Gil Turner in Coo Coo Comics!

Like so many other artists of his era, Gil Turner began his artistic career as an animator, having begun his career at Walt Disney Studios in 1933 and moving very quickly to the animation unit at several studios.

Mr. Turner worked for a “Who’s Who” list of great animation studios throughout the 1940s and into the 1960’s: MGM (Barney Bear), Walter Lanz (Woody Woodpecker, Chilly Willy), UPA (Mr. Magoo), Hanna-Barbera (as a kid and later as an adult fan, I saw his name on several Flintstones and Yogi Bear episodes), and Format Films (Alvin) among them.

But it is Mr. Turner’s comic book work for which I love him best. Interspersed throughout his animation career, he turned a ton of pages for “funny animal” comics like Coo Coo, Giggle, Barnyard, and Ha-Ha. From 1947 onward, Turner was a regular artist on Dell’s Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories, creating original stories for Big Bad Wolf and his lovable son/sidekick Lil’ Bad Wolf and contributing art for stories featuring Mickey Mouse, Bucky Bug, and Dumbo.

Sadly, Mr. Turner died very young (53) in Los Angeles in 1967.

Here we see Mr. Turner at work on Custer Bear in Coo Coo Comics No. 33 (May 1947)

Well, that's all for now, Kids! Coming up: I have a real treat in store for you guys! A book length story (which I will do in two parts) featuring the great artist of western-themed comics, Evertt Raymond Kinstler, from Santiago - a Dell Four Color from 1956!

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

--Your friend, Mykal

Supermouse vs. J. Hooligan Frump!

Hi, Kids! I’ve missed you guys! Today we have a very nice Supermouse story on tap that I’m sure you’re going to enjoy.

Supermouse was created in 1942 by Kin Platt, an animator who had once worked for Terrytoons. Thus comes much speculation regarding Supermouse possibly being a forerunner for the much better remembered Mighty Mouse. Supes, as he was often called, was a charming creation in his own right, drawing his power from a bite of his “supercheese,” often supplied him by his ever-loyal girlfriend, Annabel.

Over the years, many great artists have put their stump on Supes, among them Gene Facette, Milt Stein, and Jack Bradbury. This story, however, is drawn and inked by the very prolific and always elegant Al Hubbard, who left his animating mark with nearly every major studio of the time, MGM, Walter Lanz, Warner Bros., and of course, Disney.

Today’s clever story was written by Richard Hughes and appeared in Coo Coo Comics No. 33 (May 1947).

Well, that's all for now, Kids! Coming up: Let’s do another story from Coo Coo Comics (1947) this time displaying the work of animation legend, Gil Turner!

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

--Your friend, Mykal

Walt Disney's Comics and Stories No. 108 - Bucky Bug!

What the world needs now is more kids’ comics, so let’s fire this blog up and see if she still runs!

The cover is a classic from the great Carl Barks, and the Bucky Bug story, “Rainbow’s End,” is from Gil Turner, who as a young man worked delivering ice before becoming an animator with Disney in 1933. His career would find him at all the major animation studios, all the while working as a cartoonist for Dell throughout the 1940s. Great stuff! All from Walt Disney Comics and Stories No. 18, September 1949.

Gil Turner in Coo Coo Comics

Gil Turner is best know for his work with Dell in the 1950s doing Disney characters. Here we see some earlier work from the 1940s for Coo Coo Comics. Judging from this, he pretty much had his game down before his move to Dell. This is from Coo Coo Comics, No. 36, 1947.

HAPPY COMICS No. 19, May, 1947

Today we have a pair from Happy Comics No. 19, May 1947. First, I must insist that we don't rush passed this lovely cover. The artist is unknown, but I love the line. Whoever it is, they follow Carl Barks' rule about eyes: The pupil "pie-cuts" always point along line of sight. Download THIS POST!

"Scamper" is the work of one of the greatest funny animal artists of all time: Al Hubbard (signed). With the possible exception of Walt Kelly (or animator, Chuck Jones), no artist did "cute" any better than Hubbard. And, of course, his draftsmanship was flawless.

This next story, "Superstrip," is not signed, but, boy, is it something to look at. Great brushwork, character design (great "bounce"), backgrounds - it's all there. I wonder if this might be Frank Frazetta? I see a lot of FF in the stuffy, pompous hog; but nothing else quite matches up. Other times I see Lynn Karp and even a hint of Jim Tyer (in the Mayor character). A collaboration? Hopefully, someone with a more experienced eye will set me straight and ease my spinning head. (Check comments by Alberto! It's Gil Turner.)

Frazetta did a ton of header art on the text stories for this title and others in the late 1940s. I put these three headers from this issue together in a triptych, thinking that these were all done by him. (John and Alberto come to the rescue. This little display is Jim Tyer - Check comments)

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.