Four Color
#1311 - Rocky and His Friends
(March-May 1962)
Dell,
1942 Series
- Price
- 0.15 USD
- Pages
- 36
- On-sale Date
- 1962-03
- Indicia / Colophon Publisher
- Dell Publishing Co. Inc.
- Brand
-
Dell [stamp]
- Printer
- Designed and printed by Western Printing & Lithographing Co.
- Editing
- Bill Harris (editor)
Issue Notes
Ad and non-ad variants exist for this issue's back cover. See Seq. 10 and 11 for details.
On sale date (month and year) is derived from the issue code appearing in the bottom tier of page one (623).
Cover is drawn by Al Kilgore, as well as the interior stories featuring Rocky, Bullwinkle, Boris, and Natasha. Art comparisons made with the 2022-released books "Rocky & Bullwinkle Complete Newspaper Comic Strip Collection" Volumes 1 and 2, in which strips written and drawn by Kilgore are collected, will give readers a better identification of Kilgore's writing style, and especially his drawing style.
Feature is changed to "Rocky and His Friends, in any story where it is the published title logo in the comic.
Indicia title is "ROCKY AND HIS FRIENDS, No. 1311." Code number is ROCKY+H.F. O.S. #1311-623. Copyright 1962 by P.A.T--Ward Productions, Inc. Final Rocky and His Friends Four Color. Creator credits from Keith Scott in his book "The Moose that Roared." Karl Wilcox notes, January 2008, that Al Kilgore did not draw all the stories in this issue, and that the Keith Scott book does not actually make that claim. Karl could not positively identify which stories were drawn by Kilgore.
In an interview, Bill Harris mentions editing this issue.Keywords advertising variance per issue
On sale date (month and year) is derived from the issue code appearing in the bottom tier of page one (623).
Cover is drawn by Al Kilgore, as well as the interior stories featuring Rocky, Bullwinkle, Boris, and Natasha. Art comparisons made with the 2022-released books "Rocky & Bullwinkle Complete Newspaper Comic Strip Collection" Volumes 1 and 2, in which strips written and drawn by Kilgore are collected, will give readers a better identification of Kilgore's writing style, and especially his drawing style.
Feature is changed to "Rocky and His Friends, in any story where it is the published title logo in the comic.
Indicia title is "ROCKY AND HIS FRIENDS, No. 1311." Code number is ROCKY+H.F. O.S. #1311-623. Copyright 1962 by P.A.T--Ward Productions, Inc. Final Rocky and His Friends Four Color. Creator credits from Keith Scott in his book "The Moose that Roared." Karl Wilcox notes, January 2008, that Al Kilgore did not draw all the stories in this issue, and that the Keith Scott book does not actually make that claim. Karl could not positively identify which stories were drawn by Kilgore.
In an interview, Bill Harris mentions editing this issue.
[In the Swing(s) of Things]
Rocky and His Friends / cover / 1 page
- Genre
- anthropomorphic-funny animals; humor; satire-parody
- Characters
- Rocky the Flying Squirrel; Bullwinkle J. Moose; Mr. Peabody
- Synopsis
- Rocky and Mr. Peabody swing attached to Bullwinkle's antlers.
- Reprints
-
in Bullwinkle (Western, 1962 series) #5 [Gold Key] (September 1972) which is reprinted
-
- Keywords
- children's swings
Contents
table of contents / 1 page
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Bullwinkle suddenly has a mania for muscles...
- Characters
- Rocky the Flying Squirrel; Bullwinkle J. Moose; Boris Badenov; Natasha Fatale; Mr. Peabody; Sherman; Ivan Hooknik
- Synopsis
- Previews of the stories in the issue.
- Keywords
- previews
Indexer Notes
Black and white on inside front cover. Two-panel previews of three stories in the issue.
Muscle Bound Moose
Rocky and His Friends / comic story / 8 pages
- Script
- Al Kilgore
- Pencils
- Al Kilgore
- Inks
- Al Kilgore
- Colors
- Western Publishing Production Shop
- Letters
- Ben Oda
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Bullwinkle!! What the heck are you doing??
- Feature Logo
Rocky and His Friends [Dell Comics Logo]- Genre
- anthropomorphic-funny animals; humor; satire-parody
- Characters
- Rocky the Flying Squirrel; Bullwinkle J. Moose; Boris Badenov; Natasha Fatale; Ivan Hoodnik; Fearless Leader (over radio)
- Synopsis
- Ivan Hoodnik, who has replaced Boris Badenov, tries to get rid of Bullwinkle by offering him a free membership in a health club. Boris sabotages Hoodnik's plans.
- Reprints
- in Bullwinkle (Western, 1962 series) #7 (April 1973) which is reprinted
- in Bullwinkle and Rocky (Western, 1979 series) #23 (October 1979)
-
- Keywords
- health club; spies
Indexer Notes
"Nick Cranny's Health Club", which Bullwinkle is conned into joining, is a parody reference to "Vic Tanny's" a popular gym/health club chain in the 1950s thru mid-1960s.
Cotton Pickin' Inventor
Mr. Peabody's Improbable History / comic story / 6 pages
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Ah, Sherman, just in time for some hot soup!!
- Genre
- anthropomorphic-funny animals; satire-parody; humor
- Characters
- Mr. Peabody; Sherman; Eli Whitney
- Reprints
- in Bullwinkle and Rocky (Western, 1979 series) #23 (October 1979)
-
- Keywords
- historical setting; time travel
Indexer Notes
Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin.
The Wishing Fish
Fractured Fairy Tales / comic story / 4 pages
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Wait a minute, Bullwinkle, it's time for a Fractured Fairy Tale!
