Joe Palooka Comics #63

Joe Palooka is all fists and fury on this vivid yellow cover from 1951, as the big blond brawler unleashes a haymaker on an opponent in front of a crowd of onlookers, while a red-dressed blonde woman watches the action unfold near a storefront. Ham Fisher's clean, energetic linework captures the carnival atmosphere perfectly, and the cover's teaser — "The Big Carnival Murder Mystery!" — promises that this issue's story, "Innocent or Guilty?", is more than just a slugfest. It's a great snapshot of why Joe Palooka was one of the most beloved comics of his era.