Arkadin

These Dell photo covers are so rich and luxurious, so deep and delirious- they just commanded you from the racks to ignore all those dull line-drawn covers and buy Dell, and only Dell. Four Color 1009, Rifleman #1 Four Color 1125, Laramie

Found these on eBay. The Sunday strip started about a year after Dennis debuted, so there's a lot of great stuff there in addition to the classic comic books (which I am sloooowwwly collecting too).

Here's a couple of early 1950's Dennis the Menace Sunday strips I picked up recently. Love the colorful artwork on these. From 1952: From 1954:

And now for something completely different! In 1935, two years before writing his first book, the famed and fabulous Dr. Suess wrote and drew a Sunday comic strip called Hejji. It only lasted a few months, but it was classic Suess all the way. I just picked up a near complete run of the strip on Heritage, so it narrowly squeaks in as my coolest comic acquisition of the year! Here's one of the pages:

Nothing like the post-war Spirit. Here's "Song of Little Willum" from Nov. 26, 1950:

I collect Pogo strips from the early 50's, and now I'm starting on the Dell comics too. The Pogo's from this era are so, so much fun to read. Snagged this in the ol' Heritage swamp recently.

Guess the mouse wanted some cheesecake.

Classic Silver Supes. Superman #149 The Death of Superman

The movie came out a bit later, in 1949. A real jaw-dropper of a film. Steve Ditko was also a fan of Rand's philosophy, which turned up in some of his work. His "Destroyer of Heroes" in Blue Beetle #5 for instance is a weird superhero story / Objectivist manifesto combination that's fascinating and all but impenetrable.

So, I was perusing the Wikipedia entry on Ayn Rand's novel "The Fountainhead"... All well and dandy - but then I saw this: In 1945, Rand was approached by King Features Syndicate about having a condensed, illustrated version of the novel published for syndication in newspapers. Rand agreed, provided that she could oversee the editing and approve the proposed illustrations of her characters, which were provided by Frank Godwin. The 30-part series began on December 24, 1945, and ran in over 35 newspapers. A Fountainhead comic strip in 1945, drawn by the magnificent Frank Godwin (Connie, Rusty Riley)? Amazing! Has anyone seen this? Does anyone have any of the strips? Let's see 'em if you do!

Another recent CLink pickup. I have a fascination with Batmite. The character design is pretty outlandish, and I love the way Batman reacts to this grotesque imp like a bemused dad reacting to a naughty little kid. Writing Batman in this era must have been a blast.

Just picked this up. Irresistible cover - at least, I couldn't resist it.

It's Spirit #5 (Fiction House). http://www.comics.org/issue/10998/cover/4/

Holy cow, buddy - forget the Look. Just reach down and grab those pristine Tip Top 185's!

All right, the thread lives! Here are my latest Dennis additions: Dennis the Menace #9 Dennis the Menace #10

It's Lassie #49. And it's STILL 10 cents.

My Sunday night Heritage pickup. 6.5 raw goodness - can't wait till it arrives.

What! No Cookie in this thread? Dan Gordon - revered by John K and other animators - did the artwork on this fun title.

There's only 7 panels in my favorite Frazetta story - and every one is genius. From "Cindy is Saved" Heroic #94.

Picked this up in the latest Clink auction.

Hi guys- just got my first Dennis the Menace! A great book, nostalgic cover, charming stories and art - and now that I'm properly hooked on early Dennis, the collection will definitely be growing from this humble beginning.

Surprised no one else has chosen this... Captain America 110, 111 and 113 is probably the most memorable comics reading experience I had as a kid. The Steranko art, and the story are simply incredible.

My recent ten-centers:

I'm getting back into the hobby after a LONG hiatus, and starting a new collection from ground zero with these two cool DC's. Captain Action is junk, of course, but it's a pure shot of 60's kid culture. As for the Spectre 4, it's a dazzling Adams cover. Nice and glossy copy, with a miscut - but at least it's completely even the entire length of the spine.

If you don't like that book......... ....you don't like funnybooks. I like that book!