Joe Palooka Comics #31

Ham Fisher's lovable heavyweight champ takes a wild one on the chin in this April 1949 Harvey Comics issue, the cover showing Joe Palooka sent flying backward by a tiny but mighty boxing figure delivering an oversized punch — a cheeky bit of visual humor that lives up to the tagline "Knockout Every Issue!" Surrounding the central image is a colorful border showcasing a gallery of past Joe Palooka covers, reminding readers just how long this champ has been ruling the ring. With the story teasing whether Joe can hold his title single-handed, this is a fine pick-up for fans of the good-natured slugger billed right on the cover as "The Champ of Comics.