Mutt & Jeff #12

This Winter 1943 issue of Mutt & Jeff delivers the duo's signature screwball charm right on its cover, where the short, top-hatted Jeff stands atop a soap box holding a hoop aloft, clearly convinced he can coax a bewildered spotted horse into jumping through it — while the tall, lanky Mutt looks on with well-earned skepticism and a small cat watches from below. The cheerful red-and-yellow striped backdrop gives the whole scene a circus-show energy, with the horse's giant question mark response bubble stealing the gag beautifully. Bud Fisher's beloved comic-strip odd couple is in fine form here, brought to the cover by Sheldon Mayer's lively linework.