MAD – and the artist of the “Madam Mim” issue), and Bob Oksner (ANGEL AND THE APE, SUPERGIRL and many more).
I’m assuming that “previously worked for Disney” would mean Disney *animation* and not comics, and Owen Fitzgerald is the one I know to have had an animation background (as did Cal Howard, who WROTE the BOB HOPE comic during the extended period that Fitzgerald drew it), so I’d say he’s referring to Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, of course, was the artist of the issue featured here.
Being with Disney animation of the period did not necessarily mean that you would have been aware of the Beagle Boys – indeed, it probably meant that you were LESS LIKELY to know of them!
But as an active comics professional, either he saw the image from Carl Barks or maybe Tony Strobl’s work – or more likely he just thought that “three identically dressed masked goons” would look funny on the printed page! …Never knowing that, nearly 65 years later, some Blogger would draw parallels between his throwaway characters and one of the many enduring creations of Carl Barks! Yay, Bloggers!
I always LOVED the “multiple/infinite Earth” philosophy of DC because it allowed for any and every fictional realm to exist… SOMEWHERE! Any narrowing or focusing of it only serves to diminish or limit the vast arrays of possibilities!
FWIW, Batman, Superman, and the Flash each guest starred in the Jerry Lewis comic sometime around 1966-67.
Superman appeared in Inferior Five #10 in 1968, and most of the Justice League and some other DC superheroes were in the cover gag of I5 #6.
Showcase #65 (the I5's third try-out appearance before they got their own self-titled comic) had cameo appearances by the Justice League, Metal Men, Doom Patrol, Metamorpho, and Super Hip (the latter being a semi-regular character in The Adventures of Bob Hope).
So, either there was an Inferior Five on Earth One, or counterparts of the JLA and other Earth One superheroes on Earth Twelve.
Of course, the I5 often encountered characters who were parodies of Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Man From U.N.C.L.E., the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, the Green Hornet, the Scarlet Pimpernel, and Tarzan.
...And DONALD DUCK, TC! Don't forget Donald Duck, even if he *did* only serve as a weather vane. (See the link somewhere above in this thread!)
All reasons why I loved that era of DC Comics!
The official wisdom on the DC Wiki does appear to be that slightly funnier parallel version of various "serious" superheroes exist in the Inferior Five's universe, not the other way around, yes.
At any rate, couldn't agree more with “I always LOVED the “multiple/infinite Earth” philosophy of DC because it allowed for any and every fictional realm to exist… SOMEWHERE! Any narrowing or focusing of it only serves to diminish or limit the vast arrays of possibilities!” I mean, I vigorously set the Cupids mythos in this kind of multiverse, their reach limited only by what we can get away with copyright-wise.
I don't know that the 1950's and 1960's animators were as unaware of the comics as you say. Things like Scrooge in the opening credits to The Mickey Mouse Club, or Moby Duck showing up as a host of one episode of the Disneyland anthology series to fill in for Ludwig, make me think that they were very much aware of the comics material, though they ostensibly thought it was disposable paraphernalia and the cartoons were the "core". I reckon a storyboard artist in 1960 or so would have had a surface-level understanding of who the Beagle Boys were at least.
Of course, anything’s possible, Achille. I can’t dispute that, especially as there are few or any persons left who could provide a definitive answer, for having “been there”.
However, I feel that Uncle Scrooge was a unique “breakout situation” that would not have applied to other characters created for comics – strictly on the strength of the concept and character, as created by Carl Barks.
He was first to be used by other writers and artists at Dell/Western. He penetrated the Bob Karp and Al Taliaferro comic strip – which was produced OUTSIDE of Western – to become the starring character of many of the daily and Sunday strips. (Some of those were even reprinted by Gold Key in the 1960s with an “Uncle Scrooge” logo, supplanting the “Donald Duck” logo.) An animated short was considered and, yes, he did find his way into the opening credits sequence of The Mickey Mouse Club. Something that "kid-me" considered miraculous, while watching the mid-sixties reruns of the show and simultaneously reading the comics by Barks and Tony Strobl.
But I tend to doubt this would have applied to other such characters like Gyro Gearloose, Gladstone Gander… and the Beagle Boys. (And yes, the Beagle Boys did make a small appearance or two in the newspaper strip, but that was later and once they were indelibly established as Scrooge’s “go-to burglars”.
By the time Moby Duck came along, a good decade later, the Disney comic books were an indisputable worldwide phenomenon – one even the detached home-base animation unit couldn’t ignore – and that explains that. Also, it really only happened ONCE – and didn’t occur for any other comics character IIRC until things like “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” and “Sport Goofy in Soccermania”, eventually leading to DuckTales!
At least that’s how I see it.
Also, the DC Multiverse (especially as it was when I loved it most) is exactly the sort of thing that would allow for a “real” home for the Cupids! Long may they… er, um... “cupe”?
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