Funny Stuff #1
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeFunny Stuff #1 (cover-dated June 1944) stands as DC's first dedicated funny-animal anthology, marking the publisher's deliberate expansion beyond superheroes into the humor genre that was then exploding across the industry. Its most consequential debut is the Terrific Whatzit — McSnurtle the Turtle — who holds the distinction of being DC's first talking-animal superhero, a Flash parody that also managed to be a genuine genre experiment in its own right. The issue introduced a stable of anthropomorphic characters — the Three Mouseketeers, J. Rufus Lion, Blackie Bear, and Bulldog Drumhead among them — who would anchor the series across its decade-long run and seed DC's entire funny-animal corner of its Golden Age catalog. For historians of the medium, the issue also documents the wartime moment directly: its inside front cover carried advocacy copy in support of the Fifth War Loan Drive.
In "The Making of a Mouseketeer," Prince Highness and Prince Lowness embark on a peculiar experiment: granting superpowers to a single honest soul to test their integrity. With a twist of humor and a touch of whimsy, they equip McSnurtle with a mechanical conscience—just in case he starts slacking off. Written by Sheldon Mayer and illustrated by Martin Naydel, this 1944 gem features cover art by Mayer himself, blending satire and charm in a classic DC oddity.
In "The Terrific Whatzit!" from Funny Stuff #1 (1944), Prince Highness and Prince Lowness embark on a curious experiment: finding an honest soul to grant superpowers to, just to see if virtue can survive the test. When they choose McSnurtle, Prince Highness secretly equips him with an Automatic Conscience—just in case the power goes to his shell.
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Funny Stuff was launched by All-American Comics, Inc. — the M.C. Gaines-led imprint operating under the DC/National umbrella — with Sheldon Mayer serving as both editor and the cover and contents-page artist for the inaugural issue. Mayer, one of DC's earliest and most versatile talents, had by this point already shepherded Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and the Justice Society into existence; Funny Stuff was his vehicle for building out a humor line, and he would go on to launch companion titles Animal Antics and Funny Folks in the years that followed. The issue went on sale in May 1944 and featured contributions from Ronald Santi (Three Mouseketeers), Martin Naydel (Terrific Whatzit, Ol' Judge Owl), and Saul Kessler (the Great Fur Robbery), with Mayer himself writing and drawing the J. Rufus Lion lead feature. The series ran 79 issues before being retitled Dodo and the Frog with issue #80.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Cover date: June 1944; on-sale date per copyright registration: May 20, 1944; published by All-American Comics, Inc. (the M.C. Gaines imprint within the DC/National family).
- Edited by Sheldon Mayer (also cover artist and contents-page artist); M.C. Gaines credited as president in the indicia.
- First appearance of the Terrific Whatzit (Merton McSnurtle / McSnurtle the Turtle), created by writer-artist Martin Naydel — recognized across multiple sources as DC's first talking-animal superhero, a super-speed hero whose costume deliberately echoed the Golden Age Flash's.
- First appearances of the Three Mouseketeers (Amouse, Aramouse, Porterhouse, D'Artagmouse), J. Rufus Lion, Blackie Bear, and Bulldog Drumhead — all of whom became recurring anchors of the series.
- The Terrific Whatzit's powers (super-speed, super-strength, flight) were granted via a cosmic wager between otherworldly entities Prince Highness and Prince Lowness, who chose the honest, lazy shopkeeper McSnurtle as their subject; an 'Automatic Conscience' was built into his shell to keep him fighting crime.
- Captain Tootsie (with sidekick Rollo) appears in this issue as a back-cover Tootsie Roll advertisement strip titled 'Captain Tootsie and the Bumbershoot Jump!' — the strip was created in 1943 by C.C. Beck (of Captain Marvel fame) and Pete Costanza for the candy brand, and ran as paid advertising across numerous comics of the era rather than as original editorial content.
- The inside front cover carried advocacy material supporting the Fifth War Loan Drive, placing the issue squarely within the wartime promotional landscape common to Golden Age comics.
- The Terrific Whatzit's superhero identity lay dormant after Funny Stuff #17 (January 1947) until Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! #9 (November 1982), where he was retroactively established as the uncle of Zoo Crew speedster Fastback; the character was later voiced by Natasha Lyonne in the 2022 animated film DC League of Super-Pets.
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