Judge #2580

In "Painting Slaps Patron," a 1931 gem from Judge, C. D. Russell crafts a delightfully absurd slice of early comic strip humor, with all art and writing by the creator himself. When Pete takes on the task of watering an elephant, his frustration with the endless bucket runs leads to a moment of unexpected relief—only to set off a chain of events that’s as funny as it is peculiar. The cover, by Ed Graham, captures the scene’s chaotic charm with sharp, expressive lines.