Andy Panda in "The Mighty Mites"

In the post war Four Color books, Andy Panda and his friend, Charlie Chicken, were featured in some of the most surreal adventures ever staple-stitched between comic covers. This darkly-tinged, rollicking tale of an insane inventor intent on world domination is top of the class. The art here is all Dan Gormley, and no one drew the Panda any better. Gormley did this beauty of a cover, too.

What’s cool about Andy (besides Walter Lantz' design) is his heroic optimism; his very aggressive positivism. With the Panda, if you can't get on board the positive express, you'd best get off the tracks! Notice how he glares and balls up his balloon fists whenever Charlie’s attitude flags. This is from Four Color No. 198, September 1948. Scans are from my own comic.

PostScript: I have learned from my good friend, Gabriel (Joyville), that this great story is by John Stanley, which makes perfect sense. For a wonderful essay on this story, please visit Frank M. Young's blog: Stanley Stories.

More Gormley from the inside front cover. I love the hatcheck girl. Then as now, good help is hard to find.

Chip -n- Dale in "Out West"

The stories of Chip ‘n’ Dale are all about friendship, loyalty, and the sheer power of a teamwork based in personal sacrifice. In addition to these sterling qualities, the pair of chipmunks accomplished things through a near-psychic communication (despite a mutual inability to pronounce linking verbs).

Harvey Eisenberg was the finest artist for the pair. The legendary cartoonist had the secret of Funny Animal cartooning: Cute but not cloying. I best love his work with Hanna-Barbara Studios (which we will get to before long), but his perfect panel composition is more than evident here. He did the cover as well.

This is from Chip ‘n’ Dale No. 10, June 1957. All scans are from my own comic.

More Eisenberg from front and back inside covers. Cute, you bet; but no saccharine here. Ah, such beautiful work – each panel with just exactly enough.

This from the same issue. This eye-catcher is typical for Schwinn from the era. Is it any wonder a Schwinn was the only choice for cool kids? The Mark II Jaguar sported 3-speed Sturmey-Archer gearshift, a streamlined tank, and a deluxe two-toned saddle. Dang!

Li'l Bad Wolf in "Sorcerer's Hat" and Bucky Bug in "Bug-Collecting Giant"

A couple of brisk 8 pagers from Walt Disney Comics and Stories No. 113, February, 1950. This first one is a Li’l Bad Wolf story written, penciled and inked by Gil Turner.

No son ever loved a father more that did Li’l Wolf. His father, Zeke Wolf, loved being bad. His long, toothy snout drooled at the thought of the three little pigs, forever grinning at the thought of eating them. Li’l Wolf would not allow his father to degrade himself in evil, however, and always saved his dad from the disgrace of his own nature.

This tale of found good fortune is a fine lesson in how to tell an 8 page comic story. Bravo, Mr. Turner. Bravo, also, to Walt Kelly for the cover. All scans are from my own comic.

Have you ever wondered in an idle moment what the world looks like to a bug? Here’s your answer.

This second tale is a rhyming fable, as were all Bucky Bug stories. The art is by the great Tony Strobl, who is on most people’s short list of funny animal all-time-greats. Much like the aforementioned Kelly, Strobl could go cute without a trace of cloying sugar. I love the details Strobl brings to the bug’s world, which was the magic of these tales – a pipe for a furnace, a matchbook for a table, etc.

I also love that the bugs live so happily in Junkville, among all the junk.

Last but not least is a two-color story from the back cover. Make that certainly not least, consider the art is by Al Taliaferro.