Bugs Bunny #217

(February 1980)

The Flying Houseboat (Table of Contents: 1)

Bugs Bunny / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Don R. Christensen

Pencils

Tom McKimson

Inks

?

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

Larry Mayer

First Line of Dialogue or Text

But why don’t you just figure I’m your pet… and set out my carrots every day?

Feature Logo

Bugs Bunny [Dell / Western Logo Rounded Letters Two Lines]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; humor

Characters

Bugs Bunny; Elmer Fudd; Doctor Doolitz; Snud; society party guests; Mayor Wiggs; animal shelter security guards; animal shelter dedication guests; many different dogs and cats; police officers

Synopsis

From their flying houseboat, bald scientist Doctor Doolitz and his bald pilot/bodyguard Snud plan to take their twisted revenge on the mayor and everyone else who has hair.

Keywords

anti-gravity; bald heads; best-laid-plans; houseboat; revenge

Indexer Notes

Whether the mayor somehow caused Doctor Doolitz’s hair to fall out a la Superboy and Lex Luthor, or if Doolitz is just an ordinary run-of-the-mill resentfully mad scientist, is just as unclear as his vague criminal goals (as stated on page 10, panel 5 upon his apprehension): “I only wanted to conquer SOME of the world!”

King For a Day (Table of Contents: 2)

Bugs Bunny / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Vic Lockman

Pencils

Tom McKimson

Inks

?

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

Larry Mayer

First Line of Dialogue or Text

(Puff-Puff-Puff!) I’m fed up to the tip top of my ears with this scooter!

Feature Logo

Bugs Bunny [Dell / Western Logo Rounded Letters Two Lines]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; humor

Characters

Bugs Bunny; Honest Ernest (used car dealer); royal ministers of Pick; royal guards of Pick

Synopsis

A transporter device in the form of an old used car takes Bugs on an “instantrip” to the rabbit-kingdom of “Pick” where, upon arrival, he is named as king. Bugs gets to enjoy sitting on his throne for exactly one minute, before he is ejected into Pick’s immense carrot field. There, he learns that it is the duty of the King of Pick to "pick" carrots at hard labor, from morning into night, for his subjects. A “duty” strictly enforced by the royal guards. Can Bugs find a way to abdicate the throne, or is he doomed to a life of “royal pain”?

Keywords

car; carrots; hard labor; king; kingdom; rabbits; reused story elements; strange land; throne; transporter

Indexer Notes

Writer Vic Lockman has used the notion of a transporter device in the form of an old car taking a character on a continent-spanning “instantrip” before. See Donald Duck and Pinocchio “The Go-Go Mobile” – Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories (Western, 1962 Series) #321 (June 1967) – where Donald Duck takes the “instantrip”, in a transporter/car invented by Gyro Gearloose, from Duckburg, USA to the “old country” of Pinocchio and Gepetto, in response to their call for help. Not only is the device in the form of an old car, but the process is also referred to as an “instantrip” in both stories.

The Haunted Castle (Table of Contents: 3)

Bugs Bunny / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

Vic Lockman

Pencils

Tom McKimson

Inks

?

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

Larry Mayer

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Step right up and be thrilled silly in the Haunted Castle!

Feature Logo

Bugs Bunny [Dell / Western Logo Rounded Letters Two Lines]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; humor

Characters

Bugs Bunny; Porky Pig; Petunia Pig; King Edgar of Cantonia; king's chauffeurs; king's bodyguards; thief posing as ghost

Synopsis

Bugs is running a haunted castle amusement attraction, which Porky and Petunia tour. The next guest is visiting King Edgar of Cantonia, who is known to enjoy such attractions. Lying in wait is a thief, posing as one of the castle’s “mechanical pop-up ghosts”, who swipes the crown off the king’s head.

Keywords

amusement attraction; crown; ghost; haunted castle; king; thief