[ComicMike]

I am very surprised to discover a comic called "Goofy", because I assumed, that this name would be claimed by Disney. Or can the word "Goofy" not be protected, because it also has another meaning?

In the first issue, the first story is about of a figur named "Deadeye Duck" by Harry Wylie. The character looks a lot like Donald, I am amazed Disney allowed that.

Figures in other issues are reminiscent of "Bugs Bunny" or "Yogi Bear". The drawing style, also of the other artists, in many of the stories, is very reminiscent of classic Disney comics, some of the stories almost look like drawn by Carl Barks, much like in Barks stories with "Barney Bear and Benny Burro."

BTW These comics are also very suitable for readers, who do not have so a good command of English. (like me) :-)

Link to the book: Goofy Comics 01

[Robb_K]

I am very surprised to discover a comic called "Goofy", because I assumed, that this name would be claimed by Disney. Or can the word "Goofy" not be protected, because it also has another meaning?<br />
<br />
In the first issue, the first story is about of a figur named "Deadeye Duck" by Harry Wylie. The character looks a lot like Donald, I am amazed Disney allowed that.<br />
<br />
Figures in other issues are reminiscent of "Bugs Bunny" or "Yogi Bear". The drawing style, also of the other artists, in many of the stories, is very reminiscent of classic Disney comics, some of the stories almost look like drawn by Carl Barks, much like in Barks stories with "Barney Bear and Benny Burro."<br />
<br />
BTW These comics are also very suitable for readers, who do not have so a good command of English. (like me) :-)

Link to the book: Goofy Comics 01

Goofy Comics, and indeed, all its sister books from Better/Nedor/Standard Publications (Happy, CooCoo, Barnyard, Real Funnies, Funny Funnies, and later, Supermouse), had ALL their features drawn by Ben Sangor's Studios in Hollywood and Miami, by current cartoon animators, or ex-animators(who were fired from the cartoon film studios for going out on strike (Disney, WB, Fleischer, etc.). The Miami crew came from Fleischer's Miami and New York crew, Van Beuren's New York Crew, and independent NY animators, The Hollywood crew was made up of ex-Disney and ex-WB animators, and a few independents.

Deputy Duck only appeared in 2 stories in 2 books, and his design and character behaviour was very different from one book to the other.   The Bunny and bear were different enough from Bugs and anyone else's bears to not impinge upon any other publisher's or studio's characters.  Yogi Bear didn't exist for over 15 more years.  Bugs Bunny had had his own character and graphic design change several times by 1943, that he was still a fairly new character to sue over a design that wasn't close to his (past or current).

Yes, Oriolo and Wylie, and ALL others who worked on this book, had animation backgrounds.

Ich w

[ComicMike]

@Panther

Oh yes, of course, Disney had the power it has today, not in the past. Lucky for us. :-) The Warner cartoons are wonderful, these and the Disney cartoons used to be shown on German television, luckily we can buy them on DVD today.

In a lot of old comics there are these patriotic messages, I find them very interesting, they are a direct window into contemporary history, but I am a little surprised, that they are printed in a comic for children, I assume that the target audience for the 'Goofy' comics was children.

@Robb

Thank you very much for this great information, I admit it, I'm an information junkie :-), I read every imprint in books - and in films, I watch the credits with great interest. I have copied your information and saved it as a text file on my PC. :-) Now that I know the background of the 'Goofy' comic better, it is even more fun to read. That the artists, who created the comic for 'Goofy', have an animation background, explains the beautiful drawings!

I think the 'Goofy' comics are a real gem and I'm happy to have them now. :-) Thank you, CB+ :-)

BTW, Gentlemen!

Thank you for the kind words about my language skills, but I admit, that it only works so well with the help of Google and because I spend a lot of time reading and writing, but I learn a little more every day. I can't watch an English-language film yet, because I don't have the time to quickly translate the dialogues in my head. But if I have English subtitles for the film, I can follow the plot well. :-)

[Robb_K]

Now that I know the background of the 'Goofy' comic better, it is even more fun to read. That the artists, who created the comic for 'Goofy', have an animation background, explains the beautiful drawings!

