TITLE: Wacky Duck Issue #1
YEAR: 1958
COMPANY: I.W. Enterprises
In the late ’50s, Israel Waldman, owner of I.W. Enterprises created a comic book publishing company known as I.W. Publications. While later known as Super Comics and then later as Skywald Publications, back in the ’50s, I.W. Enterprises were known for unauthorized reprints of Quality Comics issues.
A comic book publishing company known for creating comics during the Golden Age of comic books, the comics were known for the logo “Quality Comic Group” and printed a plethora of popular comics during the 1930s through the mid-1950s.
In 1945-1946, publisher Timely would create a series called “Dopey Duck” for two issues and then changed the name to “Wacky Duck” for four issues from 1946-1947. Until Atlas would go on to change the series to “Justice” (and later as “Tales of Justice”) and focused on crime-themed adventures. And Atlas would eventually become known as Marvel Comics.
But reading “Wacky Duck” issue #1, I was surprised to see no credit given to the artist or writer of the stories.
For the first issue of “Wacky Duck”, there is no mention of the artists, writer, etc.
The first story features Wacky Duck wanting to give flowers to Lulu. But as he is about to give her flowers, another bird comes up and asks her first and literally kicks Wacky Duck to the curb. How will Wacky Duck get his revenge?
The next story features Wacky Duck trying to try his hand on painting but each time he tries to paint, something bad happens.
Included is a text based story titled “Silly’s Dilemma” and also a story titled “Waldo Wolf” featuring Waldo trying to find out how to hunt lions.
Another Wacky Duck story features him trying to go fishing but the fishes have the upperhand.
The comic ends with a “Little Lionel” storyline about a dog being pestered by a bee.
Overall, “Wacky Duck” is an entertaining story that precedes Marvel Comics “Howard the Duck”. And as Howard the Duck can have a rude and sassy behavior, as does Wacky Duck.
But if anything, it’s interesting to read this comic and seeing no attribution whatsoever. The only thing with an artist’s name is on the cover and a person named Grenet.
The book is interesting as it is my first I.W. Enterprises comic book that I got cheap long ago because it was not in the greatest condition but considering its age and it was a 10 cent comic book back in the day, I was interested to see how talking animal comic books were back then. I never knew it was a reprint nor was I familiar with I.W. Enterprises until today.
But overall, it makes me curious to see what other I.W. Enterprises titles are available.