Today in Comics History, October 7: Happy birthday, Andy Devine!

Born on this day in 1905: character actor and radio comedian Andy Devine (Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Jack Benny Program, etc.)!


from Movie Love #19 (Eastern Color, February 1953), pencils and inks by Frank Fogarty



How long has Andy been in comic books? Why, exactly the same length as Batman! This comic of the classic western Stagecoach was dated the same month as Detective Comics #27!




from "Stagecoach" in Movie Comics #2 (DC, May 1939), from the screenplay by Dudley Nichols, film stills airbrushed and retouched by Jack Adler and Emery Gondor
Oh, Andy! We coulda done without the casual slur on Native Americans. Then again, considering the über-racism of your co-star there, I guess you're relatively okay.


A feature on the stars of Stagecoach in the same comic:


from "Screen Scoops" in Movie Comics #2; by Walter Galli
Yep, not only did Andy begin his movie career the same month as Batman, he was also advertised in Batman's debut! Can't say that for the other way around!


house ad from Detective Comics #27 (DC, May 1939)
Devine continued his comic book streak with an appearance in the next issue of Movie Comics, altho' for a film that's not quite as well-remembered today.




from "Spirit of Culver" in Movie Comics #3 (DC, June 1939), film stills airbrushed and retouched by Jack Adler and Emery Gondor
Stardom was on the way! It was only a matter of time before Andy starred in his own comic...eleven years later.

Eleven years and one month later, it was cancelled.


cover of Andy Devine [Western] #1 (Fawcett, December 1950)
With his crackly, squeaky voice and hefty physique, he was never the leading man, but always a solid character actor backing up the protagonist as comic relief, co-starring as Deputy Jingles in television's The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok alongside Guy Madison.



The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok "Masked Riders," season 2, episode 7 (November 25, 1961), written by Thomas W. Blackburn and Todhunter Ballard, directed by Frank McDonald

His character even got his own cover credit on the comic book tie-in!


One of my favorite aspects of the eight-season-long Hickok show was that altho' Andy as Jingles played comedy relief, he was always portrayed as a competent and believable capable lawman.





from "The Benefactor" in Wild Bill Hickok and Jingles #72 (Charlton, May 1959), script by Joe Gill (?), pencils by Charles Nicholas, inks by Sal Trapani
Didja know he was the voice of Friar Tuck in Disney's Robin Hood? Now you do!


cover of The Adventures of Robin Hood #5 (Western/Gold Key, September 1974), pencils and inks by Sparky Moore
Let's leave Andy with certainly his weirdest portrayal in comic book. Hey, at least he's smilin' through it all! Always look on the bright side of life, that's his motto!


from "The Greatest Story Ever" in Twist #2 (Kitchen Sink, May 1988), by Drew Friedman
Happy birthday, Andy!