Paul Terry's Mighty Mouse Comics #40

(April 1953)

Draw Instantly (Table of Contents: 1)

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 front cover.

The Hoodlum Gang (Table of Contents: 2)

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

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Take that! And that --- And that!

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo with Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; Mugger Mouse; Mitzi Mouse; The Claw; Professor Ohm; various thuggish cats; crime school teacher; crime school students; various citizens of Mouse-Town; mayor of Mouse-Town; police chief of Mouse-Town; juvenile delinquent mice

Synopsis

A baby mouse in a stroller accidently rolls downhill from Mouse-Town to Cat-Town, falls into the clutches of The Claw and Professor Ohm, and is raised as a tough juvenile delinquent. Taking the name “Mugger Mouse”, he is sent back by the cats to corrupt the youth of Mouse-Town. As crime rises under the influence of Mugger Mouse, Mighty Mouse is left to wonder how even he can combat rampant juvenile delinquency - especially when the young punks dismiss his efforts with a resounding "Drop dead!"

Reprints

• in Mighty Mouse (Western, 1964 series) #163 (April 1965)

Keywords

corruption of youth; crime; juvenile delinquency; theft; violence

Indexer Notes

References the juvenile delinquency problems of the 1950s.

This story is divided into three consecutive chapters - Chapter One: pages 1-4, Chapter Two: pages 5-8, and Chapter Three: pages 9-16. For the Gold Key reprint in Mighty Mouse (Western, 1964 Series) #163 (April 1965), the chapter headings were removed. Western Publishing also provided a new “Mighty Mouse” logo, new title font, and produced its own coloring for this story.

Underground Tyrants (Table of Contents: 3)

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

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And now, ladies and gentlemen - for the most magical feat of all time - I'm going to make you disappear!

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo with Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; Mitzi Mouse; The Claw; Professor Ohm; various mouse citizens and police; various members of The Claw's gang; various thuggish cats of Clawville; Runt (brave little mouse); "railroad dick" cat; flame-thrower cats

Synopsis

Posing as a stage magician, Professor Ohm puts a theatre-full of mice into a chemically-induced sleep, and kidnaps them for The Claw. Once inside Claw Territory, the mice are forced into hard labor mining an explosive mineral ore. Mighty Mouse’s search and rescue efforts are stymied by a peace treaty with the cats, who are more than pleased to show him everything in Clawville… except the remote mine. Can one brave little mouse get word of their captivity out to their hero?

Keywords

captives; cave-in; explosion; flame-throwers; forced-labor; heroics; kidnapping; magician; mine; train; unlikely hero

Indexer Notes

This story is divided into three consecutive chapters - Chapter One: pages 1-5, Chapter Two: pages 6-10, and Chapter Three: pages 11-16.

[Duel or Snow Duel] (Table of Contents: 4)

Mighty Mouse The Perils of Pearl Pureheart / comic story / 8 pages (report information)

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At the old trading post, we find Mighty Mouse in a duel to the finish with that snake in the grass, Oil Can Harry, as a violent storm rages outside --

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse The Perils of Pearl Pureheart [St. John Logo 1]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; Pearl Pureheart; Oil Can Harry

Synopsis

Mighty Mouse and Oil Can Harry take their perpetual duel to the arctic, where Harry has frozen Pearl Pureheart in a block of ice, and Mighty Mouse is trapped by an extraordinary bolt of lightning.

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #11 (June 1949)

Keywords

arctic; bear; cartoon adaptation; dog-sled; duel; escalating events; helicopter; heroics; ice; ice-tongs; icicles; kayak; lightning bolt; seals; snow; snowshoes; storm; swords; waterfall; winter setting

Indexer Notes

Good Bit: While dueling with swords, Mighty Mouse slices-up Oil Can Harry like a stick of baloney - only to have the "Harry-slices" re-form into Harry himself, as the airborne slices fall one atop another.

This story is a comics adaptation of the 1949 Terrytoons theatrical animated short “A Cold Romance”, directed by Mannie Davis, but referring to Pearl Pureheart as "Little Nell". The "baloney-slicing" gag occurs twice in succession in the cartoon - but (suitably) only once in the comic. Information on "A Cold Romance" supplied by Merlin Haas, 2020.