- Genre
- humor; satire-parody
- Characters
- Rocky the Flying Squirrel; Bullwinkle J. Moose; Sam (fisherman); Selma (fisherman's wife): Wishing Fish
- Reprints
- in Bullwinkle and Rocky (Western, 1979 series) #23 (October 1979)
-
- Keywords
- fairy tale parody; meta humor
Frivolous Facts
text article / 1 page
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Pint-sized misers can buy a miniature steel safe, completely equipped with a burglar alarm.
- Genre
- non-fiction; satire-parody
Indexer Notes
Text with one illustration.
Babe in Troy-Land
Mr. Peabody's Improbable History / comic story / 4 pages
- Script
- Al Kilgore
- Pencils
- Al Kilgore
- Inks
- Al Kilgore
- Colors
- Western Publishing Production Shop
- Letters
- Ben Oda
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Gee, Mr. Peabody, with this history it's hard to tell when fact ends and fable begins!!
- Genre
- anthropomorphic-funny animals; satire-parody; humor
- Characters
- Mr. Peabody; Sherman; King Prium; Paris; Helen of Troy
- Reprints
- in Bullwinkle and Rocky (Western, 1979 series) #23 (October 1979)
-
- Keywords
- historical setting; time travel
Egyptian Gyp
Rocky and His Friends / comic story / 8 pages
- Script
- Al Kilgore
- Pencils
- Al Kilgore
- Inks
- Al Kilgore
- Colors
- Western Publishing Production Shop
- Letters
- Ben Oda
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Rocky and Bullwinkle have been summoned to the home of Prof. Diggum Upp, famous archaeologist...
- Feature Logo
- Rocky and His Friends [Dell Comics Logo]
- Genre
- anthropomorphic-funny animals; humor; satire-parody
- Characters
- Rocky the Flying Squirrel; Bullwinkle J. Moose; Boris Badenov; Natasha Fatale; Prof. Diggum Upp
Indexer Notes
Al Kilgore credit for this story was confirmed by Bill Harris.
Shutter Bugged
Boris and Natasha / comic story / 1 page
- Script
- Al Kilgore
- Pencils
- Al Kilgore
- Inks
- Al Kilgore
- Colors
- Western Publishing Production Shop
- Letters
- Ben Oda
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Badenov! Here are the papers -- I'll pick them up in two minutes!
- Genre
- humor
- Characters
- Boris Badenov; Natasha Fatale; Pottsylvanian spy
- Synopsis
- Boris botched the job when taking pictures of secret plans, but is still pleased with the outcome.
- Keywords
- photographs; spies
Indexer Notes
On final interior page of the comic.
Talkin' Turkey
Mr. Peabody's Improbable History / comic story / 1 page
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Midnight snacks are sure fun, Mr. Peabody!
- Genre
- anthropomorphic-funny animals; satire-parody; humor
- Characters
- Mr. Peabody; Sherman
- Synopsis
- Sherman and Mr. Peabody go back to the first Thanksgiving to find out why turkey legs are called drumsticks.
- Keywords
- 1621; first Thanksgiving; historical setting; Indians; midnight snack; pilgrims; time travel; turkey
Indexer Notes
Black and white on inside back cover.
Nationally Famous Prizes for You
Junior Sales Club of America Cards / advertisement / 1 page
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Or Big 40% Cash Profits
- Keywords
- advertising variance per issue
Indexer Notes
Color ad on back cover.
Ad variant has this ad on the back cover. Non-ad variant has the 1-page story "Leash on Life".
Ad for selling greeting cards for Junior Sales Club of America, Springfield, Mass.
Leash on Life
Rocky and His Friends / comic story / 1 page
- First Line of Dialogue or Text
- Gosh, Bullwinkle, Dan the Dogcatcher has a tough job!!
- Feature Logo
- Rocky and His Friends [Dell Comics Logo]
- Genre
- anthropomorphic-funny animals; humor; satire-parody
- Characters
- Rocky the Flying Squirrel; Bullwinkle J. Moose; Dan the Dogcatcher
- Synopsis
- Rocky and Bullwinkle run afoul of a 1783 Frostbite Falls leash law.
- Keywords
- advertising variance per issue; dogcatcher; leash law
Indexer Notes
Color on back cover.
Non-ad variant has this 1-page story on the back cover. Ad variant copies replace this story with an advertisement for "Junior Sales Club of America".
Editing
Related Scans
Series Information
Table of Contents
-
0.
[In the Swing(s) of Things]
Rocky and His Friends -
1.
Contents
-
2.
Muscle Bound Moose
Rocky and His Friends -
3.
Cotton Pickin' Inventor
Mr. Peabody's Improbable History -
4.
The Wishing Fish
Fractured Fairy Tales -
5.
Frivolous Facts
-
6.
Babe in Troy-Land
Mr. Peabody's Improbable History -
7.
Egyptian Gyp
Rocky and His Friends -
8.
Shutter Bugged
Boris and Natasha -
9.
Talkin' Turkey
Mr. Peabody's Improbable History -
10.
Nationally Famous Prizes for You
Junior Sales Club of America Cards -
11.
Leash on Life
Rocky and His Friends
This issue was modified by, among others
- Ray Bottorff Jr
- Nick Caputo
- Gregory Fischer
- Merlin Haas
- Jerry Hillegas (R.I.P.)
- Darrel McCann
- Donald Dale Milne
- Keith Alan Morgan
- Mike Nielsen
- Gary Perlman
- Marco Pesce
- Tony R. Rose
- Steven Rowe
- Joe Torcivia
- Jim Van Dore
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