Big Fun Comics Magazine

(American Comic Archive, 2004-2005)
™ and © 2004 American Comic Archive

Even if you aren’t an obsessive fan of classic comic strips, you’ll find a lot to enjoy in Big Fun Comic Magazine—it gets extra points for the title alone. But everything else about it is top–notch, as well, from the quality of the paper to the thickness of the cardstock cover.

There’s a slick post–war Captain Easy story by Roy Crane’s successor, the under–appreciated Leslie Turner, set in Britain. It demonstrates the elements Turner’s known for: meticulous research (although his English countryside still comes off as pure Hollywood backlot) and his love of beautiful girls, ferret–faced sharpies, and the sharpies’ brutish henchmen (this one having the highly unlikely name of “Scrooby”).

The highlight probably should be the start of the final Noel Sickles Scorchy Smith serial (a strip that’s legendary for good reason), but even more fun are reprints of advertising comic strips for such forgotten products as Dr. Lyn’s Tooth Powder, done by Frank Robbins working at the top of his form.

— S.A. Bennett

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