by John | Nov 23, 2022 | Uncategorized
Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m feeling grateful today about many things–family, friends and great readers like you. I’m also abundantly grateful that I’m working with exceptional contributors like Mike Pascale, Tony Isabella and Diego Jourdan Pereira. I’m a lucky guy.
Original Vintage Art & Text

Artist Unknown. From the story “The Love that Failed” in FIRST KISS #25, 1962 (Sorry. The no link this time because the original comic book is not online.)
Transcript:
SCENE: We see a man from the top part of his bare chest. He’s wearing a white chef’s hat. He’s facing a (dressed) woman who has one hand over her face.
MAN: The turkey’s almost ready! When are your parents getting here?
WOMAN: Right after you put on a shirt…and pants!
CAPTION: Be grateful for the bare necessities! And have a…Happy Thanksgiving!
1962 Artist unknown Partial Color: Allen Freeman
Mostly Dressed: Mike Pascale & John Lustig
↓ TranscriptSCENE: We see a man from the top part of his bare chest. He's wearing a white chef's hat. He's facing a (dressed) woman who has one hand over her face.
MAN: The turkey’s almost ready! When are your parents getting here?
WOMAN: Right after you put on a shirt…and pants!
CAPTION: Be grateful for the bare necessities! And have a...Happy Thanksgiving!
1962 Artist unknown Partial Color: Allen Freeman
Mostly Dressed: Mike Pascale & John Lustig
by John | Nov 22, 2022 | Uncategorized
Gobble! Gobble!
Transcript:
SCENE: Four turkey hens talking in the foreground. In the background is a male turkey.HEN #1: So, you and tom are “doing it?”
HEN #2: Yes. But he promised to marry me!
HEN #3: Really?
HEN #4: When?
HEN #1: The day after Thanksgiving!
Foreground Turkeys: Mikkel Bergmann Background Turkey: William Stark
Talking Turkey: John Lustig
mikkel-bergmann
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Four turkey hens talking in the foreground. In the background is a male turkey.
HEN #1: So, you and tom are “doing it?”
HEN #2: Yes. But he promised to marry me!
HEN #3: Really?
HEN #4: When?
HEN #1: The day after Thanksgiving!
Foreground Turkeys: Mikkel Bergmann Background Turkey: William Stark
Talking Turkey: John Lustig
mikkel-bergmann
by John | Nov 9, 2022 | Uncategorized
Why—you might ask–am I running this comic today instead of on Veterans Day?
Great question. Thank you, dear fictional reader, s-o-o-o much for asking! You are the best!
My answer: You silly ninny! Everyone knows Friday’s the day I post a new episode of The Loves of Abby Amour. Sure, it’s a military comic. But it doesn’t have a a Veterans Day theme.
Thus I’m posting my actual VD tribute today to celebrate tomorrow. So be sure to come back tomorrow and read it again!
Original Vintage Art & Text

Pencils (& possibly inks) by Matt Baker from the Canteen Kate story “Candid Cutie” in Fightin’ Marines #5, April 1952. Published by St. John.Curious to see more? Click the link to read the entire vintage comic book.
Transcript:
SCENE: Several U.S. soldier in uniform are huddled talking as Kate (also in uniform) looks on.
SOLDIER #1: Friday is Veterans Day! And Kate is very patriotic!
SOLDIER #2: So she’s bound to go out with one of us!
KATE: Really? Just one? I’m much more patriotic than that!!!
1952 Art: Matt Baker Creative Lust: John Lustig
Happy Veterans Day!
Canteen Kate_Candid Cutie_1_1
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Several U.S. soldier in uniform are huddled talking as Kate (also in uniform) looks on.
SOLDIER #1: Friday is Veterans Day! And Kate is very patriotic!
SOLDIER #2: So she’s bound to go out with one of us!
KATE: Really? Just one? I’m much more patriotic than that!!!
1952 Art: Matt Baker Creative Lust: John Lustig
Happy Veterans Day!
Canteen Kate_Candid Cutie_1_1
by John | Nov 6, 2022 | Uncategorized
No kidding. Please vote!
Transcript:
SCENE: Woman in a sexy barbarian costume is holding a giant, cartoonish axe.
BARBARIAN WOMAN: Axe not what your country can do for you. Axe what you can do for your country.*
CAPTION: Don’t be a barbarian. Vote!
CAPTION: *With apologies to John F. Kennedy
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Woman in a sexy barbarian costume is holding a giant, cartoonish axe.
BARBARIAN WOMAN: Axe not what your country can do for you. Axe what you can do for your country.*
CAPTION: Don’t be a barbarian. Vote!
CAPTION: *With apologies to John F. Kennedy
Photo: Bryan Turner Dialogue: John Lustig
bryan-turner-bV11km8xYlA
by John | Oct 30, 2022 | Uncategorized
Happy Halloween!
And many thanks to my pal Mike Pascale for the ghastly—I mean—great gag and the amazing art transformation!
Original Vintage Art & Text

Art by Vince Colletta Studio from the story “A Moment to Remember” in FIRST KISS #21, 1962. Click the link to read the entire vintage comic book.
Transcript:
SCENE: A female ghoul and a male ghoul talking outside—perhaps in a graveyard!
CAPTION: Gertie was the talk of the graveyard! Everyone said she was a real man-eater! But, alas for poor Ed, he wasn’t much of a man anymore!
MALE GHOUL: Don’t you want to be my ghoulfriend?
FEMALE GHOUL: Sorry, I…I think we should eat other people!
1961 Art: Vince Colletta Studio
Monster Makers: Mike Pascale & John Lustig
21.1.3.3_MP_Halloween2022
↓ TranscriptSCENE: A female ghoul and a male ghoul talking outside---perhaps in a graveyard!
CAPTION: Gertie was the talk of the graveyard! Everyone said she was a real man-eater! But, alas for poor Ed, he wasn’t much of a man anymore!
MALE GHOUL: Don’t you want to be my ghoulfriend?
FEMALE GHOUL: Sorry, I…I think we should eat other people!
1961 Art: Vince Colletta Studio
Monster Makers: Mike Pascale & John Lustig
21.1.3.3_MP_Halloween2022