Two from Coo Coo Comics, 1948

Today we have two great stories from Coo Coo Comics No. 41 - September, 1948. Our first story starring the ever-wonderful Supermouse is by an artist I can't immediately identify. I don't believe it is the work of the usual Soupie artists I'm familiar with (Milt Stein, Al Hubbard, Dan Gordon, Gene Fawcett) but I'll take a shot anyway and say this looks like the work of Chad Grothkopf, creator of Hoppy the Marvel Bunny. Needless to say, my capacity for being wrong is profound and any other thoughts are welcome. Whomever it is, it's gifted bigfoot work.

Our second story has the artwork of Bob Wickersham (Bob Wick); who worked as an animator for Disney, Warners, and Fliescher studios during his career. I find Colonel Punchy and odd character - a penguin with southern confederacy roots. Well, it's a unique concept at any rate!

Two From Jack Bradbury!

Recently, good friend, Pappy (of Golden Age Comics Blogzine fame) ran a great Beany & Cecil post by Jack Bradbury. Feeling inspired, I dove into my collection, looking for some JB. Being such a fan of the artist, I didn't have to look far. Bradbury was one of the greatest cartoonists of all time, and these two stories give evidence to the claim. Both are from Coo Coo Comics No. 36, November 1947.

This first has Bradbury doing his version of Supermouse, a character many greats worked on (Milt Stein, Al Hubbard, Dan Gordon, and Gene Fawcett to name a few). Bradbury's Supermouse, to say the least, holds its own in some very fast company.

This second story stars Dodger De Squoil, a feisty, scrappy squirrel with a Brooklyn accent; who seems more than a little influenced by a well known feisty, scrappy rabbit with a Brooklyn accent. More great stuff here - what great character design.

Finally, this awesome ad from the same issue. "Fellers - here's a dream of a game!" Show of hands. Who would rather play with this than with PS3? C'mon! I can't be the only one!

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.