Comments on The Big Blog of Kids’ Comics!: Sparkle Comics - "Nancy by Ernie Bushmiller"

Aaron: No doubt - the god that protects fools and ...

2010-01-28T23:19:01.789-05:00

Aaron: No doubt - the god that protects fools and children was really on the job that day for young Billy! -- Mykal

"Stop or I'll shoot!" BANG! Shoots ...

2010-01-28T22:15:50.838-05:00

"Stop or I'll shoot!" BANG! Shoots like a real gun-

"AARRRGH!- Why the Hell did I point a toy gun at a fleeing bank robber?!- "

"Jeezus, Billy! I can see the sidewalk through that hole in yer gut! Neato!"

"Aw, gawd! I can;t feel my legs no more. MOMMEEEEE!"

end scene

Gary: Ah! Thanks for the info. -- Mykal

2010-01-26T07:54:31.161-05:00

Gary: Ah! Thanks for the info. -- Mykal

Here's a response from an e-mail I sent about ...

2010-01-26T07:39:14.930-05:00

Here's a response from an e-mail I sent about this story from Sparkle #4 from a friend of mine, Merlin Haas:
Yes, there was continuity in the Nancy strip then. The comic book pages are just daily strips pasted together (if you notice, there's a punch line every half page.) In the 1930s there was even more continuity when Nancy was a supporting character in the Fritzi Ritz strip. The continuity in humor strips started to ebb in the mid-50s and there wasn't much left by the mid-60s. I think King Features pretty much demanded an end to continuity in their strips about 1954 ? which is when it ended in the Mickey Mouse strip. (If I'm remembering correctly what I read somewhere.)"

So, that helps answer my question.

Gary: Great question. Sparkle Comics did re...

2010-01-25T18:46:32.423-05:00

Gary: Great question. Sparkle Comics did reprints of the newspaper strips. The long theme is a bit confusing to me as well, and I am assuming these were culled from the Sunday funnies only, which often ran a different, continuous theme; as opposed to the dailies, which in the case of Nancy were great, punchy three or four panel gags. I have researched the heck out of this, and can find no more info that that. All I know for sure is that it is Bushmiller and they were culled from his syndicated strip. -- More coming! -- Mykal

I can't tell if these are continuity strips fr...

2010-01-25T18:36:56.924-05:00

I can't tell if these are continuity strips from the syndicated product or somehow pasted together and done for Dell. I believe it is the first, but I don't recall Nancy carrying out at story for a week or two like these. At least not in the 1960s and 1970s when I forced myself to read them.

David: Bushmiller was so good at them, the silent ...

2010-01-24T17:34:10.488-05:00

David: Bushmiller was so good at them, the silent comedian, Harold Lloyd (a big fan of Bushmiller's Fritzi Ritz) asked the cartoonist to do gags for his films. I love this stuff a lot!

Erik: Totally!

Nancy rules.

2010-01-24T15:22:51.144-05:00

Nancy rules.

I read my first Nancy comics a week or two ago ove...

2010-01-24T11:57:24.513-05:00

I read my first Nancy comics a week or two ago over at the Golden Age Comic Book Stories blog and am totally smitten. I Love the silent punchlines.

KW: No such luck. All you got with this deal is a ...

2010-01-24T11:49:21.189-05:00

KW: No such luck. All you got with this deal is a puff of smoke and tiny crack. My guess is it was loaded with roll caps. As I say, Billy lucked out. Your sister would have been laughing in your face after the initial mild suprise. Lord! -- Mykal

that "shoots like a real gun" ad would h...

2010-01-24T11:43:20.686-05:00

that "shoots like a real gun" ad would have been tempting, but the "completely safe" line would have concerned me as a kid. if i wanna shoot my smelly ol' sister i want it to at least sting.

Lysdexicuss again: I just ordered some much older ...

2010-01-24T10:28:02.368-05:00

Lysdexicuss again: I just ordered some much older Fritzi, from 1949, which feature Bushmiller's Fritzi, who appears, shall we say, much more the figure you probably fell in love with! I'll give you a shout when I post those as well! -- Mykal

Lysdexicuss: That deadpan look sluggo gives over &...

2010-01-24T08:45:39.320-05:00

Lysdexicuss: That deadpan look sluggo gives over "last Stand" cracked me up, too! Bushmiller always cracks me up. The humor in Nancy was always so refined and consistant.

As it so happens, I do have an issue of Fritzi Ritz in the collection now from 1958. You got it! Since you asked, sometime soon for sure. I'll give you a shout out. I think John Stanley did those stories, but I will have to do some more research on that. -- Mykal

Oh, and I am in LOVE with Nancy's Aunt Fritzy ...

2010-01-24T03:47:34.127-05:00

Oh, and I am in LOVE with Nancy's Aunt Fritzy ! Any chance you can dig up some Fritzy Fritz ?

A classic buncha gags all thrown into one fantasti...

2010-01-24T00:52:22.728-05:00

A classic buncha gags all thrown into one fantastic theme ! Custer's Last Stand by Sluggo is hysterical ! More problem-solving geniuses, here. They'd fit right in with Woody Woodpecker !