Harvey's Special Xmas Toy Section!

Once a year, Harvey would devot a section of a comic to a "Special Xmas Toy Section," featuring pages of great toys for kids to look through. Let's have a look during this Christmas season of 2011 what children wanted from Santa over fifty years ago. This comes from Spooky, No. 28, 1959. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and love to everyone!

"Santa's Ninth Reindeer"

This holidy season, I have come to really appreciate the comic book art and storytelling of Mel Crawford (Thanks, Alberto, for identifying this artist for me in an previous Christmas post!). Let's enjoy another Crawford story. I really love this one, being a sucker for both Christmas and dog stories! This comes from Four Color No. 1063, December 1959.

A Walt Scott Christmas Tale!

The day is fast approaching! Merry Christmas! Here comes one of Walt Scott's famous Christmas stories, "The Little People's Christmas." Walt Scott was best know for his Little People stories, and it's easy to see why: What a nice, classic Christmas feel to story and art. Scott painted the cover as well. Ah, the holidays! This comes from Four Color No. 959, December 1958.

Two Christmas Stories in Four Color!

Today, Christmas bells keep ringing with two festive stories from Four Color No. 1154, December 1960. I'm not sure who did the wonderful cover, but the first story, "A Surprise For Santa," has the art and scripting of John Stanley. PS: Comic book expert and historian, Alberto Becattini, has identified this as the artwork of Dan Gormley - not Stanley. The second story, "Xavier Patch," is a real gem by an artist unknown to me (but hopefully known to someone) I love the line work and draftsmanship on display in that one (and the story has a simple holiday warmth, also easy to love)! PPS: Hooray! Mr. Becattini has supplied the ID: "Xavier Patch" is the work of Mel Crawford.

Porky Pig in "The Joyful Toy"

The Christmas stories continue with this wild tale wherein Porky invents a jet propelled pogo stick for the Christmas toy market! It comes from Four Color No. 1064, December 1959. The mighty fine pencils come curtesy of John Carey (inks unknown).

I love when funny animal stories have a few human beings thrown into the mix. In "A Joyful Toy," Porky and his brood are the only funny animal characters in the story! Here, a family of pigs can go to stores, interact with human friends and neighbors, and enjoy Christmas without causing a ripple! Wouldn't that be a lovely world? Don't forget the two puzzle pages at the end of the post, both drawn by Tony Strobl. Happy Holidays to all you good, little pigs and kids out there!

Let the Christmas Stories Begin!

'Tis the Season, my good friends! Let's begin our annual round of Christmas and holiday stories! Right out of the starting block we have a story featuring Bugs and Elmer in "The Traveling Tree" from Four Color No. 1064, December 1959. The pencils here are by the great Tony Strobl, while the inks are handled by Steve Steere (who did a great deal of fine inking from the era but of whom little is known).

And after the story, don't forget to check out the cool ad from the same issue wherein Daisy Manufacturing (air rifles) offers a free film encouraging kids to form "rocket clubs" (in cooperation with the United States Air Force). Ah, the glorious Space Age! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!