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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera There is a wide range of characters that have adorned bop bags (and knock-offs). Even Pixie and Dixie! There have ones from Bluey to Richard Nixon, from Godzilla to Spiderman to Muhammad Ali, Scooby Doo to aliens from V to TMNT to Barney, Star Trek to Superheroes.

Pixie and Dixie bop bags or Punchos. Notice they are only 18" high, much smaller than normal bop bags - but they are nice after all.

Godzilla! Save Tokyo with your 1-2 combination

Seriously - Richard Nixon bop bag gives one ideas

Yes, its all Four of the Fantastic Four - basically just an image on the vinyl bowling pin. It would be better just to be Ben. And Spock! It may not be logical to have Spock on a bop bag, but it is fun.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera Don't think of these as kids beating up Huckleberry Hound. Its just play. Batman seems to have been a very popular choice. I believe some were made by Wham-O, which I find funny.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera One thing to keep in mind with Bop Bags is the popularity of boxing at the time. Seeing a boxer like Sugar Ray Robinson on the speed bag made punching bags culturally well-known. These also were energetic toys, and could be deflated and put away pretty easily too.

Hey hey hey, its a Yogi Bear bop bag, if I do say. Made from non-toxic vinyl, but I would rather eat what you got in the picnic basket.

Scene from Prize Fight Fright, I believe. A boxer vs Yogi Bear. What a strange place to find a hungry bear.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera Hanna Barbera characters were featured in a standard children's toy of the 1960s and 1970s - the bop bag. The weighted punching bag is most associated with Bozo the Clown, but soon included other characters - notably Yogi Bear.

An ad for a variety of bop bags, called Punch Me's here. Yogi, Bamm-Bamm, Fred Flintstone (and Pebbles???), Bullwinkle Moose, Bozo the Clown, New Look Batman, Frosty the Snowman and look - just a generic red-haired boy because beating up gingers is fun, right /s

Yes its Bozo! That fun loving clown who hosts all your favorite Popeye cartoons. Why not give this jolly fellow a good left jab, followed by a hook, then go for the KO to his bright red nose. What's this? Bozo won't stay down? Hit him again!

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

When you think of the original X-Men vs Iron Man, its clear Cyclops, Marvel Girl and Ice Man could make a good contest. Beast (and this may be part of his mutation) is a tech genius beyond his physicality. Angel though? My pet theory is Warren finances the X-men, and so had to be a member.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Things Iron Man Never Talks About

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Post an album you have listened to 100 times

I would put this on in the converted patio room I used to play computer games. This would be my soundtrack

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Show me a picture that captures your essence

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

You are right: 13 Ghosts, Drak Pack. The classic monsters were still there in the 1980s, but it felt pretty worn and lazy. Contrast it to Filmation's Groovy Ghoulies from the early 1970s. A really cheap cartoon, but the one thing it had going for it was zest and energy.

check out this Dracula from Filmation's Groovy Ghoulie's from 1970. Cheap as dirt cartoon, and re-uses music and footage so much its hard to stomach, but at least the character designs were novel and fun.

1983 Who's Minding the Monster episode of the New Scooby and Scrappy Doo show. One of the episodes where the monsters are actually real. Still, everything is normal and exactly how you expect a child-friendly Saturday morning Dracula (who runs a costume shop) to be.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera: Caveat Department An artist can draw in many styles, and this is all just early stuff. I really wonder if this pitch ever happened at all - or the pitch happened but without artwork that *someone* created later (or found art and said it was for the pitch). Detectives Assemble!

This seems like a mystery! C'mon gang, let's split up and look for clues. Did the Blackstones pitch ever really happen? Is this art really concept art for it? Was the art done by Takamoto? Just who is The Ghost of Jefferson Towers?

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera: Caveat Department I am really hesitant about this art. I can cite CBR as saying this is actual concept art by Takamoto. Does that look like Takamoto to you? Does it look like Flintstones? Even Mom being so fair-skinned seems pretty edgy for a 1977 HB cartoon for the US.

What is given as concept art for the Blackstones by Takamoto

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera The Blackstones are so ephemeral I wasn't sure a pitch had ever happened. The idea of adding neighbors to the Flintstones had been used with the Gruesomes, and reused in 1980 with the Frankenstones in a 30 minute special. Building up Bedrock is not a bad idea

Philo Quartz's dad from The Flintstone Kids

Art for 1980s the Flintstones new neighbors with Fred and Wilma meeting the Frankenstones. Why not the Gruesomes? That's another story.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera "the Blackstones" is not a great title, but the idea was abandoned so early it was just a working 'high concept' title. Also, this would have been incorporated with the Flintstones - they would have also lived in Bedrock, not their own universe, like Philo (1986) would later be

yet a third style of concept art. this is all over the place, and perhaps my least favorite as it screams I watched Good Times and had an idea. the Armadillo is a nice touch though

Philo Quartz would be the first notable black character in the Flintstones. Introducing in 1986 as part of the prequel the Flintstone Kids. He is smart and inventive (gotta have a brainy character).

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera The pitch failed, and there is very little evidence of it except some very different styles of concept art by Iwao Takamoto. While Good Times may be an inspiration, don't forget What's Happening!! which focuses less on one family and more on a group of teenagers.

More concept art for the Blackstones which seems quite different from the others. this one made me think more of What's Happening!! than Good Times. Her style and hair have that more outlandish vibe. No, I don't know what's going on with her mouth.

Some of the cast of What's Happening!!. This show wasn't about a family, and mama is never around (she's working). Instead the group are more of a group of friends who have misadventures. That's less Flintstones maybe, but I think lends itself more to cartoons than Good Times, which was fairly serious

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera Circa 1977, HB pitched the idea of The Flintstones getting new neighbors - who were black. At the time, Good Times, the Jeffersons, and Sanford & Son were successful shows with Nielson ratings of at least 20 (or 20% of all homes were watching them!) Enter: The Blackstones

Concept art for the Blackstones by Iwao Takamoto

1976 cast for Good Times about a working class Black family struggling financially and to keep themselves together in a world that seemed full of struggles. A very different vibe than say, The Brady Bunch

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

There is this catch-22 in comics where if the heroine is pretty its male gaze, and if the hero is hunky its male power fantasy. To that I say, this Tarzan is rockin' the sex appeal. To sully that physique with that 'Lord of the Jungle' title right there is really a boner.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

The 1957 Disney version makes some changes. Don Diego remains a bachelor. The foil is Capitan Monasterio, then Magistrado Carlos Galindo, and "the Eagle" over the 1st season, and other minor antagonists in the 2nd. Look for Annette Funicello and Cesar Romero as guest stars

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Adapted from the Curse of Capistrano (1919), there is a final showdown where Zorro gets Captain Ramon to sign a confession, and then kills him in an epic duel. The governor arrives, and corners Zorro - and is revealed as Don Diego! It all ends well. Except for Captain Ramon, I suppose.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Captain Ramon wants to marry Lolita Lolita's parents want her to marry Don Diego Zorro (Don Diego) wants to fight the Governor Lolita's parents support the Governor Lolita wants Zorro Zorro protects Lolita from Ramon Ramon gets the Governor to jail Lolita and her parents Zorro stages a jailbreak

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Dell Four Color 228 (1949) the Mark of Zorro Cover by Bill Ely. According to GCD, some copies were used as free premiums with subscription to Dell's Lone Ranger comic.

Two men duel with swords. One man has a hat. I think we're rooting for the guy without the hat.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

I'm just going to say that calling a flying superhero "Nova" would not have happened in Mexico.

1st issue of Nova showing a guy in a golden helmet flying - so he is going, and going fast. he is not 'not going'.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Hope you're having an awesome day

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

DC Bombshells has some wonderful art, and I'm glad our friendly neighborhood Bluesky moderation app has not decided to slap a content warning label on it.

Hawkgirl - Keep 'em Flying. She is working on her jet pack.

Its Arthur. its Mera. Its a girl and her seaman.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera Whoops! There are 5 curiously well-drawn spectators in Dripper. There was a 'Name the Baby' contest, and a "Guess the Baby Weight" contest - both in 1963 - and several contests in episodes like a beauty contest, but AFAIK, never a 'be drawn in an episode' contest.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera Of note is this scene of watching Dripper perform. Most of the stands are empty but these four. The 6th season is generally weak, but after leaving prime time the show found new life right away on NBC on Saturday mornings. Also, A Man Called Flintstone released in 1966 too.

Our Family outing - but with 4 others behind them that look like they are drawn to resemble real people

who are the four behind the Rubbles and the Flintstones?

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera Dripper takes a shine to Barney and sneaks home with him. The crooks nab Barney, Fred is arrested ... well, in the end Mrs Big ends up being Dripper's trainer in disguise. He was annoyed at taking all the abuse and getting none if the applause.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera The plot is a day at an aquarium. It is sprinkled with adult-oriented content - a traffic jam, a loan shark, a sexy mermaid. Two crooks - Blinky and Muscles - have been paid to steal Dripper and deliver him to Mrs Big. That plan goes sideways.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera Flintstones S6 ep24 is 'Dripper' (a play on Flipper). From 1966, it is near the end of the show, written by Barry Blitzer who wrote a number of episodes. It caught my eye as MeTV skipped airing it in rotation, but I don't think it was intentional.

Blinky, a crook with big glasses and poor vision, is the comic relief crook in the plan to nap Drippy

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Silver Agery And no, don't you dare hyphenate it. Inxey on the Yphenhey

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Is this the first comic book cover where the image interacts with the trade dress / title of the book?

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

The Secret Origin of Cobra Commander

Crew member from Disney's The Black Hole

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera Milton Bradley's The Jetsons Fun Pad game (1963) is based on the episodes "A Date with Jet Screamer". It is a balancing game where players try to place cars on the pads, according to the dial, and not have them slip off.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

The Jetsons got a comic series from Warner / DC in 2017. Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and art by Pier Brito, it only ran 6 issues. George works for Spacely Sprockets, but Jane is now a scientist. I know the Blondie inspiration, but poor George looks dumpy while Jane looks like pretty fine.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

America wasn't in a great spot in the 1976 Bicentennial either, but we celebrated. Flag themed stuff was popular even if things like crime and poverty were on tv daily. We really weren't even delving into Vietnam much yet as it was still too fresh. The Bicentennial, to a kid anyway, seemed hopeful

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Happy Pride Month Kevin Keller first appears in 2010 and becomes part of the Riverdale gang in Archie comics. Created by Dan Parent.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Can't afford a vacation this Summer? Come to RECALL and we can remember it for you? Want to have a Martian adventure? Save the day? Get the Girl? We can give the memories of doing just that RECALL - for the memory of a lifetime

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera The episode aired September 1979. Kifs of the day would see the main villain as referencing real-life antagonist Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran. For some reason we also get a skeleton pirate with a laser sword.

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Jeffs Comics @jeffscomics.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Daily Hanna Barbera Rub Three Times for Disaster sounds innuendo, but its actually the Season 4 opener of Superfriends. Riffing off The Arabian Nights, Superman squares off against Not-Shazzan Evil Genie, Wonder Woman dances like Salome, and Aquaman blunders.