Nancy – June, 1956

June  3, 1956.


June 10, 1956.  Maybe sometimes Nancy just likes to aggravate Fritzi.  Below is one of the panels from the top row, from a paper that ran this strip in a vertical format.  The title panel looks like a generic, abbreviated panel and not the actual title panel EB drew.

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June 17, 1956.

 

June 24, 1956.  “Beetle Bailey” artist Mort Walker wrote a hilarious book called “The Lexicon of Comicana” in which he named various comic strip devices.  In panel one, for example, the straight lines that emphasize Nancy’s movement are called “hites.”  The little clouds (of dust, maybe?) at her feet are called “briffits.”

A Multi-Generational, Recycled Gag

Fritzi Ritz, August  8, 1948.  Does this strip look familiar?  It should, if you have a copy of “The Best of Nancy”….


Nancy, July 13, 1952.  It’s interesting to compare the two strips.  “Fritzi Ritz” stars (and is more geared towards) adults, so we have pretty women sprinkled through Phil’s walk along the beach – all of whom Phil blithely ignores in his dreamy soliloquy on Fritzi.  In the kids’ version we (surprisingly) see one pretty woman, whom Sluggo notices and compares to Nancy in HIS dreamy soliloquy.  But both dreams are shattered by a photographer with the same gimmick, and both envision the same fate – right down to the long, flowing beard.

Nancy – May, 1956

May  6, 1956.  Nancy’s neighborhood is filled with big names from all walks of life, including politicians, athletes and actors.  But why is he named Lefty when he is right-handed?  And wouldn't Tex's method of "signing" Nancy's fence ruffle a few feathers today!


May 13, 1956.  For me at least, this strip required a second reading and a little intuition to “get.”  Nancy wanted a fish but she kept getting old junk metal, which she gathered and sold to earn the money to buy a fish.  Everybody wins!


May 20, 1956.  This strip harks back to several early 50s Sunday Nancys, where the change from city to countryside is within walking distance of Nancy and Sluggo’s houses.

The term “jet age” came into use in the mid 1940s, although commercial jet service wouldn’t begin until a decade later – right as this strip was appearing in papers.  This change in airline travel and its cultural impact must have seemed as great as the difference between the force of the kids’ fan and the force that blew through the farmer’s property.  If we want to stretch the analogy farther, we could see the farmer as the older generation railing against the change that youngsters Nancy and Sluggo – and the jet age itself – represent.

So…. What happened to the farmer’s rake in the last panel?

May 27, 1956.  For the second time in three weeks, Nancy’s superb problem-solving skills take center stage.  Maybe it would have been called “women’s intuition” in the 1950s.

Nancy and Fritzi Ritz, June 13, 1948

A story entirely told from an unusual perspective – Nancy’s feet.  No facial expressions needed, her feet and surroundings tell the entire story!  EB at his best.  It would be interesting to see the throwaway panels, to see how EB leads into this story.


Oooooooops.  EB was on a roll this day.

Nancy – April, 1956

April  1, 1956.

April  8, 1956.

April 15, 1956.  This strip appeared in “How Sluggo Survives.”

 

April 22, 1956.  This strip appeared in “Nancy’s Dreams and Schemes.”

April 29, 1956.

Nancy – March, 1956

March  4, 1956.


March 11, 1956.  Nancy must have really done or said something bad to be this far in the doghouse with Sluggo.  This is the first time we see mountains not far outside town.


March 18, 1956.  Nancy suffers a fate every child would love.  As always, nice depictions of the candy canisters, jars and bins in the last panel.


March 25, 1956.  A different kind of competition for Sluggo’s affections.

Nancy – February, 1956

February  5, 1956.  I don’t think we’ve seen those paned windows in Fritzi’s house before.   This strip is in “Nancy Eats Food.”


February 12, 1956.  Man that is some strong (or frozen) casings in the final panel.  So, how many people counted to make sure there were 31 hot dogs in the final panel?

I love those miniature meats in the third panel, especially that ham bone.  And is it me or does Nancy have a 1950s-era Lucy Van Pelt vibe in panel four?  I think it’s the smile, the same one Lucy would use to goad on Charlie Brown.


February 19, 1956.  Poor Nancy hasn’t learned about marketing herself yet.  That’s quite a diverse set of neighbors she has, from the older professionals to the matronly woman to some (presumably) young couples.


February 26, 1956.