Oddball Comics: (open a comic book store) Caspers Ghostland Vol. 1, No. 33

Oddball Comics: Caspers Ghostland Vol. 1, No. 33
Casper The Friendly Ghost first appeared in “The Friendly Ghost”, which was directed by Isadore Sparber. A Famous Studios theatrical cartoon short released by Paramount in 1945, it was based upon an unpublished children’s book written by Seymour Reit and illustrated by Joe Oriolo. The second cartoon to star Casper (whose actual name wasn’t established until he starred in h is own comic book) wasn’t released until 1948, but soon, an entire series of Casper cartoons were produced, making the leap from theaters (the last theatrical short was released in 1959) to television (the first made-for-television CASPER cartoon was made in 1963). St. John published the first CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST comic book in September, 1949; in 1952, Harvey Comics took over the publication of the series, and in 1959, bought the rights to the character. Soon, Harvey expanded Casper’s world, with new stories featuring the Ghostly Trio, Wendy The Good Little Witch, Spooky The Tuff Little Ghost and his long-suffering girlfriend Pearl, Hot Stuff The Devil Kid, Nightmare the ghost-horse and many others. In fact, Casper was so successful for Harvey that it wasn’t long before other publishers came up with their own “friendly ghosts”, including SUPER SPOOK, SPENCER SPOOK, TIMMY THE TIMID GHOST, HOMER THE HAPPY GHOST, SPUNKY THE SMILING SPOOK, LI’L GHOST and many others.

In 1941, three brothers - Leon, Robert and Alfred Harvey - co-founded Harvey Comics. Originally publishing a line of unremarkable anthology titles, their first big hit was THE BLACK CAT, a strip set in Hollywood starring a sexy costumed heroine. Harvey also achieved a degree of success when they took over publication of THE GREEN HORNET. But what put them on the funnybook map was their licensing of various comic strip characters, including JOE PALOOKA, BLONDIE, DICK TRACY, MUTT AND JEFF and SAD SACK, among others. By this time, Harvey had also been publishing horror, war and romance comics, but when they acquired the rights to print CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST, the company’s focus began to change, and by 1957, when Harvey bought the rights to Paramount’s stable of cartoon characters, their output shifted to mostly so-called “kiddie comics”, with the exception of Joe Simon’s outlandish line of “Harvey Thrillers” during the superhero boom of the mid-1960s and BUNNY, “Queen Of The In-Crowd”, an attempt to carve off some of the teen marked dominated by Archie Comics.

All comic book muck-monsters are in one way or another derived from the title-character of Theodore Sturgeon’s 1940 short story, “It!” These include Hillman’s “The Heap” (created by Harry Stein and Mort Leav in the pages of AIR FIGHTERS COMICS No. 3, December, 1942), DC’s “Solomon Grundy” (created by Alfred Bester and Paul Reinman in ALL-AMERICAN COMICS No. 61, cover-dated October, 1944), Marvel’s “pre-hero” monsters (including “The Glob” from JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY, “Taboo! The Thing From Murky Swamp!” and “The Thing CalledIt!” from STRANGE TALES and “The Creature From The Black Bog!” from TALES OF SUSPENSE) by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, DC’s “Swamp Thing” (created by Len Wein and Berni Wrightson in HOUSE OF SECRETS No. 92, cover-dated June-July, 1971), Marvel’s “Man-Thing” (created by Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway and Gray Morrow in SAVAGE TALES No. 1, May, 1971) and even the underground comix characters “the Turd” (created by Scott Shaw! in Ken Krueger’s GORY STORIES QUARTERLY No. 2 1/2 and “Dorrgsheett” (from Dave Gibson’s all-star DORGSHEETT DIGEST, which was entirely devoted to disgustingly gooey poo-creatures!) Just as DC Comics seemed to have an infatuation with gorillas and dinosaurs, Marvel displayed a similar attraction to muck-monsters, apparently to exploit mankind’s fear of its own fecal waste-matter. But who ever expected to find Harvey Comics - purveyors of otherwise squeaky-clean kiddie comics - to contribute to this somewhat nauseating tradition?

