The 2026 Hollowe'en festivities have already begun over at THOIA (HERE!), so let's take a look at another young man with a few hollow spots deep within his not-so-nimble noggin'! Yes sir, planning a holiday shindig in the parent's cellar couldn't / shouldn't be this painfully difficult, but leave it to Johnny Prep and Polly to do their best / worst! From the December (not October!) 1948 issue of Aggie Mack #4, with art via good 'ol Al Feldstein, who (according to his 2013 biography) claims he actually produced this silly Archies wannabe story for Bob Farrell over at Superior. I've also added an old ad for Fun Balloons-- because what's a party (or anytime for that matter) without a couple of big 'n bouncy, beautiful fun balloons to play with now? BOMP!
What did the sun visors have to do with the Giant Army Balloons? Were they to protect the eyes of the poor unfortunate person attempting to inflate them and having them burst in his or her face?
ReplyDeleteOK, Feldstein's Polly Prep "Headlights" is pretty damn distracting. They are nearly front and center in almost 45% of the panels! Supposedly something Al said he learned from working at the Iger shop, but, Al, you can dial it back a little!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I got the Fun Balloon ad gag here!
Fun bit of yet but another Archie clone, I like Johnny's very Conan hair cut, and some good physical comedy. He also dressed like I did as a kid, with the sweater vest! So I felt a connection!
Al's art was always a bit stiff (he says some of the same things in interviews) but it works a lot better here than it did years later in the horror comics. I think horror comics, by their nature, need to be a lot more elastic with figures. Here the very static and straight figures actually work well for your regular type of Archie lift.
If one more character had been added to this story it would have been the teen three stooges.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or is their something odd about their eyes? Its too early for Manga type eyes, but they do fall into uncanny valley territory.
While their eyes are a bit odd, we can see Polly has her headlights showing.
Thanks for the Halloween hi jinx tale, Karswell.
Followup, concerning Bill's question, some companies would offer a free item with every purchase no matter how odd or out of place it might be.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes ordered from an outfit called American Science and Surplus* which offered all kinds of science, crafting and army surplus stuff, and as a freebee they would send buyers-
-a kitchen magnet, showing how many grams go in a teaspoon, tablespoon, etc., just the thing to go with your surplus army canteen or flashlight.
* They ended their mail order department and website, but they are still in business in Illinois if anyone wants to take a road trip there.
I love these kids! The whole family has Fleischer eyes and the twins have glossy black plastic hair. So mod! You just know they're totally cranking the Devo at that basement party.
ReplyDeleteI love her snide little shocking joke at the end there. I totally read that in Patty Duke's voice.
Honestly I always like the Archie knockoffs better--sometimes way better. I mean, I love me some Bob Montana, but Arch is hardly a sacred cow for me. I'd say that title was just another one of its own knockoffs after the first ten years or so. And since Al Feldstein can do no wrong, this thing pretty much hits the sweet spot for me.
Simple but fun, for sure. The mom made out the best I think, with getting the cellar cleaned up!
ReplyDelete