Li'l Genius #36

Li'l Genius's knack for over-engineered mayhem is on full display in this December 1961 Charlton issue, where the cover — drawn and inked by Jon D'Agostino — shows the little redhead completely engulfed in a giant soap bubble produced by his homemade "Li'l Genius Bubble Machine," while a horrified older boy in a yellow shirt looks on in wide-eyed panic. Suds, scattered boxes, and a tangle of hoses round out the gloriously chaotic scene, capturing exactly the kind of cheerful, kid-powered disaster that made this series such a delight. At a still-just-a-dime cover price, this is a charming snapshot of early-'60s all-ages comics fun.