Funny Folks #1
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeFunny Folks #1 is the debut issue of DC's third dedicated funny-animal anthology title — following Funny Stuff (1944) and Animal Antics — and marks the first published appearance of Nutsy Squirrel, the acorn-hoarding anthropomorphic squirrel who would eventually carry his own eponymous series. The title is a concrete artifact of the post–World War II pivot away from superhero books: as interest in costumed characters waned, DC's editorial brain trust leaned heavily into humor anthologies, and Funny Folks sat squarely at the center of that strategic shift. Crucially, unlike many competing funny-animal books of the era, the features in Funny Folks were entirely original creations rather than adaptations of theatrical cartoon shorts, giving them a distinctly comic-page identity.
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Funny Folks was launched by editor Sheldon Mayer, the same driving force behind Funny Stuff and Animal Antics, as part of his systematic build-out of an all-ages humor line within the All-American Comics imprint. The indicia names All-American Comics Inc. as publisher, reflecting the book's origin in the M.C. Gaines / All-American side of what was coalescing into National Periodical Publications; the cover itself was penciled by Mayer, who also contributed a text story to the issue. The book was placed on sale February 5, 1946, carrying a cover date of April–May 1946, and was priced and formatted as a bimonthly 52-page anthology — standard operating format for DC's humor output of the period.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Nutsy Squirrel, the acorn-obsessed funny-animal character who would eventually headline his own solo title (Nutsy Squirrel, 1954–1957).
- First appearances of the full ensemble cast that would anchor the series: Funny Fez, Cheepy, Alphonse Q. Sweeney & Willie, and Joe Kangaroo, among others.
- Published by All-American Comics Inc. (imprint of DC / National Periodical Publications); on-sale date February 5, 1946; cover date April–May 1946; bimonthly, 52 pages.
- Edited by Sheldon Mayer, with the cover penciled by Mayer himself; interior art credits on issue #1 include Bill Hudson (Funny Fez story), Ronald Santi (Sweeney & Willie story and 'Who's Who in Zooville' page), Rube Grossman, and Otto Feuer; writer Woody Gelman scripted the Nutsy Squirrel debut story.
- Per DC Comics Year By Year (DK, 2010), the features inside Funny Folks were entirely original characters — not licensed from animated film studios — distinguishing the book from much of its funny-animal competition.
- The series ran 26 issues before being retitled Hollywood Funny Folks beginning with issue #27 (1950), then continued under the name Nutsy Squirrel from issue #61 (1954) through issue #72 (1957), making Funny Folks #1 the origin point of a franchise that persisted for over a decade.
- Mayer launched the title as part of a deliberate editorial expansion of humor and funny-animal content at DC, a line he had been building since Funny Stuff debuted in Summer 1944.
- Key Collector Comics lists Funny Folks #1 as the key issue for the Nutsy Squirrel character, confirming its recognized status as Nutsy's first appearance.
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