Now and then I sometimes . . . OK, I often . . . in my collecting for this blog come across an artist I like but just can't place. When my ignorance comes to the fore like this, I always turn to the life-saving Grand Comics Database. And sometimes, like with today's post, even this great resource offers no help. Any ideas anyone? If I absolutely had to give a name, I'd say Don Gormley. The stars of today's story, Sam -N- Simian, were Walter Lanz characters that never got much of a chance. They appeared in exactly one cartoon. Well, no matter - I though the artwork was really fine. This comes from Four Color No. 1132, August October, 1960.
PS: Jim Engel, who supplied the tremendous artwork of this blog's banner, likes John Carey for this story. I'll go along with Jim!
"The stars of today's story, Sam -N- Simian, were Walter Lanz characters that never got much of a chance. They appeared in exactly one cartoon. Well, no matter - I thought the artwork was really fine."
ReplyDeleteAnd judging by the comic here, it's got a more satisfying ending than what transpired in the animated pilot it came from (or was it the other way around, possibly both done at the same time but who knows). The animated version basically ends without resolving the lion's dilemma (the way it's presented, it comes off kinda flat really but I suppose they did what they could in wanting to approach a "limited" approach to the animation, giving the lion a house certainly made this comic version work better).
For reference, here's the animated version of this story, though in Portuguese as that's all I can find online.
http://youtu.be/F8ngtBdXKEY
Thanks, Chris! Great reference.
ReplyDeleteGlad to help! The cartoon was included on the DVD release 'Woody Woodpecker & Friends Classic Cartoon Collection Vol. 2.
DeleteThough several sites state 1960 as the date of the animated version, the title card itself (which the story was called "Jungle Medics") as a copyright to 1961, so again, not sure which came first here.
Thanks for sharing this! FVI, this is not Sam'n'Simian's only appearance in comic books: these obscure Lantz characters starred in another story, "Going my way?" published by Gold Key in Golden Comics Digest #28 (1972).
ReplyDeleteAlfons: Ah - good info and thanks. You have a nice blog.
ReplyDeleteI'd say it's *John* Carey! He did lots of art for Western Pub.
ReplyDeleteI believe you nailed it, Joe. I love the education I get from the real experts like you and Jim.
ReplyDeleteJoe: Ooops - the Jim/John mistake in Carey's name was all mine! Was thinking of Jim Engel (who supplied the ID) and typing John Carey!
ReplyDelete