Terry-Toons Comics #18

There's something wonderfully chaotic about this 1944 cover, where Sourpuss the cat has gotten himself into a genuine predicament — sword partway down his throat, eyes bulging, letting out a chorus of "ULP!", "GURGLE!", and "ARGGH!" while billed on a sign as "The Great Sourpuss… Sword Swallower Extraordinary!" His young companion helpfully holds up a copy of How to Swallow Swords, only to sheepishly admit that the page explaining how to get the sword out is missing. Terry-Toons Comics always had a knack for wringing big laughs out of simple, perfectly timed gags, and this March 1944 issue captures that spirit right on its cover — a ten-cent slice of wartime fun that doesn't let the era slow down its sense of humor one bit.