Mik - Ferd'nand

Danish-american artist Mik alias Henning Dahl Mikkelsen (1915-1982) was the creator behind the worl'ds longest living pantomine strip, Ferd'nand. United Feature Syndicate, which distributes the series, claims it's one of the ten longest-running comics extant. What's more, tho syndicate materials don't mention the fact, since not a word has ever been spoken in the strip since it began, it's quite likely the longest-running pantomime in history. The strip started in 1937, distributed by Copenhagen's Presse-Illustrations-Bureau. It was created by Henning Dahl Mikkelsen, who had worked in animation before becoming a newspaper cartoonist. Lacking language barriers, it quickly became a hit all over Europe, and made "Mik" (as Mikkelsen called himself in signing Ferd'nand) an international celebrity. Mik brought his strip to America on November 10, 1947, when United Feature (whose other comics include Gordo, The Captain & the Kids and Li'l Abner) picked it up. The cartoonist himself moved to California shortly afterward. United Feature claims Mik continued to draw the strip until his death in 1982. However, it's widely known that he used ghosts at least as early as the 1950s. Frank Thomas, whose comic book credits include a minor Dell Comics character called The Owl and an even more minor Centaur Publications character called The Eye, handled it from 1955 until the mid-1960s. Al Plastino, whose varied credits include Superman, Nancy and Terry & the Pirates, ghosted it from 1968 until 1989, signing it "Al + Mik" after Mik's death. Garé Barks, wife of Uncle Scrooge creator Carl Barks, contributed gags. The current artist is Henrik Rehr, author of more than a dozen graphic novels published in Europe. This selection of strips are undated - but almost certainly are from the early 1940's. They were recently discovered in the PIB archives in Copenhagen. The quality is amazing, and so is the price! Golden Age strips priced to sell.

There are 18 Pieces of Art In This Gallery.    

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There are 18 Pieces of Art In This Gallery.    

Switch View to Alphabetically by Title