Ken Hultgren in Issue #45, Ha Ha Comics!

Let's continue the exploration of the complete issue No. 45 of Ha Ha Comics from 1947 - all done to exemplify the extraordinary artwork that was standard fare in kids' comics during the Golden Age. Indeed, as my friend, Pappy (from Pappy's Golden Age Comic Blogzine), has so rightly called it, "A Golden Age within the Golden Age."

Today we have a story with art from the prolific Ken Hultrgren, whose smooth work was all over the place during the 1940s. Oh, and stick around for a moment after the story to appreciate the cool ad for a complete camera kit!

Ha Ha Comics No. 45, September 1947

The Golden Age of of comics books produced lots of great artwork - but no genre of comics during this period produced art as polished as did kids' comics!

To support this claim, I though I would post every story from an issue of Ha Ha Comics from the late 1940s over the next several posts. Thus, you might see for yourself the high standard of the time. This first story starring the Impulsive Imps will give you the first sampling. I believe the artwork here is by Al Hubbard; with cover by Ken Hultgren.

As a bonus, I'll throw in all the ads that were in this issue as well just to give one a sense of the times. The ad that closes this post includes a half-pager featuring the art of Dan Gordon!

Ha Ha Comics, 1953 - Art from Irving Dressler

I always find forgotten characters in older kids' comics kind of sad. I think of the kids that loved the adventures of Hurry Hare and Willie Watchdog - the stars of today's story. This is from Ha Ha Comics No. 91, August-September, 1953. The nicely bouncy art is by Irving Dressler. For more about Irv Dressler, check out my pal, Alberto Becattini's, great blog - Alberto's Pages!

PS: I've thrown in a couple of cool ads from the same issue for good measure.

George Wildman's Popeye

After Bud Sagendorf, my favorite Popeye artist is Charlton Comic’s George Wildman. Wildman’s work is instantly recognizable for its delirious wonkiness. In fact, the term “wonkiness” may very well have been created specifically to capture the feel of the artist’s work on Popeye.

Good pal Stephen DeStefano, knowing of my unabashed affection for the artist's work, recently asked me why there wasn’t more Wildman wonkiness on this blog. Well, let’s get this party started, Stephen! Like a train going off the rails, here come stories starring Popeye, Swee'pea, and Wimpy! Also, Wildman did the awesome cover! This is from Popeye No. 111, December 1971.