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37-619: The character appeared after Fawcett Comics ' talking-animal superhero Hoppy the Marvel Bunny (debut: Fawcett's Funny Animals #1, cover-dated Dec. 1942), and before the Bugs Bunny theatrical cartoon short " Super-Rabbit " (released in April 1943). Following his debut as the cover star of Comedy Comics #14 (March 1943), Super Rabbit remained the lead feature through #33 (Sept. 1946). A star of Timely Comics' humor division — produced by what

74-638: A Ghost , Keepers of the Earth , and The Orphan and the Polar Bear , just to name a few. In the Disney franchises of The Jungle Book and Tarzan , Mowgli along with Shanti and Ranjan can talk to the animals (such as a sloth bear, an elephant, a black panther, a tiger and a python) in the jungles of India, and Tarzan along with Jane and her father can talk to the animals: gorillas and elephants in African jungle. Out of

111-495: A declining comics market, in 1953 Fawcett Comics ceased publication of its superhero titles and settled the ongoing case (the non-comic book divisions of Fawcett continued to publish). Several of Fawcett's completed stories and artwork, as well as a few characters, were sold to Charlton Comics . Fawcett returned to publishing comics in the 1960s, mainly publishing Dennis the Menace and other such titles. In 1967 Marvel Comics gained

148-552: A division of Fawcett Publications , was one of several successful comic book publishers during the Golden Age of Comic Books in the 1940s. Its most popular character was Captain Marvel , the alter ego of radio reporter Billy Batson, who transformed into the hero whenever he said the magic word "Shazam!". Other characters published by Fawcett include Captain Video , Hopalong Cassidy , Ibis

185-419: A mustachioed pig. Waffles' self-proclaimed "number-one fan" and publicist, Wilbur Woodpecker, occasionally accompanies him, much to his consternation. Waffles , a non-anthropomorphic rabbit inspired by Super Rabbit, appears in the M.O.D.O.K. episode "If This Be... M.O.D.O.K.!". He is used in therapy at A.I.M. before being stolen by MODOK and killed by a laser. Fawcett Comics Fawcett Comics ,

222-572: A part of the Native American family/community. Distinctions between humans and animals are more fluid. In these stories animals represent the ability to adapt and serve as mentors and guides. For example, in Louise Erdrich’s book Chickadee the protagonist is saved by a Chickadee, who instructs him in finding food and water, after he escapes a kidnapping. Other examples of Native American works with talking animal stories include How I Became

259-405: A reboot of the character in a solo series with Marv Wolfman as writer, but apparently this project did not come to fruition. Waffles Bunny, variously depicted as a reporter or a shoeshine boy , rubs a magic ring to transform into Super Rabbit, who is virtually invulnerable except for a spot on the top of his head. He protects the innocent, captures robbers, and battles enemies such as Super Nazi,

296-572: A safe distance. For example, Charlotte’s Web introduces the concept of death when Charlotte dies and Wilbur is charged with taking care of her offspring. Similarly, naturalist animal fictions also provide a vehicle with which to provide commentary on the humane treatment of animals, animal rights, and the conservation of animals. A good example of this would be the Doctor Doolittle series. Finally, in this digital age where modern childhood generally has very little contact and exposure to animals in

333-1156: A single issue of which was published only as an ashcan copy . The content was then reworked (for example, the lead character of Captain Thunder was renamed to Captain Marvel) and published as Whiz Comics #2 (February 1940). In addition to Beck, the line-up of artists who contributed to Fawcett Comics include Al Allard, Harry Anderson, Ken Bald , Phil Bard, Al Bare , Dan Barry , John Belfi , Dave Berg , Jack Binder , Alex Blum , Bob Boyajian, Bob Butts, Al Carreno , Joe Certa , Nat Champlin , Pete Costanza , Greg Duncan, Leonard Frank, Bob Fujitani , Till Goodson, Ray Harford, Bob Hebberd, John Jordan, H. C. Kiefer, Jack Kirby , Andre Le Blanc, Charles Nicholas , Carl Pfeufer , Mac Raboy , Pete Riss, Ed Robbins, John Rosenberger , Kurt Schaffenberger , Joe Simon , Jon Small, Ed Smalle, Jack Sparling , John Spranger, Chic Stone , Charles Sultan , Marc Swayze , Ben Thompson, George Tuska , Bill Ward , Clem Weisbecker, Burt Whitman, Reuben Zubofsky and Nick Zuraw. The whimsical adventures of Captain Marvel and