Harvey Comics’ “Voo Doo Doo” was designed and drawn by cartoonist Warren Kremer (6/26/1921 - 7/24/2003), whose distinctive drawing and storytelling has come to represent the house-style of Harvey Comics. The Bronx-born cartoonist was the son of a commercial sign painter, and graduated from New York’s High School Of Music and Art and the School Of Industrial Arts. Influenced by Alex (FLASH GORDON) Raymond and Hal (PRINCE VALIANT) Foster, Warren’s early work included illustrations for pulp magazines, particularly those with a theme of aviation. His first comic book gig was HAP HAZARD for Ace Comics; Warren also married the feature’s letterer, Grace. In 1948, he began a 35-year-long relationship with Harvey Comics, first illustrating horror comics, but eventually specializing in appealing “kiddie” comics such as CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST, HOT STUFF THE DEVIL KID, PLAYFUL LITTLE AUDREY, RICHIE RICH THE POOR LITTLE RICH KID and STUMBO THE GIANT, among others, as well as serving as the publisher’s Art Editor. When Harvey Comics stopped producing original material in 1983, Kremer followed editor Sid Jacobson over to Marvel, where he worked on TOP DOG, PLANET TERRY, ROYAL ROY, EWOKS, FLINTSTONE KIDS and COUNT DUCKULA, among others. One day, when Warren dropped off some artwork at Marvel, staffer (and extraordinary cartoonist) Marie Severin was heard to remark, “They don’t know it, but this is the best artist who ever walked through these doors.”

There’s really only one actual Oddball aspect of this issue of CASPER’S GHOSTLAND - part of Harvey Comics’ line of 64-page “Giant Size” funnybooks — but it’s an absolute doozy! I’m referring to the three-part, 15-page “Casper The Friendly Ghost” story penciled by Warren Kremer, the first chapter of which is titled “Powfinger”. It begins as the Casper scolds the Ghostly Trio - Fatso, Fusso and Lazo*) - about making their bed. Fed up with him, the trio take a big breath and blow their immaterial housemate right through the wall! Flung outside, the friendly ghost shows a rarely-seen side of his personality, until he’s interrupted by a fancily-dressed stranger wearing a top hat:

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
TrioSometimes I wish I were BIG enough to

STRANGER:
SIGN RIGHT HERE!

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
HUH?

STRANGER:
Sign right here and your WISHES will come TRUE

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
But I really DIDN’T wish

STRANGER:
Of COURSE you did! EVERYBODY wants something. Sign this simple contract and HAPPINESS is yours

But when Casper reads down to some indecipherable fine print, he hands the “standard wish application” back to the devilish stranger. Suddenly, the stranger’s demeanor becomes instantly irritated, annoyed that Casper’s wasting his time, as he strides off into the Enchanted Forest. Casper’s attention is drawn elsewhere, when he hears poor Gnomey the gnome yelling at a huge, hairy troll who’s sitting on top of his toadstool home. The big bully taunts Gnomey:

TROLL:
I’ve got more strength in my LITTLE FINGER than you have in your WHOLE BODY!

Fortunately for Gnomey, when Casper shows up on the scene, the frightened troll takes off, insisting that he’s not scared of ghosts. But Gnomey remains angry and frustrated, so much so that when the well-dressed stranger appears, he anxiously signs his mysterious contract. The stranger presents him with a special ring - and name:

STRANGER:
Hold out your little finger! You are now “POWFINGER”! Have fun!

