The Hepcats in "The Wienie Bake"

The Hepcats had so much to teach us squares; like the official definition of words like “groovey” and “hassel.” I didn’t know those words were for the cool set in 1949, did you? You know what else is cool? Nearly all of the meat butchers in this brilliantly simple story are pigs. That’s just extra extra cool - and a bit unsettling if you think about it too long.

The art here is by kid comic giant, Jack Bradbury. His drawing and line work is the stuff legends are made of – fluid yet precise and always infused with a contagious sense of joy. His panels are compact and brimming with good stuff. Bradbury was a Disney man during the 30s; and during the 40s his stuff often appeared in Coo Coo Comics, Giggle Comics, and Ha Ha comics. His work is timeless, beautiful and iconic. This is from Ha Ha Comics, No. 67, August, 1949. The scans are from my own (rather over-read) comic.

Ken Hultgren's Izzy and Dizzy & Others!

Let's finish off the cream from Ha Ha Comics No. 34, October 1946 with an Izzy and Dizzy story by Ken Hultgren. Mr. Hultgren was an animator for Disney Studios in the 1930s and 40s, working on such classics as Snow White and Bambi. One can really see the Disney cuteness here with this pair of bear cubs.

Next comes a quick two-pager from Lynn Karp, who was another animator for Disney in the early 40s. By the mid to late 40s and into the 1950s, his work for comics became extensive.

I'm not sure who drew and inked this Casey story, but it is a fine example of the extremely high caliber of work done during this Golden Age of Kids' Comics!

I don't know who the artist was for this wonderful story "Crud and the Mud," but I sure wish I did. I have seen his (or her) work in many stories from Ha Ha and Giggle Comics, and have always loved it. Aren't these finely drawn pigs? And, not for nothing, the story serves to remind of a time when comics were aimed at children. This one feels like a fine bed time story.

And finally, I think this is the work of the great Dan Gordon, but if I'm wrong I want to hear about it!

Ha Ha Comics No. 34, October 1946,

One good posting (last post) of Al Hubbard certainly deserves another. The first Stalwart Swinburne story is typical of Hubbard's beautiful 40s work. The story was written by Hubert (Hubie) Karp - brother of artist Lynn Karp, of whom we will be seeing some of next post. I'll take a guess that this wonderful cover was done by Ken Hultgren.

For good measure, let's throw in a Daniel Spaniel story written by Jack Cosgriff and illustrated by Bob Wick, another star of the 1940s.

But wait! There's more! This promotion for Cookie on the inside back cover was done (I believe) by the great Dan Gordon of SuperKatt fame.

Ha Ha Comics No. 17, February 1945 W/ Jim Tyer, Ken Hultgren, and Irving Dressler

Today, let's enjoy the work of Jim Tyer, Ken Hultgren, and Irving Dressler (with just a splash of Dan Gordon tossed in for good measure) - all appearing in a 1945 issue of Ha Ha Comics.

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The wondrous animation Jim Tyer contributed to Terrytoons in the late 1940s and 1950s (featuring headliners like Mighty Mouse, Heckle and Jeckle, & Gandy Goose and Sourpuss) pulsate and tremble as though the screen were suddenly given a jolt of electricity. Mr. Tyer's earlier comic book work is equally vibrant and unique. A fine example: This Pete Parrot outing.

Few cartoonists did more work in the Funny Animal Golden Age than Ken Hultgren who, like Tyer, was perhaps first and foremost an animator; albeit for Disney. I love his Bully the Bulldog character in this Robespierre story.

Irving Dressler is the cartoonist for this oddball (and slightly disturbing) tale starring Red Rabbit. Mr. Dressler would go on in future decades to animate many Popeye cartoons, vintage early 1960s.

Finally, here's a quick shot of Dan Gordon's artwork in this black and white inside front cover.