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Issue: Sad Sack Comics #1
Publication Date: September 1949
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Disclose Detail
Issues: #1 of 290 Issues (297 Printings)
Title:
Variant: unnamed
Rating: [no rating]
Publisher: FlagHarvey
Brand: Harvey Comics HView Brand Images2
Indicia Publisher: Harvey Publications Inc.
On Sale Date: 07/01/1949
Volume: 1
Pages: 36
ISBN:
UPC/EAN: none
Price: $0.10 USD
Indicia Frequency:
Content Items: 28 (19 stories, 1 cover)
Editor(s):  
Disclose Notes: Golden Age pre-Comics Code Authority
This first issue was printed for Harvey Publications, Inc. by Curtis-Way Company at their printing, bookbinding, and electrotyping firm within the 3-story brick Curtis-Way print shop building located at 163 Pratt Street, Meriden, Connecticut*† 06450-4250.

* Indicia. "Sad Sack Comics (Harvey, 1949 series)" #1, page 2.
† Mills Making Places of Connecticut. Online historic narrative. Preservation Connecticut. 2021.
https://connecticutmills.org/find/details/curtis-way-co
Last retrieved January 26, 2021.
  Does this data need corrections? Become an editor.
Disclose Format
Publication Type: Comic Book
Color: color
Dimensions: standard Golden Age US; then standard Silver Age US; then standard Modern Age US
Paper Stock: newsprint
Binding: saddle-stitched
Publishing Format: was ongoing series
Format Notes:  
Disclose Reprinted In16
reprinted 2 times as Content Items in other Issues.
Some/all of Issue reprinted as 14 Content Items in other Issues:
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as Dog Catcher Story [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as Sad Sack Tries to Explain [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as Cautious Soul [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as Day at the Beach [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as Playful Kids [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as Foul Play [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as The Sad Sack Visits the Zoo [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as Super Salesman [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as Double Trouble [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as Costume Ball [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as The Sad Sack Goes to the Movies [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as Horseback Riding [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as [untitled] [Story on Interior Page(s)]
FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979 as Sad Sack as Milkman [Story on Interior Page(s)]
Disclose Reprinted From0
There is currently no data for this Issue being reprinted from anywhere.
Disclose Images1
Cover, Front
Original Artwork
Digital Edition
Adult Image
Title Page
Indicia on this Page
 
 
Assets0
 
spacer
Disclose Content Items (28 total)
Disclose Issue Images
Sad Sack Comics

Illustration  on  Cover, Front
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Character(s): Sad Sack; Daily Bugle salesman
First Line: Scram, Bub! You're on my corner!
Synopsis: Sad Sack is kicked off a competing paper salesman's corner scattering several Sad Sack Comics 1st issues in this famous infinity cover.
Reprinting
In Content Item: FlagSad Sack Comics #1 published October 1949
as [untitled] [Illustration on Cover, Front]
In Content Item: FlagHarvey Collectors Comics #16 published September 1979
as Sad Sack Comics No. 1 [Cover Reprint (on Interior Page) on Interior Page(s)]
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
Sad Sack

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Character(s): Sad Sack
First Line: George Baker and the Sad Sack
Synopsis: First two-thirds of page is a brief biography of cartoonist George Baker and his 'Sad Sack' creation which by Summer 1949 was already an immensely popular character from World War II beginning with its first appearance in Yank, the Army Weekly of June 17, 1942 through several printings in book form of collected wartime Sad Sack comic strip reprints by Simon and Schuster from 1944 through 1946. Last third of page has table of contents listing ten featured Sad Sack comic stories and also Li'l Dot and Winnie [the WAC] by Vic Herman.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Reproduction of a pen and ink original drawing of Technical Sergeant George Baker by his very good friend Sergeant Gregor Duncan, signed and dated at Anzio [Italy] - Apr. 26, 1944, reprinted from: Baker, George. The Sad Sack. Simon and Schuster, New York, NY. 1944, afterword, n.p.