370-526: A tool for inserting social commentary. In addition talking animals can be utilized for satirical purposes, for humorous purposes like in the case of Frog and Toad, and to decentralize and deemphasize the human experience. Talking animals can also be used to create analogies or allegories. For example, in Narnia , Aslan the Lion can be seen as an allegory for Christ. Finally, fictional works with talking animals challenge

407-399: A wide range of uses in literature, from teaching morality to providing social commentary. Realistic talking animals are often found in fables, religious texts, indigenous texts, wilderness coming of age stories, naturalist fiction, animal autobiography, animal satire, and in works featuring pets and domesticated animals. Conversely, fantastical and more anthropomorphic animals are often found in

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444-569: Is common in the fantasy genre. For example, in L. Frank Baum 's Land of Oz , creatures (such as the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger) talk. The chicken Billina gains the ability to talk when she is swept away by a storm to land near Oz, as do other animals, and Toto, as explained in a retcon , always had the ability since arriving in Oz, but never used it. In C. S. Lewis 's Chronicles of Narnia ,

481-577: Is why humans are responsible for caring for animals. The talking creature concept is featured within much traditional literature , and several mythologies, including Greek , Chinese and Indian mythologies. A notable example from the Judaeo-Christian tradition is the talking serpent from the Book of Genesis , which tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil . In

518-680: The Marvel Family (which included Captain Marvel, Jr. , Mary Marvel , the Lieutenants Marvel , etc.) eventually outsold those of Superman . National Comics (as DC Comics was then known) sued Fawcett, claiming that the Captain infringed on the copyright of their original costumed superhero. National Comics' 1941 copyright hearing against Fawcett was dismissed on a technicality; the McClure Newspaper Syndicate had failed to include

555-634: The Qur’ān , animals are seen as gifts from God and thus are meant to serve humans. Aside from a few animals being able to speak, they are never anthropomorphized, personified, or given names. There are only a handful of times that animals speak in the Qur’ān and most of these occurrences happen in relation to Solomon. For example, it is a hoopoe (a bird native to Africa, Asia, and Europe) that tells King Solomon of Queen Sheba’s idolatrous ways. In Native American mythology, animals are integral to human survival and thus

592-461: The trademark "Captain Marvel" with the publication of an unrelated character's series. In 1972 DC licensed — and in 1994, purchased — Captain Marvel and his related characters. Because of Marvel's trademark, DC has instead used the trademark Shazam! as the title of their Captain Marvel-related comic books and thus the name under which they market and promote the character. In 1973, Shazam and

629-558: The African desert, The Brigand was a Napoleonic-era swashbuckler and Destination Moon and The Man from Planet X were science fiction space stories. Cartoon animal Talking animals are a common element in mythology and folk tales , children's literature , and modern comic books and animated cartoons . Fictional talking animals often are anthropomorphic , possessing human-like qualities (such as bipedal walking, wearing clothes, and living in houses). Whether they are realistic animals or fantastical ones, talking animals serve

666-620: The Blue Falcon and Tsarevitch Ivan, the Fire Bird and the Gray Wolf have the hero aided by a fox and a wolf respectively, but in the similar tale The Golden Bird , the talking fox is freed from a spell to become the heroine's brother, and in The Bird 'Grip' , the fox leaves the hero after explaining that it was the dead man whose debts the hero had paid. Whether shape-shifted or merely having

