Mutt & Jeff #88

The cover of this July 1956 DC offering tells its own complete joke in two panels: the short, stout Jeff strains under an enormous barrel while the tall Mutt suggests he get a mule — and in the next panel, a very ornery mule has sent Jeff scrambling while its tongue lolls and Mutt's hat goes flying. Sheldon Mayer's cover art captures the cheerful slapstick energy that made this long-running comedy strip a staple of American funny pages, with expressive characters and snappy timing that feels right at home in a single glance.