Funniest Classic Comics?

[PastePotPete]

In my internet life, I'm just another cranky fanboy complaining about Civil War, but in the real world, I'm a stand-up comedian. And a comic book fan.

I'd like to start adding classic comics to my collection that are funny. They can be unintentionally funny (like those Superman is a Dick examples from the website of the same name), but I'm mainly looking for stuff that is intentionally funny. Really funny. I'm talking humor books, but also books of other genres that had a very definite humor element.

I've always enjoyed the big name writers of my era who knew how to do humor well - Giffen & DeMatteis, for example. But I want to dig into those back-issue bins and find some stuff I didn't know was in there.

So, my question to you guys is: what are the funniest classic comics?

This is tough, because a lot of humor is disposable and doesn't translate from generation to generation, but what were the comics that made you laugh the hardest?

I bow to your superior knowledge and thank you for your time.

[InfoBroker]

Little Lulu has a wonderfully creative and charming humor. It's a mixture of innocence, absurdity and strong characterization.

Fox and Crow comics is classic in every sense of the word and its roots are traceable to vaudeville and Punch&Judy.

I love the humor work of Marie Severin, and it comes out strong in Marvel's Not Brand Echh! comical books. She has a terrific sense of timing and a great sense of caricature.

Groo was/is great satire, and has one of the best supporting casts in all comics.

But hands down, could always get me into long uncontrollable belly laughs, was the antics of Pogo and the over populated cast of characters lurking in the Okefenokee Swamp. Walt Kelly had tremendous comic sensibilities that in terms of dynamics, timing, silliness and the sense of enjoying the fun of poking fun, would be very comparable to the works of Red Skeleton, Bob Hope or Jack Benny's classic radio and television series.

-jb the (and then there are the strips) ib -

[MDG]

Well, there's Mad. And non-MAD stuff by Sergio Aragones

When Carl Barks isn't doing great adventure, he's doing great humor.

I agree with Little Lulu. There are some other John Stanley titles you can read online here...

http://www.chancefiveash.com/last_of_the_spinner_rack_junkies.htm

...that I really like.

And if you're enough of a Silver/Bronze age geek fanboy to get the jokes, few people are funnier than Fred Hembeck.

MDG

[founder81]

Not series, but here are some single issues that stand out to me.

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/77906321824.266.gifhttp://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/77906321824.267.gif
and:
http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/60930948398.246.gif
the next issues following this one The Grizzly and Gibbon form sort of a Batman/Robin 60's TV show type of partner ship and end up battling the White Rabbit.

Peter Parker: Spider-man Vol 2 - 56 and 57. Spider-man on MTV beach house.

As for series.
The She-Hulk series of the early 90's by Byrne
The recent New Warriors mini, the one where they are on a reality TV show

that's all I can think of at the moment.

[Pinball]

Can't hardly miss with Kurtzman's MAD

[Hintermann]

I have been a big fan of 'funny animal' and other humorous comics for over 40 years. My tastes range form humour to adventure or a reasonable mix of the two (though I have never been into any superhero comics). IMO, the comics which made me laugh the most were (and still are) Hank Ketcham's Dennis the Menace titles. Among the funny animal characters, guys like Yogi Bear, Daffy Duck etc can be very funny. With my all time favourite character Uncle $crooge though, adventure often takes precedence over humour.

[Scott Shaw!]

As someone who's written and drawn humor comics and animated cartoons for nearly forty years (!), I've read 'em all...and frankly, there's no comic book that makes me laugh out loud -- even after repeated readings -- nearly as much as Gilbert Shelton's THE FABULOUS FURRY FREAK BROTHERS (the most accessible of the underground "comix") and WONDER WART-HOG (a hilarious takeoff on superheroes). The man's sense of comic timing on the printed page is unmatchable, his plotting and gags are utterly unique and his drawings themselves are always funny. Plus, most of Shelton's FREAK BROTHERS stuff is still in print, so his work is always available at a reasonable price. Check out Rip Off Press' website for ordering info.

John Stanley's stuff is also wonderful; check out Dark Horse's black-and-white paperback reprints of LITTLE LULU. And if you dig those, try searching for MELVIN MONSTER, O. G. WHIZ, NELLIE THE NURSE, AROUND THE BLOCK WITH DUNC 'N' LOO and other obscure Stanley classics. (I've covered some of 'em in my ODDBALL COMICS column -- which, I've gotta say, makes Superdickery look like the amateur effort it is.)

Aloha,

Scott!

[MichikoS]

Humor is such a subjective thing. What makes me laugh may make you groan, and vice versa. I've read most of the recommendations posted in this thread so far, and LITTLE LULU seems to be the consensus choice among almost every one. I agree. Eternally fresh and joyful.

I like PATTY CAKE by Scott Roberts a lot. I also read Aaron Magruder's BOONDOCKS.

In terms of fanboy-ish humor, I also enjoy FRED HEMBECK immensely. I also get a kick out of Greg Hyland's LETHARGIC LAD books. Sergio Aragones' parody books are a delight (DESTROYS DC, MASSACRES MARVEL, STOMPS STAR WARS). They are well worth a look.

