A Cartoon Bombshell

Fritzi Ritz Comics #6 (United Feature Syndicate, 1949, 10 cents)
Fritzi Ritz is the beautiful and leggy aunt of Ernie Bushmiller's comic strip creation Nancy. This comic largely collects single-page gag strips (reformatted newspaper comics) featuring Fritzi, her boyfriend Phil Fumble, and other characters—with a center section of six one-page Abbie an' Slats strips by Raeburn Van Buren.

The humor focuses on Phil's affection for Fritzi and her attention from other suitors, Phil giving the eye to other gals, the giving of gifts, taking a long time to dress for a date, the need for exercise, and other gentle cleverness. One strip even includes a single-panel Nancy cameo.



Bushmiller's art and writing is just crackerjack. The jokes are loving and positive, and his artwork is great. While Nancy and Sluggo are simple and cartoony, his attention to Fritzi and the other good-girl characters in these strips is more attentive to detail, the fine line of various fashions, and the female form. Fritzi is kind of a cartoon bombshell.



The section of Abbie an' Slats is an excellent counterpoint. The strip is more of an adventure story, with more realistic artwork. Groggins heads to Boomistan to spend a found attic trove of "droopees," only to remember how he acquired them and realize he's not welcome in the country. It's a promising story—and a strip with which I was not familiar. Van Buren's art reminded me a little of Milton Caniff by way of Al Capp.



What a great comic this was. It was refreshing to see Fritzi away from Nancy—and strongly shows that comic strips can attract varying age groups—as well as support multiple levels of storylines.

Availability: While the Fritzi Ritz comic strip—which actually predated Nancy—is not currently in print, you might find back issues. Nancy comic strips are available in several volumes, including Nancy Is Happy: Complete Dailies 1943-1945 (Vol. 1), Nancy Likes Christmas: Complete Dailies 1946-1948 (Vol. 2), and Nancy Loves Sluggo: Complete Dailies 1949-1951. Ken Pierce Books's Abbie an' Slats reprint volume is still available.