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.
AWESOME post all around ! Love these Animator/Artists who break it down so simply without sacrificing details.
ReplyDelete1st Story: Poor Alligators... Always getting abused in comics, just cause they look mean. I hope someone takes a dive for me if my Jungle Crown is ever threatened !
2nd Story: This one should be the Anthem of Comic-Bloggers everywhere. You can take away our hot water & other amenities, but, please~ don't take away our Comics ! I especially like the panel with the mustache peeking out the hole in the hollow tree.
3rd Story: Any cartoon Fan will HEAR voice characterizations for these characters, their archetypes are so universal. This one had my favorite art of the three; a nice combination of styles, and really well grounded. Thanx for sharing !
A number of published Checklists on Frank Frazetta's comic-book work, suggest that this 3rd Story has some of his work in it.. But for myself, I've always been a little skeptical.
ReplyDeleteI own a copy of COO COO #44, which also has a 'Butch And Buttercup' story in it, which is also attributed to Frazetta. That one, looks even less-than-Frazetta than the one you've posted here!
My guess is that all of the more-recent Frazetta Checklists are simply re-publishing a Checklist that was first published in an old fanzine entitled: 'Spa-Fon' #5. And with Frazetta himself gone now. We'll have to find other ways to verify this entry..
I would suggest that this 'Butch And Buttercup' may have been pencilled by Frazetta. But it doesn't look inked, by him. I can see some Frazetta-isms in the staging and character poses; particularly, in some of the hand positions. But in other parts, the Layouts are rather flat and not terribly dynamic..
Even so, it's still a fun strip that is not without a certain amount of appeal!
Lysdexicuss: I love your comments on second story! I love the art in the Butch and Buttercup story myself . . . speaking of which . . .
ReplyDeleteRich: Thanks for your thoughts. It's fun thinking the Butch and Buttercup story might be, in some way, the great FF. My favorite part was the way the artist (whomever) drew the massive ape, Buttercup! So tactile!
Really enjoyed that..nice zany stuff..with a bit of punch!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peter!
ReplyDeleteThis Supermouse story is the purest example of a FUN comic book! Thanks Mykal ^_^
ReplyDeleteSherm: Agreed!
ReplyDeleteWow, some of those Supermouse panels do look like Tyer.
ReplyDeleteKevin: Thanks for your thoughts on the Tyer similarities. I have been in a real phase of Tyer love and thought possibly it was just me.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautifull stuff Mykal. I love Milt Stein's work. It shows such a harmony, it's almost impossible to imagine him anyway different then absolutely happy each and every day. Makes me wonder why such a talent would choose such a dark path the way he did in '77...
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ReplyDeleteDave: The fate of Milt Stein (who took his own life) will always be a terribly sad mystery. His work always felt so full of happiness.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta' hand it to Don R. Christensen, he could flat-out draw a great looking story. And his use of perspective at just the right times certainly shows he knew what he was doing.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking ... copyrights would prohibit it, but I'd love to see a story involing Atomic Mouse and Supr Mouse and Mighty Mouse and any other super-powered meeces out there.
Gary: Wouldn't that be something? imagine the story possibilites of such a super rodent dream team! And, you bet, Christensen was one of the greatest ever.
ReplyDeleteI have a very old Felix the Cat comic with a back-up feature called "Rock & Rollo". Rock is a big dumb human guy while Rollo is a fox. It's the very same story you showed here starring Butch & Buttercup, right down to 95% of the dialogue. I guess even back then recycling was used.
ReplyDeleteThat's gotta be the world's fattest elephant on the first page of that Supermouse comic! He makes Tubbs from "Pound Puppies" look skinny.
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