XOWComics.com

Content Items (39 total)

Bad Business

Illustration on Cover, Front

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): Sad Sack

Character(s): Policeman; Sad Sack; scruffy dog

Synopsis: Sad Sack wallows in tears as a policeman tickets him for parking his delivery wagon by a hydrant.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title is excerpt of headline, "The Story Behind The Cover: 'Bad Business'", which is a text story accompanying full-color thumbnail reproduction of front cover on page 28.

3rd National Bank

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; men pedestrians; banker; imagined bank robber

Synopsis: Sad Sack opens an account at 3rd Nat'l Bank with 10.00 USD he found but dreams of banking getting robbed.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title taken from nameplate affixed to bank building in strip.
Indicia and subscription info in tiny font last five lines bottom of page 2.

Ambulance Nickel Ride

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; policeman; paramedic

Synopsis: A cop swinging his billy club while on a beat accidentally hits Sad Sack's left knuckles, but as a good Samaritan, calls an ambulance to have him treated at a hospital.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title adapted from rough ride given to a prisoner in transport and theme of strip.

Bobby Shelby and His Pals Form a Bike Safety Club

Advertisement on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset (p. 4)

Subject Matter

Genres: adventure, childrens, sports

Feature(s): Bobby Shelby

Character(s): Bobby Shelby; Pals

First Line: I have called this meeting to tell you about my new bike safety club.

Synopsis: Bobby forms a club to promote bicycle safety. This is also an ad for Shelby Bicycles.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: This ad appears on page 4. Verified Lee Elias signature in panel 5 at left on page 4 upper half.

Rear-Ended! T-Boned! Ticketed!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; car dealer; policeman

Synopsis: Sad Sack gets into two automobile accidents right after taking delivery of his new car.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title inferred from theme of strip.

This Machine Age

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack

Synopsis: Sad Sack tries out a fully-automated lunch diner.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]

Quiet Please!

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; hospital staff; policeman

Synopsis: In an effort to maintain quiet in a hospital zone, Sad Sack really messes up.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]

Boxing Lesson

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; boxing instructor; medics

Synopsis: Beaten up during boxing lessons, Sad Sack ends up in the hospital but still gets a tuition bill.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]

The Hero

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous, sports

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; Ace baseball teammates; spectators; policeman

Synopsis: Sad Sack breaks a flag pole while making a heroic catch of a fly ball to win the game.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]

Mister Civilian

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous, military

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Private Sad Sack; Civilian Sad Sack; pedestrian mob; sanitation worker

Synopsis: Thrilled with a discharge, Sad Sack hastily tosses his uniform for civvies much to his regret.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]

Ace Night School

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; company president; men in soup kitchen line

Synopsis: Sad Sack goes to night school at urging of his boss only to be fired for later sleeping on the job.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title taken from billboard in panel 5.

Better Medicine

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; doctor; friend

Synopsis: Sad Sack throws out doctor-prescribed medicine in favor of a friend's remedy for a sniffle.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title inferred from theme of strip.

Ace Shoes

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; heavy-set woman customer

Synopsis: Sad Sack pokes fun at a heavy-set woman customer but promptly gets smacked with his recommended shoe.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title taken from store sign in panels 2-4.

Ace Diner

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; bum; cashier; manager

Synopsis: Sad Sack unwittingly gives his last quarter (0.25 USD) to a bum, then cannot pay his diner check.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title taken from lettering in storefront window of panel 6.

Cafeteria

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; cafeteria patrons; manager; cook

Synopsis: Fed up with being elbowed and pushed out of line, Sad Sack applies for the cafeteria job just so he can finally eat.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed titled taken from storefront sign in panels 2 and 3.

Rude Woman

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; rude woman; subway passengers; get even; revenge

Synopsis: Sad Sack seeks revenge against a rude heavy-set woman who's pushed him aside several times.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title inferred from theme of strip.

Monark Super Deluxe

Advertisement (Comic Format) on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ?

Inker(s): ?

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset, p. 17

Subject Matter

Genres: non-fiction

Character(s): King on Wheels

First Line: See Monark ... Then Buy The Monark Super Deluxe

Synopsis: Monark's "King on Wheels" is a boyish cartoon hero wearing a red crown and with a large M emblazoned on his red outfit who is promoting the new Monark Super Deluxe bicycle.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: Assumed title is an excerpt from advertisement headline at top of page 17.
Advertisement includes coupon for Monark Silver King, Inc. that could be clipped and mailed to:

MONARK SILVER KING, INC.
Department D179
6501 W. Grand Ave., Chicago 35, Illinois

Address of nearest Monark bicyle dealer could be obtained by calling Western Union by number and asking for Operator 25.

