Two Stories by Milt Stein!

Let's start 2012 off right with two stories by one of the greatest funny animal cartoonists that ever lived: Milt Stein. The first story, "Operation Muscles," features Supermouse (Stein was one of several artists well remembered for drawing "Supie"); while the second story, "Help Wanted," features the completely forgotten character, Coo Coo.

Like Harvey Comics' Howie Post, Stein had a gift for capturing a sense of barely-controllable joy. Check out the second panel on page four of the second story, "Help Wanted;" wherein Coo Coo's hands/wings express everything I love about Stein. What a moment of blissful, artistic confidence. This all comes from Coo Coo Comics No. 54, December 1950.

Don't forget to enjoy the cool ad for a "Television Bank" at post's end, which came from the same issue. Yes. A simpler time and then some.

Just a Bit of Milt Stein!

Today, just a short post. I always get a thrill when I find one of my favorite artists in unexpected places, and I just wanted to get this one to you guys pronto. I believe this is Milt Stein doing a quick, two-pager in Sniffy the Pup, No. 13, 1951. At any rate, this sure looks like Mr. Stein to me! As always, differing viewpoints are encouraged.

Curious about Sniffy the Pup? No worries. Next post I'll do two stories from No. 13.

COO COO COMICS No. 45, May, 1949

If a fellow had to choose one single title to perfectly exemplify "Kids' Comics," a solid selection would be Coo Coo Comics, published under the Standard Comics banner, which ran for about a decade over 56 issues. The title didn't have Four Color's astonishing covers - and the best issues of Four Color were the greatest kids' comics ever done - yet Coo Coo was a model of consistency. The three stories posted today will serve as example. Download THIS POST!

This first Super Mouse story is more than likely Milt Stein, but wow does it look like the great TerryToons animator, Jim Tyer, now and then.

This Kermit the Hermit story is the great Don R. Christensen (who often signed his work Don Arr). What a beautiful splash page.

This last Butch and Buttercup story will have to go unidentified (by me, at least). I love the fine-line work within a bigfoot style, but I can't even hazard a respectable guess. I sure like it, though.

SUPERMOUSE in "The Magic Mirror!"

It's high time for another Supermouse adventure, this one from Supermouse No. 11, February 1951.

The Magic Mirror boasts a brilliant story that, told a different way, might have been yet another darkly epic sci-fi / fantasy novel full of dense, moral parables (Valley of the Black Mirror). Thank God not. Much better a 15 page comic book story by Milt Stein!

Milt Stein’s art is so bursting with life, so full of fresh air; its pleasures always seem newly discovered. His characters stretch, bounce, and move with surreal freedom; and his panels are as full of odd angles and perspectives as Caligari’s cabinet.

Two things about Supermouse: First, unlike nearly every other character in the funny animal universe, Supermouse doesn’t have an ungrateful, self-centered girlfriend whose love must be endlessly won (think Mickey, Donald, Porky, or even Mighty Mouse). Nope, Soupie has a steadfast wife, Mabel. She and Supie live in a pretty, little house in the country and are endlessly devoted to one another.

Second thing: When Supermouse gets angry, he really relishes his own fury - revels in his own might! I just love that.