Comics on TV: Unidentified Issue of ADVENTURE COMICS.

At the beginning of “Captain Jack”, the second ever episode of the ultra-classic sit-com LEAVE IT TO BEAVER (aired October 11, 1957), we see Wally and The Beaver cracking open a brand spanking new copy of a comic book titled “Robot Men of Mars” – with no publisher’s logo, and some really cheesy art.   

 

But, hark… Once opened, “Robot Men of Mars” reveals itself to be, in actuality, a doctored-up, unidentified issue of DC Comics’ (then known as National Periodical Publications) ADVENTURE COMICS – the title that featured SUPERBOY! 

 Just look over to the LEFT SIDE of the image.  As always, you may click to enlarge. 

The episode centers on Beaver and Wally ordering a baby alligator from an ad in the comic.  And, somehow for the more innocent (…or, less “animal-rights-enlightened” – take your pick) 1950s, this comes across as more or less a normal thing. 

Hey, at least it’s nowhere near as bizarre as THIS AD from the seventies! 

But, never mind the gator… what of the COMIC? 

A 1957 issue of ADVENTURE COMICS.  Could this be THE ONE? 

 
LEAVE IT TO BEAVER has a (in my view undeserved) reputation for being square and cornball.  Indeed, my VERY USE of the words “square and cornball” is probably indicative of MY OWN… um, “square and cornball-ness”.  But Beaver and Wally?  Not so, given what follows! 

Check out the UNSPEAKABLE ATROCITIES that Wally commits on that very “unidentified issue of ADVENTURE COMICS”, as Beaver LOOKS ON, doing nothing to halt his brother’s episode of violent depravity! 

 ARRRGH!  I CAN’T WATCH!  

He’s even cutting a page with Superboy comics on it!    NOOOOOOOO! 

 Click to enlarge, if you've got the stomach for it! 

“Ward”, asks June Cleaver, the boys’ mom, “Have you seen my pair of Kryptonite shears?” 

 

 Anyone able to identify which issue of ADVENTURE COMICS it is?   

  

UPDATE: The ever-reliable Friend-of-This-Blog, JoeCab, informs us that the issue in question is ADVENTURE COMICS # 240, cover-dated September, 1957 -- and just "one issue up" from the issue I chose to illustrate in this post, ADVENTURE COMICS # 239. 

 

Go to the Comments Section to read JoeCab's observations, for which he is heartily thanked! 

Adventure Comics # 240.  Don't cut your copy up, readers!  No alligator is worth that!

 

Comics on TV: Yogi Bear Meets The Munsters!

Here at TIAH Blog, whenever we spot an identifiable image of a COMIC BOOK appearing on a TV show, we like to make mention of it. 

HERE’S an instance of WALT DISNEY’S COMICS AND STORIES # 177 (June, 1955) seen on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS. 

And HERE you’ll find SUPERMAN # 72 (September-October, 1951) somewhat incongruously appearing on THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN. 

Today, we find Gold Key Comics’ YOGI BEAR # 19 (April, 1964) inside (of all places) the Mockingbird Heights home of THE MUNSTERS! 

Here’s the comic – and click on the Munsters image below for (hopefully) sufficient enlargement to allow you to see Eddie Munster reading a copy of YOGI BEAR # 19. 

Note, too, that Herman is also reading a comic book, but it is unidentifiable to me.  It’s certainly not a Gold Key, by the looks of it.  …Anyone wanna take a crack at it? 

This scene is from “Herman Munster, Shutterbug” (Aired: October 07, 1965), in which Herman accidently snaps a photo of two fleeing bank robbers… who have invaded the Munster residence in order to get the incriminating picture.  The family is held hostage by the two robbers (in background) and are ordered to sit on the couch and act natural.  So, each of them is seen reading something. 

I'm going out to get some new comics!

Funny, you’d think Eddie would be reading a horror comic instead of Yogi Bear, but who am I to argue with the producers of THE MUNSTERS. 

Hey, Boob!  Any tales of The Munsters in there?

You might also figure that it should have been a WOODY WOODPECKER comic, as both Woody and THE MUNSTERS were produced by Universal Studios. 

But, maybe it’s as simple as Gold Key also published THE MUNSTERS comic book, and some licensee reciprocity came into play. 

How come THEY get to have all the fun with an OCTOPUS, and WE just pose with shovels?

…Or, maybe it just happened to be on sale around the Universal lot at the time of shooting. 

Just HANGIN' AROUND, Mr. Ranger, Sir!

For me, it’s kinda cool to think that Eddie Munster read the same comic book that I did as a kid!   ...And, posed for the same corny family photos!

Comics on TV: SUPERMAN # 72

At TIAH Blog, we’ve never written about the great “Golden Age TV series” THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, starring the equally great George Reeves in the title role. …And, it’s high time we do so.

Because it occurs so rarely, we also like to mention any discernible appearance of a COMIC BOOK on a TV program, as HERE with WALT DISNEY’S COMICS AND STORIES # 177 (June, 1955), as seen on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.

Fittingly, if also incongruously, placed in “The Birthday Letter” (1952), episode 7 of the first season of THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, is a copy of SUPERMAN # 72 (September-October, 1951). Hopefully, the image, taken from the DVD, allows you to see this clearly. As usual, with our “special images”, you may click to enlarge.

 In the episode, “Kathy Williams”, a handicapped little girl, writes a letter to the Daily Planet, asking that Superman fly her to the County Fair. Needless to say, she inadvertently gets involved with the typical petty-crooks and gangsters that George Reeves’ Man of Steel used to routinely tangle with, because there was no way to do greater menaces on a ‘50s TV budget.

ABOVE:  Kathy is seen reading a copy of SUPERMAN # 72, followed by a scan of the cover of the comic. 

