Sad Sack Comics (1949, Harvey)

Sad Sack Comics ran for 290 issues (1949–1982). Publishing format: was ongoing series. Golden Age pre-Comics Code Authority; #1 (cover dated Sep. 1949) through #43 (Feb. 1955). Golden Age post-Comics Code Authority from #44 (cover dated Mar. 1955, on sale Jan. 1, 1955). Sad Sack art (Script, Pencils, Inks, Letters) by George Baker; #1 through #21 civilian issues. Sad Sack art (Script, Pencils, Inks, Letters) by George Baker; #22 through #29 military issues. George Baker's story art waned as Harvey Publications solicited artists to begin bulk of Sad Sack interior comic story art (see one panel each by five guest artists featured in #30 p.8). Last interior Sad Sack comic art by George Baker printed in #34 (on sale March 1, 1954). Paul McCarthy began early interior Sad Sack comic art, imitating George Baker's style but lengthening Baker's short Sad Sack pantomimes into full-feature comic stories that included dialogue balloons. In late 1953, cartoonist Fred Rhoads began a trial period at Harvey Publications doing Sad Sack art* with his artwork first appearing in #31 (Cover dated Feb. 1954; on sale December 1, 1953). George Baker continued to intermittently illustrate covers through 1958 after which he sold his interest† to Harvey Publications; retaining royalties and an agreement requiring facsimiles of his signature plus Sad Sack thumbnail sketches as 'postage stamps' affixed to Sad Sack-titled comics. *Bails, Jerry G, and Hames Ware, editors. The Who's Who of American Comic Books, v3. 1st ed. Detroit, MI: J. Bails, 1975 p. 220. †Mike Kelley. Minor histories: Statements, Conversations, Proposals, The MIT Press, 2004 p.19 n.4.