Wondering what his new moniker signifies, Gnomey soon finds out, when he topples a mighty oak with one touch of his little finger! And when Casper refers to him as “Gnomey”, the little gnome uses his pinkie to “pow” the friendly ghost off of his feet, too! Now more of a bully than the troll ever was, “Powfinger” stalks away, leaving Casper to worry about the fine print in his “standard wish application”. This story’s second chapter, “Today The Swamp”, continues as Casper catches up to “Powfinger” in a particularly creepy area of the Enchanted Forest - the Scary Swamp! While “Powfinger” belligerently calls out a challenge for his troll tormentor, Casper makes nice with a .local crocodile:

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
I’m Casper the friendly ghostand

CROCODILE:
GHOST! Hey, WAIT A MINUTE! Who’s AFRAID of ghosts?

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
You’re NOT? I’m so GLAD!

CROCODILE:
In this swamp here are things so SCARY, ghosts look like FRIENDS!

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
I AM a friend!

CROCODILE:
Don’t CONFUSE me! There are WEEJUMS and WOOJUMS and the DREADED VOO DOO DOO!

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
BRRR! The NAMES give me the chills!

Casper asks his new friend to help him read the fine print on “Powfinger’s” contract, but even with excellent eyesight, the crocodile has the same difficulty that Casper has every time he tries to read it:

CROCODILE:
HmmmThat’s FUNNY! The HARDER you look, the SMALLER it gets!

Then a passing vulture drops in and volunteers to give it a try, claiming that vultures have the best eyesight in the world - but he’s equally frustrated by the “standard wish agreement” contract that Casper shows him:

VULTURE:
The print keeps getting SMALLER and SMALLER! What are you, some kind of a MAGICIAN?

Suddenly, Casper hears a call for help - it’s Gnomey, er, “Powfinger”, sinking in a pit of quicksand! Casper flies to his rescue, but once he’s pulled the little gnome out of the goo, he’s attacked by a gnome-hungry Weejum! But without raising a sweat, “Powfinger” knocks out the attacking Weejum with one touch of his little finger. Casper tries to get him to read the fine print on his contract, but power-hungry “Powfinger” doesn’t express the slightest interest. All he cares about is facing down the troll who bullied him earlier:

GNOMEY/”POWFINGER”:
Now, listen, Casper, and listen GOODALL MY LIFE I’ve been LITTLE and AFRAID of everybody! Now everybody’s going to be afraid of ME, POWFINGER! And I don’t CARE what the fine print saysOR YOU EITHER! TROLL!

In response to “Powfinger’s” call, the monstrous troll shows upand once again, he uses his pinkie to spectacular effect:

GNOMEY/”POWFINGER”:
TODAY the SWAMPTOMORROW the WORLD!

“Powfinger” even gets so carried away that he accidentally “pows” himself in the head! But this gaffe doesn’t seem to reduce his newly-inflated ego one bit:

GNOMEY/”POWFINGER”:
WATCH yourself, Casper! I’ve been nice to you so far because we USED to be FRIENDS! NOW HEAR THIS, SWAMP CREATURES! POWFINGER IS TAKING OVER! Any OBJECTIONS, dreaded (HA HA) Woojum?

But apparently, one of the denizens of the Scary Swamp does have an objection:

WOOJUM:
It’s the SUPERDREADED VOO DOO DOO!

The third chapter, “The Fine Print”, concludes as the other creatures of the swamp run for their lives from the dreaded Voo Doo Doo, who emerges from the murky waters. “Powfinger”, however, remains unimpressed:

GNOMEY/”POWFINGER”:
JUST A MINUTE, THERE! What’s so great about HIM?

VULTURE:
You don’t KNOW about the Voo Doo Doo? He’s the great MUD CREATURE from the BOTTOM of the SWMP! If he SEIZES you in his great mud arms he’ll take you to the BOTTOM of the SWAMP and you’ll NEVER be HEARD FROM again!

With that, Voo Doo Doo attacks “Powfinger“, who’s pinkie is surprisingly ineffective against the swamp monster:

CROW:
HA HA HA, bigshot! Mud will ABSORB any impact!

