"Woody Woodpecker [untitled]"
New Funnies No. 99, May 1945
story and layouts: John Stanley
finished artwork: ???



Here is a stylized, delightful spoof of The Gay '90s by Stanley.
Stanley wrote (and sometimes drew) the antics of the popular cartoon
sociopath, Woody Woodpecker, for about years in NEW FUNNIES and for
Woody's first solo comic book (Four Color one-shot no. 169, 1947). His sto-
ries transcended the character's one-note personality, and often contain
some of Stanley's most subtle humor.

Stanley must have really liked Woody, as he wrote and drew a handful of
stories in 1946. Stanley also did a series of charming one-pagers,
usually printed on the inside covers of some NEW FUNNIES issues (to see a
one-pager from a 1947 NEW FUNNIES, click here).

This six-page story packs a lot of wit and energy. It would have made a
fine storyboard for one of Woody's animated cartoons. At this time,
Woody's 'toons were being directed by James Culhane, a talented and am-
bitious filmmaker saddled with mediocre stories that he redeemed with
dynamic visuals.

Culhane might've had a field day with this wild, anarchic satire of Victorian
America. Stanley has a ball with language and motion throughout. Check out
page 2 for two classic "Stanleyisms." In panel two, we see a speech bal-
loon with multiple 'tails.' Panel 4 has one of Stanley's hilarious 'windmill'
fight scenes. There's some delightful black humor, self-awareness, and
Woody's lawless behavior is genuinely funny throughout. Ditto the uncred-
ited artist's sprightly, playful rendering of Stanley's layouts and figures.


To read the story, click on the comic book cover and enjoy!