Joe Penner-Cocomalt Big Book of Comics-1938

Some nice cartooning here starring radio sensation Joe ("Wanna buy a duck?") Penner. The first story, at least, is signed by Fred Schwab whose work appeared everywhere in the early days of comic books including MOTION PICTURE FUNNIES WEEKLY # 1.

Largely forgotten today, Joe Penner was a hit in movies as well as on radio throughout the 1930's with several catch-phrases that caught on nationwide. His voice and delivery were vaguely reminiscent of the later Pee Wee Herman and on film, he bore a resemblance to early Jerry Lewis. By the early forties, more sophisticated comedy had replaced him in the hearts of the public and his death in 1941 pretty much relegated him to the status of trivia question.

Impossible Man-Charles Voight-1946

Here, from the 1946 one-shot, CAPTAIN WIZARD, is a tale of IMPOSSIBLE MAN, a fun little character who's the only non-super character in a super world. He appeared in a number of titles published in the mid-forties. Another fun story of him can be found here: http://www.againwiththecomics.com/2009/02/hugh-mann-impossible-man.html.

He seems to be the final creation of veteran cartoonist and illustrator C. A. (Charles) Voight who died a year after this story came out after decades in comics.

Captain Crossbones-Sheldon Moldoff-1951

Artist Sheldon Moldoff turns up at various points in the history of comic books. His ultra-realistic photoswipes and lifted Alex Raymond layouts gave a unique feel to early HAWKMAN strips, he drew more BATMAN stories throughout the Silver Age than anyone else (particularly Bob Kane) and there's evidence to back up his story that he was the one who suggested the whole horror comics idea to Gaines and Feldstein at EC! Here we find him at ACG in 1951 doing quite a marvelous job on the rousing, old-fashioned pirate hero adventure of Captain Crossbones!

Whiz Wilson-Lightning Comics-1941

WHIZ WILSON AND HIS FUTUROSCOPE is yet another sci-fi strip showing a huge Alex Raymond influence. The only real difference here is that ol' Whiz has something Flash never had--that being his futuroscope. Essentially a time machine in a backpack. Sort of a prototype Dora the Explorer in a way.

Happy the Magic Bunny-1957

This 1957 Charlton appearance of Happy the Magic Bunny is nothing special as this character's appearances go. What makes Happy interesting is that he is, in fact, Hoppy, the Marvel Bunny aka Captain Marvel Bunny! It seems that when Fawcett finally gave up the ghost in the wake of declining sales and annoying lawsuits from National/DC, Charlton picked up quite a few of their secondary non-superhero characters and series including their FUNNY ANIMALS title. Thus, Hoppy outlasted the rest of the Marvel Family by simply changing his colors, his name and his magic word! Many years later, of course, he would return to his origins at DC in the wake of SHAZAM!

Andy Hardy-Al Hubbard?-1954

There's a wonderfully fluid animation-like art style to this Dell ANDY HARDY story from 1954 and although GCD doesn't index this issue, another online source suggests Disney artist Al Hubbard should get the credit. Andy Hardy, the character, served as partial inspiration for Archie Andrews and thus, in turn, indirectly inspired the scores of both male and female typical teenagers in comics. He, himself, however, fared much better in the Mickey Rooney films than in his very few Dell comics that, by then, were probably seen as Archie imitations!

Tom-Tom the Jungle Boy-1957

Tom-Tom the Jungle Boy ran in TICK TOCK TALES as well as in several issues of his own comic book in 1947, several more in 1957 and even reprints as late as 1963! No idea who did the wonderfully cartoony art but Tom-Tom would have been right at home at Harvey with Casper, Richie and Hot Stuff!