The Wolf's Pardon (Table of Contents: 5)

comic story / 5.5 pages (report information)

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In the main office of the Storyland Penitentiary a famous villain is receiving his release after being a guest of the warden for the last ten years ---

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Big Bad Wolf; Storyland Penitentiary warden; Three Little Pigs; Little Red Riding Hood; two rams

Synopsis

Released from prison after ten years, the Big Bad Wolf finds that "life on the outside" ain't what it used to be.

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #11 (June 1949)

Keywords

best-laid-plans; cartoon adaptation; children's story parody; parole; prison; reversal of fortunes; wolf

Indexer Notes

This story is an adaptation of the 1947 Terrytoons theatrical animated short of the same name, though the last page-and-a-half offers a different ending than does the cartoon.

Slinky (Table of Contents: 6)

James Industries, Inc.; Slinky / comics-form advertising / 0.5 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

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. Silver, copper, and green varieties are offered by mail order. Lower half of page.

Shamus the Leprechaun (Table of Contents: 7)

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

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Did you ever wonder about the leprechauns, fantastic little men of the Emerald Isle?

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; various animal citizens of Irish woodland village; No Good Bear

Synopsis

Shamus the Leprechaun watches over all the animal citizens of an Irish woodland village, planting lucky shamrocks, making shoes, and doing good deeds. No Good Bear, a practitioner of evil magic, transforms himself into a giant bear, and terrorizes the village.

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #11 (June 1949)

Keywords

bear; creator references; forest setting; giant; Ireland; leprechaun; meta humor; wreaking havoc

Indexer Notes

Meta Moments: The names “Morrison” and “Donnelly” are on the list of persons the leprechaun is to help. References to Tom Morrison (Terrytoons writer, voice artist, director, and editor of this comic book) and Eddie Donnelly (Terrytoons animator and director). When No Good Bear strikes, the leprechaun is casually reading “Terry Toons” comics.

50 Combat Action Plastic Toys $1 (Table of Contents: 8)

Fighting Force / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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Your own task force

Keywords

mail order marketing; toys

Indexer Notes

Ad offering 50 military-themed plastic toys, including soldiers, sailors, marines, WACS, and various land, air, and sea vehicles, for one dollar. Also “Free! 6 inch long die cut shooting cannon that shoots harmless bombs" if you "order NOW!"

Terror In the Tropics (Table of Contents: 9)

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

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Connie Rasinski (signed as CR)

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Connie Rasinski (signed as CR)

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Looking down upon the Earth far below, the Champion of Justice is attracted by smoke arising from a tiny island thousands of miles from civilization.

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; Koana (next island mouse sacrifice); Black Mike (cat); Black Mike's nameless hench-cat; messenger mouse; island mouse chief; various island mice

Synopsis

On a tropical island populated by peaceful mice – and where cats are unknown – shipwrecked cats Black Mike and his unnamed henchman begin the hoax of “Kuloo The Powerful”, a mountaintop-god who demands a daily sacrificial mouse. This frightful ruse has worked for “many moons”, until the chance arrival of Mighty Mouse.

Reprints

• from Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1947 series) #11 (June 1949)

Keywords

best-laid-plans; fear; heroics; hoax; island; mountain; one-character-desiring-another-as-a-meal; sacrifice; sea or island setting

Indexer Notes

Though soft-pedaled in the dialogue, it is quite clear that Black Mike and his associate have consumed at least one sacrificed mouse per day, for some time. “Every day we get a tasty morsel without lifting a finger!”

Peeping Rudy (Table of Contents: 10)

Dinky / comic story / 1 page (report information)

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It's a nice day for a stroll, Dinky!

Feature Logo

Dinky [Duck] [St. John logo without character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Dinky Duck; Rudy Rooster; Dotty Duck; Miss Leghorn

Synopsis

Rudy hides in the bushes to eavesdrop on Dinky and Dotty, and is embarrassingly found out.

Keywords

best-laid-plans; bushes; eavesdropping; embarrassment; unwelcome surprise

Squirrel Rescue (Table of Contents: 11)

Gandy Goose / comic story / 1 page (report information)

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Gandy's wearing my old sport jacket again!

