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Tom & Jerry Comics, #176

Published: March 1959

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Issue Contents:
(Below the) Table Tennis
Storyline

To best accommodate their size, Jerry and Tuffy have moved a table tennis net to floor level.

Credits
An Early Bird Frets the Worm

"Fuzzy, it's been a long time between snacks!"

Storyline

Fuzzy and Wuzzy try to aid and dissuade a persistent baby bluebird who continually "bites off more than he can chew" in his dogged pursuit of an extraordinarily long earthworm.

Credits
My Kingdom for Some Youth!

"If I can perfect my elixir of youth, His Majesty has promised me his kingdom!"

Storyline

M'sieur Poosycat develops a phony elixir of youth for the old age-fearing king in order to be granted the kingdom in exchange. The appearance of a lost baby mouse that looks like Musketeer Jeree' (Jerry) plays right into the villainous Poosycat's plans when he convinces the king that his trusted musketeer has consumed the elixir and reverted to a baby. Will the Mouse Musketeers find a way to keep their overanxious king from trading his kingdom for a bottle of a useless, foul-tasting concoction?

Credits
A New (Rip Van) Wrinkle

"Say, stranger...don't you ever knock before you enter a person's house?"

Storyline

Bombastic old prospector Rip Prairie Dog shows up at Wuff and Sammy's longtime hole-in-the-ground-home, claiming that it was his home - and that he had only left it one day ago.

Credits
How to Stop a Purring Puss

"I've been far from contented lately!"

Storyline

A depressed Tom eats some cat food that makes the following promise: "Put a Purr in Pussy. Have a Contented Cat!". This miracle food puts him into a contented stupor, characterized by lots of loud purring. Jerry and Tuffy, who are being driven crazy by the incessant purring, find ways to silence it by changing Tom's mood. Tom counters by scarfing down more of the cat food and resumes purring all the more. To purr, or not to purr, becomes the question as Tom undergoes rapid fire mood swings.

Credits
Story Notes

If, during their days at MGM's animation studio, Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera had lent Tom and Jerry to Tex Avery, this is what might result. The introduction of an "outside agent" rapidly affecting a character (or characters) in counteracting ways is reminiscent of Avery's animated masterpiece "King Size Canary" (1947) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039535/ but with mood swings taking the place of physical growth.

Something to Crow About

""Chirp, twitter, peep, peep!" Bertie Bird sang one bright morning from a branch outside his nest in Apple Tree Lane."

Storyline

Bully Sassy Starling takes over Bertie's home, which he regains with the help of Blackie the Crow.

Credits
Who Watches the Watchdogs?

"Hmm...those mutts don't look like watchdogs to me!"

Storyline

In order to test Spike and Tyke as watchdogs, their master dresses as a pie-stealing hobo.

Credits
Imagine "Touring" France for only 10¢

"You marvel at the Arch of Triumph. This monument marks an Unknown Soldier's grave."

Story Notes

Ad for American Geographical Society's Around the World Program, offering "a set of full-color photographs and an informative illustrated guidebook album with spaces for mounting the prints" - beginning with France and highlighting a different country every month. A free "full-color wall map of the world" is included with this introductory offer. Color ad on back cover.

Get These Prizes at No Cost to You!

"Or cash profits"

Story Notes

Ad for Junior Sales Club of America, offering prizes or money for the sales of "lovely all occasion cards". Color ad on inside back cover.

Mystify Your Friends with the Dell Comics Magic Window Set!

"Thousands of boys and girls have already amazed their friends with the Magic Window Set."

Credits
Story Notes

Offer to subscribe to Tom and Jerry and many other Dell Comics titles at the regular rate of $1.20 for twelve issues, regardless of frequency (monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly) -- or save more by ordering any five titles for only $5 -- and receive a free Dell Comics Magic Window Set as a premium. Eighteen different Dell Comics titles of varying publication frequencies are eligible for this subscription offer. The ad describes the Dell Comics Magic Window Set thusly: "...guess ages... pull numbers out of people's heads like a real mind reader. Still, the Magic Window Set is simple enough for even the youngest person to use." The ad includes the "Dell Comics Pledge to Parents", and figures of Tom, Jerry, and Tuffy which may be penciled - but not inked - by Harvey Eisenberg. Inking possibly by Vic Lockman. On final interior page of the comic.

Kraft Candies. Good, Like All Kraft Foods

"Kraft Fudgies are the best candy you've ever tasted! Creamy and soft and wonderful to eat."

Story Notes

Ad for Kraft Fudgies chocolate and vanilla candy. Color ad on inside front cover.