Auctions: comic books published by United

Comics on Parade (1938) 4 VG/FN 5.0

Stories and art by Hal Foster, Al Capp, Ernie Bushmiller, Bill Conselman, Charlie Plumb, Bernard Dibble, Fred Methot, Rudolph Dirks, Harry Lee, Winfield Meggs, Becky Sharp, Laverne Harding, Harry O'Neill, H. E. Homan, Dudley T. Fisher Jr., Robert Dickey, R. M. Brinkerhoff, J. Carver Pusey, Paul Berdanier, Frank Owen and Raeburn Van Buren. Sometimes listed as Comics on Parade Vol. 1 #4. Early in the transformation of comic strips to comic books, United Features Syndicate published Comics on Parade as a showcase for its most popular strips, including Tarzan, Li'l Abner and Nancy. A young Tarzan encounters other humans for the first time, and challenges ape Kerchak for leadership of his tribe, in colorized reprints of the earliest Hal Foster Tarzan strips. New arrival Slats wins over the town of Crabtree Corners when he beats Joe Pastafazoola in a boxing match, but wealthy J. Hagstone and his daughter Judy have designs on Slats. Fritzi and Nancy tour the countryside in their jalopy, in a VERY early series of strips by Bushmiller. Plus a Li'l Abner storyline by Al Capp, and an illustrated biography of screen legend Gary Cooper. Abbie an' Slats; The Captain and the Kids; Tarzan of the Apes; Wayne Webster of Waverly Prep; Roads of Romance; Jest di-Jest; Cynical Susie; Broncho Bill; Looy Dot Dope; Colonel Wowser; How to Make It; Stampin' Around; For Junior Readers; Joe Jinks; Fritzi Ritz; Billy Make Believe; Buster Beans; Bucky and His Pals; Little Mary Mixup; Benny; Opportunity Knox; Twice Told Tales; Ella Cinders; Danny Dingle; Dub Dabs; Li'l Abner. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Sparkler Comics (1941 2nd Series) 120 GD/VG 3.0

Cover oxidation. Miswrap.

Cover by Ernie Bushmiller. Stories and art by Charles Schulz, Ernie Bushmiller, Rudolph Dirks, Warren Tufts and Ernest G. Osborne. United's anthology featured reprints of early comic strips, including Casey Ruggles, Captain and the Kids and Nancy. Casey Ruggles takes shelter in a stable during a snowstorm, unaware that a pair of killers is hiding out in the same stable. The Kids disrupt the sparring session between The Captain and The Inspector with a boxing monkey. One of the backup strips is Charles Schulz's Peanuts, then only in its fifth year; several daily strips are presented in full color. The Family Workshop; Nancy; Peanuts; Captain and the Kids; Strange as It Seems; Casey Ruggles. Final issue under this title; series continues as Nancy and Sluggo (1955-1963 St. John/Dell/Gold Key) #121. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Tip Top Comics (1936) 75 0.3

Coverless but otherwise complete.

Cover by Ernie Bushmiller. Stories and art by Al Capp, Ernie Bushmiller, Rudolph Dirks, Gus Mager, Dick Moores, Fred Methot, Reg Greenwood, Hal Forrest, Bernard Dibble, Ed Dodd and John Hix. Sometimes listed as Tip Top Comics Vol. 7 #3. Tip Top Comics presented color reprints of United Features newspaper comic strips. The Mirror Man finds a surefire way to get Winnie and Slim out of Nazi-occupied Norway: by hiding in the coffins prepared for dead Nazi generals! Fritzi and her friends try to outdo each other's evening gowns, in a strip showcasing Ernie Bushmiller's fashion designs and good-girl art. The Triple Terror, now with the Army Air Corps, goes behind Axis lines to hunt for a fortune in jade. Plus a Li'l Abner storyline by Al Capp. Li'l Abner; The Captain and the Kids; The Mirror Man; The Triple Terror; Jim Hardy; Stamp Tips; Looy Dot Dope; Tailspin Tommy; Iron Vic; Phil Fumble; Fritzi Ritz; Back Home Again; Strange as It Seems. 64 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.