Keeping with the theme of dirty dogs (see previous post), here's a fun one from the August 1952 issue of Spellbound #6. And while it's not quite as dirty as the aforementioned previous post, it is definitely miles more entertaining, and contains much clearer direction and intent.
I wonder how Hank Chapman managed to get a writer's credit on the recent stories you've posted? Was Stan feeling especially generous, or was Martin Goodman on vacation when this issue hit the stands. Incidentally, have you ever posted The Nightmare, from Astonishing 4, in which Chapman and Lee make a cameo?
I'm sorry to hear that. I will keep my fingers crossed that a bargain copy appears at some point in the future. I'm still hugely enjoying the blog in the meantime.
Ha! The ending should be predictable but it wasn't for me because it doesn't feature any of the tropes, no death, murder, zombies, etc. Just what is basically a funny bar joke, and the writing is solid as it works even though the page count is high (for these kind of stories.)
Lot to like in the art -- the shadows on the splash and the twisted graveyard on page 2 (panels 1, 2, and especially 3) are really cool. I love the dog! I could only imagine him with Huckleberry Hound's voice!
The facial expression on the last page are great. This is a wacky little tale with quite the difference. Not everybody KIND of wins. The mug-ee at the beginning survives (I think), our hero got a payday, and the rich guy got a talking dog, and the dog gets to live in a mansion!
You should probably talk about this on your podcast I just heard about, I mean, that would be a cool discussion, and hopefully not a lame one like is Halloween or Friday the 13th better.
The art in this thing was excellent, those first two pages are both gorgeous. After that it gets a little more pedestrian--but by then I'm already married to it. I'm even charmed by the imprecise colors. Can't lay the blame solely on the chintzy printing this time. These process plates have the technical accuracy of finger paints. Very stylistic!
I kind of love the punchline here. I'm always impressed by Atlas' playfulness. And I guess it turned out pretty well for everybody involved. The starving dog eats, the rich guy gets a magical pet, and Charlie? He avoids the violent psychopathic jealousy of the retired old dummy he has in a box under his bed. Win win win.
Uh, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have aped your comment exactly if I had been able to see it last night when I posted mine, Brian. Sorry! You make a lot of excellent points, though!
You don't have to be okay with the mugging to be glad to see nothing terrible happen to Charlie, just as Brian Barnes says.
The ending is sort of the flipside of a scene in the W.C. Fields movie POPPY. Fields uses ventriloquism to sell a man a fake talking dog, and after the sale he makes it say one final thing - he makes it sound resentful about being sold, so it says something like, "Just for that, I'll never talk again!" Fields says to the man, very innocently, "I think he means it."
It's kind of easy for me to have a favorite Mort Drucker item, since it's nearly my favorite Mad item ALTOGETHER, in # 128 and Special # 10. It's an updated 1969 version of THE WIZARD OF OZ called "The Guru Of Ours."
I wonder how Hank Chapman managed to get a writer's credit on the recent stories you've posted? Was Stan feeling especially generous, or was Martin Goodman on vacation when this issue hit the stands. Incidentally, have you ever posted The Nightmare, from Astonishing 4, in which Chapman and Lee make a cameo?
ReplyDeleteNope, my Astonishing collection unfortunately begins with #7... those aren't easy to find in my lower grade price range anymore
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that. I will keep my fingers crossed that a bargain copy appears at some point in the future. I'm still hugely enjoying the blog in the meantime.
ReplyDeleteHa! The ending should be predictable but it wasn't for me because it doesn't feature any of the tropes, no death, murder, zombies, etc. Just what is basically a funny bar joke, and the writing is solid as it works even though the page count is high (for these kind of stories.)
ReplyDeleteLot to like in the art -- the shadows on the splash and the twisted graveyard on page 2 (panels 1, 2, and especially 3) are really cool. I love the dog! I could only imagine him with Huckleberry Hound's voice!
The facial expression on the last page are great. This is a wacky little tale with quite the difference. Not everybody KIND of wins. The mug-ee at the beginning survives (I think), our hero got a payday, and the rich guy got a talking dog, and the dog gets to live in a mansion!
You should probably talk about this on your podcast I just heard about, I mean, that would be a cool discussion, and hopefully not a lame one like is Halloween or Friday the 13th better.
A down-and-out ventriloquist? Well I never!
ReplyDeleteThe art in this thing was excellent, those first two pages are both gorgeous. After that it gets a little more pedestrian--but by then I'm already married to it. I'm even charmed by the imprecise colors. Can't lay the blame solely on the chintzy printing this time. These process plates have the technical accuracy of finger paints. Very stylistic!
I kind of love the punchline here. I'm always impressed by Atlas' playfulness. And I guess it turned out pretty well for everybody involved. The starving dog eats, the rich guy gets a magical pet, and Charlie? He avoids the violent psychopathic jealousy of the retired old dummy he has in a box under his bed. Win win win.
Fuzzy waiting until Charlie had finished the deal was the best thing about this, I think. I need to ask my dog to see what she thinks.
ReplyDeleteHa! I'm with Brian; I didn't see the ending coming and really enjoyed it. Glad they didn't limit it to just a few pages!
ReplyDeleteUh, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have aped your comment exactly if I had been able to see it last night when I posted mine, Brian. Sorry! You make a lot of excellent points, though!
ReplyDeleteMort drew the face of "Mad". Such a great talent. RIP.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to be okay with the mugging to be glad to see nothing terrible happen to Charlie, just as Brian Barnes says.
ReplyDeleteThe ending is sort of the flipside of a scene in the W.C. Fields movie POPPY. Fields uses ventriloquism to sell a man a fake talking dog, and after the sale he makes it say one final thing - he makes it sound resentful about being sold, so it says something like, "Just for that, I'll never talk again!"
Fields says to the man, very innocently, "I think he means it."
It's kind of easy for me to have a favorite Mort Drucker item, since it's nearly my favorite Mad item ALTOGETHER, in # 128 and Special # 10. It's an updated 1969 version of THE WIZARD OF OZ called "The Guru Of Ours."
Funny, but while reading the story I was prepared for bloody mayhem involving the humans, but hoping that nobody would harm the dog.
ReplyDeleteI must be the guy who grew up on horror comics that they warned the world about.