I think the 'Goofy' comics are a real gem and I'm happy to have them now. :-) Thank you, CB+ :-)

As you love the artwork in "Goofy Comics", you should also download and read all of the following comic books, which were all drawn from artists from the same studio:

American Comics Group(ACG) Publications:
Giggle Comics
HaHa Comics
Chuckle Comics
Funny Films
Hi-Jinx Comics


Better/Nedor/Standard Publications:
Goofy Comics
Happy Comics
CooCoo Comics
Barnyard Comics
Funny Funnies
Real Funnies
Merry-Go-Round Comics
Super Mouse
Dizzy Duck
Happy Rabbit
Santa's Christmas Comics (Giant)


Rural Home/Croyden Publishing:
Laffy-Daffy Comics


William H. Wise Publishing Co.:
America's Funniest Comics (Giant)
America's Biggest Comics (Giant)
Hollywood Comics (Giant)
Hi-Jinx Giant Comic
Complete Book of Comics and Funnies (Giant)


La Salle Publishing Co.:
Merry-Go-Round (Giant) Comics
Funnybone Comics (Giant)

[ComicMike]

Hello Robb, thank you very much for the list, I can see, that I will still be spending a lot of time on CB+ . When I read 'Goofy' and the other comics, I almost get the impression, that the characters are not just fixed images, rather that they are moving, it's almost like watching a movie. It's absolutely fascinating.

[Robb_K]

Hello Robb, thank you very much for the list, I can see, that I will still be spending a lot of time on CB+ . When I read 'Goofy' and the other comics, I almost get the impression, that the characters are not just fixed images, rather that they are moving, it's almost like watching a movie. It's absolutely fascinating.

I am glad you will be enjoying all these new-to-you old American funny animal comics on our website. I am also glad that we will have another big fan of funny animal animation-based comics here, because most of the members like mainly human character superhero comics.  Ich bin Schreiber und Zeicner mit Egmont Serieforlaget (danische Disney), Ehapa Verlag (Miky Maus), und Oberon/Geillustreerde Pers/VNU/Sanoma Uitgevers/(Hollandische Disney Stripboeken) die letzte 36 Jahre. Ich bin auch Arbeitspartner mit ber

[ComicMike]

Hello Robb, oh yes, I really like the animal funny comics. I'm an adult man and I'm soon to be 60 years old, but I've never lost the connection to the child in me, yepp . I think it's a shame, that the Sangor Studio Comics were never published in Germany (as far as me known), but now, as an "old man" I can read comic, that I couldn't read as a child.

But yeah, I'm also a fan of S.F. and horror and the superheros, but most of the heroes here at CB+ are unknown to me, because they were never published in Germany. So this area is also exciting for me.

I think, a lot of the members here are familiar with a lot of the comics, who are here at CB+, but it's a new planet to me.

I am happy for you, that you are a comic artist and that you share your knowledge and your opinion with us. I am also looking forward to continuing to actively participate here in the forum.

P.S.
Thanks for corrected the list.

[Electricmastro]

I am very surprised to discover a comic called "Goofy", because I assumed, that this name would be claimed by Disney. Or can the word "Goofy" not be protected, because it also has another meaning?<br />
<br />
In the first issue, the first story is about of a figur named "Deadeye Duck" by Harry Wylie. The character looks a lot like Donald, I am amazed Disney allowed that.<br />
<br />
Figures in other issues are reminiscent of "Bugs Bunny" or "Yogi Bear". The drawing style, also of the other artists, in many of the stories, is very reminiscent of classic Disney comics, some of the stories almost look like drawn by Carl Barks, much like in Barks stories with "Barney Bear and Benny Burro."<br />
<br />
BTW These comics are also very suitable for readers, who do not have so a good command of English. (like me) :-)

Link to the book: Goofy Comics 01

I

[Robb_K]

I am very surprised to discover a comic called "Goofy", because I assumed, that this name would be claimed by Disney. Or can the word "Goofy" not be protected, because it also has another meaning?<br />
<br />
In the first issue, the first story is about of a figur named "Deadeye Duck" by Harry Wylie. The character looks a lot like Donald, I am amazed Disney allowed that.<br />
<br />
Figures in other issues are reminiscent of "Bugs Bunny" or "Yogi Bear". The drawing style, also of the other artists, in many of the stories, is very reminiscent of classic Disney comics, some of the stories almost look like drawn by Carl Barks, much like in Barks stories with "Barney Bear and Benny Burro."<br />
<br />
BTW These comics are also very suitable for readers, who do not have so a good command of English. (like me) :-)