But before any real damage can occur, Casper intercedes, trying to smooth things over, while unintentionally (?) luring Voo Doo Doo away from the moisture-providing swamp as it tries to grab the little ghost in its gooey arms:

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
UhWait, Mr. Voo Doo Doo! Little Gnomey here didn’t MEAN any HARM!

VOO DOO DOO:
ARGH!

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
You see, he has this NEW POWERand I’m afraid it’s GONE to his HEAD!

WOOJUM:
LOOK! The LITTLE GHOST is luring Voo Doo Doo AWAY from the POOL!

WEEJUM:
He’s DRYING OUT!

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
PLEASE, Mr. Voo Doo Doo! Is it GOOD for you to be so dry?

VOO DOO DOO:
ARGH!

Suddenly, Voo Doo Doo accidentally trips on an exposed root and falls right on top of “Powfinger”, who shields himself with his hand. The instant that his pinkie finger comes into contact with Voo Doo Doo, it blasts the muck-monster into muddy molecules:

SFX:
POW

WEEJUM:
WOW! Powfinger DESTROYED VOO DOO DOO!

WOOJUM:
He is INDEED RULER of the SWAMP!

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
GOLLY! Voo Doo Doo is just a MOUND of EARTH!

SUNFLOWER CREATURE:
Not JUST earththat’s BEAUTIFUL TOPSOIL!

(If anyone remains unconvinced as to the fecal nature of funnybook muck-monsterswell, there’s your proof!) Suddenly, the mysterious stranger in the top hat reappears, to finally reveal the fine print of “Powfinger’s” contract — “YOU ARE MY SLAVE”! With some sort of “evil current” emanating from the tip of his cane, the mysterious stranger - no longer nearly so charming - drags away poor “Powfinger”, whose pow-ers are ineffective against his new master. Casper bravely tries to intercede on his friend’s behalf, but he’s blasted - and apparently destroyed (how do you kill a ghost?) - by the stranger’s current. “Powfinger” reacts to Casper’s death is a manner that’s probably as melodramatic as a Harvey Comic can possibly get:

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
I’ll save you, GnomeyOH!

GNOMEY/”POWFINGER”:
OH, CASPER! WAIT, MASTER! IT’S CASPER! MY FRIEND! SNIFF! OH, CASPER! I’M SO SORRY! SOB!

Driven by grief, “Powfinger” suddenly manages to generate one final “pow”, knocking his master off of his feet! As Casper slowly revives (See? You can’t kill a ghost!), the stranger demands to take back his contract:

GNOMEY:
What HAPPENED?

STRANGER:
That DRATTED GHOST made you THINK of SOMEONE BESIDE YOURSELF! My magic’s no good against THAT!

Gnomey assists the still-dazed Casper to get back onto his feet:

GNOMEY:
Geeit’s nice to be able to TOUCH someone without KNOCKING him DOWN! And you know what, Casper! I don’t FEEL SMALL anymore!

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST:
Why SHOULD you?

Also included in this issue of CASPER’S GHOSTLAND are the following stories, features and advertisements:

A black-and-white, inside-front-cover house-ad for Harvey’s line of “Giant Size” comics, including CASPER’S GHOSTLAND, WENDY WITCH WORLD, SAD SACK LAUGH SPECIAL, RICHIE RICH SUCCESS, RICHIE RICH MILLIONS, CASPER AND NIGHTMARE, SAD SAD SACK WORLD and RICHIE RICH DOLLARS AND CENTS.
An untitled, one-page “Casper’s Ghostland” gag-strip, penciled by Warren Kremer. Even though it’s a warm summer day, and there’s not a trace of ice on the pond, Casper uses his ghostly abilities to go ice-skating.
An untitled, one-page “Wendy” gag-strip. When Wendy has to transport a ton of goodies to the “ghost kiddie party”, she borrows Pearl’s bow ribbon to strap herself to her flying broom.
An untitled, one-page “Spooky” gag-strip, penciled by Howard Post. Spooky helps out poor old Gramps the ghost by filling his bag of tricks with sheer boo-power, allowing him to scare the bejabbers out of a bear.
“Wendy, The Good Little Witch” in “Secret Agent Witch”, drawn by Marty Taras. - Wendy is so impressed with the gadgets of her favorite TV hero “Secret Agent 1478325 1/2″ that she seeks out Casper the friendly ghost to share a game of “secret agent” with her. She tells her ghostly friend to pretend that he’s a bad guy and to take her wand away from her. But before he can comply, a nasty ogre interrupts them and grabs Wendy’s wand. Fortunately for them, Wendy had previously put a spell on a prickly cactus to make it appear to be her wand! When the mean ogre recovers from his wounds, he grabs Wendy and shakes her upside-down to dislodge her wand. But again, Wendy has a trick in store for him; the wand multiplies itself into a huge stack of exact duplicates, with Wendy hanging onto the original. When the ogre chases and corners them, Wendy transforms herself and Casper into a pair of ferocious wild bobcats, who scratch and tear at the ogre until he runs away. (In a confusing leap of logic, Wendy and Casper then thank the two bobcats for their help!) Finally, Wendy gives one of her spare wands to Casper. When it turns into a banana, Casper peels it and tosses away the peel, claiming “Well, at least this weapon won’t hurt anyone!” But when a passing pink bunny rabbit slips on the peel, he pointedly challenges Casper’s assertion.
“A Tale Of TV”, a 3/4-page text-story.
A 1/4-page strip-ad house-ad for CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST, penciled by Warren Kremer.
“The Proud King”, a 34-page text story.
A 1/4-page strip-ad house-ad for SAD SACK, penciled by Warren Kremer.
“Spooky The Tuff Little Ghost” in “Basic Training”, drawn by Warren Kremer. - Spooky’s startled awake when a huge boot falls on his bed, nearly crushing him. He wonders if a passing giant has somehow lost his shoe, but he soon discovers that it’s just the misguided handiwork of Ginger, a young witch whose witchy aunt is attempting to train her in the black arts. When the little witch nearly destroys the roof of Spooky’s house while practicing broom-flying, he vows to get even - but the old witch sends his own “boo” back against him! Determined, Spooky “fights fire with fire” by recruiting his own young student, a little ghost named Fireball, to learn “how to be a ghost”. When the little ghost slaps Ginger in the face, she retaliates by casting a spell to give him gigantic ears. Instead, the neophyte mini-witch’s magic adds giant ears to Spooky’s house. Then, when she tries to transform the kid ghost’s head into a chimney, all she accomplishes is to add two extra chimneys onto the roof of Spooky’s cabin. When the old witch interrupts Ginger and Fireball competitive game of magical hide-and-seek, the little witch hurls a spell at Spooky’s ghostly student - which promptly turns him into a blue witch! This - and the fact that his house is now nearly unrecognizable (somewhere along the way it acquired a pair of giant bat-wings!) — disgusts Spooky to the point that he gives up on his original plan and opts, instead, to “raise the roof” - literally! He belts out such a resounding “Boo!” that it hurls his cabin high into the air, and upon landing, it completely re-builds itself in its original form. Spooky’s boo-blast also has the desirable effect of chasing away Ginger and her witchy auntie, but he still has to contend with Fireball, who’s still a witch. But when his young student insists on more lessons in how to be a ghost, Spooky is only too glad to cooperate. The final panel of this story shows Spooky chasing Fireball, driving his young charge ahead of him with one big “boo” after another.
