The Funnies #61

(November 1941)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 1)

Joe Snoope / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Hermann

Inks

Hermann

Colors

?

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

I'll tell you, we'll use the black gun powder...

Indexer Notes

inside front cover

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 2)

Captain Midnight / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

After defeating Ivan Shark's attempt...

Genre

war; adventure; aviation; superhero

Characters

Captain Midnight; Ivan Shark; Fury Shark

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 3)

Phantasmo / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

E. C. Stoner

Inks

E. C. Stoner

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Boy! That's one of the best steaks I've ever eaten!

Genre

detective-mystery; superhero

The Rocket Boys in Space Chapter XII (Table of Contents: 4)

text story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Hurled upward by thundering rocket blasts, the space ship shot through the helium-oxygen atmosphere of the planet Thostia.

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Mac Harmon; Frank Blade

Keywords

outer space setting; spaceship

[A NEW Life Begins for Andy Panda] (Table of Contents: 5)

Andy Panda / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Gaylord Du Bois

Pencils

Jim Pabian

Inks

Jim Pabian

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

Jim Pabian

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Well, what do you know about that?

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; humor

Characters

Andy Panda (introduction); Tommy; Marion (referred to as "Sis" in this story); two ruthless wild animal hunters; tiger; movie director (cameo in opening splash panel only)

Synopsis

As a talking animal, Andy Panda is lonely in his jungle home until he is discovered by naturalist Marion and her kid brother Tommy. Befriending the panda, the pair plan to take him back to the United States as a companion, but not before an encounter with two ruthless wild animal hunters who have heard legends about talking pandas - and hope to make a fortune by trapping one.

Keywords

exploring; forest setting; hunters; panda; talking animal; Tibet

Indexer Notes

This is the first appearance of Andy Panda, as well as the first appearance of a Walter Lantz character in The Funnies (Dell, 1936 series). Two prior of issues of Crackajack Funnies (Western, 1938 Series) #39-40 offered Andy Panda appearances of 3 and 2 pages respectively and were the first appearances of a Walter Lantz character in comic books.

After three more issues, "The Funnies" will be rechristened "New Funnies" and later becomes "Walter Lantz New Funnies" (as Lantz characters slowly take over the series), with Andy Panda as its lead feature.

This story kicks off a series of tales where Andy Panda exists as a "talking animal" in a civilized world of realistically rendered humans. Later, Andy will shift to a more cartoon-like setting, eventually taking-on Charlie Chicken (whom Andy hatches from an egg in New Funnies #79) as a sidekick for the rest of his comic-book run.

The unofficial title, "A NEW Life Begins for Andy Panda" is derived from the title of the first Andy Panda animated theatrical short "Life Begins for Andy Panda", which tells the story of the panda's birth. The "NEW Life" title tribute heralds Andy Panda's decades-long "life" in comic books.

Per this story, Andy Panda is said to have originally lived in Tibet (page 2, panel 4), where the tale takes place.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 6)

Navy Bob Steele / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Far below the surface a diver works feverishly on the hatch of a sunken submarine.

Genre

military; war

Characters

Lt. Robert Steele USN; Captain Frank Vernon USN; "Red" Malone Seaman First Class; LT "Bill" Sheridan USN; Tommy Andrews Gunner's Mate First Class

Keywords

battleship; diving bell; sea or island setting; submarine; United States Navy

Indexer Notes

The main characters (above) are all introduced in the opening splash panel with portraits and accompanying captions.

It's Nature! (Table of Contents: 7)

comic story / 0.5 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

A fly can walk upside down because there is a little hollow pad on each foot which causes a suction when pressed on a surface.

Genre

non-fiction; nature

Synopsis

Facts about flies, ostriches, poisonous snakes; flowers and cicadas.

Keywords

educational feature; nature

Indexer Notes

Feature occupies approximately 50% of the page, with the rest dedicated to various small advertisements.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 8)

Mr. District Attorney / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Maurice Kashuba (credited)

Inks

Maurice Kashuba (credited)

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Champion of the people, defender of truth, guardian of our fundamental rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Genre

crime; detective-mystery; drama

Characters

Mr. District Attorney

Reprints

• in Four Color (Dell, 1942 series) #13 - Mr. District Attorney (1942)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 9)

Black Knight / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

Gordon Petersen (credited)

Pencils

Erwin Hess (credited)

Inks

Erwin Hess (credited)

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Master, look! Green vegetation looms in the distance.

Genre

adventure

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 10)

Rex, King of the Deep / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Tom Hickey

Inks

Tom Hickey

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

After many exciting adventures while convoying a British ship across the Atlantic to England, Rex and his friends, aboard the two super-subs, are now on the return trip to the U.S.A.

Genre

adventure; military; war

Characters

Rex, King of the Deep; Nan; Butch; Tim; Captain Wolfe (German U-boat commander); German U-boat crew

Keywords

freighter; sea or island setting; submarine; U-boat; United States Navy

Philo Vance and the Crossword Puzzle Mystery (Table of Contents: 11)

Philo Vance / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

?

Inks

?

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

?

Genre

detective-mystery

Characters

Philo Vance

Keywords

crossword puzzles

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 12)

Speed Martin / comic story / 7 pages (report information)

Script

Victor Bloom (credited as Vic Bloom)

Pencils

Bob Hebbert (credited)

Inks

Bob Hebbert (credited)

Colors

Western Publishing Production Shop

Letters

?

First Line of Dialogue or Text

In an English Channel port...

Genre

adventure

Characters

Speed Martin; Judy Jackson

Keywords

news reporters; World War II