Elsie the Cow Comics #1

When Elmer decides a suit of armor is his ticket to winning a hundred-dollar prize at the country club costume ball, he discovers that medieval metalwork was never designed for modern life—or modern furniture. Paired with Elsie's hastily improvised angel costume, Elmer learns the hard way that the best-laid plans for victory can come crashing down faster than a suit of tin hitting a pothole.

When Elmer tinkers with a chemistry set meant for young Beauregard's birthday, an accidental explosion shrinks him down to mouse-size—forcing him to hide in the mousehole and face the wary residents within. What starts as Elmer's desperate plea to join mouse society quickly spirals into chaos, complaints about subpar bacon, and a frantic quest to restore himself before his family discovers what's happened. It's a hilarious romp through unexpected consequences and the lengths one father will go to keep his household running smoothly.

Elmer's jealousy over his rival Longhorn's quiz show prize backfires spectacularly when he schemes to submit a trick question under Longhorn's name—only to find himself on the hot seat as the contestant instead. When he freezes on live television and can't answer his own riddle, the show's "Take It or Else" rules kick in with a vengeance, and the movers show up to claim $500 worth of his possessions, leading to an increasingly absurd demolition of his home and life. It's a perfect lesson in why outsmarting yourself is the worst kind of smart.

When Elmer can't sleep no matter what he tries, Elsie drags him from doctor to doctor seeking a cure—each specialist offering increasingly elaborate (and expensive) advice. After consulting Doctors Dozing and Snoring, and finally Professor Sleepwell, Elmer discovers the real solution may be simpler than anyone thought, but the journey to find it keeps him wide awake. This 1949 humor tale from *Elsie the Cow Comics* is a lighthearted romp through the follies of medical advice and the stubborn nature of a restless bovine.

Herb tries to impress his girl Beulah by lifting what he thinks is a 500-pound dumbbell—but his pal Mike has switched it for a lightweight fake to help him out. When Beauregard unexpectedly lifts the same dumbbell with ease, the jig is up, and Herb's plan to seem like the strongest guy around comes crashing down in this lighthearted 1949 tale from Elsie the Cow Comics.

Beauregard finds a mysterious piece of glass and convinces his pal Lefty that it's a wishing glass—one that can even predict tomorrow—for the price of a dime. But when Lefty peers into the glass hoping for a glimpse of the future, he finds the magic trick far less impressive than advertised.