Summer break is in its final days and that means…there is still time to read some comics! Let’s start this year’s sampling with a few comic book stories about college.
Aquaman was quite the studious kind in his younger days, much like his DC colleagues, and attended Weston College to pursue a degree in Ichthyology, a branch of zoology specializing in the study of fish. Under the cover name “Mr. Waterman,” he was active on campus as an accomplished member of the swim team.
Panel from “Adventure Comics“, no. 120 (Sept. 1947)
Millie the Model and the girls were invited to give a guest lecture at State University about modeling and fashion. Their intentions were to share expertise in outfit-building and stage presence, but when a student protest at the lecture hall turns into a riot, Millie, Chili, Toni and Jill ditch their own scheduled demonstration and scurry back to the safety of the Hanover Modeling Agency.
Panel from “Millie the model“, no. 174 (Sept. 1969)
Daffy Duck was not so productive during his time away at college. He was a compulsive prankster and developed a reputation as the “campus caper.” Most of his antics included antagonizing Elmer Fudd during their shared first-aid, art, and chemistry classes. After causing an explosion in the chemistry lab, he gets thrown off campus. Literally!
Panel from “Daffy Duck“, no. 29 (Apr/June 1962)
If you would rather enjoy the rest of your summer break before hitting the books, there is nothing quite like a day at the beach. The teenage crew in Riverdale competed in a sand sculpture competition and leave it to Archie to ruin Betty’s chances at winning first place. One wild dive for a frisbee was all it took to topple her majestic sand throne decorated with an array of seashells.
Panel from “Archie giant series magazine“, no. 460 (Sept. 1977)
Another way to spend the day while avoiding the sun altogether is to stay inside and play video games. In “Girls of Ninja High School,” a spin-off series of the long running manga-style comic book series “Ninja High School,” Asrial and Ichi sit around and play their favorite Nintendo game. They get so immersed in Super Mario Bros. 3 that they fantasize about flying around with the best power-up in the game: the Super Leaf!
Panel from “Girls of Ninja High School“, no. 1 (June 1991)
Of course there is another, perhaps more responsible, way to spend the summer. A summer job! Patsy Walker found an ad in the newspaper for a gig as a junior clerk at the M.M. Madison Company. She mostly filed company reports, a rather boring assignment, but her real interest was her boss: the handsome Mr. Barkley. Hedy Wolfe, Patsy’s friend and frequent rival, tries to work even closer with Mr. Barkley as a senior clerk, but gets assigned to assist the not-so-handsome Mr. Madison.
Panel from “Patsy Walker“, no. 110 (Oct. 1963)
Richie Rich had to write a “What I did this summer” essay on his first day of school. He wrote of his visit with the Royal Family in London, the lavish French countryside, tours of Venice and Rome, a yacht trip through the Greek islands, and an extended stay with one of his father’s business contacts in Tokyo. Miss Penn, the new English teacher, could not believe Richie’s elaborate journey around the world and decides to tell his parents of the falsified essay. When Miss Penn arrives at the Rich estate, she is stunned by the absurd wealth of the family, faints in amazement and drops the accusation.
Panel from “Richie Rich & Casper“, no. 15 (Dec. 1976)
For a more economical summer activity, why not try a picnic? The Mickey Mouse cast have a three-issue series dedicated to summer vacation and picnic-themed stories. This was part of the Dell Giant Series that contained 84 pages of comic stories and activities such as crossword puzzles, word searches, and coloring pages.
Cover of “Walt Disney’s Picnic Party“, no. 6 (July 1955)
The Tom and Jerry cast also have a Dell Giant Series run dedicated to summer antics, and their issues are a whopping 100 pages. Other M.G.M. characters get their own summer stories in these issues as well: Barney Bear and Benny Burro have a fish fry, and Droopy joins the Boy Scouts.
Cover of “M.G.M.’s Tom and Jerry ‘s Summer Fun“, no. 2 (July 1955)
Summer break is also an opportunity to join a sports league. Skipper and Angelina play on opposing soccer teams with undefeated records. The girls are understandably nervous with their perfect seasons on the line, but when Barbie steps in as a coach she emphasizes good sportsmanship over winning and losing.
Panel from “Barbie“, no. 20 (Aug. 1992)
What comics are you reading before summer vacation is over? Let us know in the comments below.
If you want a few more laughs before the end of summer, check out previous posts: “Back to School: Comic Book Stories” and “Back to School: Comic Book Stories Part 2.” And for inspiration on how to use comic books in the classroom, check out “Back to School: Comic Books and Literacy.”
To learn more about the comic book collection at the Library of Congress, take a look at our guide to Comic Books and Pulp Magazines. Come visit us in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room to see these comic books and more!
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