Feature Logo

Gandy Goose [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Gandy Goose; Sourpuss; Gloria Goose; Gloria's pet squirrel

Synopsis

Sourpuss' prank on Gandy backfires, but succeeds in rescuing Gloria's pet squirrel.

Keywords

best-laid-plans; fire cracker; practical jokes; rescue; sport jacket; squirrel; tree

Young's Toy Fair (Table of Contents: 12)

Young Products / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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Order by Mail Save 1/2

Keywords

mail order marketing; novelties; projector; sewing machine; toys; walkie-talkie; watch

Indexer Notes

Ad offering an "electronic walkie-talkie communication system", an "electric-TV projector", a toy sewing machine that "really sews", and a "new watch with mechanical brain".

The Flirt (Table of Contents: 13)

Chesty / comic story / 1 page (report information)

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I tell you I didn't wink at the lady, I had a speck of dust in my eye!

Feature Logo

Chesty [Terrytoons Cartoon Bulldog St. John Logo with character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Chesty; Heckle; Jeckle; old lady; cop

Synopsis

As a practical joke, Heckle and Jeckle frame Chesty as a masher.

Reprints

• in Heckle and Jeckle (St. John, 1951 series) #24 (October 1955)

Keywords

frame-up; practical jokes; umbrella; winking

Pulling Stumps (Table of Contents: 14)

Farmer Gray / comic story / 1 page (report information)

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The chain broke!

Feature Logo

Farmer Gray [St. John logo with character]

Genre

humor; anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Farmer Gray; Dimwit; Farmer Gray's horse

Synopsis

Farmer Gray's efforts to uproot a tree stump by the strength of his horse are thwarted when the chain used for pulling the stump snaps. Enter Dimwit with a substitute for the chain.

Reprints

• in Paul Terry's Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1951 series) #66 (October 1955)

Keywords

alternative uses; chain; horse; sorry-you-asked; tree stump

Lights, Action, Camera (Table of Contents: 15)

Gandy Goose / comic story / 4 pages (report information)

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What on Earth are all those bundles?

Feature Logo

Gandy Goose [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Gandy Goose; Sourpuss

Synopsis

Sourpuss decides to make a movie to showcase his acting and directing talents, but his efforts are overshadowed by Gandy's dumb luck in errantly aiming the camera at a robbery, leading to the capture of the crooks.

Keywords

acting; camera; directing; movie; robbery; unlikely hero

The Serenade (Table of Contents: 16)

Sourpuss / comic story / 1 page (report information)

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I'm going to serenade the Spanish girl who moved in down the street.

Feature Logo

Sourpuss [St. John Logo]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Sourpuss; Gandy Goose; senorita

Synopsis

Sourpuss hopes to woo a senorita.

Reprints

• in Paul Terry's Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1951 series) #66 (October 1955)

Keywords

balcony; best-laid-plans; guitar; senorita; serenade; unwelcome surprise

Rabbit Ears (Table of Contents: 17)

Dinky / text story / 2 pages (report information)

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Rudy Rooster and Dinky Duck were walking along near Farmer Gray's house when they saw him coming up from his fine vegetable patch.

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Dinky Duck; Rudy Rooster; Farmer Gray; Freddy Rabbit

Synopsis

Rudy vows to catch the thief who is stealing carrots and lettuce from Farmer Gray's vegetable patch, all the while knowing that he, himself, is the veggie-snatcher.

Keywords

carrots; farm; lettuce; outsmarting one’s-self; thief; vegetable patch

Choo Choo (Table of Contents: 18)

Dimwit / comic story / 1 page (report information)

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Take your bags, sir?

Feature Logo

Dimwit [St. John Logo 2 with character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Dimwit; porter; conductor; snack vendor; various other passengers

Synopsis

While on a train trip, Dimwit follows the instructions of every railroad employee he encounters - but still gets thrown off the train.

Reprints

• in Paul Terry's Mighty Mouse Comics (St. John, 1951 series) #66 (October 1955)

Keywords

best of intentions; following instructions; train

Loosened Log (Table of Contents: 19)

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

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I see Roquefort heading this way.

Feature Logo

Little Roquefort [St. John logo without character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Little Roquefort; Percy Puss

Synopsis

As Little Roquefort walks across a log bridge, Percy tries to dump him in the river.

