Goofy in "The Junior Jet"

Good afternoon, Kids! So nice to visit with you all again!

Today’s story stars a personal hero of mine from the Disney Studios: Goofy!

What I admire first about Goofy is his innate loyalty and bravery. But even more importantly, he is always purely optimistic and by nature happy in the worst of times. The needle of his internal compass is always balanced on contentment. Nothing gets him down, and he never, ever quits on his dreams!

Often, when his pal Mickey Mouse is feeling dire, it will be Goofy who urges him to cheer up, reminding him that things aren’t as bad as they seem (even when they seem pretty darned bad). His instincts are always to kindness, care, generosity for anyone he knows (and the moment Goofy meets you, he will consider you a friend).

Goofy will be the first to admit that Mickey (and nearly everyone) is much smarter than he is (in this story, Goofy says to himself “Wish I could think good like Mickey! Must be fun when yah git the hang of it!”), and Goof is always poor as a church mouse. But nothing gets him down, nothing makes him worry too much, and nothing ever stops him from coming to Mickey’s aid when Mick is in trouble.

I love him and have learned from him that a good heart is of more help in the world than a quick mind. I work every day to be more like Goofy.

The great Al Hubbard illustrated this story with a script from Carl Fallberg. The cool cover (which I've thrown in just because it is so cool) is by Dick Moores. Enjoy!

Both story and cover are from Four Color No. 468 (May 1953).

I will see you all again very soon. Until then, I hope you are all warm, safe, and happy!

--Your friend, Mykal

Uncle Salty and his "Dependable" Family!

Good afternoon, Kids! So nice to visit with you all again!

Today’s Woody Woodpecker story co-stars Woody’s nephew and niece (Knothead and Splinter) and their seafaring Uncle Salty. The story is penciled by John Carey, who animated for Warner Bros. in the 1930s, working on Bugs, Porky, and Daffy cartoons throughout the decade. Starting in the 1950s, Mr. Carey began working full-time in comics, drawing Warner characters for Dell/Western Publishing. Mr. Carey had a very long career, drawing Hanna-Barbera characters in the 1960s, finally drawing for Disney Comics in the 1970s. He was active with the publisher until 1984! This salty story is a fine example of his late 1950s work.

Handling the inking chores on this 6-pager was Steve Steer, who inked thousands of pages for Western Publishing from the 1950s up until 1984. Mr. Steer inked all the great draftsman who worked at Western, including Harvey Eisenberg, Tony Strobl, Phil DeLara.

This story comes from Comic Album No. 5 (March-May, 1959).

I will see you all again very soon. Until then, I hope you are all warm, safe, and happy!

--Your friend, Mykal