Of more recent vintage, I am completely enamored with TONY MILLIONAIRE's work, including his SOCK MONKEY, MAAKIES, BILLY HAZELNUTS and anything else to which he turns his considerable and very twisted talents.

I find John Lustig's LAST KISS strip very, very funny. He's been picked up by the Seattle Times recently.

Michi

[founder81]

The 1st "The Tick" trade always gets me laughing. The later ones, not so much. But the 1st one is worth checking out.

(How can you not love a line of ninjas holding a twig in front of them saying to passerby's "We are a bush" and the uhm... er Superman incident)

The Tick wants to make amends with Superman, and makes him an ashtray, out of Supes car.

[scratchie]

One comic that used to make me laugh was "Tex Arcana" by John Findley. This was published in Heavy Metal in the early 80s and I think it was anthologized later. It was one of the few bright spots in that magazine in the year or two after the movie came out and the quality of material dropped precipitously.

It was a very funny comic about vampires in the wild west, but not a spoof. The threat of the vampires was real, and treated seriously, and the comedy came from the interaction between the various characters. Not drop-dead funny like the Freak Brothers but highly amusing character-based humor.

Great stuff and the art was great, too.
http://www.michaelmartine.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/texa027_01.jpg

EDIT: It appears that a new edition came out in November! Sweet!
http://www.amazon.com/Tex-Arcana-Saga-Old-West/dp/141964632X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-8059395-3871359?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179331317&sr=8-1

[PastePotPete]

Thanks for the suggestions!

Lots of fun stuff to look up and hunt down.

Never thought I'd be trying to get my hands on some Little Lulu, but now I'm intrigued.

[benday-dot]

If you want others PPP, you might enjoy Eight Ball... on the other side of the funny bone from Little Lulu.

[PastePotPete]

If you want others PPP, you might enjoy Eight Ball... on the other side of the funny bone from Little Lulu.

I actually have read some Eightball and I do find it tremendously funny...in that 'wanna hang yourself from the ceiling fan' kind of way.

[DDM]

Aunt May becomes Golden Oldie as the Herald of Galactus to help him feed his need for Twinkies:

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/52019311922.137.GIF

[The Mutt]

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/f/fatfury3.jpg

[Roquefort Raider]

Evan Dorkin's Milk & Cheese, dairy products gone bad is something of a one-trick pony, but can be pretty funny.

http://www.houseoffun.com/milkandcheese/welcome.gif


Rick Veitch's Brat Pack, a cruel parody of teenage superhero sidekicks, is not only very funny: it's also a classic tht deserves to be better known.


Marvel published a one-shot titled "Mighty Marvel's No-Prize book" that compiled many unintentionally funny moments (such as a scene where Captain America tells a rampaging robot "only one of us will get out of here on his own two feet...(change panel) ...And it won't be ME")! That book is really worth hunting down.

[The Mutt]

I can't recall which Marvel title it was in, but the Mutant Beach Party Massacre is the best self-parody I've seen a comic company do.

[Aaron King]

A big mix, including some more recent comics (sorry for breaking the ten-year rule):
Amazing Screw-On Head (Dark Horse one-shot by Mike Mignola)
Ambush Bug (both volumes, by Keith Giffen)
Angel and the Ape (first series)
Blue Beetle (latest series, especially after #8)
Casanova (crazy spy series by Matt Fraction at Image)
Damage Control (multiple Marvel minis)
Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius (occasional Marvel one-shots)
The Heckler (more Keith Giffen)
Hitman (crazy Garth Ennis DC Universe series)
Howard the Duck (especially the presidential campaign issue)
IronHide Tom (FCBD giveaway from a couple years back)
'Mazing Man (DC series)
Plastic Man (the original series and the latest Kyle Baker series)
Villains United/Secret Six (dark humor)
Smax
Sugar and Spike
Tales of the Unexpected's "Architecture & Morality" (recently collected)
Vertigo Pop! Tokyo

[rick]

One comic that used to make me laugh was "Tex Arcana" by John Findley. This was published in Heavy Metal in the early 80s and I think it was anthologized later. It was one of the few bright spots in that magazine in the year or two after the movie came out and the quality of material dropped precipitously.

It was a very funny comic about vampires in the wild west, but not a spoof. The threat of the vampires was real, and treated seriously, and the comedy came from the interaction between the various characters. Not drop-dead funny like the Freak Brothers but highly amusing character-based humor.

Great stuff and the art was great, too.
http://www.michaelmartine.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/texa027_01.jpg

EDIT: It appears that a new edition came out in November! Sweet!
http://www.amazon.com/Tex-Arcana-Saga-Old-West/dp/141964632X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-8059395-3871359?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179331317&sr=8-1


I haven't thought of Tex Arcana in decades.

But you're right, that was a great strip.

I actually need to go and buy this book.

Good call.

[rick]

When I was a kid, I was really a fan of both the Bob Hope and Jerry Lewis comics that DC published.

