Funnyman comic books issue 1

Stories by Jerry Siegel, plus a text story by Ray Krank and Gardner Fox. Art by Joe Shuster, Marvin Stein and Dick Ayers. Cover by Marvin Stein. Famous as the "other" superhero created by Siegel and Shuster, who started the whole phenomenon with Superman. TV comedian Larry Davis uses vaudeville-style shenanigans to fight bad guys. When a superhero-style publicity stunt results in the capture of actual criminals, Larry decides to use his comedy as a force for good, and becomes Funnyman. Funnyman's rivals Comicman and Laffman try to outdo Funnyman and catch Flathead Floogie after he escapes police custody at Grand Central Station. Funnyman and a jewel thief race to capture a runaway robot kangaroo with a fortune in its pouch. Featuring some of the first published work by future Marvel legend Dick Ayers. Jerks in the Works; Funnyman; The Teen-Age Terrors!; Funnyman, Comicman, and Laffman; The Truant Toy. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

1st printing. Collects stories from Funnyman (1947) #0-6 and newspaper strips.

Edited by Thomas Andrae and Mel Gordon. Written by Jerry Siegel. Art and cover by Joe Shuster.

Here is a kaleidoscopic analysis of Jewish humor as seen through Funnyman, a little-known super-heroic invention by the creators of Superman, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Following the completion of their 10-year-long contract with DC writing and drawing their first creation, Superman, Siegel and Shuster were determined to create a new superhero; one that would prove that justice, fair-play, and zany craftsmanship were the true "American way", and would lead to their ultimate victory. This book tells the back-story of the unsuccessful strip and Siegel and Shuster's ambition to have their funny Jewish superhero trump the Man of Steel.

Included are complete comic-book stories and daily and Sunday newspaper panels from this lost classic.

Softcover, 240 pages, PC/PB&W.

Cover price $24.95.