COMIC BOOK REVIEW! LOONEY TUNES #167 (Dell Comics, September 1955 issue)
Here's one I gotta admit I would have snatched outta any flea market pile during my avid comic book collecting days, not necessarily because I am a great fan of the various Looney Tune and Merrie Melodies characters as portrayed on the printed page, but because this book came out smack dab inna middle of that quite sainted decade we all know and love as the fifties. When I was approaching adolescence I thought the fifties were a great time, not because of any of the nostalgic drivel that was beginning to make its way into the media back then, but due to the fact that back when people knew better there weren't any creeps and general sickos lurking around to soil the purity of the mid-Ameigan experience. Not only that but the television programs that were hitting the rerun circuit sure came off way more entertaining and downright suburban ranch house smooth than the just pre-disco offal that one tended to be inundated with during those best/worst of times.
Nice li'l snat mag ya got there Chris, and although in NO WAY do the stories here capture the mad anarchy that you found in the animated cartoons they're still good enough to capture your attention. 'n yeah, alla the front line WB cartoon characters are here from Bugs and Daffy and Sylvester and Tweetie to Elmer and Porky getting into the usual Dell-approved mischief that made a whole load of parents heave a big sigh of relief at the idea that there kids weren't getting gored out by a buncha EC-styled mishaps. Kinda makes ya wonder how the folk of them times woulda reacted to GENDER QUEER : A MEMOIR but I wouldn't want any of them to die of sexual liberation shock.
One item did catch my attention and that was the "Mary Jane and Sniffles" tale, the series of which I had only heard about via various comics-related reading o'er the years. Sniffles was of course that little mouse of the classic early/mid-forties Warners era who did this rambling talkschpiel swiped from Florence Lake's character in the Edgar Kennedy comedies, and he (it?) was a rather entertaining character whose various cartoons (especially the Christmas one where he fights to stay awake in order to see Santa) still resonate in my slobbish being. By the mid-fifties the Sniffles shorts were long gone but the character did live on in the books, this time teamed up with a blond girl who not only is friends with the mouse but has some super powers allowing her to shrink to his size. Now that I've finally read one of these stories all I gotta say is that, well, I read one! Awww, actually they do have somewhat of a charm to 'em that is sorely missing in today's cyborg world.
Yeah, this is a nice book that'll keep ya busy for some time. And if you can find a copy with all sorts of weird stains, torn pages and a nice funky smell to it you might just be gettin' yourself a bargain next time you go to the flea market!
Hey, check out the Quietus site for a great interview with Makoto Kubota.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who hasn’t grabbed the Peter Laughner 5lp box set should go to smogveil.com right fucking NOW. You can get it fir 40 fucking bucks. The label is shutting down and they’re doing 55% off the posted prices. Too bad about a great label but this is a great chance for cheapskates and homeless people to snag a treasure.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip. Shame about a quality label. Hell the book that came with the laughner box was worth 40 bucks alone.
ReplyDeleteHope everything works out, Chris (responding to your latest post). I'll miss the comic book reviews.
ReplyDeleteA five LP set of Peter Laughner? Didn't that win a Grammy for... comedy? (Chuckle!)
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Is it true that you once had sex with every member of Chicago in one night, Alvin?
ReplyDeleteMy dear Herbie, enjoy your Peter Laughner! With my blessing! You will excuse me, however, if I prefer to listen to actual... music. I'm on a bit of a King Crimson binge! And Three Dog Night.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
PS: We wish you the best, Chris! And look forward to your return!
Three Dog Night? Your vagina is showing.
ReplyDeletehey what hapened to the blog this is gay ? !
ReplyDeleteSorry Jimbo, but Chris is undergoing gender reassignment surgery and won’t be back until Christine Stigliano is ready for public viewing.
ReplyDeleteStigliano's taking a walk on the wild side?
ReplyDeleteCome back, Shame! Shame, come back!
ReplyDeleteChris - Hope everything is OK. We miss you. Well I definitely do, anyway. If and when you return, why not just limit yourself to a weekly weekend post and skip the midweek ones? it will halve your exertions at a stroke! All the best. SJB
ReplyDelete