Denys Wortman - Metropolitan Movies - Mopey Dick and the Duke - 1952

Mopey Dick and the Duke were Denys Wortman's most recognizable characters, appearing in Wortman's Metropolitan Movies panel for over 20 years. Mopey and Duke represented the everyman, especially during the Depression, when they lived in Hoover Camps, scrounged for food, and generally lived their lives during some of this country's most difficult times.

This particular example of Metropolitan Movies is from later in the run, appearing on June 23, 1952, but still features Wortman's fine line work, combined with litho crayon shading. Content-wise, it's classic Wortman, as Mopey states, "I don't what I'm going to give you for dinner, Duke, but if I had potatoes it would be fishcakes." You'll note that the newspaper headline refers to a potato shortage, so Mopey is not even able to substitute a potato for the faux fish cakes. Great stuff.