Ha Ha Comics #25

Izzy and Dizzy use a magic lamp to transport themselves back to the days of Captain Kidd, hoping to prove a talking parrot's wild claim that the notorious pirate was actually a coward—but when the Captain discovers the lamp's power for himself, the adventure takes a dangerous turn. Now trapped on his ship with a ruthless captain wielding magical wishes, the duo must figure out how to reclaim their lamp and escape before they end up walking the plank. Ken Hultgren brings this swashbuckling tall tale to life with plenty of seafaring chaos and unexpected twists.

A young office worker buys a self-help book and discovers that a winning smile can charm just about anyone into doing what he wants—so he decides to test his new technique before asking his boss for a raise. When his power to persuade works almost too well, turning strangers and service workers into eager helpers, he learns that his gift might be more trouble than it's worth in Preston Blair's "The Secret of Success," a six-page romp through the unintended consequences of getting exactly what you wish for.

When a young homing pigeon named Horatio gets lost on his way back from the store, his frantic mother finally tracks him down in New York City—but his real troubles are just beginning. Determined to train him to navigate properly and avoid the neighborhood's ridicule, Mrs. Homing Pigeon puts her son through a series of increasingly ambitious tests, though Horatio's resourcefulness (and questionable shortcuts) keep creating new complications. By the story's end, a chance encounter with an unexpected helper gives the young pigeon an idea that might finally solve his directional dilemma.