I love Richie Rich covers. They always feature Richie in some comic and extravagant display of his wealth: using rolled up logs of money for firewood, putting round gems around on a golf course; or (as here) diving into a pool filled with money. Somehow, because it was Richie, these displays seemed joyous but never ostentatious. The artwork for the cover is Warren Kremer's handiwork. The following stories were done (art) by Ernie Colón (Richie Rich) and Sid Couchey (Little Lotta). Oh, and not for nothing, this is the first Little Lotta story to appear on this blog. A terrible omission, one happily rectified here. This is from Richie Rich #75, November, 1968.
"Wak! You little brat! Money diving's MY shtick!" - Scrooge McDuck
ReplyDeleteTop: Ha! Good one!
ReplyDeleteIn a way, Disney's DuckTales TV show sometimes seems to emulate the more simplified tone of Richie Rich, versus Carl Barks and Don Rosa's more nuanced and sometimes philosophical Uncle Scrooge. Where McDuck's mansion and servants hardly ever shows up in the comic books, they are far more prominent in DuckTales, perhaps for the same sort of kids' wish fulfillment reasoning. The mansion also gave DuckTales and Richie Rich a bit more of a domestic setting, versus Uncle Scrooge's workaholic/adventurer persona in the comic books.
ReplyDeleteOh, and to stay on topic, the Richie Rich comic is cute. The Harvey comics have a very friendly-looking vibe to the art and stories. I wonder if a digest format book of Casper and Richie Rich wouldn't have given Archie and his Riverdale friends a run for their money back in the day...
Great insights, Debbie. Now that you mention it, I can see a real connection between DuckTales TV show and RR. The domestic setting is a great observation. And, wow, wouldn't that have been cool! Digest RR and Casper. What in incredibly great idea.
DeleteHarvey produced plenty of digest-sized comics, here's some Richies:
DeleteGrand Comics Database Richie Rich Digest
and here's some Caspers:
Grand Comics Database Casper Digest
None together though, for that you have to go to the comic books:
GCD Series Richie Rich & Casper
I think I have a different comic with this yeti story in it. It upset me as a kid because it appeared the yeti actually fell to his death.
ReplyDeleteKeith: Great to hear from you! Yes, that was a little graphic for a Harvey comic - yet that was Mr. Colon all over. His stamp on RR was that he liked a more adventurous Richie.
DeleteThe Sid Couchey's artwork in the stories of Little Lotta and Little Dot, are pure comedy!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, sir! I think sometimes both Sic Couchey AND Little Lotta get short shrift.
DeleteGood to see the Harvey characters getting some love! I agree with KW, I was upset that the yeti fell to his demise and all the kids could feel was relief. And I had the pleasure of meeting Sid Couchey and his wife Ruth back in 2004, what a gentleman! Good times...
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is interesting in Harvey toys, come visit my website, The Harvey Mercheum! And thanks Mykal for sharing Harvey stories!
Jonster: I've always heard Mr. Couchey is an old school gentleman! He's been a bit under-served on this blog as well. I'll try to rectify that ASAP. Now, I'm off to the Harvey Mercheum!
ReplyDelete