BELOW: "Petty Crooks and Gangsters" invade the comics!

Petty crooks and gangsters have feelings too... usually HARD feelings!

Also, in an earlier scene, a gang member is shot and killed(!), a rarity for THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, in a phone booth – outside of which is a small rack of various DC comic books.

Shoot the guy, but don't shoot the COMICS! 

 The image isn’t sharp enough, but (from the logos) I was able to spot that same issue of SUPERMAN, an issue of DETECTIVE COMICS, and (closest to the foreground) an issue of WORLD’S FINEST!   Go on, look hard… VERY HARD! Or, just click to enlarge! 

You don't have to be a reporter for a "Great Metropolitan Newspaper" to get THIS scoop!

 Now, it’s unusual enough a concept for there to be COMIC BOOKS about Superman, in a world in which Superman “actually exists”. Perhaps he’s a real-life comics subject (...unauthorized? …If not, who receives the royalties?), as Chuck Norris and Mr. T. have been. But, the additional notion of a WORLD’S FINEST comic opens up the possibility of the existence of a ‘50s TV Batman (with team-ups?), and maybe even a “greater DC universe” beyond the familiar, small cast of our show. A notion inconceivable at the time some set-decorator may have thought to spice-up a scene with a few disjointed and disposable comic books.

Could George Reeves have imagined THIS? 

Digression: I’ve always wondered what THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN would have been like if it had been produced about 15 years later. That Superman could easily have faced Luthor, Brainiac, and Mr. Mxyzptlk – and even teamed up with Adam West’s Batman, licensing permitting, of course.

Imagine WORLD'S FINEST: 1966!

Yes... Imagine!  (Wink!) 

But, one very important facet of THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN that most comics enthusiasts rarely consider is the perfect TIME PERIOD in which it was produced.

That window of the 1950s where the Golden Age comic-book superheroes had pretty much “gone away”, save for Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, and before the re-imagining of comic heroes with the coming of the Silver Age in 1956. A period where, despite there being various DC comic books for sale at the corner store, there was no such thing as a DC Comics “Universe”.

 THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN straddled that gap perfectly, keeping the character of Superman (and the comic book superhero in general) alive when little or nothing else did. For that alone, much less its indelible effect on our overall pop culture, THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN should always be remembered as a special show, inhabiting a unique period of time.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ray Bradbury… and Carl Barks!

And now, a very special introduction:

Good Eve-ven-ing!Tonight, we consider the most unusual things that can be found… if your eyes remain open, and your mouth remains shut. Though I doubt the mouth of ANY enthusiast and connoisseur of classic comic literature could remain closed at the sight described in this evening’s post. More likely, it would hang open in utter disbelief.

We shall put our thesis to the test after this brief message… which, no doubt, you will find most interesting and enlightening.COMING UP ON TIAH BLOG: WHY DON’T WE HAVE GENE DEITCH’S “TOM AND JERRY” CARTOONS ON DVD! JOE'S STEAMED, AND WANTS ANSWERS! COMING SOON!
  
Welcome back. I will now step aside, and let our usual Blog writer take over. I expect you will offer him the same enraptured attentions you have afforded me. Thank you, and good night!

ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS is another of those underappreciated television gems that continues to demonstrate its brilliance through the courtesy of DVD and other modern, non-broadcast technologies.

Mr. Hitchcock himself introduces and closes his tales of suspense, and usually murder, that often seem a bit beyond the norm of 1950s TV. “Hitch” sometimes directs, and always employs top-notch writers for his television plays.

One such “play” (as he refers to them) was “Shopping for Death” (Airdate: January 26, 1956), and was written by no less an author than the great Ray Bradbury.

It starred Jo Van Fleet and frequent television guest star Robert H. Harris (Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Wild Wild West, The Invaders, Land of the Giants, Ironside… You name it, he did it!)
   During a contentious exchange between annoyed housewife Van Fleet and intrusive retired insurance salesman Harris, Ms. Van Fleet is clearly seen holding – and roughly treating – a copy of WALT DISNEY’S COMICS AND STORIES # 177!

The issue was cover-dated June, 1955 – which may give you some indication of the time of filming, considering it was likely the “currently-on-sale” issue.

Pages from Carl Barks’ untitled Donald Duck story, commonly referred to as “the bathysphere adventure”, are seen to the degree of being conclusively identified!
      The cover of the issue is never seen, nor are pages from ANY OTHER STORY, than that of Carl Barks. Ms. Van Fleet somehow manages to keep the issue open to Barks’ pages only, and even reveals different pages of the story to Hitchcock’s camera.

This was not an episode that Hitchcock directed, but he did see and approve the results of every shooting. (So we know that, at the very least, he laid eyes on the comic.) I seriously doubt that Ray Bradbury specified that it be a Donald Duck comic book in his script – or if it even called for a comic book period. …Maybe it just belonged to the “prop guy”!

But, nevertheless, there it was. A Carl Barks comic, in a Ray Bradbury story, produced by Alfred Hitchcock! Imagine that!I wonder if Carl Barks ever saw this on TV. I can’t recall it mentioned in any of the extensive interviews with him over the decades. Nor, have I ever read such a tidbit in pro or fan writings on Barks.

But you can see it for yourself on DVD, as part of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS Season One.

And, say… I wonder whatever happened to that copy of WDC&S # 177!

Was it discarded after the episode wrapped?

…Or did it survive, to end up in someone’s collection?

…Dare I hope it was MY COPY that that brushed with the great Alfred Hitchcock and Ray Bradbury – and was harshly handled by Jo Van Fleet?

…Or yours?

Such are the things we fans enjoy speculating… for now and for all time!

Good Eve-ven-ing!