Rodeo Week

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous, western

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; blonde cowgirl

Synopsis: Sad Sack invites a blonde cowgirl to the big dance at town hall during rodeo week.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title taken from town posters in panels 2 and 3.

Captain Tootsie Lends a Helping Hand

Advertisement (Comic Format) on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Letterer(s): typeset

Subject Matter

Genres: adventure, superhero

Character(s): friends; Doctor

First Line: Captain Tootsie and his friends are strolling about the country side, enjoying the nice spring weather.

Synopsis: Captain Tootsie, Rollo, Fatso and kid friends help a doctor whose car gets stuck in the mud while promoting Tootsie Roll candies.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: A jumbo size Tootsie Roll could be purchased for 0.05 USD.
In panel 9, Captain Tootsie shows off a thank you telegram from the doctor addressed to:
Captain Tootsie
Tootsie Town, N.J.

Per Tootsie Roll Industries interactive website (corroborated by Wikipedia entries)†, the owners outgrew their Manhattan NYC factory and relocated to a large, modern factory in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1938. Hence, Hoboken doubled as the comics-form advertising moniker "Tootsie Town".
† Last accessed on Groundhog Day (Feb. 2) 2021.

The "Popsicle" Hall of Fame

Advertisement (Comic Format) on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset (p. 20)

Subject Matter

Genres: adventure, childrens, drama, teen

Feature(s): Popsicle Pete; Patrick O'Hare

Character(s): Patrick O'Hare; Pat's buddies; Popsicle Pete; audience

First Line: Gee this is fun Yeah, but lets get away from this deep drain creek

Synopsis: Comics-form ad for Joe Lowe Corporation's trademarked 'Twin Popsicle', 'Fudgsicle', and 'Creamsicle' frozen bars relate a supposed true story of 'Popsicle' Youth Award winner Patrick O'Hare (B&W photo thumbnail) from St. Louis, Missouri who saves a buddy's life after slipping into the dirty water of a deep drain creek, then is presented the award by Popsicle Pete.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: Sam Glankoff's surname signed in lower right corner of panel 2 on page 20.

"The 'Popsicle' Hall of Fame" comics-form advertisements were the creative work of two former Paramount Studio animators, Woodrow "Woody" Gelman and Benjamin "Ben" Solomon, who returned to New York and partnered to form Solomon & Gelman, a New York advertising art service in 1945 that specialized in developing sequential art ads utilizing comics and cartoon characters.

Gifts and prizes could be redeemed by mailing certain quantities of Popsicle paper bag wrappers to:

"POPSICLE PETE" Dept. "K"
P.O. Box 678, New York 46, N.Y.

400 West Ohio St., Chicago 10, Ill.

2744 East 11 Street, Los Angeles 23, Cal.

313 N. Highland Ave., N.E., Atlanta, Ga.

For further details, see Wikipedia entry under Woody Gelman online and Woody Gelman's obituary in The New York Times, Feb. 11, 1978, page 24*. See also: Friedman, Drew., 2014. Heroes of the comic books: 75 portraits of the pioneering legends of comic books. Fantagraphics Books. Seattle, WA, p. 46. ISBN-13 9781606997314

* Last accessed February 2, 2021.

Tim's Bar

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; bartender; bar patrons

Synopsis: Sad Sack gets to Tim's Bar well ahead of the 8:30 P.M. televised fights but gets drunk after a few alcoholic drinks and misses all the action.*

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title taken from lettering in tavern's front window within panels 2-4.

* This type of mature humorous/satirical story would probably have been rejected by the Comics Code Authority had it been in place five years earlier.

Ace Dance School

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous, romantic

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; lady dance instructor; dean; Sad Sack's date; night club crowd

Synopsis: Dopey-looking Sad Sack spots a poster advertising--"Learn to dance Be a social success"--and actually makes great progress ... until date night with his girl friend.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title taken from school name in panels 2 and 3.

City & Home Sanitation

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: drama, humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; pedestrian; Sad Sack's wife

Synopsis: Sad Sack spends all day cleaning up city streets for the sanitation department only to do same at home.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title inferred from theme of strip.