An untitled, one-page “Spooky” gag-strip, penciled by Howard Post. Crossing a desert, Spooky takes refuge from the sun inside a giant’s shoe; when its owner returns, Spooky gets rid of him with a really big “Shoo!” (This is a reference to TV variety host Ed Sullivan.)
An untitled, one-page “Spooky” gag-strip, penciled by Howard Post. Flying through Witches’ Valley, Spooky blasts a green-faced witch with a big “Boo!”, giving her hair the “electrified” look she’s been trying to achieve.
An untitled, one-page “Casper” gag-strip, penciled by Warren Kremer. Poor Mr. Bear is suffering from insomnia, but when he realizes that Casper is a ghost, he faints — and finally gets a good night’s sleep in the process.
“Flash Farrell Gets The Picture At Goodyear Aerospace”, a strip-ad — drawn by Neal Adams — for Goodyear bicycle tires.
“Casper The Friendly Ghost” in “The Mysterious Statue”, penciled by Warren Kremer. - This is the first of a three-part storyline; it begins when Casper drops by the Ghostly Trio’s house, only to find them practicing for a “scare raid”. Unwilling to participate in this - or their game of “peek-a-BOO” - Casper heads over to see his friend, Wendy the good little witch. On the way, he bumps into Something, a mischievous little ghost he knows. Together, they pay a visit to Wendy, who’s been whipping up a batch of “yummy”-smelling witches’ brew. Something watches her uses her magic want to conjure up a jar of spices to mix into some cake batter. Then he grabs her wand and gestures with it, hoping to conjure up some goodies, but instead, he accidentally uses the magic wand to turn its master into a stone statue! And making matters even worse, Something accidentally drops Wendy’s magic wand into Wendy’s blazing fireplace, burning it to a cinder. If they can’t replace the wand, it looks like Wendy is doomed to being a statue for all time! Fortunately, Casper has an idea. Through a series of flashbacks (a potentially-confusing-to-young-readers storytelling device that Harvey Comics usually avoided), we’re shown how Wendy was given the wand after saving old Greta The Sorceress in gratitude for saving her from a mean bear up on Magic Mountain. Determined to change their friend back into flesh and blood, Casper and Something set out across the Burning Desert toward Magic Mountain. (To be continued.)
An untitled, two-page “Ghostly Trio” gag-strip, penciled by Warren Kremer. The trouble-making Ghostly Trio invades a costume party, but the guests are scared a bit - they think the ghosts are merely in disguise. But when the Trio gives up and start to fade out, they accidentally scare everyone, to their great mutual delight.
“Casper The Friendly Ghost” in “Magic Mountain”, penciled by Warren Kremer. - Continuing the storyline from “The Mysterious Statue”, Casper and Something the ghost manage to cross The Burning Desert and ascend to the top of Magic Mountain, where they discover a huge medieval castle that’s protected by a thick, invisible barrier. Unable to enter it, they take an alternate route, but run afoul of a huge and overaggressive crow. But when Something’s frightening-sounding crying triggers an avalanche, the crow decides to take off. Casper and Something cleverly take shelter from the rockslide by hiding within the boulder. The next impediment to their progress is a field full of hungry giant man-eating flowers, but Casper and Something easily avoid it by flying above the famished flora. As they approach the castle’s front gate, they find it guarded by a “great big pussy cat” — a grumpy lion. After the mischievous little ghost yanks its tail, the lion chases Something back into the field of carnivorous flowers. When Something is swallowed by a particularly aggressive breed of the perilous posies, he uses his ghostly powers to become immaterial and escape. But when the lion gets gobbled up as well, sympathetic Casper uses a sprig of goldenrod to make his flowery captor to sneeze, setting free the grateful feline — who now volunteers to take them to Greta The Sorceress. (To be continued.)
A page featuring two ads: one for “GRIT, America’s Greatest Family Newspaper”; the other for “Power Binoculars” available through mail-order from “Hi-Power”.
A house-ad for various Harvey Comics, including CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST, LITTLE AUDREY AND MELVIN, HOT STUFF, SAD SACK, TUFF GHOSTS, DEVIL KIDS, PLAYFUL LITTLE AUDREY, LITTLE SAD SACK, HARVEY HITS featuring “G.I. Juniors”, BABY HUEY AND PAPA, LITTLE LOTTA, LITTLE DOT DOTLAND, BABY HUEY, SAD SACK AND SARGE, SPOOKY THE TUFF LITTLE GHOST, RICHIE RICH, WENDY THE GOOD LITTLE WITCH, LITTLE DOT and CASPER’S GHOSTLAND.
