Wilbur Comics #24
Wilbur Comics #24 (February 1949) is a late-run anthology installment that captures Bill Woggon's Katy Keene feature at the precise moment the character was popular enough to earn her own solo title — the standalone Katy Keene Comics #1 launched just months later in Spring 1949. The issue therefore represents the home-stretch of Katy's years as a backup strip in Wilbur's book, and documents the reader-participation format — fan-submitted fashion designs drawn and credited by Woggon — that made Katy one of the most interactive comics of the Golden Age. It also preserves the full supporting cast of the Wilbur Wilkin teen-comedy universe (Laurie Lake, Linda Moore, Red Wilson, and Sis) in a self-contained anthology form that typified Archie's postwar lineup.
In "About Face," Sis takes center stage as she models a series of reader-submitted outfits for her birthday party, only to find herself tempted by the very candy she was meant to hand out—before she’s even arrived. A lighthearted, clever twist on anticipation and indulgence, this 1949 gem from Bill Woggon’s pen and pencil (and ink and lettering) captures the charm of early Archie Comics with a playful punch. The cover by Al Fagaly adds a splash of classic flair to this sweet, silly story.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Bill Woggon, a commercial artist who had assisted his brother Elmer on the newspaper strip Big Chief Wahoo, pitched the Katy Keene concept to MLJ Magazines in 1945, inspired by the wartime vogue for pin-up imagery; MLJ approved it as a tryout backup feature in Wilbur Comics. The title itself had been in continuous publication since Summer 1944 under the MLJ imprint, which became Archie Comics starting with issue #8. By the time issue #24 appeared, Woggon's Katy Keene stories had accumulated enough of a following that Archie was ready to spin them off into a dedicated series, making this issue part of the final wave of Katy's apprenticeship in Wilbur's pages. The Wilbur Wilkin lead stories in this period were primarily drawn by Bill Vigoda, with a text story scripted by Ray Gill.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published February 1949 by Archie Publications; cover price 10 cents; 52 pages, full color.
- Contains an untitled Katy Keene backup story, script and art by Bill Woggon, in which Katy's horoscope predicts a man with a white beard will bring gifts — a typical example of Woggon's light, fashion-forward storytelling.
- Katy Keene (created by Bill Woggon, debuting in Wilbur Comics #5, Summer 1945) appeared in Wilbur Comics from issue #5 through approximately issue #35; issue #24 falls squarely within that run.
- Katy Keene Comics #1 launched in Spring 1949, just months after this issue, marking the graduation of the character from backup feature to her own 62-issue solo series.
- The Wilbur Wilkin lead stories in this issue feature recurring cast members Laurie Lake (Wilbur's primary love interest), Linda Moore (his rival romantic pursuit), and best friend Red Wilson — the core triangle driving the series throughout its 1944–1965 run.
- Lead stories include 'That Old Black Magic' (Wilbur uses magic tricks to impress Laurie), 'Winner Take All' (rival Monty sabotages Wilbur's car), and 'Many Slap Happy Returns' (Red disrupts Mr. Wilkin's birthday party); a text story scripted by Ray Gill also appears.
- Wilbur Wilkin, the series' protagonist, originally debuted in Zip Comics #18 (September 1941) — predating Archie Andrews' own first appearance by three months.
- Katy's kid sister, known throughout the Woggon era only as 'Sis' (or 'Sis, the Candy Kid'), appears alongside Katy in this issue, consistent with her role as comic foil throughout the original run.
Cast · 6 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Sis models reader-submitted outfits to wear to a birthday party - and then eats all of the candy she was giving as a present before she arrives.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).