During my research on Fox Features' drawn, but unpublished, second issue, Animal Crackers 32, I discovered that Victor fox had hired Hero Booksin late 1949, to draw and package his proposed 1950 "Animal Crackers" Funny Animal series. Based on the look of the artwork, especially the Rufus Dog story, it is surmised by many comic book artist experts, that The Louis Ferstadt Studio was the producing partner (or one of two producing partners) in Hero Books. That is not only because the artwork in that strip looks exactly like Ferstadt's own style, but also because he used that very character in the Angel Pussy Story in Croydon's 1946 issue of Funland Comics 1, as well as on that issue's front cover, and he also used him in a story drawn for Robert Farrell's Kiddie Kapers. It is also believed by several that Howie Post (ostensibly working for Ferstadt at that time), drew the two Spunky/Flunky Monkey stories for this book, and the series' slated but not issued Animal Crackers 32. The artist who drew the other two stories (Drooley Lion and Satchel Crocodile) is unknown, and may have also been with Ferstadt's Studio, or may have been from another studio partnering in Hero Books. The writers (also unknown) likely were members of Fox Features' in-house staff. Although, it is possible that they too, were part of Hero Books' production team.
Link to the book:
Animal Crackers 31
