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Still? Did they not have it in some stories? Are these all Hultgren? Did he always draw the whole book? Did he write the stories, or was Hughes already doing most of the writing (not yet under his many pseudonyms)? In #59, the Squirrely story either isn't Hultgren's work or another inker made his pencils look different. The most surreal story in #59 is about "Doc" E. Z. Duzit, a human character who uses snuff to create a cloud of dust while he quick-changes into a disguise -- almost a bizarre superpower. No sappy happy ending, either! I don't know whether he was a continuing character because so few ACG funny-animal are indexed. I'm curious about your high price -- mine was a modest $8.50 for a respectable fine- or so. Thanks for reposting the pages. Jack

It's the typical superhero bias that exists in the comicbook world. Post a scan of an Action #1 or Detective #27 and you'd have a hundred people here genuflecting (again). Just including those key phrases and quoting them a couple of times might triple the traffic on the thread by people using the search function! I'm loving it! Nicest copies of most of those books that I'm ever likely to see! (Not least because they're some of the best existing copies.) I have the fantasy of completing the run too, but would be satisfied with low to mid-grade and reader copies. I don't expect to ever get the scarcest issues. Thanks, and keep 'em coming! Jack

hello all... a comic only a pulping machine could love rick Having now indexed it, I'd have to say that the production values were way better than average. The artwork, mostly by Ken Hultgren, was consistently good. The oddly shaped panel borders made the layouts more interesting than most funny animal books. The plots were surreal enough to be entertaining -- not as bizarre as L. B. Cole's funny animal stories, and not that I could stand a constant diet of this stuff -- but fun. I was pleasantly surprised. Ha Ha Comics gets to sit up front. This one, on the other hand, took all the patience I could muster. I am not one of those people that finds Ernie Bushmiller a comic genius. Jack

Oooogggg! 100% swipes and the "artist" didn't bother to rescale, perhaps? The babe doesn't seem very concerned about the giant werewolf. Anyone recognize the sources? Jack

I just posted this one on the holiday thread, but it probably deserves a seat on the short bus too. Ha Ha Comics 59, November 1948, ACG (Creston). Jack

HHHAAAWWW! Wonderful. Should we call it potatium? No, too hard to remember. Turkium? No, the vegetarians might get upset. Gravium? Yeh, that's the ticket! And I'm a little worried about that technician. Straight to the want list. Thanks, Jack "five meeee-lion dollars!"

That's an odd costume. She's got to be lying on her left side for her logo to be legible -- and if she flips on her right side, people mistake her for Wonder Woman? Great looking book cover! Jack

What the hell ciorac, you hit the lottery or something this week? I'm beyond envious. Nah, I just blew my year end bonus on them. Year-end bonus? That bought all that stuff? Now I'M way beyond envious. Jack (to a prof, a year-end bonus would be a suprise extra course to teach in the spring semester)

Jumpin' Jimmy O'Jeeziz. Absolutely stunning. Four Color 69 is my favorite comic-book cover of all and certainly got my first-place vote in the Golden age cover competition last year. I really should just sell whatever it took (probably about 2/3 of my "accumulation") and get a copy like that. I am blown away by your Four Color collection! Congratulations. Jack Why can't I quote your images?

I had to laugh at the name of this band playing at a local club: Special Ed & the Shortbus with Fifth on the Floor Wednesday, Jan. 10 9 p.m. - $3 Despite the silly name, Richmond, Virginia's Special Ed and the Shortbus are actually very serious musicians. Ed and the boys are "a bubbling fountain of virtuosic insanity. Seeing them play is like watching a high-speed train about to jump the tracks. Unstoppable energy matched with technical mastery, outlandish humor and fully engaging entertainment, the Shortbus is a sight to behold." Jug band, Bluegrass, Old-Timey, String Band, Vaudevillian, call it what you will, it's just American music (except when it's Eastern European). The group currently employs two banjos, two guitars, a mandolin, a fiddle, a trap set, a doghouse bass, many kazoos, and a whole host of other toys to cultivate their mish-mash slice of Americana. Jack