Even now I think these books hold up pretty well.


http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/6267/bobhopegf9.jpg


http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9564/jerrylewiszi9.jpg


http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6799/jerrylewisflashbj5.jpg


When I got a bit older (like 9), well nothing quite matched, Cracked

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/7094/crackedjy0.jpg

[The Mutt]

Ah, those heady days of being a Mad fan and sneering at Cracked for being "for kids".
:o

[Angry_Guy]

Evan Dorkin's 'Eltingville Club' in Dork made me lough out loud. The episode about the superhero costume contest was especially funny. Not exactly a classic comic, though.

[Kirk G]

I can't recall which Marvel title it was in, but the Mutant Beach Party Massacre is the best self-parody I've seen a comic company do.

It may have been the "What The'" mini-series of four issues. Pick on and see...

[schwamp]

Works that I remember as funny, off the top of my head...

Pogo, for sure
Not Brand Echh
Eightball
Major Bummer
Peanuts
The Mask/The Mask Returns
.........Fat Dog Mendoza... Does anybody even know about Scott Musgrove?
Deadline


I agree with the previous poster about Pogo. Kelly was simply brilliant. Severin,too, was exceptional. Arcudi and Manhke are one of the best team ups in the biz. Musgrove is just off the wall spectacular.

[DDM]

Anything by Fred Hembeck:

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/33579911524.1.GIF
http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/33581842958.1.GIF

[dan bailey]

No one has mentioned Inferior 5 (unless I missed it)?

Wow. Tough crowd.

(Much more recently -- Nextwave.)

[Ideal.]

Here's a list of comics, old and new, that I consider to be funny:

E.C. Segar's Popeye
Walt Kelly's Pogo
Goscinny & Uderzo's Asterix
George Herriman's Krazy Kat
Seth's Wimbeldon Green
James Kochalka's Superfuckers
Johnny Ryan's Angry Youth Comics
Kyle Baker's The Cowboy Wally Show
Michael Kupperman's Tales Designed to Thrizzle
Ivan Brunetti's Schizo
Peter Bagge's Hate
Tony Millionaire's Maakies

[Aaron King]

I haven't found Segar's Popeye to be that funny. It's a great adventure strip, probably my favorite, and it has humorous moments, but a lot of things that seem like they're supposed to be funny just fall a little flat for me. Time, perhaps, has lessened the laughs?

Nextwave is hilarious.

[Polar Bear]

I agree about Byrne's She-Hulk.

Narvel's Rocky and Bullwinkle, with Ernie Colon.

One issue of Ren & Stimpy--it was like Ren & Stimpy Special #2 or something like that. It was a time travel special written in a "choose your own adventure" format, with bizarre page-turning based on what you wanted Ren & Stimpy to decide. Crazy, crazy fun by Dan Slott.

I know people will hunt me down and kill me for saying this, but some of Evan Dorkin's issues of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures actually did make me laugh aloud.

Eye of Mongombo, a short-lived Fantagraphics series. Early issues of The Tick. Not classic, but Rex Libris is an overlooked B&W humor title out right now.

Trade paperback of Superman: The Many Transformations of Jimmy Olsen.

[Ideal.]

I haven't found Segar's Popeye to be that funny. It's a great adventure strip, probably my favorite, and it has humorous moments, but a lot of things that seem like they're supposed to be funny just fall a little flat for me. Time, perhaps, has lessened the laughs?

Nextwave is hilarious.
You're crazy.

Popeye is one of the few comics that makes me laugh no matter how many times I read it. Admittedly, every strip isn't hilarious, but when it comes to the ones that are I find them to be pretty damn funny.

Then again, I'm biased due to Popeye being one of my favorite comics of all time.

[Aaron King]

Well, maybe my heart is made of stone. I'm currently through the dailies portion of E.C. Segar's Popeye volume one and it was soooo totally worth the money and time I've spent on it and I'm in love with the format and the art and the characters... but I just haven't laughed out loud that often. Sure, there are funny parts; Segar is great at punchlines and reveals. I just find myself more intrigued with the characters and plots than the humor. Some of the lines are great (when Popeye is in the hospital and demands salted pork instead of the mushy hospital fare, the nurse worries that the food will hurt him; "Eatin' don't hurt me -- it's not eatin' tha's what gives me pain.") I had to slog through the entire first chapter, though (the attempted murder of the whiffle hen).

I dunno. I fully plan on getting the rest of the reprints... but I'm not buying them because they're funny.

Krazy Kat, though. That stuff never fails to crack me up.

[FanboyStranger]

I can't believe that no one has brought up Quantum and Woody yet.

[pariah-1972]

I wanna go down with Deadpool and Agent X especially gail simones run,
the rhino key chain episode sent me into fits of laughter.

[founder81]

I can't believe that no one has brought up Quantum and Woody yet.

The "noogie" (or was it "nookie" its been awhile) talk is classic.

[FanboyStranger]

The "noogie" (or was it "nookie" its been awhile) talk is classic.

It was "Noogie". Nothing better than when they switch bodies and both have to pee at the same time. "Any more than three shakes is officially playing with it!"