Three Mouseketeers #5

Three Mouseketeers #5 (On Sale: November 17, 1970), has another great cover by Phil Mendez.

We begin the reprint-fest with The Three Mousketeers in "The Mole, the Merrier!" by Sy Reit and Rube Grossman. Minus gets lost in Marmaduke's mole tunnels. Reprinted from The Three Mouseketeers #9 (July 1957).

Next is The Dodo and the Frog in "Choo Choo Chums!" drawn by Otto Feuer. Fenimore tries to buy Dunbar's house so he can sell it to the railroad. Reprinted from Funny Stuff #77 (March-April 1954).

We next have The Three Mouseketeers in "Time Out for Minus!" by Sy Reit and Rube Grossman. Minus decides he needs a vacation and doesn't want to be in the story. Reprinted from The Three Mouseketeers #12 (November 1957).

That is followed by an untitled Bo Bunny story by Sheldon Mayer. Friendship is a wonderful thing. Reprinted from The Raccoon Kids #56 (May-June 1955).

We have another untitled story, this one fetureing Doodles Duck by Sheldon Mayer and reprinted from Comic Cavalcade #63 (June-July 1954).

Next, we have a section of games, b beginning with "Hey Kids... It's Gametime!" by Phil Mendez which explains how to remove the It's Gametime insert from the rest of the magazine.

The one-page games are all created and illustrated by Martin Naydel and are all reprinted from It's Gametime #3 (January-February 1956). The games are: "Find the Twins," "Play Boxes," "Word Ladder," "Number Words Quiz, " "True or False Kwiz,"  "Krazy Crosswords," "Trixy the Puzzle Monkey,"  "Word Cage!," "Let's Go Hunting," "Space Sticklers," and "Elephant Hunt." The final page is the "Answer Page" which provides the answers for the previous puzzles.

Next is The Three Mouseketeers in "The Black Ball Bounces Back!" by Sheldon Mayer. Fatsy has to do a brave deed after being blackballed by the Mouseketeers. Reprinted from The Three Mouseketeers #7 (March-April 1957).

That is followed by The Dodo and the Frog in "Bewitching Pitching!" drawn by Otto Feuer and reprinted from The Dodo and the Frog #82 (January-February 1955).

Next is Elmo the Mouse in the text-story "What I Did On My Summer Vacation."  

Next is The Three Mouseketeers in "Patsy Comes Through" by Sy Reit and Rube Grossman. Patsy tries to figure out how to ski on a banana. Reprinted from The Three Mouseketeers #7 (March-April 1957).

We end with The Three Mouseketeers in "Big-Feets Holiday" by Sy Reit and Rube Grossman. The mice try to understand Christmas. And figure out why the Big Feets have a tree inside their house, and what those striped canes are for. Reprinted from The Three Mouseketeers #6 (January-February 1957).

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Debbi's Dates #11

Debbi's Dates #11 (On Sale: October 22, 1970), has a cover by Stan Goldberg  and Henri Scarpelli. This is the final issue of Debbi's Dates.

We begin with Benedict in "Turn on with a Kiss" drawn by Bill Williams and Frank McLaughlin. 

Next is a Buddy one-pager, "The Criers."

That is followed by Buddy in "Don't Say It with Flowers" drawn by Bill Williams and Frank McLaughlin. 

Next is the Teeny-Boppers in "The Disco As Seen by the Teeny-Boppers" written and drawn by Phil Mendez.

We end with Harold in "Boy, Is the School Principal Mad" drawn by Bill Williams and Frank McLaughlin. 

Bill Williams was an artist who started out on the Lana book and strip for Atlas (Marvel) in 1949 and then spent the 1950s with Dell Publishing where he produced such humorous series as Henry Aldrich and Homer Brown. In the 1960s, he has also drawn comics with Millie, The Chipmunks and Tweety and Silvester. He drew Millie the Model during 1967 and also drew for Marvel in the late 1980s doing Dennis the Menace. Also did the long-running Pee Wee Harris strip in Boy's Life. His only work for DC was in this and the previous issue of Debbi's Dates.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Three Mouseketeers #4

Three Mouseketeers #4 (On Sale: September 22, 1970) has a cover by Phil Mendez.

