Number 2534: The cheesiest hero of all

Supermouse was created in 1942, about the same time as Mighty Mouse. Some have alluded to the fact that Kin Platt, who created Supermouse, had also worked for Terry Toons, from whence came Mighty Mouse. Mighty Mouse was originally called Super Mouse, which was changed to Mighty Mouse when Supermouse was introduced in comic books.

Supermouse (published in comics from 1942 to 1958) was successful for publisher Ned Pines’s comic books. As a callow youth I liked Supermouse, and as a cranky adult I still do. Supermouse had several artists over the years, some of whom, Allan Hubbard and Jack Bradbury among them, have such distinctive styles even a kid would notice. As I was told many years ago when I mistakenly credited a Supermouse story for this blog to artist Gene Fawcette, that the Supermouse artist was considered to be Milton (Milt) Stein. And that is who drew “The Cavemen,” from Supermouse #3 (1949). 

“Cheesie” is Supermouse’s airplane. A cute little guy, at that. Why Supermouse needed an airplane was a bit of a puzzle to me, but I admit I liked the stories with Cheesie in them. In this story not only does Supermouse, who can fly like Superman, use an airplane, but is also seen in a car. I then remembered the reason for Supermouse’s super hero powers is supercheese, from “super cows,” which brings out those powers. That's some cheese! Send me a block of it, please. I need all the help I can get.

Number 2517: Fritz Frazetta's ugly tree

Frank Frazetta was a master of fantasy, muscular guys, exotic, beautiful women. He was also able to draw funny animals, which seems strange to those only familiar with a painting like “The Death Dealer.” In this particular funny animal story he gives us a reasonably good knockoff of Walt Kelly’s Albert the Alligator called “Al,” and a cute squirrel called Munchy. Who came up with those names? I hope it wasn’t Frazetta. Being a funny animal strip, it is a fantasy, just not the kind you expect from Frazetta; so he signed his name “Fritz.” The tree is the main character of the story, and is the ugliest tree I have seen outside of my neighbor’s front yard.

Altogether the story falls short of genius, Frazetta’s or anyone else’s, it is short, at 5 pages, so you get to look at another facet of Frazetta’s drawing talent, without having to invest much time or brain cells on the story.

From Coo Coo Comics #47 (1949):

 

Number 2380: Supermouse in the land of the jinn

Supermouse gets involved with some folks out of the land of the fictional Arabian nights. The story has Supermouse (or “Soupie,” as he is called) involved with his arch enemy, Terrible Tom, and also a genie. The story calls that character a “jinn,” the name of the spirits (“lower than the angels,” as Wikipedia calls them) in that part of the world. As Americans we have concocted our own version of jinn, which in the sixties gave shape (and what a shape!) to the female jinn, Jeannie, in the situation comedy, “I Dream of Jeannie.”

Okay. Barbara “Jeannie” Eden has absolutely nothing to do with this Supermouse story, but in the sixties she changed my ideas of genies (oops, jinn) forever.

The real reason we are here is the story drawn by Milt Stein; it is from Supermouse #30 (1954).

Some more Supermouse. Just click on the thumbnail.

Number 2292: Spunky, Junior Cowboy, and Stanley the horse in the ghost cave

Jack Bradbury’s cartoon drawing style is a favorite of mine. I find the characters he both created and drew, Spunky, Junior Cowboy, and his horse, Stanley, irresistible. I am a great admirer of the moonlighting animators who worked in comic books during the forties and fifties; they were gifted in the main, but even among his fellow funnymen, Bradbury stands out for me.

This story, from the first issue of Spunky, shows his solid craft and professionalism. It is also funny; a funny ghost story, no less.

From Spunky #1 (1949):

Number 2127: The mad killer

Walter Graves (an appropriate surname) is a psychiatric casualty of World War II. Shortly after the war he has trouble holding a job because of anger and violence issues. Walter has headaches. His doctor says there is no organic cause he can find, but Walter should get mental health treatment. Walter refuses, and as he leaves the doctor thinks, “He is a latent paranoid — a potential killer!” Is there such a thing as a latent paranoid? I was raised by a paranoid. Despite there being levels of paranoia I observed over the years (sometimes not so paranoid, sometimes very paranoid), the condition was always there. And being paranoid doesn’t necessarily make one a potential killer. So, folks, I am cautioning you, do not get your information on mental illness from comic books.

Since this is just a five-page story, in short order Walter takes care of his career as “the Destroyer,” murdering four people he blames for his problems. At the end of the story Walter’s doctor says, “This could have been prevented if there were laws covering potential killers . . . to keep them from walking the streets . . . we never know when some madman like Graves will strike! We never know — who’s next?” Unfortunately, not so easy, as we in the real world are often reminded. So-called “madness” is not always a reason for multiple murders.

Who is Next? #5 (1952) is the name of the one-issue only crime comic book from Standard. The writer of the story is unknown, but the art is by Eisner Award winner Nick Cardy, a longtime comic book pro who did some brilliant work for DC Comics later in his career.

I showed another story of a killer from Who is Next? in 2013. Just click on the cover (which also features the Jeepers Girl, a particular obsession of this blog and Pappy.

Number 2113: The short tall tale

I hold animator/cartoonist Jack Bradbury in high regard. I think he was one of the top artists of funny animal comics in the late forties-early fifties. I love Bradbury’s art for the same reason I love Walt Kelly...their background in animation helped them give life to the characters, movement and action, even in the non-moving panels of the comics.

Jack died in 2004, but one of his sons has kept his spirit alive with a website devoted to his comic book work. Spunky, Junior Cowboy #3 (1949), the comic book from which today’s story was published, was created, written and drawn by Bradbury.

I showed this hilarious tall tale back in 2007. These are brand new, much superior scans, from my personal copy.

You can see more of Jack Bradbury’s funny animals in his Hepcats. Just click on the thumbnail: