Sugar & Spike #87 [1969]
1 page
Reprints: None
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mrs. Plumm, Mrs. Wilson
"It was my mommy who punched its nose!"
Dedicated to the work of legendary comic book creator Sheldon Mayer (1917-1994)
Friday, February 28, 2025
Sugar&Spike - One Good Deed
The Chronicles of Sheldon Mayer's Sugar & Spike
One Good Deed
Sugar & Spike #87 [1969]
1 page
Reprints: None
Cute little single page story about how the kids react to the doorbell. I like the logic of Sugar describing ringing the bell as punching the door in the face, and the action that results from that interpretation is both sensible and silly, and the proud expressions on their faces for thinking of it are adorable.
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mrs. Plumm, Mrs. Wilson
"It was my mommy who punched its nose!"
Sugar & Spike #87 [1969]
1 page
Reprints: None
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mrs. Plumm, Mrs. Wilson
"It was my mommy who punched its nose!"
Monday, February 24, 2025
Sugar&Spike - New Method
The Chronicles of Sheldon Mayer's Sugar & Spike
New Method
Sugar & Spike #11 [1957]
1 page
Reprints: None
Well, you know this isn't going to end well for Spike's dad, sleeping on the beach with his bare feet sticking out when his son finds a crab.
Nice quick little story, something to look forward to if the upcoming reprint is followed by a second volume.
And Spike's dad even brings his pipe to the beach...
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mr. Wilson
Damage: That toe's going to be sore for a while
"It's good for waking up sleeping daddies"
Sugar & Spike #11 [1957]
1 page
Reprints: None
Well, you know this isn't going to end well for Spike's dad, sleeping on the beach with his bare feet sticking out when his son finds a crab.
Nice quick little story, something to look forward to if the upcoming reprint is followed by a second volume.
And Spike's dad even brings his pipe to the beach...
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mr. Wilson
Damage: That toe's going to be sore for a while
"It's good for waking up sleeping daddies"
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Sugar&Spike - Busy Corners
The Chronicles of Sheldon Mayer's Sugar & Spike
Busy Corners
Sugar & Spike #1 [1956]
6 pages
Reprints: The Best of DC #47 [1984], Sugar & Spike No. 1 Replica Edition [2002], The Sugar And Spike Archives #1 [2011]
Dedication: None
One of my favourite Sugar & Spike stories is from the very first issue, this story that introduces Sugar's Uncle Charley, her mother's younger brother, a traffic cop who frequently visits to play with his niece, who adores him because "he's only grown up where it shows". Spike is initially jealous, but is quickly won over by Charley's charm.
This story sets the pattern for most of the future Uncle Charley stories, where his ideas of how to handle children infuriate Sugar's mother, then seem to work, and then ultimately backfire because for all his trying, the children don't really understand what he's saying, but love him anyway.
Among other things, this story has the first appearance of one of my favourite lines, one Mayer liked enough to use a few times over the years. "If people don't want their things busted, they shouldn't leave 'em lying around on the ceiling!"
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mrs. Plumm, Uncle Charley
Damage: one new chandelier and everything on the living room table
Punishment: Two trips into an increasingly crowded corner
"What's he talking about?"
"I don't know, but pay attention or you'll hurt his feelings!"
Sugar & Spike #1 [1956]
6 pages
Reprints: The Best of DC #47 [1984], Sugar & Spike No. 1 Replica Edition [2002], The Sugar And Spike Archives #1 [2011]
Dedication: None
One of my favourite Sugar & Spike stories is from the very first issue, this story that introduces Sugar's Uncle Charley, her mother's younger brother, a traffic cop who frequently visits to play with his niece, who adores him because "he's only grown up where it shows". Spike is initially jealous, but is quickly won over by Charley's charm.
This story sets the pattern for most of the future Uncle Charley stories, where his ideas of how to handle children infuriate Sugar's mother, then seem to work, and then ultimately backfire because for all his trying, the children don't really understand what he's saying, but love him anyway.
Among other things, this story has the first appearance of one of my favourite lines, one Mayer liked enough to use a few times over the years. "If people don't want their things busted, they shouldn't leave 'em lying around on the ceiling!"
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mrs. Plumm, Uncle Charley
Damage: one new chandelier and everything on the living room table
Punishment: Two trips into an increasingly crowded corner
"What's he talking about?"
"I don't know, but pay attention or you'll hurt his feelings!"
