Feature Comics #24

This September 1939 anthology from Quality Comics packs an irresistible cover scene: Joe Palooka, labeled by name on his shirt, faces down a snarling lion in pith-helmet safari gear while exclaiming to his companion Knobby that he forgot to load the gun — a perfectly timed punchline rendered with charm by cover artist Ed Cronin. The surrounding portrait medallions promise a terrific lineup of strips inside, including Mickey Finn, Jane Arden, Charlie Chan, Lala Palooza, and a top banner row featuring The Clock, Toddy, Rance Keane, Dixie Dugan, Gallant Knight, Big Top, and The Bungles. For fans of the Golden Age's freewheeling anthology format, this issue captures exactly the playful, anything-goes spirit that made ten cents feel like a real bargain in 1939.