Doctor's Orders

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; Doctor O'Rook; pharmacist

Synopsis: Over the counter Ace Tonic doesn't help Sad Sack's throbbing headache, so he goes to see his doctor only to be prescribed the same Ace Tonic.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]

One Arm Bandit

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous, western

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack

Synopsis: Dressed in western attire, Sad Sack walks out of Nevada 2nd National Bank with two bags of coins bound for a Nevada casino. Frustrated after playing slots down to his last coin, he hits a jackpot.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title inferred from theme of strip.

Services Rendered

Story on Interior Page(s)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Feature(s): The Sad Sack

Character(s): Sad Sack; Doctor O'Rook

Synopsis: Doctor O'Rook medically assists after Sad Sack trips and injures his nose in front of the doctor's office, but Sad Sack can't pay the bill.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]

Sad Sack #7

Preview (from Publisher) on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Letterer(s): typeset

Editor(s): Alfted Harvey ?

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Character(s): Sad Sack; scruffy dog; Policeman

First Line: Wah ooo!

Synopsis: Sad Sack is copied from front cover of Sad Sack Comics (Harvey, 1949 series) v1#2 (Nov. 1949) but revised to promote a thumbnail preview of issue #7 (Sep. 1950).

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 0.25

Notes: Sad Sack is essentially copied from front cover of Sad Sack Comics (Harvey, 1949 series) v1#2, but his sandwich board is enlarged and altered to show a full color thumbnail preview of upcoming issue #7.

These minor alterations to the pencil and/or pencil-and-ink originals were likely made by Harvey Publications in-house staff---presumably Ken Selig, who was very obedient---and authorized under editorial guidance of 'Sad Sack' creator George Baker and 'Sad Sack Comics' president/publisher Alfred Harvey.

The Champ of Comics!

Promotional Material (from Publisher) on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Letterer(s): typeset (p. 27)

Subject Matter

Genres: adventure, teen

Character(s): Joe Palooka

Synopsis: Joe Palooka stands triumphantly in red boxing shorts and brown boxing gloves with right hand raised in publisher's plug.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 0.25

Notes: "Don't miss a single issue!"
"Buy your copies at the newsstand"

What Would You Say If You Were The Sad Sack?

Activity on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Letterer(s): typeset (p. 27)

Subject Matter

Genres: childrens, humorous, teen

Character(s): Boy with dog; Sad Sack; Policeman

First Line: Sad Sack's present dilemma arose because a friendly puppy began kissing him.

Synopsis: Harvey Publications offers a contest with prize money and prize subscriptions to whomever can submit the 28 best answers by using the lines provided in the empty speech balloon to fill in what Sad Sack would say.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 0.5

Notes: Harvey Publications used this gimmick to both conduct market research and gauge viability of the Sad Sack Comics title. Contest prize amounts were lowered from prior amounts of 15.00 USD and 10.00 USD down to 10.00 USD and 5.00 USD for 1st and 2nd places, respectively.

Prize rules stated: "Contest closes on July 30, 1950. In case of ties, duplicate prizes will be awarded." Contest entry form could be clipped and mailed to:

Sad Sack Contest
1860 Broadway
New York, 23, N.Y.

"Bad Business"

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Letterer(s): typeset (p. 28)

Subject Matter

Genres: humorous

Character(s): Policeman; Sad Sack; scruffy dog

First Line: For those small store owners who could not afford their own delivery trucks, Sad Sack's Delivery Service was ...

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: Text story behind the cover: Alfred Harvey and George Baker---both World War II United States Army veterans---developed a very collegial and cooperative working relationship in the formative years of producing Sad Sack Comics.

Harvey Comics aficionado and author, Mark Arnold, conducted extensive first-person interviews and produced a fanzine titled "The Harveyville Fun Times" in the 1990s in which he revealed George Baker was even made godfather to one of Alfred's four sons, Russel Harvey†

†Arnold, Mark. The Best of the Harveyville Fun Times! 2006. Fun Ideas Productions: Saratoga, CA, p. 19. ISBN 9781847283689

Kid Brother

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Letterer(s): typeset (pp. 29-30)

Subject Matter

Genres: drama, humorous

Character(s): Kid Brother; Doris; Beanie; Nix; Herman; Hemlock Street Gang

First Line: H'lo Doris! May I carry your books?

Synopsis: Herman's kid brother offers to carry Doris' schoolbooks when the Hemlock Street Gang boys hassle Kid Brother, then pick on him.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 2

Blondie Comics Monthly

Preview (from Publisher) on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset (p. 31, upper half)

Subject Matter

Genres: drama, humorous

Feature(s): Daisy

Character(s): Blondie; Dagwood; Daisy (the dog)

Synopsis: Color thumbnail preview of Blondie Comics Monthly (Harvey, 1950 series) issue #20 (July 1950).

