by John | Oct 19, 2021 | Uncategorized
I think my title for Tony Isabella‘s gag about lizard romance is okay. But I came up with so many others that I sorta lost perspective. My second favorite was:
Jealousy (and Coke)—it’s the Real Thing!
—John
Original Vintage Art & Text

Art by Joe Sinnott & Vince Colletta from the story “The Day Manhattan Died!” in Gorgo #8, Aug. 1962. Click link to read the entire vintage comic for free.
Transcript:
SCENE: In one paw, Gorgo is angrily holding a snarling polar bear. Below them on the snow or ice is a very upset young woman who is looking up and calling out to Gorgo.
CAPTION: Bonnie was terrified! She never realized how jealous her big beau could become!
WOMAN: No, sweetie, no! We were just having a Coke! He’s just a friend!
1962 Art: Joe Sinnott & Vince Colletta
Restoration: John Lustig Writer: Tony Isabella
GOR00803
↓ TranscriptSCENE: In one paw, Gorgo is angrily holding a snarling polar bear. Below them on the snow or ice is a very upset young woman who is looking up and calling out to Gorgo.
CAPTION: Bonnie was terrified! She never realized how jealous her big beau could become!
WOMAN: No, sweetie, no! We were just having a Coke! He’s just a friend!
1962 Art: Joe Sinnott & Vince Colletta
Restoration: John Lustig Writer: Tony Isabella
GOR00803
by John | Oct 17, 2021 | Uncategorized
I’m always glad when I can come up with a gag featuring the fabulous Felina Vie. Photo by the allusive Allen Freeman!
Transcript:
SCENE: Felina Vie is on her stomach on a bed. She has antlers on her head. She also has very frizzy red hair that has been teased up high into her antlers.
FELINA: Come on, Lustig! This Halloween let’s be classy! No jokes about me being “horny.” No lame puns. I refuse to fawn over you. Doe us proud and…and..Oh, deer! You’re turning this into a stupid stag party joke, aren’t you?
Text ©2021 Last Kiss Inc. Photo: ©2021 Allen Freeman
Model: Felina Vie
Photo: Allen Freeman
Writer: John Lustig
IMG_9897_Felina
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Felina Vie is on her stomach on a bed. She has antlers on her head. She also has very frizzy red hair that has been teased up high into her antlers.
FELINA: Come on, Lustig! This Halloween let’s be classy! No jokes about me being “horny.” No lame puns. I refuse to fawn over you. Doe us proud and…and..Oh, deer! You’re turning this into a stupid stag party joke, aren’t you?
Text ©2021 Last Kiss Inc. Photo: ©2021 Allen Freeman
Model: Felina Vie
Photo: Allen Freeman
Writer: John Lustig
IMG_9897_Felina
by John | Jun 13, 2021 | Uncategorized
Today’s Flag Day comic is really two comics in one.
First, there’s the vintage, Nazi-fighting art from Our Flag Comics #3. It struck me how different times were back in 1941 and how united we were (by the end of that year) against “the bad guys.” These days, alas, we can’t even all agree who the “bad guys” are.
Second, there was this incredible, completely over-the-top caption in the 1941 art. I thought it was jaw-dropingly bizarre, but also a lot of fun. So I decided to share it with you. But—fearing that the type would be too small—I enlarged it for readability. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
(Below is a miniature version of the vintage,
untouched art so that you can see the original layout
and what I covered up when I enlarged the caption.)

Art by Harry Anderson from Our Flag Comics #3, Dec. 1941.
Transcript:
SCENE: Superhero dressed somewhat like an American flag, punches out a bunch of Nazis in a subway as terrified citizens look on in the background.
THE FLAG: That’s
what I love about America in 1941…Everyone agrees about who the bad
CAPTION BOX: Born with a chest birthmark resembling the American Flag, Jim Courtney, adopted son of John Courtney, an old flag maker and war veteran known as “Old Glory,” has been endowed by the immortals of U.S. history with the strength of a hundred men and the speed of the wind. When traitors seek to destroy our country, Jim Dons the special patriotic uniform made for him by “Old Glory” and goes forth as that hard-hitting, patriotic avenger, The Flag, to crush and destroy them!
Happy Flag Day!
Dec. 1941 Art: Harry Anderson from Our Flag Comics #3
New Dialogue: John Lustig
Yellow caption box is enlarged, but contains the original,
1941 textfeaturing the origin of The Flag. Writer unknown.
our flag comics 4_17-Flag2
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Superhero dressed somewhat like an American flag, punches out a bunch of Nazis in a subway as terrified citizens look on in the background.
THE FLAG: That’s
what I love about America in 1941...Everyone agrees about who the bad
CAPTION BOX: Born with a chest birthmark resembling the American Flag, Jim Courtney, adopted son of John Courtney, an old flag maker and war veteran known as “Old Glory,” has been endowed by the immortals of U.S. history with the strength of a hundred men and the speed of the wind. When traitors seek to destroy our country, Jim Dons the special patriotic uniform made for him by “Old Glory” and goes forth as that hard-hitting, patriotic avenger, The Flag, to crush and destroy them!
Happy Flag Day!
Dec. 1941 Art: Harry Anderson from Our Flag Comics #3
New Dialogue: John Lustig
Yellow caption box is enlarged, but contains the original,
1941 textfeaturing the origin of The Flag. Writer unknown.
our flag comics 4_17-Flag2
by John | Jan 19, 2021 | Uncategorized
Of course, Inauguration Day hasn’t really crawled here at turtle speed. It’s more like drunk, senior citizen, snail speed—filmed in slow motion and with frequent screen freezes.
But now (at last!) it’s here. And I’m glad (almost) beyond words.
I hope this marks the beginning of a better time for all of us—Democrats, Republicans, Independents. All of us.
— — —
More cute turtle pix (and other photos) by Brittney Weng here.
SCENE:
SCENE: Turtle sitting next to a small American flag on the beach.
TURTLE: Stop complaining! I got here as quickly as I could!
CAPTION: Inauguration Day arrives…at last!
Adapted from a photo by Brittney Weng
brittney-weng-PGZ1BuBAw3E-unsplash short
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Turtle sitting next to a small American flag on the beach.
TURTLE: Stop complaining! I got here as quickly as I could!
CAPTION: Inauguration Day arrives...at last!
Adapted from a photo by Brittney Weng
brittney-weng-PGZ1BuBAw3E-unsplash short
by John | Jan 17, 2021 | Uncategorized
This isn’t one of King’s better known quotes, but—given all the turmoil we’re going through right now—it seemed appropriate. Peace.
Other photos by Pietro De Grandi here.
Transcript:
SCENE: Photo of the bow of a small boat in the water.
CAPTION: We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now. –Martin Luther King Jr.
Adapted from a photo by Pietro De Grandi
pietro-de-grandi-6U4wogjLArk-unsplash_B
↓ TranscriptSCENE: Photo of the bow of a small boat in the water.
CAPTION: We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now. --Martin Luther King Jr.
Adapted from a photo by Pietro De Grandi
pietro-de-grandi-6U4wogjLArk-unsplash_B