Happy New Year 2023!

 ...Or, might that be 1974 plus 49?

My New Year's resolution for 2023 will be to post more often, and to improve my shamefully atrophied personal communications with all of you! 

And, to love these cuties more and more each day!  

Feel free to share your resolutions here, or just come back for (hopefully, I resolve) more regular postings!  

Happy New Year!

Meece on Earth, Good Will to Pen!

As you know, Doc has a tendency to mix-up his words, as we covered in THIS POST! 

Nevertheless, here he is with an illustrated Holiday Greeting for all of this humble Blog's supporters... and, aw, heck... ALL of you everywhere!  Even if you don't read this Blog, and will never know about it! 

TAKE IT AWAY, DOC!  

MEECE...

...ON EARTH... 

...GOOD WILL...

...TO PEN!  

Hmmm... Not quite right, but definitely Doc!  Let's give him a DAY for CRYING... Er, an A for TRYING! 

MERRY EVERYTHING, AND HAPPY ANYTHING YOU WISH FOR!  ...And I'll try to do more and better in 2023!  

Adventures in Comic-Boxing: Knowing One's Limitations!

Ya gotta appreciate this caption from THE FLASH #168 (DC Comics, Cover Date: March, 1967), acknowledging the inherent shortcomings of the printing methods of the time! 

Given that, back in 1967, most comic books (save Gold Key and Charlton, who owned their own presses), were printed at World Color Press in Sparta, IL - and were more than adequately done for the times, before we were collectively spoiled by modern printing and coloring techniques - Flash writer John Broome or editor Julius Schwartz accept the limitations of the coloring process, and engage in a little "truth in advertising" with the following caption narrations...

"At the sensational COLORAMA show, Dr. Maybrook, the show's creator, is seated at his special COLOR ORGAN, expertly

"...projecting on a wide screen an extraordinary play of vivid hues (here, alas, within this magazine-medium, shown only approximately -- with only a bare hint of its startling real-life effect)!..."

And, for what my view is worth, it actually enhances (in your "mind's-eye") what the images might look like within the context of the story!  

A nice touch that didn't need to happen - but did! 

Uncover Batman's Mystery Casebook with Sholly Fisch!

It's the World's Greatest Detective and the World's Greatest Comic Book Writer (...well, ONE OF the latter in MY view, anyway) together again for ONE historic meeting... ONE day only... SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4th... when the old tower clock strikes NOON! 

And, while Batman *might* just limit his appearance to the printed page (...or, maybe he'll show up silently behind you - ya NEVER CAN TELL with him), SHOLLY FISCH will be there to meet, greet, and sign copies of his new graphic novel, BATMAN'S MYSTERY CASEBOOK!

Sholly describes the book as "a collection of Encyclopedia Brown/Minute Mysteries-style solve-it-yourself mysteries that let you match wits with the World's Greatest Detective." 

So, if you're anywhere around the northeast (or, even if you're not), consider coming down (or up, depending on your location) to...

A&S Comics

563 Cedar Lane

Teaneck, NJ 07666

...at 12 NOON!  If Batman isn't there, you can always match wits with Sholly Fisch - a gentleman of considerable wit himself!    

Remember, for us New York/New Jersey Metro area/northeasterners, it's much closer than San Diego, and far easier to get into than the Javitz Center - and, frankly, not really that much further away!

I made the NYC-traversing trip from Long Island for a previous such "Sholl-event" for the late and VERY lamented SCOOBY-DOO TEAM-UP'S 50th and final issue and, December weather and conditions permitting, I expect to do so again.  So, you might even be able to "match wits" with me as well... provided I remember to take them along.  

Hopefully, I'll see you there!

PS: Don't forget to check out the SECOND SERIES of THE BATMAN & SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES, presently on its second issue (of 12).  #1 pictured below.

There, you can match wits with Batman, the Scooby Gang, and Sholly Fisch... and perhaps learn something new about TURKEY... the nation, not the bird!  

You can read my index for the issue at Grand Comics Database HERE!

Happy Thanksgiving 2022!

When it comes to Thanksgiving in comics, every now and then (...perhaps even more often than not) the turkey comes out on top.  ...Usually after some fierce battle (with or without wits) or an intrusive mitigating circumstance.

But here, in FELIX THE CAT #37 (Toby Press, Cover Date: January 15, 1953 - corresponding to Thanksgiving 1952... 70 years ago!), we find a pair of turkeys getting a more passive break courtesy of Felix himself! 

Felix uses a passing sawfish to cut firewood... (Click to Enlarge)

...And unknowingly saves a pair of turkeys from the dinner table by borrowing an axe (which we can fervently hope is the only one in town)...

...And gets run off by a bear for his troubles!

Hopefully, there are no local axe-emporiums running pre-Black-Friday sales this year!  ..."Axes R Us", anyone?  

Sequence is from a Felix newspaper strip continuity by Otto Messmer that is reprinted in FELIX THE CAT #37.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING, ALL!  

Adventures in Comic-Boxing: More Horror Than Meets the Eye?

Check out the cover of THE JETSONS #7 (Charlton Comics, Cover Date: November, 1971)...

Okay, so the portable foodaracacycle was on the fritz and George took his best stab at fixing it. 

Who among us would not expect this post-modern miracle of future life to furiously fling its foodstuffs after George's tinkering?  

But look closely and you'll see that there's something much more horrific going on... 

As rendered by reliable Ray Dirgo, George is actually being SUCKED INTO THE MACHINE... perhaps to be devoured by it...

