This blog is so educational . . . for me! Last post I was in the dark about the posted artist, and Jim Engel (the gentleman who supplied the art for this blog’s beautiful banner) clued me in. The artist for last post’s Sam–N-Simian story was John Carey. As Jim patiently explained, a Carey characteristic throughout his work was the way he drew flying sweat drops off the heads of anxious characters. Isn’t that cool? Here is another story with Carey artwork featuring Space Mouse, complete with aforementioned flying sweat drops. This comes from Four Color No. 1132, August October, 1960.PS: Also spot on in identifying the artist was Joe Torcivia. Way to go, Joe!
Space Mouse, alas, only appeared in one animated cartoon--aside from his guest appearance in "Spook-a-Nanny". As in your previous post on Sam & Simian, the print story parallels the animated one (of course you know that, and so do probably most people reading this!) I enjoy both versions.
ReplyDeleteThis comic book is a classic. There were 3 Dell issues (one of them part of the Comic Album series), and then Gold Key released 5 more Space Mouse comics. Too bad the character never really "took off" (no pun intended), because when it came to "cool" Space Mouse really had it--with his futuristic gadgets and his Lunar Schooner, he was like a pint-sized James Bond of the Space Age. For many years I had to content myself with the final Gold Key issue--featuring the story "The Land of Gems and Giants". It was one of my favorite comics of all time, and Space Mouse, though I mainly knew him from just that one issue, was a favorite character.
He was also featured in a song on a record album titled "Woody Woodpecker." The song was "Space Mouse Cadet" and strangely it described him as a patriotic American! Every Space Mouse fan would know that he was not an American, but from the planet Rodentia--a monarchy at least in name, with its king named King Size! So the song doesn't really cut it as an official Space Mouse anthem, but it's still an OK listen.
One more bit of Space Mouse trivia--the first Gold Key issue, released in 1962, featured a World's Fair that somewhat paralleled the real-life World's Fair that was going on in Seattle--one of my very earliest childhood memories. I did not come upon that story until my adult years, but it still gives me a thrill to see that reminder of those exciting days. The comics didn't do much with the Seattle World's Fair--a few years later, there were quite a few comics promoting and reflecting the 1964-65 NY World's Fair. So Space Mouse also has the distinction of being one of the few comics characters commemorating the 1962 Fair. (The theme of the fair, appropriately enough, was Century 21.)
Scarecrow: You further prove my point. This blog, and it's expert readers, continue to provide me with an education. Thanks for the GREAT background and info!!
DeleteGood for you, and now, here's the animated version of this tale (though the best I can find online is a Spanish edition)!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9cPWTAqyqQ
Great link, Chris!
DeleteLa Verne Harding animated the animated version of this story, which was featured in the 1961 Woody Woodpecker Show.
DeleteThanks for the info
DeleteFound a copy in English but it's on one of those Russian sites that appears to let you sign in with Facebook, Google+ or other social media places.
Deletehttp://krasview.ru/video/388248-Multfilmy_Uoltera_Lentsa_Walter_Lantz_Cartoons_-_33_seriya_Space_Mouse
Three thumbs up!
ReplyDeleteYou know it, KW!
DeleteCould you publish the Space Mouse Comic #5, cover to cover, featuring "The Land of Gems and Giants?"
ReplyDeleteThank you so much in advance!
- Joyce