Paul Terry's Comics – St. John Publications – 1951–1955 – Anthology Series – #85–125

Paul Terry's Comics (1951–1955)

📘 Series Summary

Showcasing the beloved characters of Paul Terry’s Terrytoons animation studio, this series was published by St. John Publications. It remains a definitive Golden Age anthology featuring heavyweights like Mighty Mouse, Heckle and Jeckle, and Gandy Goose. The series transitioned through complex publishing shifts, carrying forward numbering from earlier imprints while maintaining a consistent focus on high-energy, "funny animal" slapstick.

⭐ Series Highlights

  • Animation Powerhouses: Features art and stories by legendary animators including Jim Tyer, Connie Rasinski, and Art Bartsch, ensuring the comics perfectly captured the kinetic movement of the theatrical shorts.
  • Numbering Mystery: The series picks up at issue #85, continuing the legacy from previous Terry-Toons titles at imprints like Timely and Marvel. It famously had near-identical issues #85 and #86 published around the same time due to editorial overlaps.
  • 100-Page Giants: Issues #105 and #106 are sought-after "Giant" editions, packed with massive rosters of stories and unique activities like "Mighty Mouse Flight to the Moon."
  • Painted Covers: The final issues (#121–125) moved away from line-art to beautiful painted covers by unknown artists, a rare aesthetic for standard 10-cent humor comics of the mid-50s.
  • The Paul Terry Cartoon Course: Later issues included instructional segments from the Paul Terry School of Animation, teaching young readers the fundamental techniques of character construction.
  • Era Endings: Issue #125 marked the end of the St. John run; the title was subsequently rebranded as Adventures of Mighty Mouse when the publishing rights eventually moved to Pines.