It tickles me the way I can sometimes sniff out a comic book that has a story in it that deals with disc jockeys, radio, or music celebrities, as I am often on the prowl for new goodies to showcase here in the WFMU Comic Supplement. The cover of the book we'll visit today grabbed me right away, and it didn't take too many pages before I knew that there'd be good stuff in there for the blog.
First there were anthropomorphic talking trees (always a fave) as well as a talking bulldozer (the second version of one of those that I've seen over the years), and then, a couple of stories later - a real gem, and our feature tale this week.
The writer of these odd yarns is unknown, but the artist Tex Blaisdell is very well known, both from newspaper comics (such as Little Orphan Annie) as well as all kinds of work for comic book magazines, and he does some lovely and stylish work here in a kiddie comics format, not one that he is usually known for.
Some time ago here in the Supplement we looked at a rather sinister anthropomorphic radio microphone in this story, and now here comes another rather creepy radio character; but I don't want to spoil the shock - just join us after the jump and see for yourself!
Strange script, eh? Kind of unusual writing for this type of kids book. Let's back up to the top of this 100-page issue and look at the lead story, as it's also very odd. A Dolly story, again by Blaisdell.
Great character, Mr. Question Mark.
-----?????------ Some twisted 'logic' in that one! Dolly kicks it all off by eating the pickles and ice cream from the tree, and then she shoots a nightmare into him at the end? Doesn't seem quite fair, somehow!
Below is the very nicely rendered cover for this one-shot 100-page 25-center, complete with a scary snaggle-toothed clown, and the Dolly stories originally appeared in Dolly #10, from a year before, whose cover is also shown below.
Before we go, here are some nice ads from the back of the Kiddie Karnival book ------
Close examination of the Lionel ad reveals visible paste-up lines around all of the elements in it.
Frank Zappa fans will recall that 'Uncle Bernie' is immortalized in the song 'Uncle Bernie's Farm', from the 1967 Mothers of Invention album Absolutely Free, lyrics displayed below.
Again, a tip of the comics hat this week to the Digital Comic Museum, where this cute magazine floated in just the other day. Join us in two weeks, same time, for more four-color craziness!
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