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Readers of this blog know that my favorite retailer is Bud Plant. I don’t know which I love most, the fascinating books Bud turns up or the super nice personal service you get from his employees. Well, Bud in the first time in the history of his company is having a contest! You can win the beautiful, whimsical original art by Tom Kidd pictured above—and there’s no purchase necessary. Just go to Bud Plant’s website and register, it’s as easy as that, but this week is the last week to enter. So do it now why you’re thinking of it.

When I heard about the contest it reminded me of a contest I really wish I could have won. The first issue of Atomic Rabbit, a Charlton comic from August 1955, had a contest where you could win the original art to the cover by drawing a pic of our hero Atomic Rabbit. Second prize was an interior page. I love Al Fago’s art. Al was the brother of another of my favorite cartoonists, Vince Fago. Al was also the editor of this book (though Atomic Rabbit is pictured behind the editor’s desk). I would kill to know where that art is today. I wonder if the 2nd issue named the winners so that I could stalk them.

(click for a closer look)

(click for a closer look)

Anyway, below’s my much belated contest entry, what do you think?

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Gotta go enter Bud’s contest now, before it’s too late for that one, too…