Bruno Bear by Don Arr!

Don R. Christensen (who signed his work Don Arr) is one of my favorite artists from the golden age of kids’ comics (among a very competitive field of beautiful work).

For my money, the Golden Age of Comic Books (1938 to 1956) was the zenith of artistic quality in the kids’ comics genre. There is a reason for this, I believe: So many of Mr. Christensen’s contemporaries (Jack Bradbury, Dan Gordon, Jim Davis, Bob Wick, Owen Fitzgerald, etc, etc) including Mr. Christensen himself, learned their trade primarily as animators for (usually) Disney Studios or Warner Bros. Cartoons. Christensen, most notably, worked for Bob Clampett’s animation unit at Warner.

It is this animation influence, I feel, that gives today’s Bruno Bear offering that nearly tactile bounce, life, and sense of moment.

Today’s story comes from Happy Comics No. 28, November 1948.

Well, that's all for now, Kids! Coming up: Let's Continue our deep dive into this issue of Happy Comics with a story from another great, Vince Fago.

I will see you all again very soon. Until then, I hope you are all warm, safe, and happy! --Your friend, Mykal

Giggle Comics No. 71, May-June 1950

Let's begin a tour of Giggle Comics No. 71, May-June 1950. First (after the cool Dan Gordon cover) the terrific work of Bob Wickersham who, I have recently learned from pal John K, signed his comic book work "Wick" or "Bob Wick." Wickersham was a ex-animator who worked for Disney, Warners, and Fliescher studios through the 1930s and 1940s. In Monty, the Miracle Mouse - a brilliant story of a funny animal arms race set in Brooklyn - one can really see wonderful evidence of Wickersham's animation background.

Another pen name! Don R. Christensen often signed his comic book work, "Don Arr." Yep, another ex-animator. Among other work, Christensen was a storyboard artist for Bob Clampett's unit at Warners. I've yet to see a comic book story by Don Arr that didn't sport a gorgeous splash panel (and gorgeous work throughout as well).

And let's polish things off with a couple of ads from the same issue!

COO COO COMICS No. 45, May, 1949

If a fellow had to choose one single title to perfectly exemplify "Kids' Comics," a solid selection would be Coo Coo Comics, published under the Standard Comics banner, which ran for about a decade over 56 issues. The title didn't have Four Color's astonishing covers - and the best issues of Four Color were the greatest kids' comics ever done - yet Coo Coo was a model of consistency. The three stories posted today will serve as example. Download THIS POST!

This first Super Mouse story is more than likely Milt Stein, but wow does it look like the great TerryToons animator, Jim Tyer, now and then.

This Kermit the Hermit story is the great Don R. Christensen (who often signed his work Don Arr). What a beautiful splash page.

This last Butch and Buttercup story will have to go unidentified (by me, at least). I love the fine-line work within a bigfoot style, but I can't even hazard a respectable guess. I sure like it, though.

GIGGLE COMICS No 36, December 1946

American Comics Group (ACG) published both Giggle Comics and Ha Ha Comics. Both titles were published monthly between 1943 and 1955. With this whopping one-two punch, a catalogue of classic material was produced which continues to shine brightly. These stories (and great Dan Gordon cover) from a 1946 issue are typical of the monthly brilliance.

Superkatt is Dan Gordon’s best remembered creation and why in the world wouldn’t he be? He is a standard housecat that wears diapers, an oversized bowtie, and a blue baby bonnet as a kind of uniform – and, despite his name and profound delusions of grandeur, is completely without superpowers.

If you love kids’ comics, you love Dan Gordon. It’s really as simple as that. His characters practically jump off the page with dimension and texture. I particularly love Superkatt’s dog pal, Humphrey, and house maid, Petunia. Also amazing are Gordon’s layouts and lettering.

I believe this next Duke and the Dope story to be the work of Ken Hultgren, primarily a Disney animator that did a ton of comic book work for ACG.

This Potsy the Parrot quickie is the always lively, engaging work of Don Arr (Don R. Christensen).

Gil Turner did this single Sweet William page. I know Turner best for his Disney character work for Dell (L’il Bad Wolf and Bucky Bug). His style here seems a bit looser that his Disney/Dell work – a little more free and fun. I like!

More Gordon before I let you go. This magnificent inside back cover, advertising the ACG comic, Cookie; displays the artists astounding composition and brushwork to the fullest.