What Hick Is Responsible For This Trick, Dick?

I'm in the mood for some Saturday Morning Toons, and it's been a while since we looked at anything from the great Basil Wolverton. Sounds like a fine intersection, so let's meet there.

"Flap" Flipflop, The Flying Flash was your typical deranged Wolvertoonian dwelling in a delightfully bent reality. (Fly Paper!) As usual, Flap's comics are visits to a unique and instantly recognizable unreality. One in which i often feel strangely at home.

Flap first appeared in Kid Komics #1 in 1943...

Despite the final blurb, Flipflop never appeared in another issue of Kid Komics (nor Kid Movie Komics, as it rebranded itself ten issues later).

His next appearance wasn't until just over three years later, in Gay Comics #23...

He appeared twice more in Gay Comics, in issues #25 & 26. I've never seen those two stories. Perhaps not surprisingly, it's rather difficult to find Gay from the '40s.

Flap had two more appearances; the first came from Wartwit a year after the tale above, appearing in Jack In The Box Comics #13...

His final appearance was his longest story, ten pages appearing in Krazy Komics v2 #2. We'll see what Freezerbeezer had for us later this weekend.

page art by Basil Wolverton for Kid Komics #1, Gay Comics #23, and Jack-In-The-Box Comics #13 (1943, 1946, 1947)

What The Hell's Going On Out There?

It's been said that Love knows no boundaries...

Ah... The Brain and Mssr. Mallah. Such a pair - an enhanced French Gorilla and a jar of grey matter. The classic story of the scientist who creates his own love. Mad Science indeed.

But - who is The Brain? How did he grow up to be this twisted fellow (term used loosely)?

What could he have been like as a child?

Let's find out...

Hmm.

It all seems quite the natural development now, doesn't it?

Who knows how long it may be before i try to resume any of the regular features around here. Meanwhile, here's some Friday Fun & Games tucked into this post:

Yeah. They got some bad kids over across the water. You should compare the Menace level of our Dennises...  Dennii...  What's the plural of Dennis?

page art from Doom Patrol v2#34 and The Brain #1 (or #18, take your pick) (1956, 1990)

(Don't) Send In This Coupon Today!

A lot of readers passing through here tend to see most all of the superhero movies released every year.

So, you all saw this one that came out in late 2018, right?

Solid arguments could be made that they handled the basic idea (localized) better than John Cleese & John Byrne. That ain't bad, all by itself. But they added their own unique spin, too.

But, we'll get to that.

As mentioned (probably too often), i'm still getting my brain back up and running around here. That being the case, i've yet to start getting ahead on the posting queue. Today was my excursion out of the cave to visit the med techs. No longer down the hill - they opened up a location outside the city limits so it's right close by. Close enough to walk, assuming the nerve damage in the feet is being nice. (Spoiler: It was)

Back to the cave now, but fair wiped as is often the case after the trek.

Those of you who enjoy doing the math likely already realize there's no real post today. Just that teaser above, a bit of ramble in the middle, and an odd little bit at the end.

What magazine do you suppose Captain Marvel (Shazam, not Kree) enjoys reading in his down time?

...

Thinking about it?

Trickier question once we factor in Billy Batson and mix with the Wisdom Of Solomon and his being in adult form while reading, as implied by the phrasing of the question.

Got an answer?

I'm guessing you picked wrong...

ad page from Rocket Kelly #2 (1945)

Ernie! Confound It! What Have You Done Now?

Ernie was a guy who never caught on, it seems. But, he tried. He had three different strips (all by 'Vic Brown'), each appearing in a different title. He debuted in All Great Comics in 1945, and popped up in both Rocket Kelly and Zoot Comics in '46.

Although he may only have had these three comic tales, it seems his adventures were ongoing well before that time. The first story opens up "Yes! Ernie has blown the top off the peace and quiet of his home again!" And Ernie's father is already tired of his dren...

Ernie's interests turn from science to fantasy for his next tale. (We're guessing on the order here. One story is from August-September issue, the other is from the Fall issue. Ipsy/bipsy) His attentions have turned from chemistry to the tales of One Thousand And One Nights...

He manages to combine his interests in science and fantasy for his third, and final, tale...

Although Ernie may only have had three appearances in the comics, he got a pretty good ending to his stories.

page art from All Great Comics (nn), Rocket Kelly #4, Zoot Comics #3 (1945, 1946)