Mortimer Ratt

Mortimer Ratt is a Golden Age funny-animal character from DC Comics — an anthropomorphic rat who appeared in mid-century humor titles alongside a cast of similarly cartoonish animal characters like J. Rufus Lion and Dunbar Dodo.

Mortimer Ratt is a delightful slice of Golden Age DC whimsy, debuting in Funny Stuff #23 in 1947 from the pen of C. C. Beck — the legendary cartoonist who knew a thing or two about bringing larger-than-life personalities to the page. This anthropomorphic charmer made his rounds through some of DC's most beloved mid-century funny-animal titles, popping up in Funny Stuff, Hollywood Funny Folks, and Peter Porkchops alongside a wonderfully named cast including J. Rufus Lion, Dunbar Dodo, and Fennimore Frog. With 21 appearances spanning into the early 1950s, Mortimer carved out a cozy niche in that warm, laugh-filled corner of the Golden Age that collectors of classic DC humor comics hold especially dear — a genuine period piece from an era when the Distinguished Competition was just as happy to make you smile as to make your jaw drop.