Number 1475: Last of the Owl

Last post we had an old-time newspaper cartoonist turned comic book artist, and here we have an old-time comic book artist who ended up on a newspaper feature. Frank Thomas did several features for Dell Comics, including “Billy and Bonny Bee,” “The Eye,” and “The Owl.”

After trying superheroes for awhile Dell changed direction. I think they figured out early they wanted to get away from the long underwear characters and go into licensing and other types of comics. So Crackajack Funnies #43 (1942) had the last episode of the Owl, and that’s what I’m showing today.

But to get back to Frank Thomas...an early comic book journeyman. He died in 1968 while assisting on the “Ferd’nand” daily. Thomas was extremely talented as a writer and cartoonist, and had a very pleasing style. It’s a pity he didn’t do more comic books, and especially a pity that he died so young at age 54.

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The next to last episode, from Crackajack Funnies #42, was posted here:

Number 1105


Frank Thomas' Owl


I've written before of early comic book artist Frank Thomas. He did some features in early comics, including Chuck Hardy, Billy and Bonny Bee, the Eye, and the Owl. The Owl swooped into comics in Dell's Crackajack Funnies #25 in 1940, and flew off in Popular Comics #85 in 1943. The last issue of Crackajack was #43, in 1941, and the story I'm showing is from the penultimate issue, #42.

Frank Thomas' brother, Clint, contacted me some months back. I posted this episode of Chuck Hardy, with his comments on Frank in Pappy's #1016.