So okay, I’m running one hundred years late.

At least it’s not 101!

Below, click on any cover from Cartoons Magazine‘s first year of publication — 1912 — to find postings from that particular month’s edition.

January 1912, Volume One, Number One…

February 1912, Volume One, Number Two…

March 1912, Volume One, Number Three…

April 1912, Volume One, Number Four…

May 1912, Volume One, Number Five…

June 1912, Volume One, Number Six…

July 1912, Volume One, Number Six…

August 1912, Volume One, Number Six…

September 1912, Volume One, Number Six…

October 1912, Volume One, Number Six…

November 1912, Volume One, Number Six…

December 1912, Volume One, Number Six…

Doug Wheeler

— Doug

TCJ names their best this past year and this column on VT Hamlin definitely fits that description.

http://www.tcj.com/a-stretch-in-the-bone-age-the-life-and-cartooning-genius-of-v-t-hamlin/

HM Bateman was an influence on Harvey Kurtzman. Here’s some 1922 work from him.

http://screwballcomics.blogspot.com/2012/12/taking-bate-1922-hm-bateman-punch.html

In honor of the birthday of Davy Jones who we lost in 2012, here’s an issue of The Monkees.

http://mailittoteamup.blogspot.com/2012/12/tales-from-dollar-bin-monkees-4.html

Finally, here’s Good Willy in the story of Goodwill Industries.

http://www.ep.tc/problems/54/

From the December 1912 issue, we finish our coverage of the first year of Cartoons Magazine, with (appropriately enough) an assortment of cartoons on the humors of contemporary life.

Above, a few Winter “Indoor Sports”, by H.T. Webster and Gaar Williams.

Click on the above & below pictures, to view the cartoons in detail, and read their captions.

Below, one of many episodes of childhood, depicted by Clare Briggs.

Above, the eternal complaint about “The Cost of Living”, depicted by O’Loughlin, Marasco, and others. Below, James H. Donahey on old-fashioned (by 1912 standards!) grocery stores.

Beneath, cartoons on the other business that picks up during Hunting Season… by Coleman F. Naughton, Robert Satterfield, Charles Bowers, Daniel Fitzpatrick, and H.T. Webster again.

Doug Wheeler

— Doug

Here’s a fun original art blog that highlights classic artists alongside their classic art as well as lots of little-seen work.

http://davekarlenoriginalartblog.blogspot.com

And while we’re speaking of original art, here’s yet another site devoted to it and even called, Original Art.

http://illustrationart.blogspot.com

More impressive comics art here from Barry (Windsor-) Smith in Savage Tales.

http://diversionsofthegroovykind.blogspot.com/2012/12/black-and-white-wednesday-savage-barry.html

Finally, some very early superhero work from one of the great comics artists we lost in 2012, Joe Kubert.

http://fourcolorshadows.blogspot.com/2012/12/volton-joe-kubert-1942.html

From the December 1912 issue of Cartoons Magazine, we have a few cartoons on the change in the weather, starting with above, by Elmer Donnell.

Click on the above & below pictures, to view the cartoons in detail, and read their captions.

Below, from Ralph Everett Wilder, and others.

Next, by Paul A. Plaschke.

Doug Wheeler

— Doug

For Christmas, we conclude our Santa in various mechanical transport comics, with a 1909 episode of Little Johnny & the Taffy Possums, by John R. Bray (art) and Robert D. Towne (script), featuring Santa delivering his presents by dirigible. Little Johnny ran on the rear cover of Judge magazine, plus was reprinted in some newspapers in their Sunday Comics section. The title began life as Little Johnny & the Teddy Bears (1907-08), with Possums replacing the Bears in 1909.

Click on the above comic strip, to view it in detail, and read its captions.

Doug Wheeler

Tigwissel Tuesdays JudgeMag Christmas Comics

First, a programming note.

When I started writing this blog I couldn’t wait for Christmas so that I could present one of my ultimate fave-rave Comics Tunes, “Deck Us All With Boston Charlie,” which brings together my favorite comic strip (Pogo) and my favorite jazz group, Lambert Hendricks & Ross. I even pledged to make it an annual Christmas tradition. However, I was thinking in terms of radio and television, where repeating a Christmas special every year makes sense. On the Wonderful Worldwide Web, it’s unnecessary to repeat anything, since you can always go back in the archives and relive Christmases past. I’ve made it easy for you. Previous Christmas presentations are here and here.

That’s it for old business, now on to new business.

One of the other great Christmas songs has a connection with one of my other favorite comic strips. I’m referring to “Snoopy vs. The Red Baron” and Peanuts, of course. That original LP by The Royal Guardsmen was the second album I ever bought, and I still have it.

This Christmas I’d like to present the follow-up record, “Snoopy’s Christmas.” It’s both pro-peace and anti-violence, and that’s a positive Christmas message, isn’t it?

El Capitan pointed out earlier this year that you can visit the Royal Guardsmen’s Facebook page and I encourage you to do so by clicking here.

Then click the link below to enjoy this year’s Christmas Comics Tune.

Snoopy’s Christmas - The Royal Guardsmen

From 1864, we have A Visit from St. Nicholas — a fold-out strip version of “The Night Before Christmas”. It was published by Louis Prang & Company (best known for publishing postcards, Christmas cards, and Valentines), and is part of a boxed set of half a dozen fold-out lithographic booklets (only two of which — A Visit from St. Nicholas included — are of interest to comics collectors). There are some who claim the art to be by Thomas Nast, but the art style does not match Nast’s, and Nast was a big enough salepoint, that his name would have been mentioned somewhere in the booklet, had he been involved.

Click on the above & below pictures, to view the cartoons in detail, and read their captions.

A Merry Christmas to all!

Doug Wheeler

Christmas Comics

Let’s start this holiday with a gallery of red-nosed Rudolph comic book covers.

http://ripjaggerdojo.blogspot.com/2012/12/rudolph-red-nosed-reindeer.html

Here’s the Big Red Cheese himself, the one and only Captain Marvel, foiling a plot against Christmas!

http://heroheroinehistory.blogspot.com/2012/12/reading-room-golden-age-captain-marvel.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HeroHeroineHistories+%28Hero+%28%26amp%3B+Heroine%29+Histories%29

Walt Kelly’s advertising icon Peter Wheat has his own holiday adventure here:

http://pappysgoldenage.blogspot.com/2012/12/number-1286-christmas-with-peter-wheat.html

Finally, here’s Atomic Mouse from Yoe’s collection of Christmas stories.

http://fourcolorshadows.blogspot.com/2012/12/atomic-mouse-al-fago-1950s.html