The Friday Flop:

A $100 value, yours for the low, low price of $8 (payable in one installment) when you buy from our shop: www.hoganmag.com/stores/order...

Satirizing two Disney cartoons—"Three Little Pigs” and “Fantasia”—the Academy Award-nominated Merrie Melodies cartoon “Pigs in a Polka” (directed by Friz Freleng) premiered on February 6, 1943.

I recently saw Hogan’s Alley #23 for sale on eBay. Its price got my attention: $100.99! (In the seller’s defense, it DOES come with a bag and a board.) Normally I’d say it’s a bargain but not this time. But you can get a copy from us for the much lower price of $8 at www.hoganmag.com/stores/order...

"Betty Brown, Ph.G." by Boody Rogers, originally published on February 7, 1938, and titled "The Love Bug."

A tip of the hat to Jimmy Hatlo, whose "They'll Do It Every Time" first appeared on February 5, 1929. Here’s the first panel:

Wordless Wednesday:

The "Archie" newspaper strip first appeared 80 years ago, on February 4, 1946. (Those of you who are connected with me on social media know that I’ve been serializing this strip, which started out very strong, from its debut. We’re now into early 1949.) Here’s the first week of dailies:

Topper Tuesday (“The Family Foursome,” topper to “Blondie”):

The great Playboy cartoonist (and creator of the libidinous, lecherous, gravity-worn Granny) Buck Brown was born on February 3, 1936. Brown was also a pioneering Black cartoonist in Playboy.

Charles Schulz’s characters lend themselves to an amazing array of sentiments. “In love folly is always sweet” indeed.

The More You Know Monday (“This Curious World” by William Ferguson):

Happy Groundhog Day! (“Peanuts” from 70 years ago, February 2, 1956)

Fritzi and Nancy Before Sluggo (“Fritzi Ritz” strips from January 23-28, 1933):

Slice-of-Life Sunday:

Bud Grace's "Ernie" first appeared on February 1, 1988. Here’s the first week of dailies:

It’s almost February! Courtesy of Morrell’s, a February 1942 calendar that works in 2026.

Sluggo Saturday (“Nancy” strips from January 15-20, 1945):

"Betty Boop and the Little King" premiered 90 years ago, on January 31, 1936. (It was the second animated cartoon to have the King—a pantomime character in his newspaper strip—speak aloud.) The cartoon featured a story by Little King creator Otto Soglow.

Riverdale Week in Review (“Archie” strips from January 31-February 5, 1949):

The Friday Flop:

The radio adaptation of "Mark Trail" premiered on January 30, 1950. (Mark was voiced by Matt Crowley, who also voiced numerous other comics characters on radio including Buck Rogers, Dick Tracy, and Jungle Jim.)

"Betty Brown, Ph.G." by Boody Rogers, originally published on January 31, 1938, and titled "A Word to the Wise." Go to bettybrownbook.com and enter the code BOOKBUNDLE15 at checkout—valid through tomorrow—to get 15% off your copy of The Complete Betty Brown, Ph.G. in paperback or hardcover.)

Animator and children’s book author Bill Peet was born on January 29, 1915. Here’s a link to the interview with Bill Peet that ran in Hogan’s Alley. Peet was expansive and quite candid, including about his time in Disney’s animation studio: www.hoganmag.com/blog/seldom-...

From a screening of Melania.

Um.

Wordless Wednesday:

If it’s Wednesday, it’s time to order a copy of Hogan’s Alley #24! www.hoganmag.com/stores/hogan... (And use the code TOONINTALK10 at checkout for 10% off this purchase or any other purchase from our shop!)

Adapting the 1929 Zane Grey novel of the same title, "Fighting Caravans" made its debut as a comic strip on January 28, 1934. (It had also been a 1931 film starring Gary Cooper.) Here's the first week of dailies:

Topper Tuesday ("The Nut Bros.," topper to "Our Boarding House"):

Tack Knight's "Little Folks" first appeared on January 27, 1930. Here's the debut strip and an advertisement featuring the strip's characters:

Herriman! Davis! Schulz! Shakespeare…and so much more! We’ve finally made Hogan’s Alley #21 available as a digital download. This option is popular with our overseas readers, but it’s great for anyone who wants to save a few bucks and some shelf space! Just head to www.hoganmag.com/stores/hogan...

The More You Know Monday (“This Curious World” by William Ferguson):

“Flapper Fanny Says” by Ethel Hays first appeared on January 26, 1925. A few examples of this charming and beautifully drawn panel:

Comics in the news.

Fritzi and Nancy Before Sluggo (“Fritzi Ritz” strips from January 16-21, 1933):

Slice-of-Life Sunday:

Prolific MAD artist Bob Clarke was born 100 years ago, on January 25, 1926. (As a teenager, he worked uncredited on the Ripley’s Believe It or Not cartoon.)

Sluggo Saturday (“Nancy” strips from January 8-13, 1945):

Sluggo first appeared on January 24, 1938. (He made his debut in "Fritzi Ritz," which was retitled as "Nancy" later that same year.) Here’s his chivalrous debut and the rest of that week:

Riverdale Week in Review (“Archie” strips from January 24-29, 1949):

The Friday Flop:

Margaret Wade first appeared in "Dennis the Menace" 70 years ago, on January 23, 1956.

"Betty Brown, Ph.G." by Boody Rogers, originally published on January 24, 1938, and titled "Giving Her a Hand."

Alex Raymond (art) and Dashiell Hammett's (script) "Secret Agent X-9" first appeared on January 22, 1934. (Hammett wrote only the first few story arcs before handing it off.) Here’s the first week of dailies:

Wordless Wednesday:

Ming the Merciless (not yet named and was addressed as "Emperor") made his first appearance in week 3 of Alex Raymond's "Flash Gordon" on January 21, 1934:

Vintage ad (Gahan Wilson for Prudential Life Insurance):

Topper Tuesday (“The Van Swaggers,” topper to “Dixie Dugan”):

“Little Orphan Annie” creator Harold Gray was born on January 20, 1894.