[Robb_K]

Robert Farrell, in his 20 years in the comic book publishing business, never put much emphasis on Funny Animal Comics, as compared to Action, Combat, Western, Romance, Superhero, and Horror comics. When this Giant Holiday comic book was issued in late 1952, Farrell had no solely-owned Funny Animal series, only a partial interest in Star Publishing, which had a quarterly Frisky Animals series, and also a quarterly holiday-themed series, Fun Comics. So, he not only didnt have his own funny animal artist(s) on staff, but, he didnt even have a regular working relationship with any animation-trained funny animal artists by this time. Back in 1945, he had partnered with The Fago Brothers (Al and Vince) to produce a funny animal series titled Kiddie Kapers. But, they had a falling out, over differing ideas of how they should operate, producing only 2 (or possibly 3) issues, only one of which was published. Then, in early 1946, Farrell tried funny animals again, starting his Four Star Publishings Hi-Ho Comics, hiring freelance artist, Ellis Holly Chambers. But Chambers was unreliable, - habitually late for production deadlines. THAT, and the fact that the books didnt sell much, made that series stop after only 3 issues. Farrell's next flirtation with funny animals was in spring 1947, with a one-shot funny animal/children-oriented 36-page comic book titled Daffy Tunes. Clearly, based on the number of pages, and the page format, layout and style, it was made up of stories originally drawn for the Kiddie Kapers series (for the 2nd or 3rd planned issue). So, knowing that Farrell never had funny animal artists in house, and knowing how Farrell had so little faith in funny animal books sales, it is understandable why none of the stories in this book were Christmas-related. The first half of this book was made up of new stories starring a new character, Billy Bunny, who would, a little over a year later, in early 1954, star in his own Farrell publications bi-monthly series, as well as several stories starring other funny animals, which would be the filler stories in the Billy Bunny books. The 2nd half of the book was filled with stories reprinted from Holly Chambers Hi-Ho Comics. Billy Bunny, chosen by Farrell to have his own series (ostensibly, to take advantage of Bugs Bunnys popularity by piggy-backing on Warner Brothers Looney Tunes and Bugs Bunny comic books. The start of the planned Billy Bunny series seems to have been delayed several months starting in 1954. And due to weak sales, it only lasted 4 issues. The character was partially a carryover from the Holly Chambers-invented character, Bodkins Bunny, in Hi-Hos Medieval Times set, Daffy Dragon series. In fact, when some of the Daffy Dragon stories were reprinted in the Billy Bunny comics, they were re-titled as Billy Bunny.

Link to the book: Billy Bunny's Christmas Frolics 1