Paul Terry's Mighty Mouse Comics #38

(February 1953)

Musical Whirling Angel Chimes (Table of Contents: 1)

Illinois Merchandise Mart / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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Authentic replica of original "Swedish Singing Angels" centerpiece

Keywords

candles; decorative items; mail order marketing

Indexer Notes

Ad for a metal candle holder adorned by metal angels striking chimes, for which “heat from lighted candles makes angels revolve continuously”. Only $1.98 complete with candles. Black and white ad on inside front cover.

Adventure of the Steel Slaves (Table of Contents: 2)

Mighty Mouse / comic story / 16 pages (report information)

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All right, Bradford, 3/1,000,000 of a degree more heat, reduce moisture by XYNR / # squared.

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo with Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; Mitzi Mouse; Professor Edam; Bradford (cat spy); The Claw; Professor Ohm; Butch (big brawny cat); robot boxer; robot jet pilot; two robot guards; large robot army; two sailor cats; terrified mouse citizens; special emergency flying squad (winged robots)

Synopsis

Bradford, a cat spy working for Professor Edam steals the professor's discovery of "a new metal absolutely sensitive to radio-rays", and turns it over to The Claw and Professor Ohm. With it, the evil cats build a nearly-invincible, radio-controlled robot army. ..."Nearly-invincible", that is!

Reprints

• in Mighty Mouse Adventure Stories (St. John, 1953 series) #[nn] (1953)
• in Mighty Mouse (Western, 1964 series) #162 (January 1965)

Keywords

great discovery; heroics; metal; radio-control; robots; spy; wreaking havoc

Indexer Notes

When the story was later reprinted in a Gold Key Comic - Mighty Mouse (Western, 1964 Series) #162 (January 1965) - it was retitled "The Steel Slaves".

Krakatoa (Table of Contents: 3)

Mighty Mouse / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

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The Fire God is awakening!

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; island natives (mice); witch doctor (mouse); missionary (mouse); missionary's daughter (mouse)

Synopsis

With the terrible volcano of Krakatoa ready to blow, a witch doctor leads his followers to revolt against a kindly missionary and sacrifice the missionary's daughter to a volcano god. Mighty Mouse will have none of that.

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #7 (October 1948)
• in Mighty Mouse (Western, 1964 series) #165 (September 1965)

Keywords

heroics; Krakatoa; missionary; panic; sacrifice; sea or island setting; superstition; volcano; witch doctor

Indexer Notes

This story is not a comic-book adaptation of the 1945 Mighty Mouse theatrical short "Mighty Mouse in Krakatoa", which has a very different plot.

Beauty and the Beast (Table of Contents: 4)

Mighty Mouse / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

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Art Bartsch (signed as Art Bartsch)

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Art Bartsch (signed as Art Bartsch)

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It’s early morning in the forest and Miss Chubby Squirrel is about to rise…

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; Miss Chubby Squirrel; Warren Wolf; Sammy Squirrel (not the MGM character from the “Wuff the Prairie Dog” comic feature)

Synopsis

A wolf uses the pretense of a beauty salon weight-loss program to get a weight-conscious squirrel into his clutches.

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #7 (October 1948)

Keywords

buyer beware; forest setting; heroics; one-character-desiring-another-as-a-meal; spa; unwelcome surprise; weight

Indexer Notes

In this story, Mighty Mouse has a “brownish-gray coloring” rather than his usual black, and small, but noticeable, protruding “mouse front teeth”.

Aladdin's Lamp (Table of Contents: 5)

Mighty Mouse / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

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Art Bartsch (signed as Art Bartsch)

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Art Bartsch (signed as Art Bartsch)

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One stormy night in the far, far east, a poor mouse named Aladdin seeks shelter in an old curio shop.

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; Aladdin Mouse; genie; cat; other captive mice

Synopsis

A poor hungry mouse named Aladdin finds a magic lamp complete with genie. He lives well for a while, until a cat takes control of the lamp and the genie. But, when the genie-commanding cat demands that "every mouse in town" be brought to him, he didn't reckon on Mighty Mouse being among them.

