Four Color #335

Based on David Stern's story and brought to life by cover artist Dan Noonan, this 1951 Dell entry in the Four Color series spotlights Francis the Talking Mule in all his gap-toothed, braying glory. The cover says it all — a wide-eyed Army soldier plugs his ears in exasperation as a very animated Francis leans in close, mouth wide open and clearly mid-sentence. With 52 pages of all-comics fun at just a dime, it's a charming snapshot of one of the era's most entertaining animal characters.