Link to the book: Goofy Comics 01

I

[Electricmastro]

I am very surprised to discover a comic called "Goofy", because I assumed, that this name would be claimed by Disney. Or can the word "Goofy" not be protected, because it also has another meaning?<br />
<br />
In the first issue, the first story is about of a figur named "Deadeye Duck" by Harry Wylie. The character looks a lot like Donald, I am amazed Disney allowed that.<br />
<br />
Figures in other issues are reminiscent of "Bugs Bunny" or "Yogi Bear". The drawing style, also of the other artists, in many of the stories, is very reminiscent of classic Disney comics, some of the stories almost look like drawn by Carl Barks, much like in Barks stories with "Barney Bear and Benny Burro."<br />
<br />
BTW These comics are also very suitable for readers, who do not have so a good command of English. (like me) :-)

Link to the book: Goofy Comics 01

I

[Robb_K]

I am very surprised to discover a comic called "Goofy", because I assumed, that this name would be claimed by Disney. Or can the word "Goofy" not be protected, because it also has another meaning?<br />
<br />
In the first issue, the first story is about of a figur named "Deadeye Duck" by Harry Wylie. The character looks a lot like Donald, I am amazed Disney allowed that.<br />
<br />
Figures in other issues are reminiscent of "Bugs Bunny" or "Yogi Bear". The drawing style, also of the other artists, in many of the stories, is very reminiscent of classic Disney comics, some of the stories almost look like drawn by Carl Barks, much like in Barks stories with "Barney Bear and Benny Burro."<br />
<br />
BTW These comics are also very suitable for readers, who do not have so a good command of English. (like me) :-)

Link to the book: Goofy Comics 01

I

[Electricmastro]

I am very surprised to discover a comic called "Goofy", because I assumed, that this name would be claimed by Disney. Or can the word "Goofy" not be protected, because it also has another meaning?<br />
<br />
In the first issue, the first story is about of a figur named "Deadeye Duck" by Harry Wylie. The character looks a lot like Donald, I am amazed Disney allowed that.<br />
<br />
Figures in other issues are reminiscent of "Bugs Bunny" or "Yogi Bear". The drawing style, also of the other artists, in many of the stories, is very reminiscent of classic Disney comics, some of the stories almost look like drawn by Carl Barks, much like in Barks stories with "Barney Bear and Benny Burro."<br />
<br />
BTW These comics are also very suitable for readers, who do not have so a good command of English. (like me) :-)

Link to the book: Goofy Comics 01

I

[Robb_K]

I am very surprised to discover a comic called "Goofy", because I assumed, that this name would be claimed by Disney. Or can the word "Goofy" not be protected, because it also has another meaning?<br />
<br />
In the first issue, the first story is about of a figur named "Deadeye Duck" by Harry Wylie. The character looks a lot like Donald, I am amazed Disney allowed that.<br />
<br />
Figures in other issues are reminiscent of "Bugs Bunny" or "Yogi Bear". The drawing style, also of the other artists, in many of the stories, is very reminiscent of classic Disney comics, some of the stories almost look like drawn by Carl Barks, much like in Barks stories with "Barney Bear and Benny Burro."<br />
<br />
BTW These comics are also very suitable for readers, who do not have so a good command of English. (like me) :-)

Link to the book: Goofy Comics 01

I

[The Australian Panther]

Doesn't sound much like a strategy too me. I think Micky was down-plalyed and almost disappeared from the 6o's on? As a consumer of comics I always believed that the printed comic books were given little inportance   at the corporate level.  [In the US and the Western Market  - and still aren't given much priority. 
I fondly remember the instructional animated cartoons of the late 50s, which usually featured Donald losing it or Goofy getting it wrong about Electricity or Driving or so on.   

[SuperScrounge]

Four Color was an odd series as I believe most issues didn't have Four Color on or in the issues. Most indicias had the cover title with the overall series numbering, so the indicia of Goofy's first issue would read Goofy #468, not Four Color #468.

