Dan Gordon's SuperKatt!

Good afternoon, Kids! So nice to visit with you all again!

Dan Gordon remains a favorite cartoonist of mine, so it’s always a good day when I can share some of his work. It seems many comic book artists from this era (40s/50s) had animation backgrounds, but Mr. Gordon’s directorial background with various animation studios was very extensive. Most notably, he directed several Popeye shorts for Famous Studios which were known for their frenetic action and fast pace. It was this breakneck sense of movement that Mr. Gordon carried onto his storytelling and comic book work for Giggle Comics in 1944.

Superkatt was Mr. Gordon’s best-known reoccurring creation in Giggle Comics, a character intended to poke gentle fun at the emerging costumed superhero genre. Pure fun, the character is a simple housecat (albeit a talking one) who wears a diaper, a baby’s bonnet, and a bowtie to fight minor, local injustice.

So, let’s enjoy Mr. Gordon’s glorious, lush work! This story comes from Giggle Comics No. 20 (June, 1945)

Coming up next, the work of Ken Hultgren!

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

--Your friend, Mykal

Superkatt! - Giggle Comics No. 71, May 1950

Here's is some work from the great Dan Gordon. If I had to pick a single cartoonist to exemplify bigfoot (cartoony) cartooning, I just might choose Dan Gordon. Ok, I would throw into that select group Jack Bradbury, Walt Kelly, Al Hubbard, and Harvey Eisneberg. Oh yes, what about Bob Wickersham, Ken Hultgren, Warren Kremer and . . ." Oh well, suffice to say, Gordon was one of the truly greats. This is from (I think) Giggle Comics No. 71, 1950

Apologies for the unfortunate racial stereotypes portrayed at the end of this story. Hopefully, it won't distract the eye from Gordon's incredible talent. Different times.

From the Pages of Giggle Comics - 1949

Today let’s enjoy a couple of stalwarts from the golden age of kids’ comics, Dan Gordon and Ken Hultgren. These two were oft contributors to the pages of kids’ comics in the postwar period, both artists forging an immediately recognizable style. Gordon is a particular favorite of mine.  His work is so lively. Mr. Gordon does both the cover and the first Superkatt story.  Mr. Hultgren’s work is on display in the Duke and the Dope story. Both stories are from the pages of Giggle Comics No. 64, April 1949.

 

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.