The Adventures of Bob Hope

Supercbbox| title=Adventures of Bob Hope


caption=Cover to issue #1 (February-March 1950)
schedule=Bi-monthly
format=
ongoing=y
publisher=National Periodical Publications
date=1950-1968
issues=109
main_char_team=
writers=Arnold Drake
artists=Neal Adams
Owen Fitzgerald
Bob Oksner
pencillers=
inkers=
colorists=
creative_team_month=
creative_team_year=
creators=
subcat=DC Comics
sort=Adventures of Bob Hope

"The Adventures of Bob Hope" is a comic book series that was published by National Periodical Publications (an imprint of DC Comics). The series featured stories based on comedian Bob Hope, as well as assorted other humorous stories. The series ran for 109 issues from 1950 through 1968.

Publication history

In the early 1950s, with sales for superhero themed comics on the decline, National Periodical Publications began licensing the right to use celebrity images, including Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Alan Ladd, and Bob Hope. Issue #1 (cover dated February-March 1950) set the tone for most of the 1950s. The lead story would feature Hope in a misadventure similar to his film roles; the back up stories tended to revolve around movie-related themes or characters. For example, issue #1 had a story on Rhonda Fleming, Hope's co-star in the 1949 film "The Great Lover". [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/oddball/index.cgi?date=2003-08-04] Shaw, Scott. "The Adventures of Bob Hope" #1. Oddball Comics at Comic Book Resources website. Last accessed 04/04/2007.]

By the 1960s, sales for the Hope series began to flag. The editors attempted to add some contemporary humor by introducing Super-Hip in issue #95. [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/oddball/index.cgi?date=2004-06-25] Shaw, Scott. "Adventures of Bob Hope" #99. Oddball Comics at Comic Book Resources website. Last accessed 04/04/2007.] Despite the changes, the series was canceled; issue #109 (February-March 1968) was the last.

Artists and writers

The first four issues featured photographs of Hope on the cover; subsequent covers were illustrated. Owen Fitzgerald was the original artist for the series. [ [http://www.dcindexes.com/database/creator-details.php?creatorid=757&type=story&order=date] Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics website. Last accessed 04/04/2007.] He was eventually replaced by Bob Oksner, who provided the majority of the artwork for the run of the series. [ [http://www.dcindexes.com/database/creator-details.php?creatorid=255&type=story&order=alpha] Ibid.] Oksner was replaced by Neal Adams for the final four issues. Mort Drucker supplies covers for four issues. [ [http://www.dcindexes.com/database/creator-details.php?creatorid=176&type=cover&order=date] Ibid.]

There were no story credits, though some sources credit Cal Howard with writing some early scripts. [ [http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=71240] "Adventures of Bob Hope" #2. Grand Comics Database website. Last accessed 04/04/2007.] Beginning with issue #88 (August-September 1964), Arnold Drake received a byline, and would go on to write most of the scripts for rest of the series run. [ [http://www.dcindexes.com/database/creator-details.php?creatorid=306&type=story&order=alpha] Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics. Last accessed 04/04/2007.]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.comics.org/series.lasso?SeriesID=695 Adventures of Bob Hope at the Grand Comics Database]
* [http://www.dcindexes.com/database/series-details.php?seriesid=40 Adventures of Bob Hope at Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics - The DC Indexes]