Four Color #1090 - Francis, the Famous Talking Mule
(April-June 1960)

Dell, 1942 Series
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Price
0.10 USD
Pages
36
On-sale Date
1960-03-10
Indicia / Colophon Publisher
Dell Publishing Co. Inc.
Brand
Dell
Printer
Printed in U.S.A.
Editing
?

Issue Notes

Indicia title is "FRANCIS, THE FAMOUS TALKING MULE, No. 1090." Code number is FRANCIS O.S. #1090-604. Copyright 1960 by David Stern. Last of seventeen Francis the Talking Mule Four Colors. Based on the "Francis the Talking Mule" movie series. On-sale date from 1960 Books and Pamphlets, Copyright Office, Library of Congress.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents)

Francis the Famous Talking Mule / cover / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text
How can I draw with my boots on?
Genre
humor
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling
Keywords
cowboys

The Camera Hog (Table of Contents: 1)

Francis / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script
Paul S. Newman
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Letters
?

Genre
humor
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling
Synopsis
Pete gets interviewed on a "man on the street" TV show, but Francis does all the talking.

Indexer Notes

Inside front cover; black and white.

Mule Train (Table of Contents: 2)

Francis / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script
Paul S. Newman
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Colors
?
Letters
?

Genre
humor
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling; Hank
Synopsis
Pete and Francis are part of a covered wagon mule train that is to travel across the country. Among the travelers is a gang of bank robbers, who plan on pulling jobs in each city the mule train stops at. After they rob the bank in the first town the train stops in, Francis finds the stolen money and ends the scheme.

Francis In Orbit (Table of Contents: 3)

Francis / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script
Paul S. Newman
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Colors
?
Letters
?

Genre
humor
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling; Professor Rocket; Professor Missile
Synopsis
Two government scientists hire Francis to take part in some top-secret space flight tests. Pete is also part of the tests, but neither knows why they are being tested. Francis then overhears the scientists talk about sending him aboard a rocket into orbit where he'll be able to report conditions because of his ability to talk.

Oil and Troubled Waters (Table of Contents: 4)

Francis / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script
Paul S. Newman
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Colors
?
Letters
?

Genre
humor
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling
Synopsis
A sheik is the ruler of the only Arab land that doesn't have oil. He is told by his soothsayer that his problems will be solved if he can find a "man who speaks like a jackass". One of the sheik's agents in America encounters Francis, and thinking the search is for a "jackass that speaks like a man", takes Francis and Peter back to his country. Francis is given an ultimatum--find oil in three days or Peter will die. Francis doesn't find oil, but Peter does, as he's digging his own grave!

Indexer Notes

Peter's last name is spelled "Sterling" in this story. In all the movie references it is spelled "Stirling". Last panel is Dell's "A Pledge to Parents".

Triple Threat Mule (Table of Contents: 5)

Francis / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script
Paul S. Newman
Pencils
David Gantz
Inks
David Gantz
Letters
?

Genre
humor; sports
Characters
Francis, the talking mule; Peter Stirling
Synopsis
Francis tries out for the football team, but is rejected because he can't fit into the uniform.

Indexer Notes

Inside back cover; black and white.

"Visit" Hawaii for only 10¢ (Table of Contents: 6)

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?; ? (photograph)
Inks
?; ? (photograph)
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

Indexer Notes

Back cover; color. Illustrated ad for Know Your America album and sticker set. American Geographical Society, Garden City, N.Y.

Editing
Related Scans
Series Information
Table of Contents
  1. 0. ["How can I draw with my boots on?"]
    Francis the Famous Talking Mule
  2. 1. The Camera Hog
    Francis
  3. 2. Mule Train
    Francis
  4. 3. Francis In Orbit
    Francis
  5. 4. Oil and Troubled Waters
    Francis
  6. 5. Triple Threat Mule
    Francis
  7. 6. "Visit" Hawaii for only 10¢
This issue was modified by, among others
  • Dwayne Best
  • Nick Caputo
  • Steve Coates
  • Merlin Haas
  • Jerry Hillegas (R.I.P.)
  • Keith Alan Morgan
  • Tony R. Rose
  • James Zee