Li'l Genius #21

This Charlton charmer from 1959 captures a classic bit of kid mischief right on its sunny yellow cover: the redheaded Li'l Genius, dressed in his little tuxedo and party hat, has just sprung a prank gift box on a dark-haired girl, sending her stumbling backward in wide-eyed, arms-flailing surprise as springs and streamers burst everywhere. Cover artist Frank Johnson brings the whole gag to life with wonderfully expressive cartoon energy, perfectly setting the stage for the "Hokey Pocus" shenanigans waiting inside.