John Stanley always manages to touch the joy of being alive. His stories are sprinkled with perfect human moments, so universal they always bring smiles. Next to the towering edifice of Stanley’s reputation, Irving Tripp’s contribution is often overshadowed, but his art is essential to Little Lulu and compliments perfectly the tone and minimalist perfection of Stanley’s stories.
Tubby was Stanley’s agent of sweet chaos and, like every boy in the world, I saw myself in Tubby - myself and all my friends. Here are two Tubby stories from Little Lulu no. 54, December 1952.
Tubby was Stanley’s agent of sweet chaos and, like every boy in the world, I saw myself in Tubby - myself and all my friends. Here are two Tubby stories from Little Lulu no. 54, December 1952.
This ad is from the same issue. Sure, that Space Ranger kit is amazing, but feast your eyes on that television! You know what was great about those old televisions? They had no remote. Why was that cool, you ask? Well, in my house, only my father ever touched the space-age controls located on the front. Invariably, his walk across the carpeting would produce a static charge that would snap him the moment he touched one of the knobs. He’d curse like a trooper. Darn, that made me howl!
Please enjoy and purchase the Little Lulu Volumes, available from Dark Horse Comics. Just CLICK HERE to have a look!
Fantastic. This is from the best of the series, when Stanley and Tripp were really clicking.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid -- rather, as a young boy -- I often shied away from "girlie" comics because, well, I was a young boy. It was super-heroes, Westerns and war comics for me. But that young male chauvanistic ban on by comics buying didn't include Little Lulu. Why? Because of the great "young kids" topics like battle of the sexes ('No Girls Allowed'), scary ghost stories (Witch Hazel) and complicated mystery tales (The Spider). It was all good, good writing. And funny, to boot. (Plus, I always figured Lulu could beat me up if it came down to fighting).
ReplyDeleteThanks to you and Pat at the Silver Age Comics blog, I think I am getting into Lulu!!! Both of those stories had me laughing out loud, and the second one was just so sweet. I could really sense Tubby's frustration over that blasted doll!
ReplyDeleteMyRRPage: I couldn't agree more. This is Stanley and Tripp firing on all cylinders! Thanks for the visit!
ReplyDeleteGary: Me too! I didn't appreciate Kids' comics fully until I was a grown up boy. And, yes, with regard to a fight, Lulu was a real force of nature and a huge personality. I would shoot for a tactful and crafty surrender, as does Tubs.
Jacque: "Maybe I can bury it in the cellar in dead of night," says Tubby about his doll. That line got me laughing as well. Stanley and Tripp just knew where the funny bone was. For heaven's sake, get into Lulu! -- Mykal
My wife's been reading Little Lulu. It's helping her to learn English. See Mom?! Comics ARE too good for something!
ReplyDeleteRemember the Dell Pledge? Dell comics are Good Comics! -- Mykal
ReplyDeleteHa! I just bought a few old Lulus, including this one!
ReplyDeleteI was late into learning about Stanley's work; I didn't pick up on how great these comics were until I bought the old Smithsonian book of comics (which I got for all the Kelly, Barks, Eisner and EC stuff) That book really opened my eyes to Stanley & Tripp, Wolverton, and Mayer!
I got into Little Lulu because of an ex-girlfriend, who was a John Stanley fan. She will always have a place in my heart for that. This issue contains another great story - "Snowjinks" which I am saving for winter pre-christmas. Of course, if someone want to post it before me, I won't mind at all! -- Mykal
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute! Thanks for posting. I was not allowed to read comic books as a child. (I was a voracious reader anyway.) I'm catching up now. Ha!
ReplyDeletePanavia999: so nice to hear from you. Feast your comic craving here, my dear. -- Mykal
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