Harvey Hits #3
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeHarvey Hits #3 (November 1957) holds the distinction of being the first comic book devoted entirely to Richie Rich — the character Harvey Comics would eventually build its entire publishing empire around. Richie had spent four years as a backup feature in other Harvey titles since debuting in Little Dot #1 (1953), and this issue was the pivotal proof-of-concept that he could carry a book on his own, nearly three years before his self-titled series launched in 1960. The issue also appeared as part of the Harvey Hits anthology tryout series, which functioned as Harvey's equivalent of DC's Showcase — a deliberate testing ground for characters not yet given their own magazine. That Richie Rich went on to headline over fifty separate titles, a Saturday-morning cartoon, and a major motion picture makes this slim 1957 issue a foundational document in the history of American humor comics.
In "A Fool of Water," Richie, Freckles, and Peewee are having a splashy good time in Richie’s pool until Reggie shows up uninvited—complete with mischief in tow. His pranks quickly turn the fun into chaos, but when Richie finally outsmarts him with a clever trap, the tables turn in a classic prankster’s comeuppance.
In "A Thief's Grief," young Riche finds himself unexpectedly in charge when the family guard falls ill and his parents are out—left to stall a real-life robber until help arrives, all while trying to keep his cool and his friend safe. The story captures a moment of quiet courage in a lighthearted, kid-sized adventure.
In "Something Fishy," Richie looks forward to a peaceful day fishing with his pals—until Reggie shows up, as always, turning the outing into a series of crummy pranks. When Reggie’s antics go too far, Richie finally finds a way to turn the tables, leaving the prankster reeling.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Harvey Hits launched in September 1957 as an anthology tryout series, running 122 issues through November 1967. Its third issue arrived just two months in, spotlighting Richie Rich, who had been created by publisher Alfred Harvey alongside artists Warren Kremer and/or Steve Muffatti and had been appearing as a backup feature since Little Dot #1 in 1953. The creative credit for Richie's conception is disputed — Warren Kremer and editor Sid Jacobson both claimed a hand in the character's creation, with some sources suggesting Kremer named the character after his own son — though the Grand Comics Database credits the character's creation to Al Harvey. The issue was published under the Harvey Hits Inc. indicia and cover-dated November 1957.
Trivia · 7 facts
- First comic book to feature Richie Rich as the primary, cover-headlining character — predating his flagship solo series (Richie Rich #1) by approximately three years (1960).
- Richie Rich was originally created by Alfred Harvey, with artist Warren Kremer and/or Steve Muffatti, debuting as a backup in Little Dot #1 (September 1953).
- Harvey Hits was Harvey Comics' anthology tryout series, analogous to DC's Showcase, running 122 issues from September 1957 to November 1967.
- The issue's stories feature Richie Rich alongside recurring cast members Freckles Friendly, Peewee Friendly, and antagonist-cousin Reggie Van Dough — whose prank-playing antics serve as the central dramatic tension across multiple stories.
- Little Lotta (referred to simply as 'Lotta') also appears in this issue, illustrating how Harvey used Harvey Hits to group and showcase its stable of characters together.
- One story features Richie, left alone when the household guard is sick and his parents are out, outwitting a robber while a friend summons the police — a typical formula of the character using wealth and cleverness rather than physical force.
- Richie Rich would ultimately become Harvey's most popular character during the publisher's heyday (1950–1982), eventually starring in over fifty separate titles.
Reprints
↩ Reprints Little Dot #7 (1954), Little Dot #8 (1954), Little Dot #11 (1955)
Reprinted in Weather Bird Comics #[3] (1957), Mutt & Jeff Jokes #2 (1960), Little Dot #64 (1961), The Friendly Ghost, Casper #33 (1961), Blondie #149 (1961), Little Dot's Uncles & Aunts #15 (1965), Casper & Nightmare #27 (1970)
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