Winnie was reconstituted as Winnie the Waitress (now a civilian) after World War II by its creator, artist Victor J. Herman, who had originally created the female character as Winnie the WAC. See online article dated March 4, 2015 by R.C. Harvey in The Comics Journal.
http://www.tcj.com/winnie-the-wac/
Last accessed January 26, 2021
Disclose
Dog-napper

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Character(s): Sad Sack; dog catcher; boy; policeman
Synopsis: Sad Sack is wrongfully accused of stealing a boy's dog after paying to rescue it from the pound.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title taken from theme of strip.
Disclose
Wheaties

Advertisement (Comic Format)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: opinion, sports
Character(s): Hal Newhouser; Prince Hal; Hal's Pals Clubs; random boys
First Line: Says he doesn't need to warm up ... had his Wheaties!
Synopsis: Comics-form advertising with Detroit Tigers Champion Pitcher Hal Newhouser endorsing Wheaties "Breakfast of Champions" cereal on behalf of General Mills, Inc.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Assumed title taken from breakfast cereal advertised by General Mills.
Disclose
Tries to Explain

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Character(s): Sad Sack; woman; policeman
Synopsis: Sad Sack steps back onto grass to take a photo of a lady and policeman but gets arrested afterward because of a sign that states, "Keep Off Grass Under Penalty of Law"
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Disclose
Cautious Soul

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Character(s): Sad Sack; Policeman
Synopsis: Sad Sack takes too long to cross a street from observing all the regulatory signs and traffic light, only to be arrested by a policeman for disregarding a 'no loitering' sign.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Disclose
Day at the Beach

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Character(s): Sad Sack; beach-going kids; male sunbather; policeman
Synopsis: Sad Sack unwittingly sells a hot dog that's been sprinkled with sand from kids jumping over his vendor basket to a man at the beach. The man takes out his wrath on Sad Sack by slamming the basket of hot dogs over Sad Sack's head. To add insult to injury, Sad Sack gets arrested for littering.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Disclose
Playful Kids

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Character(s): Sad Sack; two boys
First Line: Bang Bang Bang
Synopsis: Sad Sack pretends to be shot dead by two mischievous boys playing with wooden toy guns only to be actually thrown off a pier by them.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose
Foul Play

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous, sports
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Character(s): Sad Sack; Ace Baseball team; Sox Baseball team; baseball players
Synopsis: Playing for the Aces, Sad Sack hits a triple but while trying to steal home he gets slammed backward to a Sox third baseman by a line-drive foul ball and called out.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Disclose
Visit to the Zoo

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Character(s): Sad Sack; monkey; tiger; women; children; zoo keeper; policeman
First Line: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Synopsis: Sad Sack saves women and children from an escaped tiger at the zoo only to be hauled off to jail for annoying animals.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Disclose
The Temperamental Mule

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: drama, nature
Character(s): Maudeen the mule; Pete Moore; Farmer Brown; farm hands
First Line: Pete Moore, aged eighteen, was tired of city life and quit his city job.
Synopsis: 18-year-old Pete Moore tires of city life, quits his city job, then takes a train to the countryside where he finds a job on a farm but knows nothing of feeding pigs or farming. Despite being teased by the other farm hands, he quickly wins approval of Farmer Brown after cleverly getting Maudeen the stubborn mule to mind.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Only art is a tiny pen and ink drawing of a mule in upper right corner accompanying text story.
Disclose
Captain Tootsie to the Rescue!

Advertisement (Comic Format)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: superhero
Character(s): beach going children; young lady
First Line: Any volunteers to help bring down the rest of the things from the car?
Synopsis: Captain Tootsie saves a young lady from drowning at the ocean then suggests Tootsie Roll and Tootsie Pop candies are packed with the energy kids need to play.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Job Number: CT-1
Disclose Notes: Job number "CT-1" (Captain Tootsie-1) is lettered in upper right of title panel at top of page 17.
Disclose
Super Salesman

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Character(s): Sad Sack; salesman
Synopsis: Sad Sack faces off with a pushy salesman.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Disclose
Beating the Best at the Fair

Advertisement (Comic Format)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: adventure, teen
Feature(s): Tom and teen fellas
Character(s): Tom; teen fellas
First Line: Fellas, we'll have to put on some speed if we're going to get to the country fair in time to enter the bicycle obstacle race...
Synopsis: Teen boy, Tom--and his fellow teen guy friends--race their bicycles to the county fair to enter a bicycle obstacle race and after Tom wins the prize of a brand new bike he endorses Gillette bicycle tires.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
Double Trouble

