SUNDAY FUNNIES WITH KERRY CALLEN!
By KERRY CALLEN
This week’s art is a take-off of 1940’s All-Star Comics #3, a famous cover by E.E. Hibbard that’s been parodied many times. (Hibbard’s birthday was Friday, as it happens.)
It’s a fun image, but I had never drawn a version. I was happy to receive a commission request to switch a few characters, and add specific dialogue.
Normally I would share the original cover to All-Star Comics #3, but I’m choosing to show the tabloid-size reprint that came out in 1975, Famous First Edition #F-7:
As a kid I LOVED this book. It contained various stories written and drawn by various writers and artists.I didn’t really know the comics were reprints from the Golden Age. I knew they looked and felt different, but wasn’t exactly sure why. They reminded me of the back-up stories in DC’s 100-page comics, also Golden Age reprints. I eventually figured it out.
By the way, DC must have loved this cover image. It also appears as the splash page inside, a house ad, as well as an editorial page at the end of the book!
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Want more SUNDAY FUNNIES WITH KERRY CALLEN? Come back next week!
Want a commission? Send an email to KerryCallenArt@gmail.com. You can also find other work at linktr.ee/kerrycallen.
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MORE
— When HOMER SIMPSON Stepped in for Gold Key’s MIGHTY SAMSON. Click here.
— When BATGIRL Crashed BATMAN and ROBIN’s Famous 1966 Portrait. Click here.
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KERRY CALLEN spent much of his career as an artist and art director, developing product for Hallmark, but has also dabbled in comics for many years. As a freelancer, he creates work for a range of needs, spanning from Mad Magazine to children illustrations. He has two graphic novels available on Amazon worldwide, Halo and Sprocket: The Definitive Collection, as well as Dirtnap: Mystic Spit.
May 10, 2026
Neat idea! But why stop there? Why not mix in a few other early Marvel characters like the Human Torch and the Submariner? (It’s also cool to see “honorary” members Batman and Superman at the table with the others.)
May 11, 2026
I’d be “all in” for a mini-series of “JSA & The Invaders (throw in the Liberty Legion too) Battle Hitler”. Have Roy Thomas editor/co-script, the prose off the typewriter keys of Jim Beard and/or PAUL KUPPERBERG along with our own DAKOTA ALEXANDER on art. Put that up on Backerkit and I bet it sells.
Kerry, I really enjoyed this piece. Do you have any behind the finished drawing art to show what went into your process? I think that would be really kewl to see.
May 12, 2026
Yes, why stop there.!!??
The All-Winners Squad-Justice Society Crossover would have been …”Great” !!
May 10, 2026
Cap is such a perfect fit in this JSA setting that I had to look at this homage for a bit before finding him! Well done. 🙂
May 11, 2026
I’ll second Warren’s comment! How about Jim Hammond and Namor? Maybe throw in Cliff Secord? 😉