703-525: The Greek Aesop’s Fables . The Panchatantra , a collection of Indian animal fables, is another early example. Both use talking animals for didactic purposes. More recent fables like Sarah Trimmer’s History of the Robins (1786) use talking animals to instruct children on how to behave in society as well as how to maintain the social order. They also reiterate the superiority of humans to animals which

740-648: The Invincible , Bulletman and Bulletgirl , Spy Smasher , Captain Midnight , Phantom Eagle , Mister Scarlet and Pinky , Minute-Man , Commando Yank and Golden Arrow . Aside from the better known superhero books, Fawcett also published a short-lived line of horror comics during the early 1950s, a string of titles which included This Magazine Is Haunted , Beware! Terror Tales , Worlds of Fear , Strange Suspense Stories , and Unknown World . Other genres included teenage humor (Ozzie and Babs), cartoon animal (Hoppy

777-541: The Marvel Bunny), romance (Sweethearts), war (Soldier Comics) and Western (Six Gun Heroes). Fawcett also produced comics based on contemporary movie stars ( Tom Mix , Lash LaRue , Monte Hale ) and matinee serials ( Nyoka the Jungle Girl ). The entire line was dropped in 1953, when Fawcett closed down their comics publishing wing (though many titles were picked up by Charlton Comics ). Fawcett Publications

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814-479: The Marvel family became an additional Earth (to the Pre-Crisis DC continuity), known for a period of time as Earth-S . Fawcett also published several comic book adaptations of Hollywood films under the banner Fawcett Movie Comic . The publications ranged from 1949 to 1952 and were released bi-monthly. Early issues were simply labeled with A Fawcett Publication on the covers with no numbering nor date (other than

851-564: The animals, Sabor the leopard does not speak. In the French feral child comic book Pyrénée , Pyrénée can talk to the forest animals in the French mountains of Pyrenees . In Go, Diego, Go! and Dora the Explorer , Dora and her cousin Diego can talk to the animals in the rainforest. Animal fictions with more conservation-oriented themes allow young readers to engage with challenging messages at

888-637: The company called its "animator bullpen", edited by Vincent Fago and largely separate from the superhero group producing comics featuring Captain America and other such characters — Super Rabbit also appeared in Krazy Comics , Comic Capers , Funny Tunes (a.k.a. Animated Funny Comic-Tunes ), All Surprise Comics (as the cover star of #1-11, Fall 1943 - Fall 1946) and other anthology series. He additionally starred in his own Super Rabbit Comics , which ran 14 issues (Fall 1944 - Nov. 1948). His final story

925-500: The copyright year inside). It was not until issue No. 7 (actually the eighth adaptation) that the series started numbering each comic book and using the Fawcett Movie Comic series title. Starting with issue No. 9, the series also printed the month of publication on the covers. The majority of the comic books were adapted from westerns , with few known exceptions; Ten Tall Men was a French Foreign Legion story taking place in

962-433: The creatures. This serves as a warning to mankind's thoughtless pursuit of technological advancement. Animated toys in fictional works are popular for expressing human developmental and existential concerns. In toy literature, there are a few common motifs talking toys are used to convey. For example, talking toys can embody human anxiety about what it means to be “real” as well as reflect struggles of power when they are at

999-796: The disposal of humans. Another common motif is the religious allusion to divine creation when humans create toys that come alive. Some examples of talking toy animals include the animals in Winnie the Pooh , the wooden toy dog in Poor Cecco , the Skin Horse and Velveteen rabbit in The Velveteen Rabbit , and the Slinky Dog toy and Tyrannosaurus Rex toy in Disney’s Toy Story . Anthropomorphism of animals

1036-406: The fairy tale, science fiction, toy story, and fantasy genres. The use of talking animals enables storytellers to combine the basic characteristics of the animal with human behavior, to apply metaphor, and to entertain children as well as adults. Animals are used in a variety of ways in fictional works including to illustrate morality lessons for children, to instill wonder in young readers, and as

