Funny Animals – Charlton Comics Group – 1984 – Ongoing Series – #1–2

Funny Animals (1984)

📘 Series Summary

A brief but fascinating revival from Charlton Comics, this series brought back the Funny Animals title the publisher had originally purchased from Fawcett in the 1950s. This two-issue run acts as a "Greatest Hits" of Charlton’s humor stable, featuring iconic characters like Atomic Mouse and Atomic Bunny in new adventures that blended Silver Age charm with 1980s production.

⭐ Series Highlights

  • Atomic Mouse Centric: The series features the diminutive powerhouse facing off against his arch-nemesis Count Gatto, including a wild plot where Gatto attempts to turn off the sun (#1).
  • Crossover Mischief: In issue #2, the supernatural meets the superheroic when Count Gatto hypnotizes Timmy the Timid Ghost to assist in a bank robbery spree.
  • Legacy Creators: Showcases the work of Al Fago and George Wildman, artists who were instrumental in defining the look and feel of Charlton's humor characters for decades.
  • Variety Anthology: Beyond the headliners, the book included a wide array of backup features like Sherlock the Monk and Chuck, Leon the Lyin' Lion, and Billy the Kid and Oscar.
  • Interactive Elements: Keeping with the tradition of children's comics, the issues included activities like the "Atomic Rabbit Maze" and illustrated song pages.
  • End of an Era: Lasting only two issues, this 1984 run represents one of the final attempts to sustain a classic "funny animal" anthology before Charlton eventually ceased operations.