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Character(s): Sad Sack; brunette woman; blonde woman; heavy set gentleman
Synopsis: Sad Sack offers to assist a brunette who's carrying packages cross the street but gets punched in his left eye when he causes her to trip at opposite curb.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Disclose
Costume Ball

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Synopsis: Dressed as a police officer, Sad Sack mistakenly arrests a real police officer dressed as an inmate.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Disclose
Goes to the Movies

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Character(s): Sad Sack; box office cashier; woman movie goer; random cinema patrons
Synopsis: Sad Sack finds an empty seat next to a brunette in red dress at a theater featuring a horror flick.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Disclose
Bakes a Cake

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: childrens, humorous
Feature(s): Li'l Dot
Character(s): Li'l Dot [Dorothy Polka] (1st appearance); Mama Polka (1st appearance)
First Line: Mama, what's that white powder you just put in the cake?
Synopsis: Li'l Dot learns to bake a cake but misconstrues Mama's explanation of baking powder.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose Notes: First appearance of "Li'l Dot" as back pages filler material for Sad Sack Comics v1#1 (Sep. 1949). Later, Harvey Publications, Inc. would publish her as a restyled house character named "Little Dot" in her own comic book (Harvey, 1953 series, #1 cover dated Sep. 1953, on sale July 1, 1953), despite Harvey promising, "Li'l Dot appears in a comics all her own--on sale Aug. 10th" at bottom of p. 27.
Disclose
Horseback Riding

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous, romantic, teen
Feature(s): Winnie & Maisie
Character(s): Winnie; Maisie; Ted Fetlock; Wally
First Line: What's the matter, Maisie? You look as if you'd lost your best boy friend!
Synopsis: Teen waitresses Winnie and Maisie go on a horseback riding double date with Ted and Wally.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 2
Disclose
Fleer's Dubble Bubble Gum

Advertisement (Comic Format)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: childrens
Feature(s): Dubble Bubble Gum
Character(s): Pud; Pud's Pals; Pud and pals
First Line: We'll never make a goal against these big guys unless we cook up some strategy!
Synopsis: Four panels of comics-form advertising for Frank Henry Fleer Corporation's Fleer's Dubble Bubble Gum features Pud and his pals blowing large bubbles as a strategy to thwart big guys in a game of hoops.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.5
Disclose Notes: Appearance of this upper half-page ad in Sad Sack v1#1 (On sale July 1, 1949) helps narrow debate as to when Ray Thompson started being a regular artist at Fleer Corporation. His initials "R.T." are inked at base of tree with hoop attached in panel 4.

See "Comics in Remote Corners: Miniature Bubble-gum Strips" in The Comics Decoder, Issue 10, Winter 2017-18, online article by R. W. Watkins for further discussion.
https://sites.google.com/site/thecomicsdecoder2/home/issue-10-winter-2017-18/comics-in-remote-corners-miniature-bubble-gum-strips
Last retrieved January 26, 2021
Disclose
Joe and Milferd in the Cave

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: adventure
Feature(s): Joe Palooka
Character(s): Joe Palooka; Milferd; Gregory (the dog); Bob; Sarah; Ben; Humphrey; Little Max
First Line: We musn't be cowards, Milferd... Jist think of how our parents are worried ... Milferd ... Didja hear that ... Milferd!
Synopsis: Lower half of page 30 is comics-form ad/preview of Joe Palooka (Harvey, 1945 series) #37 (Oct. 1949, on sale August 12, 1949) & added attractions: 1 Funsational Humphrey, 2 Lovable Little Max, 3 Sport Thrills. Includes full-color reproduction of front cover to Joe Palooka #37 plus a 4-panel teaser strip wherein Joe and his friend Milferd narrowly escape a cave thanks to the dog Gregory.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.5
Disclose Notes: Tagline - Special Preview: Joe as a Boy
Disclose
Insulting Ransom

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Snoopy
Character(s): Snoopy; Baby de Murph; Grappa Mob; Madame
First Line: Baby de Murph, Society Heiress, Has Been Kidnapped!
Synopsis: Detective Snoopy fights with kidnapping mob, negotiates a ransom of 250,000.00 USD; an amount considered an insult to the kidnapped baby girl's mother and high society Madame.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.5
Disclose Notes: Assumed title taken from theme of strip.
Disclose
Medal or Tag?

