Sugar and Spike in First Kiss by Sheldon Mayer

I have no idea as to whether or not this drawing was used as-is or was a preliminary for a published piece or was an idea that was never published.

However, I have recently learned that the concept was used in a 1-pg story used:

• Originally in Sugar and Spike #92 and called "Romance ... Half-Pint Style."


• As the inside back cover of The Best of DC, Vol 4, Issue 29.

I've included both in the Additional Images.

More recently, I was sent a scan of one of Sheldon’s newspaper strip tryouts that had the same idea. This were created in two batches in the sixties so this might be the e first use of the idea.

It's a sweet image even if I will never know which came first or how it was meant to be used.

It needs cleaning so I'll be sending it out for conservation - which might cost more than the art did!

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I did get it conserved by Alexandra vonHawk. It was more than the art and worth it to me. The staining was urine, there were footprints on it, cellophane tape, mold/mildew, and, of course, glue stains. She hinged the speech bubbles so we can see the original dialog. Highly recommended.