Li'l Genius #15

This Charlton charmer from 1962 features the freckle-faced Li'l Genius wielding a "Bone Detector" — a zap-helmeted contraption sending sparks flying — while an eager little pup bounds toward him in delighted anticipation. The bottom of the cover rounds up a fun roster of Blue Bird Comics characters in portrait medallions: Black Fury, Wyatt Earp, Timmy the Timid Ghost, Freddy, and Atomic Mouse, making this a lively showcase of Charlton's kid-friendly lineup. Writer Joe Gill and artist/inker Jon D'Agostino bring their signature warmth to a book that perfectly captures the playful, invention-gone-sideways spirit of early '60s all-ages comics.