Richie Rich #3
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeRichie Rich #3 (March 1961) is one of the earliest issues of what became Harvey Comics' flagship title, arriving just months after the character earned his own series in 1960 — a promotion that followed seven years as a backup feature in Little Dot. The issue introduces Cousin Skinner, Richie's penny-pinching relative whose scheming gags establish the recurring 'foil cousin' archetype that would recur across the franchise for decades. As part of the series' formative run, issues like this one helped solidify the anthology format — mixing Richie Rich stories with Little Lotta and Little Dot backup strips — that defined Harvey's children's-comics model throughout the Silver Age. The flagship series this issue helped build would ultimately run 254 issues and spawn over fifty spin-off titles, making Richie the most prolific character in Harvey's history.
In "null," Dot and Lotta play catch, but when Lotta accidentally hits Dot in the head, the sudden burst of dots in Dot’s vision sparks a surprising new obsession—she wants to be hit again. The moment turns playful and peculiar, as Dot’s delight in the stars before her eyes sets off a chain of reactions neither girl expected.
In "Cousin Skinner," Richie Rich encounters his frugal cousin, Skinner, who seems eager to spoil him with gifts and meals—only for Richie to discover, to his surprise, that he’s the one footing the bill each time. The humor unfolds with a clever twist on generosity, as Skinner’s apparent generosity hides a cleverly hidden cost.
In "Round Trip," Lotta dozes off in a museum and finds herself transported to ancient Rome, where she battles Roman warriors and is crowned a victor. After returning to the present, she tries to convince the guard she saw real history—only to be met with disbelief when he shows her the room is just a prop storage area. Was it all a dream, or did something truly strange happen?
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Richie Rich debuted as a backup feature in Little Dot #1 (cover-dated September 1953), created under the direction of Alfred Harvey, with Warren Kremer as his most celebrated illustrator and Sid Jacobson among the key writers. The character did not receive his own standalone title until 1960, reflecting Harvey's gradual recognition of his commercial potential. By the time issue #3 reached newsstands in March 1961, the series was still in its earliest phase, published under the Harvey Enterprises Inc. imprint at the classic Silver Age price of ten cents for 36 full-color pages.
Trivia · 7 facts
- First appearance of Cousin Skinner, Richie's tightwad cousin who repeatedly manipulates Richie into footing the bill for lavish outings — a comedic foil type that recurred throughout the series.
- The issue also features supporting Harvey characters Little Lotta (in the 'Round Trip' story, a fantasy involving a time-travel trip to ancient Rome) and Little Dot (in 'Uncle Pudge,' a story about helping her uncle lose weight).
- Richie Rich as a character debuted in Little Dot #1 (cover-dated September 1953) and did not receive his own solo title until 1960 — making issue #3 part of the very first year of the standalone series.
- The flagship Richie Rich series ran 254 issues from 1960 to 1991 (with a hiatus from 1982 to 1986), the series this issue helped establish early on.
- Warren Kremer is credited as the series' most famous illustrator; series writers included Sid Jacobson, Lennie Herman, Stan Kay, and Ralph Newman.
- Stories from Richie Rich #3 were reprinted in at least one later Harvey publication, confirming their durability within the Harvey reprint ecosystem (confirmed via Grand Comics Database).
- The issue's anthology structure — pairing Richie Rich lead stories with Little Lotta and Little Dot backups — was the standard format Harvey used to introduce readers to its full roster of children's characters.
Reprints
↩ Reprints Blondie Comics Monthly #30 (1951), Junior Funnies #13 (1952)
Reprinted in Richie Rich Dollars and Cents #7 (1965), Richie Rich Success Stories #22 (1968), Richie Rich Millions #67 (1974), Richie Rich Diamonds #41 (1979), Richie Rich Digest Winners #12 (1981), Richie Rich #213 (1982), Richie Rich #246 (1990), Richie Rich #4 (1991), Richie Rich Digest Magazine #36 (1993), Harvey Comics Classics #2 (2007)
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