As for the books themselves when Western was producing books for Dell, Dell decided how many of which books got printed a year. So it was probably Dell's decision that kept Goofy from having a series separate from the Four Color issues.

What logic Dell used for how many of which book to print I have no idea.

[Robb_K]

Four Color was an odd series as I believe most issues didn't have Four Color on or in the issues. Most indicias had the cover title with the overall series numbering, so the indicia of Goofy's first issue would read Goofy #468, not Four Color #468.

As for the books themselves when Western was producing books for Dell, Dell decided how many of which books got printed a year. So it was probably Dell's decision that kept Goofy from having a series separate from the Four Color issues.

What logic Dell used for how many of which book to print I have no idea.

They based that decision on expected sales of well-known copyrighted character properties from other media, such as films, novels, newspaper strips, etc., and from previous sales of Dell comic books of lesser-known or newly-developed characters who had "test" titled books tested by issuing them in Dell's ad-hoc "Four ColorComics" series.  Often, Dell would issue 3 to 5 issues of a new character title, such as Disney's Uncle Scrooge (which ran 3 issues).  They sold amazingly well, so that title's issuance became regular, quarterly, and was given its own numbering system starting with #4, because 3 issues  had already been issued in the Four Color series.

[SuperScrounge]

Thanks, Robb! 

[Robb_K]

Thanks, Robb! 

I think what characters or properties were given their own titles was more complicated than just Dell Comics (the distributor) wanting to make a profit over their operating costs for a given comic book series (the publisher, Western Publishing, wanted to sell as many books as possible to ensure the best profit over THEIR OWN operating costs, and the character property copyright owners, wanted either to give their animation or live action characters the most public exposure possible, OR actually make a profit providing a cash flow from comic book sales.  So, the copyright owner would ask their publisher to suggest to Dell's publications director/manager to start a new comic book series with a new character, or a similarly well known other character of theirs, which was already selling well with its own series.

As you probably know, The Dell/Western Publishing partnership started packaging and re-printing newspaper comics into comic book collection monthly series in 1936, with "The Comics" and "The Funnies".  They added "Popular Comics" in 1937.  In 1939, they added "Four Color Comics" and an adjunct- related series, "Large Feature Comics".  They started a second "large Feature Comics" series in 1941, closing down the first.  And started a second "Four Color Comics" series in 1942, closing down the first.  But, by 1938 and 1939, several competitor comic book publishers had been adding newly-made specifically for comic books stories, and some had started individual book titles based on popular characters.  So Dell/Western used its new "Four Color Comics" and "Large Feature Comics" to handle the new story comic book individual character's books. 

"Mickey Mouse", "Bugs Bunny", "Porky Pig", "Donald Duck", "Our Gang", "Andy Panda", "Woody Woodpecker", "Popeye", "Smitty", "Scribbly", "The Gumps", "The Katzenjammer Kids", "Abert & Pogo", "Peanuts", "Little Iodine", "Henry", "Charlie McCarthy", "Raggedy Ann & Andy", "Little Lulu", "Santa Claus Funnies", and so many more titles which later got their own regularly-scheduled own-titled series, all started (ostensibly being tested for marketability) in Dell's "Four Color Comics" and/or Four Color's adjunct "Large Feature Comics".

It is interesting that a few properties whose character was already extremely very popular in other media, but came to Dell long after Dell already had other popular animation, newspaper strip and literature/novel characters having their own titled , numbered series, start out with Dell having been given their own regularly-scheduled, own numbered series from their start.  Krazy Kat was one of those.  After 5 issues which disappointingly, sold poorly, his title was demoted back to a much less frequent schedule of releases, and moved into the "Four Color Comics" numbering system.  "Charley McCarthy Comics" had an even stranger fate, starting in 1947 being tested as a Four Color Comic, selling well in its first 2 years, and being given its own series in 1949, then selling well  through issue #7 in 1951, and sales dropping off a lot in 1952, so after issue #9, it was demoted to a more sporadic release schedule back in the Four Color series until early 1954, when his title was dropped altogether.  So, it is clear that Four color comics were used as a home for sparsely-scheduled ad-hoc titles Dell wanted to issue for testing for giving their own series, OR to publish on a break-even or small loss basis, to give the company credibility or prestige.