Monday, February 17, 2025
Sugar&Spike - The Fix-It Machine
The Chronicles of Sheldon Mayer's Sugar & Spike
The Fix-It Machine
Sugar & Spike #9 [1957]
6 pages
Reprints: The Sugar And Spike Archives #1 [2011]
Dedication: Linda Mayer, Washington DC
Hm, no idea if that dedication is related to Sheldon Mayer...
Anyway, Spike gets a new scooter, and plays with it by sitting on it upsidedown and rolling the wheels with his hands. Sugar realizes this is wrong, and correctly surmises that it's a "bump toy", which is exactly what it sounds like. The scooter doesn't last long under that abuse, which leads to Sugar teaching Spike about how to use his father as a fix-it-machine. Things escalate from there, to an entertaining finish.
Clever little story, especially the looks of pure joy as the kids think they're finally starting to learn about how the world works, contrasted with exactly how far off they are.
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Wilson
Damage: The scooter, multiple times and Spike's clothes
Sugar's treatment of Spike: Very rough, dragging him around, standing on him, although oddly the most damage is done when she's trying to keep him from hurting himself
"Are you sure you're playing with it right?"
Sugar & Spike #9 [1957]
6 pages
Reprints: The Sugar And Spike Archives #1 [2011]
Dedication: Linda Mayer, Washington DC
Hm, no idea if that dedication is related to Sheldon Mayer...
Anyway, Spike gets a new scooter, and plays with it by sitting on it upsidedown and rolling the wheels with his hands. Sugar realizes this is wrong, and correctly surmises that it's a "bump toy", which is exactly what it sounds like. The scooter doesn't last long under that abuse, which leads to Sugar teaching Spike about how to use his father as a fix-it-machine. Things escalate from there, to an entertaining finish.
Clever little story, especially the looks of pure joy as the kids think they're finally starting to learn about how the world works, contrasted with exactly how far off they are.
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Wilson
Damage: The scooter, multiple times and Spike's clothes
Sugar's treatment of Spike: Very rough, dragging him around, standing on him, although oddly the most damage is done when she's trying to keep him from hurting himself
"Are you sure you're playing with it right?"
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Sugar&Spike - The New Vase
The Chronicles of Sheldon Mayer's Sugar & Spike
The New Vase
Unpublished
1 page
Reprints: None
Most of the unpublished Sugar & Spike stories are those that Mayer drew in the 1980s. However, there are occasional bits like "The New Vase", a 1-page story that seems to date from fairly early in the run of the series (maybe 1960 or earlier), but which wasn't used for whatever reason. It's a cute enough gag, nothing special, notable for being one of only a handful of stories to only feature one of the kids. Pretty unusual, since a lot of the charm of the series is how the kids interact with each other.
I did want to point out the alphabet building blocks that Spike is playing with. They were a common prop in the stories, being a ubiquitous toddler toy and endlessly useful for comedy purposes. What I always like about them is how they frequently spelled out the common baby-talk words that Mayer used when presenting the speech untranslated, GLX, SPTZL, GLAAH and the rest. Nice touch, I thought.
Characters: Spike, Mrs. Wilson
The New Vase
Unpublished
1 page
Reprints: None
Most of the unpublished Sugar & Spike stories are those that Mayer drew in the 1980s. However, there are occasional bits like "The New Vase", a 1-page story that seems to date from fairly early in the run of the series (maybe 1960 or earlier), but which wasn't used for whatever reason. It's a cute enough gag, nothing special, notable for being one of only a handful of stories to only feature one of the kids. Pretty unusual, since a lot of the charm of the series is how the kids interact with each other.
I did want to point out the alphabet building blocks that Spike is playing with. They were a common prop in the stories, being a ubiquitous toddler toy and endlessly useful for comedy purposes. What I always like about them is how they frequently spelled out the common baby-talk words that Mayer used when presenting the speech untranslated, GLX, SPTZL, GLAAH and the rest. Nice touch, I thought.
Characters: Spike, Mrs. Wilson
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Sugar&Spike - Cats? Meowch!
The Chronicles of Sheldon Mayer's Sugar & Spike
Cats? Meowch!
Sugar & Spike #6 [1957]
1 page
Reprints: The Sugar And Spike Archives #1 [2011]
Spike's dad comes home to find the kids sitting in the corner, apparently for finger-painting. He can't understand that, until he finds out what they were painting with, and the feline invasion that resulted.