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #5 (Spring 1948)

Keywords

Aladdin's Lamp; be-careful-what-you-wish-for; genie; heroics; magic; one-character-desiring-another-as-a-meal

Indexer Notes

While there is a 1947 Mighty Mouse theatrical animated short also titled "Aladdin's Lamp", this comic story is not an adaptation of that cartoon.

Adventure in Mexico (Table of Contents: 6)

Mighty Mouse / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

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Connie Rasinski (signed as Connie Rasinski)

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Connie Rasinski (signed as Connie Rasinski)

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As our story opens, we find Mighty Mouse far from home on the way to answer an urgent call from an old friend.

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; old Mexican mouse with a cane; Sancho Lopez (toreador mouse); Maria (mouse); Maria's evil stepfather (mouse); stepfather's knife-wielding mouse-thugs; bulls; bullfighting fans (mice)

Synopsis

In Mexico, Mighty Mouse helps a noble toreador mouse win the hand of his intended bride, over the objections and treachery of the bride's evil stepfather.

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #5 (Spring 1948)

Keywords

bride; bullfighting; bulls; heroics; Mexico; partial cartoon adaptation; toreador; trickery

Indexer Notes

While not an actual adaptation or remake, this story incorporates elements of the 1946 Mighty Mouse theatrical animated short "Throwing the Bull", directed by the comic story's artist Connie Rasinski.

The Sheep Who Cried Wolf (Table of Contents: 7)

Mighty Mouse / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

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Art Bartsch (signed as Art Bartsch)

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Art Bartsch (signed as Art Bartsch)

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Let's see now... one... two...

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; Duke (sheepdog); Baba (black sheep); wolf; other sheep

Synopsis

Baba the black sheep plays tricks on Duke the sheepdog and Mighty Mouse by crying "wolf!" So, who can't guess what happens next?

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #5 (Spring 1948)

Keywords

cartoon adaptation; crying-wolf; heroics; one-character-desiring-another-as-a-meal; practical jokes; reused story; sheep; sheepdog; wolf

Indexer Notes

This story is a comic book adaptation of the 1947 Mighty Mouse theatrical animated short "Crying Wolf", directed by Connie Rasinski, but omitting certain elements of the cartoon for presumed brevity.

In the comic, Duke the sheepdog is drawn by Art Bartsch to look exactly like a gray-colored version of "Dimwit", Heckle and Jeckle's regular patsy. The dog in the cartoon is similarly drawn, but is colored tan.

Mighty Mouse in Storyland (Table of Contents: 8)

Mighty Mouse / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

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Connie Rasinski (signed as Connie Rasinski) (Also signed as "CR" on the last page)

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Connie Rasinski (signed as Connie Rasinski) (Also signed as "CR" on the last page)

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It's been a long time since I visited Storyland.

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; Grandma; Little Red Riding Hood; wolf (in Zoot suit); the Three Little Pigs

Synopsis

Visiting Storyland, a kingdom in the clouds, Mighty Mouse saves Little Red Riding Hood from the unwanted advances of a Zoot-suited wolf - by literally punching the wolf out of his Zoot suit. Now unhip and unclad, the wolf turns his attentions toward chasing the Three Little Pigs - but Mighty Mouse saves their bacon as well.

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #5 (Spring 1948)

Keywords

children's story characters; heroics; Little Red Riding Hood; one-character-desiring-another-as-a-meal; partial cartoon adaptation; strange land; the Big Bad Wolf; the Three Little Pigs; Zoot suit

Indexer Notes

This story is signed twice by Connie Rasinski. His full name on the splash panel of page one, and his initials "CR" on the final panel of page six.

The portions of the story where the wolf is knocked out of his Zoot suit, loses his interest in Red Riding Hood, and turns his attentions to the Three Little Pigs (omitting a detour turn in a "Little Bo Peep sheep-trapping disguise" in between) are directly lifted from the 1945 Mighty Mouse theatrical short "Mighty Mouse and the Wolf".

