Candy #46

Few comics capture teen comedy chaos quite like this Quality Comics gem. The cover says it all: a frazzled Ted Dawson struggles to hold onto two overflowing grocery bags — cans of tomatoes, eggs, and more tumbling into the air — while a leashed stray dog nips at his heels and a very unimpressed Candy, stylish in her red skirt and heart-print blue top, scolds him with the speech bubble "Ted Dawson, will you quit playing with every stray dog you see!" Ray Thompson's linework brings a wonderfully expressive energy to both characters, from Ted's wide-eyed panic to Candy's hands-on-hips exasperation. At just a dime in 1954, Candy: America's Favorite Teen-Age Girl #46 is a charming slice of mid-century humor that holds up beautifully.