Reprints

• in Heckle and Jeckle (St. John, 1951 series) #24 (October 1955)

Keywords

best-laid-plans; bridge; log; outsmarting one’s-self; river; unintended slapstick consequences

Let's Be Kind (Table of Contents: 20)

Terry Bears / comic story / 5 pages (report information)

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Just where are you going?

Feature Logo

Terry Bears [St. John logo with characters]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Terry Bears; Papa

Synopsis

Papa tells the boys that it's "Be Kind to Animals Week" and, as expected, the boys overdo it to Papa's great dismay.

Keywords

"Be Kind to Animals Week"; best of intentions; series of mishaps

[Soft-Touch Gandy] (Table of Contents: 21)

Gandy Goose / comic story / 1 page (report information)

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Pardon me, sir, could you spare a dime?

Feature Logo

Gandy Goose [St. John Logo without Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Gandy Goose

Synopsis

Gandy gives - a bit more than he intended.

Reprints

• in Mighty Mouse (Magazine Management, 1953 series) #24 ([May 1954])
• in Heckle and Jeckle (St. John, 1951 series) #24 (October 1955)

Keywords

best of intentions; charity; too-much-of-a-good-thing

Wonderful Papa (Table of Contents: 22)

Terry Bears / comic story / 1 page (report information)

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Let me show you one of Nature's wonders.

Feature Logo

Terry Bears [St. John logo with characters]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters

Terry Bears; Papa

Synopsis

Papa shows the boys how salmon can swim up a waterfall.

Reprints

• in Heckle and Jeckle (St. John, 1951 series) #24 (October 1955)

Keywords

fishing; salmon; swimming; unwelcome surprise; waterfall

At Grips with the Lava Men (Table of Contents: 23)

Mighty Mouse / comic story / 14 pages (report information)

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Help! The mountain's exploding!

Feature Logo

Mighty Mouse [St. John Logo with Character]

Genre

anthropomorphic-funny animals; superhero

Characters

Mighty Mouse; citizens of Mountain Village (mice); lava men; Professor Edam; Professor Edam's assistant; The Claw; Professor Ohm; citizens of Claw Territory (cats); troops of Cat Army

Synopsis

Lava Men, flaming bipedal creatures from "another world beneath the crust of the Earth", emerge from suddenly-created volcanoes and proceed to overrun and destroy the territories of both mice and cats. Mighty Mouse finds these magma-made monsters too hot to handle.

Reprints

• in Mighty Mouse (Western, 1964 series) #161 (October 1964) [The story was edited to fit 12 pages.]
which is reprinted
• in Super-Souris (Sage - Sagédition, 1976 series) #14 (septembre-octobre-novembre 1979)

Keywords

extreme heat; heroics; lava; monsters; panic; volcanoes

Indexer Notes

For the Gold Key reprint in Mighty Mouse (Western, 1964 Series) #161 (October 1964), Western Publishing provided a new “Mighty Mouse” logo, shortened the title to “The Lava Men”, and produced its own coloring for this story.

Western also edited the story from its original 14 pages, down to 12 pages, to fit within the standard 32 interior pages of the prevailing format.

Here's Real Fun for You! (Table of Contents: 24)

Seagee, Co. / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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Here are many things to do and enjoy - order now! (This line runs vertically down the middle of the page)

Keywords

books; fur hats; games; mail order marketing; novelties

Indexer Notes

Ad offering two books, "Fun for Boys" ("The most wonderful book for boys ever published!") and "Fun for Girls" ("Loads and loads of exciting things to do!) $1 each. Also a "Giant Collection of 100 Games" for $1, and a "Wild & Wooly Fur Hat" ("A real fur Dan'l Boone Trappers Hat... just like the pioneers wore.") for $1.98. Black and white ad on inside back cover.

Get Prizes... Make Money (Table of Contents: 25)

American Seed Co. / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

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This easy way -

Keywords

prizes; sales; seeds

Indexer Notes

Ad for selling vegetable and flower seeds for the American Seed Co., in exchange for prizes or money. Twelve prizes are pictured in the ad ( with "...lots of others in our Big Prize Book"), accompanied by drawings of lots of excited and cheering kids. "Some of the bigger prizes require extra money as stated in our Big Prize Book"! Color ad on back cover.