We being this issue with Three Mouseketeers in "Getting Up in the World"  written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer. The boys gets caught on a kite tail, land in Mr. Jones' house and then have to save the Exterminator's life. Reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #4 (1956).

Next is the Three Mouseketeers in "Patsy Makes the Grade" by Sy Reit and Rube Grossman. As the middle Mouseketeer, Patsy feels underappreciated.  Reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #3 (1956)

Seymour Victory Reit was the author of over 80 children's books as well as several works for adults. Reit was the creator, with cartoonist Joe Oriolo, of the character Casper the Friendly Ghost. Reit started his career working for Fleischer Studios as an animator; he also worked for Jerry Iger and Will Eisner as a cartoonist, for Laffboy as editor in 1965, and for Mad Magazine and several other publications as a humorist. 

After the WW2, Reit did cartoon work for Archie and Little Lulu, and wrote gags for some of the new Casper animated shorts that were being produced. He also wrote for the TV series Captain Kangaroo. In 1950 he started working for the publications department of the Bank Street College of Education in New York, and also scripted industrial films and radio shows. In the late 1950s, he began submitting work to Mad Magazine, ultimately contributing over 60 pieces. At DC, Reit wrote Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Three Mouseketeers between 1950 and 1960. Reit passed away in November of 2001..

That is followed by the Three Mouseketeers in (The Frog War) written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer.  Faced with an invasion of the Hop-Toad Army, Fatsy and Patsy defect and leave Minus alone to face them. Reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #3 (1956) and reprinted in Best of DC Digest #49.

Next is the Three Mouseketeers in "Fleetin' Meetin'"  written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer.  Fatsy still doesn't trust Buzz-Buzz and Herman gets revenge for being kicked out of the clubhouse. Reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #4 (1956)

We end with Doodles Duck in an untitled story written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer. Gus says he can fix Doodles's sink for half what the plumber charges. Reprinted from Movietown's Animal Antics #43 (1953).

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Super DC Giant S-18

Super DC Giant S-18 (On Sale: August 13, 1970) has a Three Mouseketeers cover by Phil Mendez.

This all reprint book starts off with the Three Mouseketeers in "We Want Action," a six-page tale drawb by Rube Grossman  and reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #9.

Next is another tale of the Three Mouseketeers, with Patsy and Herman Hop-Toad. This two-pager is written by Si Reit and drawn by Rube Grossman and is reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #6.

That is followed by yet another Three Mouseketeers story, "Why Minus Can't Miss," a one-pager drawn by Rube Grossman and reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #8.

Our next Three Mouseketeers yarn is "Working on the Railroad." This six-page story is written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer and reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #3.

Next is a Doodles Duck untitled six-page story drawn by Sheldon Mayer and reprinted from Raccoon Kids #60.

We follow that with three more tales of the Three Mouseketeers all written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer. The first is "The Adventure of the Disappearing Cave." This six-page story is reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #3. Then comes  "Patsy and the Pup," a four-pager from Three Mouseketeers #4. The last of the three is "Meet Cousin Rodney Rat." This six-pager is from Three Mouseketeers #5.

Next is a six-page untitled Bo Bunny story drawn by Sheldon Mayer and reprinted from Leading Screen Comics #70.

Our last Three Mouseketeers story is "Make Mine Monotony, " a four-page story drawn by Rube Grossman and reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #9.

The book ends with an untitled Dizzy Dog six-pager drawn by Sheldon Mayer and reprinted from Raccoon Kids #55.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Three Mouseketeers #2

Three Mouseketeers #2  (On Sale: May 19, 1970) has a cover by Phil Mendez.

