Let the Christmas Stories Begin!

'Tis the Season, my good friends! Let's begin our annual round of Christmas and holiday stories! Right out of the starting block we have a story featuring Bugs and Elmer in "The Traveling Tree" from Four Color No. 1064, December 1959. The pencils here are by the great Tony Strobl, while the inks are handled by Steve Steere (who did a great deal of fine inking from the era but of whom little is known).

And after the story, don't forget to check out the cool ad from the same issue wherein Daisy Manufacturing (air rifles) offers a free film encouraging kids to form "rocket clubs" (in cooperation with the United States Air Force). Ah, the glorious Space Age! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Bugs & Pals via John Carey and Fred Abranz

Today we have two stories from Dell's Four Color No 289, August 1950, featuring the art work of two Western Publishing stalwarts, both Warner Brothers animators who also did tons of comic book work: John Carey and Fred Abranz. This first story, "The Sagebrush Kid," is penciled and inked by John Carey in his typical smooth, uncluttered style.

"Flivver Foolery" displays the sweet touch of Fred Abranz.

More from Fred Abranz - These next two black and white pages are from the front and back inside covers. I wonder sometimes if the Four Color artists put a little something extra into their brushwork when they knew they were doing an inside cover. It sure seems so, looking at these two examples.