A one-page “Rocky And Bullwinkle” strip-ad for General Mills’ “Cheerios” breakfast cereal.
A house-ad for Harvey’s line of “Giant Size” comics, including TV CASPER AND COMPANY, SAD SAD SACK WORLD, LITTLE LOTTA IN FOODLAND, LITTLE AUDREY TV FUNTIME, LITTLE DOT’S AUNTS AND UNCLES, STUMBO TINYTOWN, RICHIE RICH DOLLARS AND CENTS, BABY HUEY DUCKLAND, SAD SACK LAUGH SPECIAL, HOT STUFF SIZZLERS, RICHIE RICH MILLIONS, SPOOKY SPOOKTOWN, CASPER’S GHOSTLAND and WENDY WITCH WORLD.
“Casper The Friendly Ghost” in “Greta The Sorceress”, penciled by Warren Kremer. - Continuing the story from “Magic Mountain”, this final chapter begins as Casper introduces himself and Something to Greta The Sorceress. She mistakes them for evil spirits, and when Casper tells he that Wendy needs a replacement for the destroyed wand that Greta once gave her, the sorceress thinks they’re trying to trick her. Distracted while she looks through a book of spells to banish the “evil” ghosts, Greta doesn’t notice when Casper and Something turn themselves invisible. But when Something tries to hide inside an old vase (”to be doubly safe”), he knocks it over and reveals their presence to Greta. The green-skinned sorceress goes to her magic mirror to help locate her uninvited guests, but when Casper whispers a suggestion in her ear - one that Greta assumes is a “brainstorm” - she asks to see Wendy. Seeing that Casper was telling the truth all along, Greta takes him and Something upstairs, where she shows them an entire trunk of wands! Something eagerly grabs one of them and tries to concoct some magic, but without success. Greta explains that she hasn’t yet put the magic into the wand yet. After blasting it with her powers of sorcery, Greta uses it to materialize an elephant, then turn it into a tiny mouse, then transform Something into an elongated giant! Thanking Greta, Casper and Something return to the Enchanted Forest, where Casper uses the new magic wand to undo Something’s near-tragic error. And once Wendy is restored to normal, the first thing she does is use her new wand to place a “magic circle” around Something to keep him out of further mischief!
“The Great Lesson”, a 3/4-page text-story.
A 1/4-page strip-ad house-ad for RICHIE RICH, penciled by Warren Kremer.
“Casper’s Diary”, a 3/4-page text-story.
A 1/4-page strip-ad house-ad for HOT STUFF, penciled by Warren Kremer.
“Spooky The Tuff Little Ghost” in “Loyal To Poil”, penciled by Howard Post. - Appalled after witnessing Spooky scare a cow into climbing a tree, his ghostly girlfriend Pearl issues an ultimatum — unless Spooky can go an entire day without scaring anyone, she refuses to date him any more! Intimidated by her dictate, Spooky manages to resist scaring a passing bear who’s carrying a big stack of packages. But when Pearl sees Spooky’s impressive feat of self-control, she lets out a squeal of delight, revealing herself to the bear - and scaring the daylights out of him! Unaware that Pearl was the cause of this, Spooky worries that she’ll blame him. Embarrassed by the effects of her outburst, Pearl makes herself invisible, but when she slips on a banana peel, her cry of alarm scares the horse of a passing dog-cowboy. As the old nag bucks and gallops into the distance, Once again, Spooky is worried that Pearl is going to blame him for this, not realizing that she’s the one responsible. Finally, as still-invisible Pearl follows Spooky into town, she accidentally knocks an open can of green paint onto herself. Covered with the verdant goop, she not only scares the painter (an ape) - but also frightens Spooky! After cleaning off herself - by flying through a drum full of turpentine - Pearl catches up with Spooky and gives him a big kiss as a reward for exhibiting such self-control. This causes him to emit such a loud “Ya-hoo!” of total triumph that he scares everyone within earshot!
A page featuring two ads: one for ABC’s NEW CASPER CARTOON SHOW; and the other for “250 Magic Tricks Revealed”, a booklet available through mail-order from the “Magic Collection”.
“Treasure Chest Of Fun”, an ad for a variety of practical jokes, gizmos, gimmicks and gag-gifts available through mail order from the “Honor House Prod. Corp.”
“Boys, Girls, Men, Women - If You Need Extra Money & You Know Just 10 PeopleYou Can Make $50.00, $100.00, $200.00 And More In Your Spare Time - It Costs You Nothing To Try!”, a black-and-white, inside-back-cover ad soliciting for door-to-door greeting card salespeople to represent “Wallace Brown, Inc.”
“Make Money - Get Prizes”, a back-cover ad looking for young door-to-door greeting card salespeople to represent the “American Specialty Company”.