We begin with the Three Mouseketeers in "Hi-Ho and Away"  written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer and reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #2 (1956). Minus gets a horse.

Next is the Three Mouseketeers in "Fatsy at the Bat" written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer and reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #5 (1956). Fatsy can't stand not getting a hit.

That is followed by the Three Mouseketeers in "Yo-Yo Trouble" written by Seymour Reit and drawn by Rube Grossman and reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #13 (1958). Minus finds a yo-yo.

Next we have the Three Mouseketeers in "Meet Max" written by Seymour Reit and drawn by Rube Grossman and also reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #13 (1958). The Mouseketeers enlist Max the Potato Bug in their continuing war against Hamilton Hawk.

The next story features the Three Mouseketeers (surprise!) in "Brain Vs Brawn"  written by Seymour Reit and drawn by Rube Grossman and reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #2 (1956).

We end this reprint fest with the Three Mouseketeers in "Silently Yours" written by Seymour Reit and drawn by Rube Grossman. This story was reprinted from Three Mouseketeers #10 (1957). This is a mostly silent story about Minus trying to pick a raspberry.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Date With Debbi #4

Date With Debbi #4 (On Sale: May 15, 1969) has a cover by Samm Schwartz. This is the last issue to use this original logo.

We begin with Debbi in "T.V. or Not T.V.," is penciled by Jack Sparling; They're filming a TV show at the school, and Debbi wants to be in it.

Next we have Debbi in "And the Beat Goes On," drawn by Samm Schwartz.

That is followed by "Double Standard," another Debbi story by persons unknown.

Next is an untitled Flowers story drawn by Phil Mendez.

We end with "Tennis Bums" a Debbi story by Henry Boltinoff and John Rosenberger. Buddy is humiliated to be beaten at tennis by Debbi. This story was reprinted in Best of DC #39.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Date With Debbi #3

Date With Debbi #3 (On Sale: March 18, 1969) cover where Debbi has the same dark eyes as last two issues, so I am going to guess that this is also the work of Samm Schwartz.

Inside Debbie stars in "The Brain Game" and "The Cave-Man Cometh" by persons unknown. In the latter, Debbi wants Buddy to act more like a caveman.

Flowers stars in an untitled story drawn by Phil Mendez in which the Flower family gets evicted.

We end with another Debbie story, "The Minor Becomes a Drum Major" by Henry Boltinoff.

This is the first of only three stories Phil Mendez would draw for DC comics, one in this and the next issue of Date With Debbi and one in Kissyfur #1 in 1989.

Phil Mendez started a comic strip in the Mercury Shopper’s Guide at the age of sixteen and was hired by Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample at the age of eighteen as an assistant art director on the General Mills account. Phil freelanced on comic books at Charlton in 1966 and DC in 1969. He worked as a storyboard artist, head designer and layout director for Totem Productions' Voyager (NASA).

In 1970 he worked at Disney Studios on the feature film Robin Hood. He then worked for Fred Calvert Productions and Ron Campbell Films on projects including Nanny and The Professor, Sesame Street and the IBM specials The Great Blue Marble.”
Mendez designed presentations and layout work for Hanna-Barbara Productions on The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, The Yogi Bear Show, Hong Kong Phooey, The Buford Files, The Partridge Family, The Banana Split Show and more. He was hired by Mark Davis in 1975 as his assistant to design attractions for Disneyland where he worked on Fantasyland rides, Epcot Center and concept work for future Disney Projects.

He started his own company, Phil Mendez Productions, in 1982 where he designed the original presentation and characters for An American Tail and “Rose Petal Place. He created the children’s shows Kissyfur and Foofur, and he wrote The Black Snowman which won the Martin Luther King “Living the Dream Award” in 1991 (to date the book has sold over 1.7 million copies.) You can see much of Phil's work on his website. You never know who you are going to find in these old DC Comics.

Edited by Dick Giordano