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Snoopy
Character(s): Snoopy; Chief; Commissioner; Oscar the dog; Officer
First Line: Police parade or no police parade ... yer on duty!
Synopsis: Detective Snoopy defies Chief's orders to remain on duty and joins in a police parade with Oscar his dog.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 0.5
Disclose Notes: Assumed title taken from theme of strip.
Disclose
Fun at the Fair

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Jimmy & Billy & Pal
Character(s): Boy Jimmy; Boy Billy; Pal the Fox Terrier; Pete the Half Man
First Line: The State Fair was in full swing.
Synopsis: Pal the Fox Terrier reveals secret of Pete the Half Man in circus exhibition at state fair.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose
Chain of Champions

Advertisement (Comic Format)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ?
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: sports, teen
Feature(s): Old Nick; Bit-O-Honey
Character(s): Nick; 3 other boys
First Line: Get this Super Duper Chain of Champions Key Ring ...
Synopsis: Four boys, including Nick, admire Nick's Major League Baseball star key ring and want theirs, too.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Comics-form ad employs popularity of MLB stars Joe Di Maggio, Bob Feller, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Jackie Robinson, and John Mize to promote sales of both Old Nick and Bit-O-Honey candy--through wrappers submitted--as well as key rings and bracelets priced at 0.15 USD each.

Assumed title taken from excerpt in first line of comics-form advertisement.
Disclose
Milk Man

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Colorist(s): ?
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Feature(s): Sad Sack
Character(s): Sad Sack; lady customer
Synopsis: Working for the Ace Milk Co, Sad Sack climbs to the 8th floor to find a sign 'No Milk Today' on door only to hear customer holler to him to come back after he's already descended to ground level.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: [pantomime; no dialogue]
Assumed title inferred from theme of strip.
Ace Milk Company truck is numbered 13. This number would later become Ken Selig's secret signature.
Disclose
Are You a Sad Sack

Text Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: humorous
Character(s): Charles C.; Alex R.; Joe P.; Peter G.; Dave C.
First Line: Do people ignore you? Are you always getting it in the end? Are you the butt of everyone's joke?
Synopsis: Five 'Sad Sack' fans from around the United States share their typical Sad Sack true experiences. Editors used this gimmick to conduct market research by encouraging readers to relate an experience, with the promise that the best contributions would be published.
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Page 35 (B&W). Characters by reader submissions from Denver, CO; Chicago, IL; Washington DC; Clifton, NJ; and Texas, respectively

Harvey Publications encouraged 'Sad Sack' fans to write penny post cards and send them to:
Sad Sack Editor
1860 Broadway N.Y. 23, N.Y.

Right half is publisher's preview of Babe Ruth Sports Comics #4 (Harvey, 1949 series) cover dated Oct. 1949, on sale August 10th, with subscription coupon that could be clipped and mailed to:
Babe Ruth Sports
1860 Broadway
New York, 23, N.Y.
Disclose
Fame Instead of Shame

Advertisement (Comic Format)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
Writer(s): ? (ad copy)
Penciller(s): ?
Inker(s): ?
Colorist(s): ?
Letterer(s): typeset
Subject Matter
Genres: drama
Feature(s): Charles Atlas
Character(s): Annoying man; teen Joe; three sunbathing girls; random beach goers; Charles Atlas (photo)
First Line: Hey! Quit kicking that sand in our faces!
Synopsis: Back cover ad for the "Dynamic Tension" method of muscle building
Reprinting
Reprint Notes:  
Miscellaneous
Pages: 1
Disclose Notes: Assumed title taken from excerpt of ad headline "How Joe's Body Brought Him Fame Instead of Shame".
Coupon for a free book, "Everlasting Health and Strength" could be clipped and mailed to:

Charles Atlas, Dept. 303 V
115 East 23rd St., New York 10, N.Y.

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