Movietown's Animal Antics No. 40, 1952

Today we have three stories from one of DC's undervalued funny animal comics, Movietown's Animal Antics. These stories come from No. 40, September-October 1952. The Raccoon Kids (first and third story) is the work of Otto Feuer, who is unfairly nearly forgotten today (make that terribly unfairly). The middle story featuring Doodles Duck is by Sheldon Mayer, who is better remembered today than his fellow DC funny animal artists.

The last two pages of this post are a couple of nifty ads from the same issue. I love that in-house promotional ad with the man of steel helping to sell DC's funny animal line!

For those that prefer a download of these stories, click HERE!

FUNNY STUFF No. 72, May-June 1953

DC comics’ funny animal comics (Comic Cavalcade, Animal Antics, Funny Stuff and Funny Folks) are not very well remembered today but during the 1940s and early 1950s, Funny Stuff was a force to be reckoned with. It ran for 10 years and 79 issues.

Today, we will look at the work of two DC funny animal stars, Otto Feuer and Sheldon Mayer.

“Greetings, Fenimore!” is by Otto Feuer, who, along with Rube Grossman, was a major workhorse for DC kids' comics. After years of comic work, Feuer opened up his own animation studio, doing work for Filmation during the 1970s.

Sheldon Mayer drew and wrote comics for DC from the 1930s until the 1970s, when failing eyesight forced his retirement from the drawing table. Laying down his pencil and brush, Mayer still wrote scripts for (among other titles) Weird War Tales and Rudolph. He also created the Black Orchid! “Company Fix Bayonets!” is a very good example of Mayer’s talent for pure funny.

Finally, let's enjoy this ad from the same issue. Why? Because it’s just so plain pretty.

MOVIETOWN'S ANIMAL ANTICS - No. 37, March/April 1952

Today we have three stories by three masters of kids' comics. For a start, the wonderful cover was done by Otto Feuer, who was a 1930s Fleischer animator who turned to comics when work got scarce. He was one of the main men for DCs bigfoot comic line (Funny Stuff, Funny Folks, etc.).

This first story is the work of cover artist, Feuer. Feuer always did The Raccoon Kids, who were the franchise players for the title. Feuer's work is always limber and, like any great cartoonist, never needs words to be funny.

This next story stars Dizzy Dog, and Dizzy Dog is Sheldon Mayer (or perhaps Sheldon Mayer is Dizzy Dog). Mayer’s stuff always seems so alive, his universe so real; because his drawing is so fine and subtle. Page 2 – panel 4: Is that not a perfect drawing of a round dog wearing a small hat, walking along a country road in brooding irritation?

This last story is my favorite of the bunch. I love Rube Grossman’s heavy, sure brush; and each panel has just the exactly correct amount of background information. My favorite character here is the mustachioed boss of the Zilch Boiler Works. The script is just fine as well: “isn’t science wonderful?” says Biggety, “I went to lunch an hour ago and I haven’t lost a minute!” Put that line with Grossman’s cartoon bear, and you got funny of the first order.

This ad came from the same issue. What a pretty page.