Little Ike #4 (1953)

In "Follow the Leader," Jo and his friends play a game where the loser must go through the mill, but Jo’s clever tricks and unexpected moves keep the others guessing. As the challenge grows tougher, Jo finds creative ways to stay ahead—until the final race to the schoolhouse, where a surprising shortcut leaves everyone stunned.

Jo and her friends, Hot-Rod and Nipper, form a makeshift hillbilly band after deciding to pursue fame and fortune. They set out to impress passersby and even serenade a grumpy neighbor, only to discover their music earns them unexpected cash—until a mischievous twist leaves them questioning their first big payday.

In "Power of a Boy," Little Ike outsmarts his bully Spike by orchestrating a clever prank using a rope and a passing truck, turning the tables on Spike after he’s been hit with a bean-blaster in class. When Spike arrives at the drugstore, he’s surprised to find himself tangled in the rope, leading to a humorous comeuppance that teaches him a lesson about picking on others.

In a playful prankster tale from *Little Ike #4*, Jo and her friend Nipper turn the tables on a mischievous boy by pretending to be fortune tellers, only for Jo to cleverly predict his downfall—literally—when a sudden summer shower soaks him and his friend. The gag hinges on Jo’s deadpan confidence and the kids’ delight in a well-timed, soaking surprise.

Jo and Bobby set out to dig for buried treasure, armed with a map of Kentucky, a tape measure with a missing inch, and a shovel. After a series of misadventures—including digging in the wrong spot and uncovering a bank robber’s hidden stash—they accidentally catch the thief, leading to an unexpected twist.