ODDBALL Factoid - Cartoonist Howard Post was also the creator of DC’s teenage caveman, ANTHRO!

Bonus ODDBALL Factoid - Noted science fiction and fantasy author Theodore (”It!”) Sturgeon was a big fan of ODDBALL COMICS, attending midnight performances of Scott Shaw!’s slide show presentation at more than one of the San Diego Comic-Cons of the 1970s! In fact, he even contributed a copy of Spire Comics’ ADAM AND EVE to Shaw!’s massive Oddball Comics collection!

* These were the original names of the Ghostly Trio; due to 1995’s CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST feature film, their names have been officially changed to Fatso, Stinky and Stretch. - SS!

** Special thanks to Mark Arnold and his Harveyville Fun Times http://thft.home.att.net/ for valuable research assistance with this ODDBALL COMICS column! **

“Marvel Zombies” Hardcover Sells Out!

Marvel Zombies was one of the biggest breakout successes of the last few years and the critics were all in agreement.

Don MacPherson of TheFourthRail.com says, Marvel Zombies is a guilty-pleasure comic book for fans of both the super-hero and undead horror genres.

The ComicFanatic.com calls Marvel Zombies a perfect mesh of horror and superheroics.

Troy Brownfield of Newsarama.com calls it, a fun spin around the graveyard in mighty Marvel fashion.

Thanks to the scores of real-life Marvel Zombies (you the fans!), the Marvel Zombies HC has become as big a success as the limited series that spawned it. Be sure to be on the lookout for the second printing of Marvel Zombies HC, hitting stores soon.

Batman: As The Crow Flies TPB

Batman: As The Crow Flies TPB

Gotham City’s underworld is thrown into turmoil as its crimelords slip into a rabid - and murderous - frenzy. Is it a coincidence, or part of an elaborate and sinister power play? One thing’s for sure: The machinations of the Scarecrow and the Penguin will have Batman hard-pressed to restore order. …

Retail: $ 12.95
Your Price: $12.95
Buy/More Info

Waiting to Exhale

Waiting to Exhale

Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett star in this funny and touching film about four women who find strength through their rare and special relationship. Savannah, Bernadine, Robin and Gloria are all searching for the Real Thing: true love. Bernadine thought she had it, until her husband left her for …

Retail: $ 14.98
Your Price: $11.98
Buy/More Info

Comic Books portray our fears, our desires and ethos.

I tried to tolerate it personally as a comic book fan back then in spite of all the changes, and try to accept them as a very clever and valid means to revise the characters thus in particular to the SUPES conundrum, Lois Lane’s not as doty dumbness an

Comics

Pipeline Podcast
Civil War might be the most interesting pick of the week, but don’t short yourself of other releases like Perhapanauts and Amelia Rules. Augie has the details.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. RSS 2.0