Thursday, August 23, 2012

"Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies" (Dell) #26, December 1943: "Messenger Porky"

In early comics, like this one from 1943,Bugs Bunny was a bit more mischievous than he would be later. He behaves more like the Bugs of the Bob Clampett cartoons being produced at the same time. Porky Pig's stutter was also played up a little more, and in this story he delivers a singing telegram...an inspired gag! Bugs attempts to sabotage Porky's job as a messenger in order to score the job for himself, but his plans backfire. Once again, Bugs ends up as the fall guy. The comics give us something the cartoons rarely did: Bugs and Porky interacting.

* UPDATE: The astute readers of this blog have identified the artist here as Ed Volke.











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5 comments:

  1. ramapithAugust 23, 2012 at 9:14 PM

    Art by Ed Volke, one of the most unusual artists to tackle the Looney crew. Somehow, I found his peculiar Bugs very endearing in back issues as a kid...

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    Replies
    1. Joe TorciviaAugust 24, 2012 at 4:55 AM

      Didn’t Ed Volke, actually SIGN some of his work? That’s how I first heard of him. How did HE manage to sign his work – and no one else did?

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    2. ramapithAugust 24, 2012 at 3:05 PM

      Volke and Roger Armstrong both signed their work now and then in 1942 and 1943. I'm not sure if there was any rhyme or reason to when they did or didn't...

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  2. Rachel NewsteadAugust 24, 2012 at 2:15 PM

    Even though Clampett's Bugs was mischievous, Bugs still seems uncharacteristically malicious here, toward someone who isn't even trying to shoot him. But I do like that his design matches the model sheets of the time more closely than later comics would.

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  3. Matthew HunterAugust 30, 2012 at 6:19 PM

    Ed Volke, huh? I'll make note of that in the post. He sure likes to emphasize Bugs' ears.

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