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!" 

Separated at Mirth: What's at STEAK Here?

Keep your friends close, and your MEALS closer would appear to be the message behind this SEPARATION AT MIRTH between the cover of THE BEAGLE BOYS #28 (Gold Key Comics, Cover Date: March, 1976)...

...And this gag, found in MUTT AND JEFF NEW JOKES #3 (Harvey Comics, Cover Date: October, 1964)...

...Reformatted from a MUTT AND JEFF daily newspaper strip.  

The Beagle Boys cover shows that "There's No Honor Among Thieves"... even if they're brothers, and especially at dinnertime! 

The Mutt and Jeff gag, with its opportunistic tramp, is exemplary of the "Depression-era styled humor" that pervaded the strip in its heyday!  

And isn't it great that they can BOTH PULL OFF THE SAME GAG with such skillful humorous dexterity! 

NICE SUBTLE DETAIL: Notice the overflowing mess surrounding Beagle 176-167's coffee cup!  

Not only is he a steak-snatcher, but perhaps he's also "copped some coffee" from his jailbird bro!  

In addition to watching his hat, Beagle 176-176 ought to "mind his PEAS and Qs" before they migrate to the adjoining plate as well!

The cover of THE BEAGLE BOYS #28 was drawn by Pete Alvarado. 

The MUTT AND JEFF daily newspaper strip was written and drawn by Al Smith. 

Both made possible this "Separation at Mirth" between The Beagle Boys and Mutt and Jeff... and, hey, Mutt got off easy this time - he wasn't even in the strip!  

He's better off at the baseball game... at least until a cop pinches him for not buying a ticket! 

Happy Second Birthday to Cici!

Two years ago on this date (September 23) "The World Just Got Much Cuter", with the arrival of Cici!  

And now she is TWO!  

She and big-sister Averi bring new heights of joy and love into our lives every day!  

Can't ya tell?! 

Yeah, you can tell!  

 Happy Second Birthday, Cici!  We love you! 

Adventures in Comic-Boxing: Phantom Flower Power!

For any true collector, it's always a cause for celebration when you "complete a run", as I did this very day with DC's GHOSTS series - when receiving issue # 66, the final one I was missing!

GHOSTS #66 (DC Comics, Cover Date: July, 1978) 

However, beyond the pure joy of accomplishment, another reaction occurred upon seeing its illustration of the cover story "The Phantom Flower"...

Be honest now, tell me if you can look at that cover, with the stalking (...and specifically-named) "Phantom Flower", and NOT think of SCOOBY-DOO!  

Why, I even have a TITLE ready-made for the story...

"ROSES ARE DREAD!" 

...Don't look now, but I think Shaggy and Scooby approve!  ...Of the TITLE that is, not the flower! 

Adventures in Comic-Boxing: Just Another Reason Harvey Eisenberg was So Great! Number Two!

As if we needed to find more examples of why former animator / layout man and Dell and Gold Key comic book artist HARVEY EISENBERG was so great, let's examine CHIP 'N' DALE # 17 (Dell Comics, Cover Date: March-May, 1959 - with a Harvey Eisenberg cover!) 

In particular, an untitled one-page gag on the inside front cover that I called "Lines of Progress (or "Progress is for the Birds") for purposes of my personal indexing.

Tell me that's not great! 

Chip 'n' Dale never looked better (even in animation) than when Harvey Eisenberg drew them.  So expressive!  

And that intrusive flock of BIRDS!  Magnificent!  

The detail on the tree trunk and telephone pole (...complete with lineman)!  The WIRES not hanging "straight across" - but "dipping" or "bowing" a little - as wires tend to do!   Everything is perfect!  

The black-and-white printing of the issue's inside front cover, allows the detail of Eisenberg's work to shine all the more!  

And, this was one of those rare occasions where he even LETTERED his work!  
 

Especially in this age of unnecessary-yet-purposeful exaggeration, nobody produces work that comes close to the superb artistic quality of the great Harvey Eisenberg!