Annie Oakley-Ross Andru/Mike Esposito-1955

And so we bid 2014 adieu with a hint of things to come. Here we have Annie Oakley delineated by the future artists of Wonder Woman, Metal Men, Spider-Man and so many more. Although very polished for this early in their respective careers, the art is almost too comical for this type of story!

Clint Curtis-Bob Powell-1952

It's been said that the words "flick" and "clint" were forbidden in comics for years lest a stray bit of ink or woodgrain make the books socially unacceptable...if you know what I mean. Some lovely art here and a timely story for some parts of the US.

Have Gun You Better Travel-Kurtzman/Davis-1958

One of my favorite TV westerns is HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL. Here's a post-MAD Kurtzman and Davis sending it up early on from HUMBUG. Watch for more western stuff coming soon.

Roy the Super Boy-Ed Robbins (?)-1943

When this colorfully dressed young fella was briefly revived in the mid-sixties, he was suddenly Roy the "Mighty" Boy...for presumably obvious reasons.

Mr. Scarlet (and Pinky)-Wow Comics-1942

By request, as usual, for a Mr. S. D from Disneyland, here's Mr. Scarlet and his blushing sidekick Pinky in their last real outing as the main feature of WOW, supplanted as they were in the following issue by one Mary Marvel. GCD credits this script to the prolific Otto Binder and if that ain't Raboy on the art (and frankly it doesn't look polished enough to be) it's someone using Raboy swipes!

The Blue Streak-Crash Comics-1940

For your post-holiday entertainment we have an adventure of The Blue Streak, Defender of the People. The last time we ran one of his episodes a few years back, he actually was blue. Now here he seems more a red and blue streak, y'know? Sort of a Blue Streak...with red highlights.

On the Day of His Return-Steve Ditko-1980

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!