...Or, at the very least (shudder!) added to the menu for someone to order as an alternative dining option!  

Charlton used to have a tag-line that said: "Charlton Comics gives you more!" ...In this case, I'd say Charlton and Ray Dirgo gave us (...and poor George in particular) far more than meets the eye!  

Separated at Mirth: Changing the Clock!

For many of us Americans, "Changing the Clock" is a semi-annual chore, annoyance, requirement, [Fill-In-Your-Own-Negatively-Connotating-Noun-HERE] as we bounce from "Standard Time" to "Daylight Savings Time", and back again.  

But, for Donald Duck, it goes beyond "Spring Forward / Fall Back" becoming its own frustrating exercise in futility.  

Observe the cover of WALT DISNEY'S COMICS AND STORIES #332 (Gold Key Comics, Cover Date: May, 1968), where Donald is (pardon the semi-pun) "alarmed" to see the boys taking aim at his cuckoo clock.  

Cover by Carl Barks

However, "Changing the Clock" to one of the "grandfather variety", as seen on the cover of WALT DISNEY'S COMICS AND STORIES #452 (Gold Key Comics, Cover Date: May, 1978 - TEN YEARS LATER, I might add), is not the answer in Donald's case, as the boys adapt by simply aiming lower!  

 Well, at least now they're using rubber-suction-cup arrows!  

Cover by Pete Alvarado and Larry Mayer

EXTRA CLOCK ASSAULT BONUS IMAGE - for those who enjoy "KILLING TIME", we have... WALT DISNEY'S COMICS AND STORIES #194 (Dell Comics, Cover Date: November, 1956) 

Cover by Tony Strobl

This... er, "time", the cuckoo actually makes a reluctant appearance before meeting his (clock)maker! 

Okay, time to "clock-out"!  Bye!  

Adventures in Comic-Boxing (Halloween Edition): Vincent Price in a DC Comic?

We'll leave that Halloween question to your interpretation... But, if Vincent Price ever were to appear in a DC Comic, it would probably be one like THIS:  GHOSTS #98 (DC Comics, Cover Date: March, 1981). 

As the story in question is only three pages in length, we'll just present it here in its entirety and let you decide for yourselves whether enjoying this comic... comes with a "Price"!  

With Special Guest Star Vincent Price as Doctor Arnold Alden (?)

To the Story (Click any image to enlarge for ease of reading). 

So, what do YOU think?  And isn't this the sort of grizzly tale that Vincent Price would tell an eager and rapt audience?  ...Sure it is!  

 And, it's not as if Vincent Price hasn't been seen hanging around comic books before... 

...As discussed HERE!

Happy Halloween, 2022! 

 

Adventures in Comic-Boxing: Quash and Stretch!

On the cover of MIGHTY MOUSE COMICS #12 (St. John, Cover Date: August, 1949), Mighty Mouse QUASHES an assassination attempt by merely STRETCHING from a yawn!  

Cover art by Terrytoons animator Art Bartsch

"What a Mouse!", as the cartoons used to say!  He's so great that, some days, he doesn't even need to try!   

Or, perhaps, in Mighty Mouse's world, evil cats are SO plentiful that you don't even need to throw the proverbial stick to hit one... just stretch your arm - but be sure to have a clenched fist, just in case! 

Oh, yes... the animation term "Squash and Stretch", which forms the basis for our title's pun, is discussed in THIS POST!  

Finally, if anyone wishes to know more about MIGHTY MOUSE COMICS #12 (... and, honestly, WHO WOULDN'T?), you can read more at my index for this issue at GCD! 

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In case you're wondering why there are two images from LOST IN SPACE below, please read Achille Talon's comment and my response.  

Adventures in Comic-Boxing: When a Weapon Doesn't Work, Try Building a Better One!

As seen on the cover illustration of ADVENTURE COMICS # 441 (DC Comics, Cover Date: September-October, 1975), Aquaman's Atlantis is under attack by a criminal gang with a 16th Century Pirate fetish!  

But, ya gotta wonder if these underwater underachievers were doomed from the start, considering some of the weaponry employed!  

Like a flintlock?  Beneath the waves?   I suppose you could hit someone with the gun-butt.  

Oh, no... wait!  This thing actually CAN do some damage!   

...Just not to Aquaman!  

But, there's simply no excuse for... A SWORD?  How could you swing it in anything but slow motion?  

Methinks our pirate-pals should have read the entire comic book a tad more closely.  If they had, they would have come across THIS UNUSUAL  AD...

...Drawn in typically cheesy 1970s style, to boot!  

Even if you failed to conquer Atlantis, you could still be a hit with wide-eyed, simplistically-rendered blonde-gals, when you charm them with a song from the "electric guitar you just made yourself"!  
 

As so many of the old ads used to say... "Amaze your friends!" 

And, if you don't have friends, because you spend too much time reading comic books, then just go "Amaze some random strangers!" 

Those who don't call the police may find themselves marginally entertained!  

JUST LOOK AT ALL THE NEAT STUFF YOU CAN MAKE! 

Ya think the pirates could make a weapon that might actually defeat Aquaman?  

"Maybe not -- but... What?"  Oh, yeah... You can get away in a nifty "Diving Submarine"... that you can BUILD YOURSELF!  

And, once you do, you won't need to KIDNAP MERA!  

...'Cause NOW you can get a gal like THIS!  

Awww... Don't they make a charming couple?  

If *I* had a choice, I would build a "Surveyor's Transit"! 

...Since I like both SURVEYS... 

...And TRANSIT!  
  

Talk about "Win/Win!"