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 0.5

Three Great Comics by Ham Fisher

Promotional Material (from Publisher) on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Penciller(s): ? (dog cartoon)

Inker(s): ? (dog cartoon)

Colorist(s): ? (dog cartoon)

Letterer(s): typeset (p. 31, lower half)

Subject Matter

Genres: adventure, childrens, humorous, teen

Character(s): Joe Palooka; Humphrey; Little Max

Synopsis: Harvey Publications color cover thumbnail previews of Joe Palooka Monthly #47; Humphrey Comcis #12; Little Max Comics #6

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 0.5

Notes: Single comic panel in upper left corner of a dog that illustrates text story on page 32 may be the pencil and ink artwork of Vic Herman or Paul McCarthy. Further critical analysis and comparison of the uncredited unsigned artwork with other Harvey Features Syndicate artists in 1950 is needed.

Wanted: One Dog!

Text Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ?

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset (p. 32)

Subject Matter

Genres: childrens, drama, nature

Character(s): Mrs. Martin; Mr. Martin; daughter Darcy Martin; tiny dog

First Line: If it had been up to Darcy, she would have brought every stray dog ...

Synopsis: Mrs. Martin and Mr. Martin finally relent to their daughter Darcy's incessant pleas for a dog.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Chain of Champions

Advertisement (Comic Format) on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ?

Inker(s): ?

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset (p. 33)

Subject Matter

Genres: sports, teen

Feature(s): Old Nick; Bit-O-Honey

Character(s): Nick; 3 other boys

First Line: Get this Super Duper Chain of Champions Key Ring ...

Synopsis: Four boys, including Nick, admire Nick's Major League Baseball star key ring and want theirs, too.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: Comics-form ad employs popularity of MLB stars Joe Di Maggio, Bob Feller, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Jackie Robinson, and John Mize to promote sales of both Old Nick and Bit-O-Honey candy--through wrappers submitted--as well as key rings and bracelets priced at 0.15 USD each.

Assumed title taken from excerpt in first line of comics-form advertisement.

Fleer's Dubble Bubble Gum

Advertisement (Comic Format) on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ?

Subject Matter

Genres: childrens

Feature(s): Dubble Bubble Gum

Character(s): Tommy [Thomasina]; Pep; Pud; Pud's pals; judges; spectators

First Line: Gee, Tommy, what a neat skating sweater!

Synopsis: Tommy and her gal friend enter an ice skating contest. Pep (Tommy's dog) bites a thread from her red sweater and runs with it; unraveling her sweater and spinning her like a top. Tommy wins. Down to an undershirt, Tommy proclaims she'd swap her shirt for a medal and Dubble Bubble gum any day.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 0.5

Notes: Fleer's Dubble Bubble Gum ad in upper half of page 34.

In Tommy's first speech balloon of panel one, the typesetter juxtaposed two letters so as to spell "TIHS" instead of "THIS".

Schwinn Panther

Advertisement on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Penciller(s): ?

Inker(s): ?

Colorist(s): ?

Letterer(s): typeset (p. 34, lower half)

Subject Matter

Genres: childrens, non-fiction, teen

Feature(s): Schwinn Bicycle

Synopsis: illustration of the new 1950 Schwinn Panther bicycle

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 0.5

Play Piano the First Day

Advertisement (Comic Format) on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): ?

Penciller(s): ?

Inker(s): ?

Letterer(s): ?

Subject Matter

Feature(s): Patented Automatic Chord Selector

Character(s): Betty

First Line: I'm certainly missing a lot of fun, and dates, too. If I could only play the piano the way Betty does.

Synopsis: black-and-white comics-form ad for the Dean Ross Piano Studios method

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: Inside back cover comics-form ad in black and white (p. 35).

Coupon for a 10-day free trial could be clipped and mailed to:

Dean Ross Piano Studios Inc., Dept. 22
1860 Broadway, New York 23, N.Y.

Harvey Comics are Good Comics

Promotional Material (from Publisher) on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Colorist(s): ? (11 cover photo thumbnails)

Subject Matter

Genres: adventure, childrens, crime, drama, humorous, mystery, sports, superhero

Synopsis: Full page color promotional ad for the then current 11 series of comics published by Harvey.

Reprinting

Reprint Notes:

Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

Notes: Assumed title taken from underscored first line in middle of page 36.

Subscription coupon could be clipped and mailed to:
Harvey Comics
1860 Broadway
New York, 23, N.Y.