Gil Turner in Coo Coo Comics!

Like so many other artists of his era, Gil Turner began his artistic career as an animator, having begun his career at Walt Disney Studios in 1933 and moving very quickly to the animation unit at several studios.

Mr. Turner worked for a “Who’s Who” list of great animation studios throughout the 1940s and into the 1960’s: MGM (Barney Bear), Walter Lanz (Woody Woodpecker, Chilly Willy), UPA (Mr. Magoo), Hanna-Barbera (as a kid and later as an adult fan, I saw his name on several Flintstones and Yogi Bear episodes), and Format Films (Alvin) among them.

But it is Mr. Turner’s comic book work for which I love him best. Interspersed throughout his animation career, he turned a ton of pages for “funny animal” comics like Coo Coo, Giggle, Barnyard, and Ha-Ha. From 1947 onward, Turner was a regular artist on Dell’s Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories, creating original stories for Big Bad Wolf and his lovable son/sidekick Lil’ Bad Wolf and contributing art for stories featuring Mickey Mouse, Bucky Bug, and Dumbo.

Sadly, Mr. Turner died very young (53) in Los Angeles in 1967.

Here we see Mr. Turner at work on Custer Bear in Coo Coo Comics No. 33 (May 1947)

Well, that's all for now, Kids! Coming up: I have a real treat in store for you guys! A book length story (which I will do in two parts) featuring the great artist of western-themed comics, Evertt Raymond Kinstler, from Santiago - a Dell Four Color from 1956!

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

--Your friend, Mykal