Indicia title is "FRANCIS, THE FAMOUS TALKING MULE, No. 1068." Code number is FRANCIS O.S. #1068-5911. Copyright 1959 by David Stern. Sixteenth of seventeen Francis the Talking Mule Four Colors. Based on the "Francis, the Talking Mule" movie series. On-sale date from 1960 Books and Pamphlets, Copyright Office, Library of Congress, listed as Stern, David. Francis in Africa.
Cover
Francis in Africa / 1 page
Feature
Francis the Famous Talking Mule
Letters
typeset
Genre
Humor
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Notes
Pencils and inks credits for this sequence from Alberto Becattini (May 14, 2007).
Comic Story
The African Scene (1 page)
Synopsis
Francis is bored by the scenery in Africa.
Feature
Francis
Genre
Humor; Jungle
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling
Script
Paul S. Newman
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Notes
Inside front cover; black and white. Script credit per Newman biblio.
Comic Story
The Sorry Safari (12 pages)
Synopsis
Francis and Peter mistake a tramp steamer for the Staten Island Ferry and are taken to Africa. There the pair decide that guiding safaris would be a good way to earn money to get home. Their first customer wants to photograph a zebra, so Peter paints Francis black and white to fool him.
Feature
Francis
Genre
Humor; Jungle
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling
Script
Paul S. Newman
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Notes
Pencils and inks credits for this sequence from Alberto Becattini (May 14, 2007). Script credit per Newman biblio.
Comic Story
Among the Cannibals (10 pages)
Synopsis
After guiding the safari, Francis and Peter are lost in the jungle. They are captured by a tribe of cannibals, who plan on cooking them. Francis tells them to stop and the cannibals worship him as a god. Francis and Peter escape when an enemy tribe attacks.
Feature
Francis
Genre
Humor; Jungle
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling
Script
Paul S. Newman
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Notes
Follow-up to first story. Pencils and inks credits for this sequence from Alberto Becattini (May 14, 2007).
Script credit per Newman biblio.
Comic Story
The Diamond Rush (10 pages)
Synopsis
Francis and Peter go hunting for diamonds at Diamond River, not knowing that the diamonds they found are phony ones from the shooting of a movie.
Feature
Francis
Genre
Humor
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling; Axel; Hortense
Script
Paul S. Newman
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Notes
Last panel is Dell's "A Pledge to Parents". Pencils and inks credits for this sequence from Alberto Becattini (May 14, 2007). Script credit per Newman biblio.
Comic Story
The Trophy (1 page)
Synopsis
Francis pretends to be a mounted trophy hanging on a wall.
Feature
Francis
Genre
Humor
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling
Script
Paul S. Newman
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Notes
Inside back cover; black and white. Pencils and inks credits for this sequence from Alberto Becattini (May 14, 2007). Script credit per Newman biblio.
Comic Story
The Explorers (1 page)
Synopsis
Deep in the unexplored jungle, Francis and Pete find some natives--selling souvenirs.
Feature
Francis
Genre
Humor; Jungle
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling
Script
Paul S. Newman
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Notes
Back cover; color. Pencils and inks credits for this sequence from Alberto Becattini (May 14, 2007). Script credit per Newman biblio.
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