Today in Comics History, October 5: Happy birthday, Ray Kroc!

Born on this day in 1902: businessman Ray Kroc (pictured), who revolutionized the American Way of Business: buying a pre-existing company and taking all the credit for it!


cover of Ray Kroc Comics and Stories #3 (Charlton, January 1971), art by Bill Yates
Happy birthday, Ray!

Not pictured: Mac Tonight #1

You know, I'm fully aware that this character is a shill for horrible, terrible food, but Ronald McDonald's 1971 Charlton comic is actually kind of cute.


Cover of Ronald McDonald #3 (Charlton Comics, January 1971), pencils and inks by Bill Yates
It's a Ronald who's off-model from the usual advertising icon, and they've put him in whatever town it is that the Peanuts Kids live in!


Panel from Ronald McDonald #3 (Charlton Comics, January 1971), pencils and inks by Bill Yates
It's extremely suitable for young kids, as it features no burger evangelism (Ronald's daytime job is never even mentioned in the comic stories) and some extremely gentle humor for the young 'uns.


And: a guest appearance from Dennis Mitchell!


It also features Ronald's haunting dramatization of the tragic ballad The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald!


Yes, the rather cute and innocuous Ronald McDonald comic book. It's actually very charming from front to back cover and


Back cover pin-up from Ronald McDonald #3

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