1073-703: The human-animal divide and they identify children as the members of society who take on the responsibility of being ecological/environmental changemakers. In textual representations the creature retains its original form, other than being able to speak. Sometimes it may only speak as a narrator for the reader's convenience. The rabbits in Watership Down who, except for the ability to discuss their actions, behave exactly as normal rabbits, also come under this category, as do characters from animated films like Happy Feet and The Lion King . The tradition of using talking animals in stories dates as far back as 550 BCE with

1110-509: The human-animal divide. Other examples of animal autobiographies include The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse (1783), The Biography of a Spaniel (1806), The Adventures of a Donkey (1815), The Curious Adventures of a Field Cricket (1881), and Thy Servant, a Dog (1930). For some authors talking animals, rather than human characters, allowed them to publish their satirical commentary by protecting them from censure. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and Orwell’s Animal Farm are some of

1147-489: The magical ability to speak, the talking creature is perhaps the most common trait of fairy tales . The motif is certainly present in many more tales than fairies. A good example of the science fiction genre is the webcomic Anima: Age of the Robots which uses anthropomorphism to portray an alternate world as modern as ours, but inhabited by creature-lookalikes. The intelligent robots that they have made do rebel and threaten

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1184-857: The most famous examples of this. Contemporary novels such as Alexis Wright 's The Swan Book , Colin McAdam 's A Beautiful Truth , Erin Hortle's The Octopus and I and Laura Jean McKay 's The Animals in That Country show animal voices alongside human characters. These novels portray animals as equally deserving of a place in the narrative. In the industries of illustration , cartooning , and animation , professionals refer to these types of creature characters as talking animals , funny animals , or anthropomorphic characters . Many fairy tales include talking creatures that prove to be shapeshifted people, or even ghosts . The fairy tales How Ian Direach got

1221-500: The natural environment, naturalist animal fictions allow authors to portray natural animal behavior. For instance Bambi , both the 1928 novel and the Disney film, realistically portrays the life cycle of deers. The hunting dogs in the film adaptation do not talk. Fictional works told from an animal’s perspective, like the horse in Black Beauty , encourage readers to empathize with animals. Furthermore, more generally they challenge

1258-589: The proper copyright notice on many of the Superman daily newspaper strips . On appeal, however, Judge Learned Hand ruled that this was not an indication of intent to abandon the Superman property, and since it had been revealed that certain Captain Marvel stories were copies of certain Superman stories, National Comics would be able to seek damages for the violation of the copyrights of those specific stories. Facing

1295-482: The world of Narnia is ruled by a talking lion by the name of Aslan , and many minor characters are talking woodland animals, both of which interact with both the humans of Narnia, and the children who act as the protagonists of the books. The popularity of talking animals in Western fantasy has fluctuated over time, with a new wave of animal stories appearing in the 1970s, but they became less common in subsequent decades. In

1332-632: Was It's a Duck's Life #11 (Feb. 1952). While a series of authorized reprints of Super Rabbit's adventures was published in Canada by Bell Features , three known unauthorized reprint issues appeared from Israel Waldman's I.W. Publishing beginning in 1958, with issues #1-2 released that year. A third issue, labeled #7 and costing 10¢, later appeared, and was reissued in 1963 as #10 and costing 12¢. Aside from creator Ernie Hart, other artists who contributed to his adventures included Mike Sekowsky , Al Jaffee , and inker Violet Barclay . In 1977, Marvel announced

1369-533: Was founded by Wilford Fawcett in 1919 with the magazine Captain Billy's Whiz Bang and eventually expanded into a line of periodicals with a combined circulation of ten million a month. The company joined in the explosion of comic book publications in the United States in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Its initial entry, developed by writer Bill Parker and artist C. C. Beck , was Thrill Comics #1 (January 1940),

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