A very cute example of the singe page stories that Mayer excelled in. The cats in this one are especially adorable.
A few issues later in the letter column there was a note from a reader who didn't quite understand the punchline to this story. Oddly I read the issue with the letter long before I read this issue, so I was wondering what the letter-writer meant. It's unfortunate that the upcoming reprint probably won't include letter columns, as they're a delight.
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Wilson, dozens of cats
Damage: The walls can be cleaned, I guess. That furniture might never be the same
Punishment: In the corner, twice
"I wish they'd make up their minds!"
Sugar & Spike #6 [1957]
1 page
Reprints: The Sugar And Spike Archives #1 [2011]
Spike's dad comes home to find the kids sitting in the corner, apparently for finger-painting. He can't understand that, until he finds out what they were painting with, and the feline invasion that resulted.
A very cute example of the singe page stories that Mayer excelled in. The cats in this one are especially adorable.
A few issues later in the letter column there was a note from a reader who didn't quite understand the punchline to this story. Oddly I read the issue with the letter long before I read this issue, so I was wondering what the letter-writer meant. It's unfortunate that the upcoming reprint probably won't include letter columns, as they're a delight.
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Wilson, dozens of cats
Damage: The walls can be cleaned, I guess. That furniture might never be the same
Punishment: In the corner, twice
"I wish they'd make up their minds!"
Sunday, February 9, 2025
Sugar&Spike - Photo Finish
The Chronicles of Sheldon Mayer's Sugar & Spike
Photo Finish
Sugar & Spike #2 [1956]
6 pages
Reprints: Sugar & Spike #96 [1971], The Best of DC #47 [1984], The Sugar And Spike Archives #1 [2011]
[originally posted in 2011]
Yes, that's right, the long-awaited reprint of Sheldon Mayer's classic should be in comic stores today, and no doubt shipping from other sources soon after. If requesting it from a comic store that doesn't have it in stock, tell them to use order code JAN110334, use ISBN-10 1401231128 or ISBN-13 978-1401231125 for other sources.
Among many highlights of the book will be this story from the second issue, where Sugar's mother hires a photographer to get a decent photograph of her alone and not crying. You see, a traumatic early incident with a joke camera has left Sugar with a fear of cameras, which is only abated by the presence of Spike making funny faces. Spike hears the fuss and comes to Sugar's rescue, and various misunderstandings occur until the photographer finally manages to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
A great little story, one of the best of the over 400 Sugar & Spike stories Mayer wrote and drew (and may we one day have a whole shelf with books collecting every single one of them). Mayer was especially on his game with the body language in this story, in that page above I especially like Sugar lecturing the photographer for daring to pull a camera on her, her affection towards the photos of Spike and her excitement at him coming to the rescue.
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mrs. Plumm, A. Shutter, cousin Alvin (flashback)
Damage: various photography equipment, Mr. Shutter's nerves
Sugar's treatment of Spike: Extremely affectionate, for once
Sugar & Spike #2 [1956]
6 pages
Reprints: Sugar & Spike #96 [1971], The Best of DC #47 [1984], The Sugar And Spike Archives #1 [2011]
[originally posted in 2011]
Yes, that's right, the long-awaited reprint of Sheldon Mayer's classic should be in comic stores today, and no doubt shipping from other sources soon after. If requesting it from a comic store that doesn't have it in stock, tell them to use order code JAN110334, use ISBN-10 1401231128 or ISBN-13 978-1401231125 for other sources.
Among many highlights of the book will be this story from the second issue, where Sugar's mother hires a photographer to get a decent photograph of her alone and not crying. You see, a traumatic early incident with a joke camera has left Sugar with a fear of cameras, which is only abated by the presence of Spike making funny faces. Spike hears the fuss and comes to Sugar's rescue, and various misunderstandings occur until the photographer finally manages to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
A great little story, one of the best of the over 400 Sugar & Spike stories Mayer wrote and drew (and may we one day have a whole shelf with books collecting every single one of them). Mayer was especially on his game with the body language in this story, in that page above I especially like Sugar lecturing the photographer for daring to pull a camera on her, her affection towards the photos of Spike and her excitement at him coming to the rescue.
Characters: Sugar, Spike, Mrs. Plumm, A. Shutter, cousin Alvin (flashback)
Damage: various photography equipment, Mr. Shutter's nerves
Sugar's treatment of Spike: Extremely affectionate, for once
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