Boris the Bear #1

Boris the Bear #1 (1986) kicks off with a gloriously absurd premise: when Boris grows tired of the endless parade of bland, non-funny funny animals, he decides to take matters into his own paws with brutal efficiency. Written by Mike Richardson, Randy Stradley, and James Dean Smith, and illustrated by Smith with inks and letters by the same, the issue’s wild tone is matched by its distinctive art—every panel a chaotic, deadpan masterpiece. Cover by James Dean Smith captures the madness perfectly, setting the stage for a story where even the last surviving cartoon dog, Droopy, gets a moment of unexpected mercy.