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The rapidly multiplying shmoos were introduced as the ultimate food-source According to shmoo legend, the lovable critters laid eggs, gave milk and died of sheer ecstasy whenever anyone looked at 'em with hunger in their eyes. The shmoo lived to be eaten and tasted like whatever food was desired. Fried, shmoo tasted like chicken; broiled, shmoo tasted like steak! (I don't know what shmoo tasted like to a vegetarian!) shmoo eyes made excellent suspender buttons and their whiskers made handy toothpicks. Their hide was useful as well; sliced thin, it was better than leather; sliced thick, it could be used like lumber!

I don't know how, but the fact that the shmoos obviously resembled ambulatory, anthropomorphic male genitalia somehow escaped general public notice during the witch-hunting late 40's/early 50's! Although Capp's cartoonist rival, Ham (JOE PALOOKA) Fisher once tried to "frame" Capp with a presentation of phony "examples" of pornographic images in LI'L ABNER; unfortunately, the National Cartoonists' Society revealed Fisher's fraud, which ultimately contributed to the disgraced Fisher's suicide! (Cartoonists is the cwaziest peoples!) At their fad's height, shmoos not only received their very own funnybook, they were also merchandised in the form of everything from household items to jewelry to fishing lures! Not bad for cute li'l walking willies, eh?

This issue's lead feature stars Super shmoo (who wears a costume SO similar to that of Superman that I'm surprised that Capp didn't receive a visit from DC's lawyers!) It also features a story, titled "Washable Jones, the shmoos an' the Terrible Termites", drawn by Marty Taras, the co-creator of the animated cartoon character Baby Huey. This story features a nice touch for a kid's comic: the termite's dialog is lettered backwards, and can only be read as noted in this caption:

This comic also features a one-page gag strip, "Sheriff O'Shay", written and drawn by Mell Lazarus, who went on to create the successful comic strips MISS PEACH and MOMMA. (It even features a funny self-portrait of Mell!) Even more surprising, there's a text feature, "Philo and the Flying 'Carpet" that's illustrated by Mell in a semi-realistic style that's completely different from the "big-foot"(and big head and big nose, etc.) approach that's commonly associated with the cartoonist.

Finally, check out the advertisement for "amazing life-like rubber masks" on the back cover of this comic. There's something more than a little disturbing about the sight of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck sharing ad space with Satan, a "minstrel" and an "idiot"! (Sounds like an "edgy" new animated TV cartoon show to me…are you listening, all you evil Disney Company execs?)

ODDBALL Factoid - Cartoonist Mark Crilley was recently contacted by the current copyright holders of LI'L ABNER, who asked him to change the name of his independent comic book series AKIKO ON THE PLANET SMOO to the shorter (and less similarly-titled) AKIKO.

Bonus ODDBALL Factoid - Cartoonist Mell Lazarus' hilarious novel THE BOSS IS CRAZY, TOO! is based on his experiences in the comic book business at Toby Press! It's long out of print, but well worth seeking out. If you like Oddball Comics, you'll love mellow Mell's book!

SPECIAL THANKS to my pal marvelous Mark Evanier, shmoo-ologist extraordinaire, for his help on today's ODDBALL COMICS entry!

For more from Scott Shaw!, visit his Web site at http://www.shawcartoons.com/.

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