Mighty Mouse's Fan Club (Table of Contents: 9)

Mighty Mouse / text story / 2 pages (report information)

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"If these don't please Betty nothing will," said Billy Mouse as he surveyed the large bouquet of flowers in his right hand and the box of chocolates in his left.

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; Billy (mouse); Betty (mouse); Canvasback Cat; Susie (mouse, member of the Mighty Mouse Fan Club)

Synopsis

Billy is jealous of Betty's running the Mighty Mouse Fan Club and wants to gain Betty's affection. He pays a washed-up old boxing cat, Canvasback Cat, to invade a meeting of the club so Billy can show up in the nick of time and become the "hero". Billy learns he should never make a deal with a cat!

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #7 (October 1948)

Keywords

best-laid-plans; boxer; cat; fan club; heroics; jealousy; mice

Indexer Notes

Good Bit: The text describes the beating that Mighty Mouse gives the cat as follows: "In fact, it is said that to this day Canvasback is so sore, he winces if you breathe on him."

The Strike-Out (Table of Contents: 10)

Mighty Mouse / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

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Mice from near and far are gathered for their annual baseball fete...

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; Dodgems mouse baseball team; Pigmies mouse baseball team; mouse baseball spectators; cat

Synopsis

A cat disrupts the mouse baseball game between the Dodgems and the Pigmies. He didn't count on Mighty Mouse entering the game in the ninth and "getting the save".

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #7 (October 1948)

Keywords

baseball; cat; heroics; mice; New York baseball team parodies; one-character-desiring-another-as-a-meal

Indexer Notes

As a New York based publisher working with a New York Based studio in the late-1940s thru the mid-1950s, the "Dodgems" and the "Pigmies" are clearly parodies of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants.

Terrific Value! (Table of Contents: 11)

40 Airplanes / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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Be the first in your crowd to get this sensational collection of airplanes

Keywords

airplanes; mail order marketing; toys

Indexer Notes

Ad offering 40 miniature plastic airplanes for 98-cents from Lucky Products.

The Toy Shop (Table of Contents: 12)

Mighty Mouse / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

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My, my, ten o' clock already! Time to lock the store up!

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; Old Mr. Cheery; lots of mice; cat

Synopsis

Old Mr. Cheery closes up his toy shop for the night, and the mice will play - and revel do they 'round a newly arrived stock of Mighty Mouse dolls. A cat shows up to spoil the fun, until one particular "Mighty Mouse" goes from being a "doll" to becoming an "action figure".

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #7 (October 1948)

Keywords

cat; dolls; heroics; mice; Mighty Mouse merchandise; one-character-desiring-another-as-a-meal; toy shop; toys; unexpected intrusion

Given-Given (Table of Contents: 13)

Wilson Chemical Co.; Cloverine Brand Salve / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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Premiums or Cash

Keywords

prizes; sales; salve

Indexer Notes

Ad for Wilson Chemical Co., offering prizes or money for the sales of Cloverine Brand Salve.

Hiking Headaches (Table of Contents: 14)

Heckle and Jeckle / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

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Jim Tyer

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Jim Tyer

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We've been here too long, chum!

Feature Logo

Heckle and Jeckle [St. John Logo with characters]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; humor

Characters

Heckle; Jeckle; Nail Head McFister (crook); lots of pursuing police; telephone operator; judge

Synopsis

Deciding to hitchhike rather than wait for a bus, Heckle and Jeckle are picked-up by a disguised Nail Head McFister, dressed as a little girl and riding a tricycle. McFister speeds away from a squad of pursuing police by tapping into the energy of overhead electric wires, until the magpies find a way to reverse his course.

Keywords

chase; comic absurdity; electric wires; escalating events; fugitive; hitchhiking; tricycle

Percy Takes a Beating (Table of Contents: 15)

Little Roquefort / comic story / 1 page (report information)

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I must practice my stunt with the egg beater on a tight string for the civic circus.

Feature Logo

Little Roquefort [St. John logo with character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Little Roquefort; Percy Puss

Synopsis

Percy thinks that Little Roquefort riding a egg beater across a tightrope is easy pickings. Guess again.

