Redartz: Greetings, friends! Today seemed like a good day for a laugh, and so we shall consider our 'oddest' comics. And before we go any further, let's thank our Bronze Age Baby Doug for the inspiration for this post!
Most of our favorite comics are probably noteworthy examples of fine artwork and engaging storytelling. But if you're like me, in the course of collecting you've picked up a few books that don't really fit in the usual mold. Perhaps you have some bizarre promotional comics. Maybe you have a fondness for some of the oddall titles found in the Silver and Golden ages. Possibly you have a favorite among the mainline Marvel and DC books that just 'seemed a bit off'. That's one of the great things about comic book collecting- there are SO MANY varieties, niches, genres, that there's bound to be something that appeals to everyone.
So, allow me to tell you a bit about my 'oddball'. It's called "The Adventures of Peter Wheat", which is perhaps odd enough already. It's a promotional comic, published in 1953 by the Bakers Associates, Inc. It features a small boy of indeterminate age, who apparently is the guardian of "Wheat Field Castle". He hobnobs with insects and animals, many of whom bear a striking resemblance to the denizens of Walt Kelly's "Pogo" strip. Which is only to be expected: Kelly was the original creator on this series of promo comics.
I get a big kick out of esoteric comics like this one- just something different. A newsprint cover, vintage bread ad on the back, and a boy wearing a wheat kernel on his head- what's not to like?
And I'll finish up today with a few other quirky books from my stack. Perhaps less rarified than "Peter Wheat", but either the covers or the contents appeal to the twisted soul within. Do you have any strange little gems to share? Bet I'm not the only one who craves a little wackiness with their comics....
