AJD

I'm away for a week and this thread ends up on page three - get with the program guys.

Australian Pat Sullivan's name appears on Felix comics. I found out 10 minutes ago that the origin of Felix is disputed. Nonetheless, it was Sullivan's studio that made him a hit, so it seems appropriate to include a couple of GA Australian Felix comics.

I just realised that I didn't congratulate tb for compiling a fabulous collection. And for sharing it with us, which is a real treat. I was going to add that whatever you collect next should be something I don't want, but I think we are in different ends of the pool, so take your pick. There's a lot of wonderful stuff out there. I'll be the guy in the shallow end with the water wings.

Just found this on eBay (thanks Jon). The PMU/MM advertising link extended to a lapel badge:

I'd say late 1936 then - :thumbsup: Notice the change is slow but most perceptible from November to December. Most of these examples, I pulled from the Silly Symphony strip featuring Donald Duck. I'd say just the opposite. I'd say the quantum leap in evolution took place between the February and August ducks, and the changes after that were more incremental. But my guess is that there was probably one more relatively dramatic change between Dec 1936 and 1940? I think the quantum leap in the change of Donald's appearance in the world of comic strips took place on August 30, 1936 when Donald Duck began to be featured in Silly Symphony. Al Taliaferro's version of Donald is the version we all recognize today. You beat me to it - I think Taliaferro invented the look of the duck as we know him. Gottfredson's has its own charm, but the Silly Symphony version lent itself to more expression, later mastered by Barks, of course.

I'm astounded by your ability to find fabulous copies of these obscure comics. I enjoy every one you post.

Just to keep us on page 1

How about Four color 73 Three Caballeros - or does that one shot not count?

Wow, that's not something you see every day! Wonderful collecting there Timely.

You took care of it with style. Well done.

And that is just the City Centre area. The skyscraper count here is nearly incalcuable Singapore is awesome, but try Shanghai some time if you want a serious skyscraper count. They add a new one every couple of weeks!

Not Lassie, but 'dogs in space'...

Man, that's really gonna hurt.

Wally Wood on Frontline #15, the last of this great title.

Here's the Australian reprint of Uncle $crooge 21: and the indicia W.G. is Walter Granger, referenced earlier. The building at 149 Castlereagh St Sydney is still there, but the publishing of Australian Disney comics is long gone. Incidentally, the comment that early issues of MMM were exported to Australia is interesting. I've been poking through archives on and off the last few months and now know that American Comics were coming to Australia until the late 1930s until their importation was effectively banned (strictly speaking, the importers weren't allowed to purchase US dollars to buy them) as a protectionist move to support the local printing industry. Then WWII intervened and the regular publishing of new titles was banned, resulting in a slew of odd one shots and odd formats. I really must write the full story up and post it in the Australian GA thread. I still don't have a definitive date for the stopping of US imports - I'd love to know if it was before or after Action 1 and Tec 27.

Don't think we've had a Walt Kelly MM yet. I love the very purposeful Donald in this one.

The Granger would be Wal Granger. His son published Disney Comics in Australia under an exclusive licence because the father had a special relationship with Walt Disney. Here's the latter's obituary from the Sydney Morning Herald (19 Feb 2009): In 1942 Wal Granger had been employed by his father, Walter Granger, for barely 12 months when he felt he was needed in the Australian Imperial Force and enlisted. He transferred to the RAAF and trained as a sergeant observer. After further training in England he was commissioned as a navigator and flew a tour of 36 operations in 101 Squadron, probably the most secret RAF squadron in World War II. His operations were code-named ABC, Cigar or C'est Guerre, and carried secret equipment for jamming German Luftwaffe controller transmissions. German-speaking special operators went along and dis-information was broadcast from specially equipped Lancasters, to which were attached two very large vertical antennae. The operations were dangerous as the planes flew in the main bomber stream at all times and 101 Squadron had the highest casualty loss of any squadron. After his tour, Walter Granger was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross and returned to train future navigators. Walter Arthur Granger, who has died in Sydney aged 84, was born in Casino, the first of four children to Walter Rogan Granger - a mail order toy retailer and associate of John Sands, the publishers and printers - and his wife, Lorna Madeline. The Granger family moved to Sydney during the Depression years and Walter did well at Cranbrook, receiving a distinction in Business Principles. While on a business trip to California, Walter senior had become acquainted with Walt and Roy Disney in 1937 in Burbank, near Hollywood, after successfully introducing the concept of "Mother's Day" in Australia. Disney was badly cash-strapped after the launch of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs. Walter senior convinced him to embark on an advertising campaign, which ensured the success of the venture. Disney never forgot and soon appointed him Australian representative for Disney Enterprises, later to become a magical world of television, toys, films and theme parks. Flying Officer Wal Granger DFC returned safely from England in March 1946, but his father died suddenly in 1947. His standing had been so high as Disney's representative that Disney was encouraged to give the 23-year-old Wal a chance to take over the Australian business. He thus became the breadwinner for his mother and three younger siblings. In April 1957 Wal married Joy Quinn, who became active in charities and a vice-president of the Black and White Committee. Wal acquired a passion for farming, fishing and bowls and was a most convivial host. The Grangers built a house on the side of a cliff in Point Piper. They only only recently completed refurbishing Babworth House in Darling Point. During Wal Granger's watch the Disney world flourished in Australia and grew beyond just Mickey Mouse, Snow White or the Big Bad Wolf. He loved good fellowship, a single malt scotch and a cigar. Wal Granger is survived by Joy, their daughters Anna and Louise and their families.

Thanks for posting all the scans / photos, Hepcat. You have a spectacular collection. That may just be the highest praise possible!

I now want to go open a pub called the Fowl and Rodent...

Lovely copy Jon! Sell it to me.

That one was the first Pogo book I ever bought, from a guy in New Zealand on eBay. I didn't know much about Pogo or Walt Kelly but the price was right and it looked cool. Little did I know...

No one else wants to play anymore? Oh well...

I'd certainly be proud to have either in my collection! They are both wonderful books tb. My observation is that there is some variability in the high grades assigned (that's why the crack and resubmit game is played) but statistically I think that most books in 9.6 slabs are better that most in 9.4 slabs. The annual grading contest on these boards bears that out too - the most usual result is a distribution that peaks at the CGC grade, with views on either side. Of course, whether that should translate Into the price differences we see is quite another question.

Time for a Another title with some great Kelly work was this one: GCD gives Kelly as the cover artist.

A Kelly a day... I could do this for almost three months!