Reprints

• in Mighty Mouse (Western, 1964 series) #162 (January 1965)

Keywords

cat; egg beater; mouse; one-character-desiring-another-as-a-meal; tightrope; tightrope; tightrope-walking; unintended slapstick consequences

Dimwit's Tattle Tail (Table of Contents: 16)

Heckle and Jeckle / text story / 2 pages (report information)

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"I say, they certainly are biting these days!" exclaimed Jeckle who was reading a magazine.

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; humor

Characters

Heckle; Jeckle; Dimwit; Leo DeGopher (president of the baseball club)

Synopsis

Heckle and Jeckle learn that Dimwit's tail can correctly predict the weather, with a "downward droop and starboard list" for rain, and a curly twist for sunny. The magpies decide to cash-in by providing weather forecast information to the local baseball team. Will Dimwit's tail accurately "tell the tale" when it counts?

Keywords

all-purpose tail; baseball; best-laid-plans; fishing; forecasting; get-rich-quick; weather

Indexer Notes

Parody references you may, or may not, recognize:

"Poni Home Permanent" hair treatment = Toni Home Permanent (product introduced in the 1940s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRR7sGzIb_4

"Leo DeGopher" = Leo Durocher (1905-1991) Hall of Fame Major League Baseball figure. Played primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers, and others. Long time manager of the New York Giants and Chicago Cubs, and others. Player-manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Hi Kids! Have Heaps of Fun with Famous Slinky Toys! (Table of Contents: 17)

James Industries, Inc.; Slinky / comics-form advertising / 1 page (report information)

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Ray Thompson (signed as R. T.)

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Ray Thompson (signed as R. T.)

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Gosh, Billy - I wish we could think of something to do!

Characters

Slinky; Billy; Bea; three other kids (in their own single panel, separate from the main story/ad)

Synopsis

Slinky ("a jolly little fellow") shows kids Billy and Bea how to have fun with the classic Slinky toy.

Keywords

mail order marketing; Slinky; toys

Indexer Notes

Ad for the classic Slinky coiled spring toy.

Smart Papa (Table of Contents: 18)

Terry Bears / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

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Jim Tyer

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Jim Tyer

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Do your Christmas shopping early (newspaper)

Feature Logo

Terry Bears [St. John logo with characters]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Terry Bears; Papa; Mama; bus driver; crowd of shoppers; elevator operator; department store security guard; department store Santa

Synopsis

Papa thinks he can beat the crowds at Christmas shopping. He's wrong again.

Reprints

• in Dinky Duck (St. John, 1951 series) #15 (October 1955)

Keywords

best of intentions; bus; Christmas shopping; crowds; department store; department store Santa; elevator; series of mishaps

'Round Up' (Table of Contents: 19)

40 Cowboys and Indians / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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Wild West Cowboys and Indians

Keywords

mail order marketing; toys; western

Indexer Notes

Ad offering "...40 assorted western pieces. Cowboys, Indians, Horses all in action poses and a wonderful assortment of western charms" for 98-cents from Lucky Products. Color photos of 21 of the 40 pieces appear in the ad. On final interior page of the comic.

Draw Instantly (Table of Contents: 20)

Master Art Helper Co. / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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Amazing invention makes drawing easy! Draw anything!

Keywords

drawing aid; mail order marketing

Indexer Notes

Ad offering the “Master Art Helper”, a device that projects a selected object or image for tracing onto a sheet of paper. “No matter what you want to draw with the use of the Master Art Helper, it is automatically seen on any sheet of paper, then you easily, quickly trace the picture on the paper because you already see it there – and in color too!” Only $1.98 for the “Standard Model” and $2.98 for the “De Luxe Model”. Black and white ad on inside back cover.

Magic Dutch Rock Garden (Table of Contents: 21)

Honor House Products / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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Grows in 4 days

Keywords

flowers; garden; grass; mail order marketing

Indexer Notes

Ad offering a 100 square inch garden in a tray, in which grass and flowers grow. "Special wishing pool in the center - An American flag and pole - Two attractive butterflies that look like they're flying" for only $1.00. Color ad on back cover.