No kidding. Was this one among the GA "top covers" nominees? I remember anguishing over which Kelly covers to nominate. What a gem. Jack

Surely wish I had one o' them -- and don't call me Shirley! Jack

Oh dear. Kathy's in love with some kind of Spock-demon, who thinks that she responds to verbal stimulation. Chauncey Gardner? That's one weird cover. The Jive family looking on is a nice touch -- is Mrs. Jive wearing a cape? GCD credits Don Heck and unknown inker. Jack

Good suggestion, although I'm not sure I want to get into collecting another form of old newsprint! Thanks, Jack

Mundane? Bite your tongue, man! This is Four Color! Ev'ry Will-Yum and Mortie Meekle is precious! Jack I wasn't specifically calling this or any book yet posted as mundane, but I know there are some out there.... Possibly some of them found their way to the back of the short bus -- Jacky and his pal Hubert for example Jack

I've wanted to read some Harold Teen ever since I learned that a lot of enduring slang (Yowsah, pantywaist, hubba-hubba) was originated or popularized in the strip. Do you know of any reprints? I'm jealous of your FC 2! Very nice. Jack (hep -- or is that "needs hep"?)

Mundane? Bite your tongue, man! This is Four Color! Ev'ry Will-Yum and Mortie Meekle is precious! Jack

I'm once again reminded how much I like the variety in the Four Color (pseudo)series. Great Thumper cover -- although it does look like he's not house-trained. Von Buettner accd GCD, which looks right to me. Jack

I'd like to see a count of how many times Stan used the "And how!" cover gag. Jack

Jack, it's time for you to pick up a remaindered copy of Trina Robbins' The Great Women Cartoonists book. It's a great read for cheap. Here's the included pic of Tarpe Mills herein - Yowzah! No mistaking her for a man (or A-Man). Thanks for the pic and the tip. I've been meaning to pick that book up some day. Jack (why does the word "cheap" show up so often in posts addressing me? )

Should be embarrassed that I thought that Speed Centaur was a centaur? AWP! Don't get me hooked on scarce Centaur books worth thousands (?) of bucks! Cool page though -- thanks for posting it. Does Linton do any Stupid Chem Tricks? Yakety-frickin'-yak -- the pages are over half text! That upper left panel of p 2 is hilarious. Is Linton the guy in the turban? No, Linton is in the green shirt. No stupid chem tricks in this issue. The Villain (Satan-Rex) is the evil chemist. Isn't that description extraneous? (Just ask my Organic Chem II class) Aha. Is he the character on the right in the splash? I saw it as someone riding a horse. Jack

For the sake of comparison: Odd that GCD credits the cover to Gustavson. That's Mills' signature at lower right, isn't it? I didn't realize that Tarpe was a woman. Jack

Should be embarrassed that I thought that Speed Centaur was a centaur? AWP! Don't get me hooked on scarce Centaur books worth thousands (?) of bucks! Cool page though -- thanks for posting it. Does Linton do any Stupid Chem Tricks? Yakety-frickin'-yak -- the pages are over half text! That upper left panel of p 2 is hilarious. Is Linton the guy in the turban? Here's the scoop on Jon Linton from a www page. I love these tales of the future set in the far-off year 2000. Jon Linton. Jon Linton is a "flyer, scientist, adventurer" who fights against the evil alien Nogos in the year 2000 on "Quinton, Land of the 5th Dimension." Jon does this with the help of his friends Dr. Kane, Lisa Kane (Jon's sweetie), and Alpha-712, a native of Quinton who can "make from mental force anything they have seen or understand." After beating the Nogos Jon et al travel back in time and arrive on Earth in the year 1940. First Appearance: Wham Comics #1 (Centaur) Thanks, Jack

I love seeing some inside pages instead of the endless cover parade. These pages convince me anew that Masked Marvel was Chris Ware's inspiration for the washed-up superhero in Jimmy Corrigan. (Modern age or no, if you haven't read it, you should.) Thanks!!!! Jack

I've looked at this one several times now, and I'm struck by Cole using such a muted palette. With all that brown and dark bule, it hardly looks like a 60s Day-Glo poster! Jack