Gene Ahern (1895-1960)

Gene Ahern The Squirrel Cage Sunday Comic Strip Original Art dated 8-2-36 (King Features Syndicate, 1936). Ahern, best known for the bombastic Major Hoople cartoons, also excelled at flaky absurdity -- a quality that abounds in The Squirrel Cage. This bright example sends two goofy detectives (modeled after an earlier Ahern team-concept, The Nut Bros., Ches & Wal) on a clueless search for clues. Ahern found 1936 to be a pivotal year: He was hired away from Newspaper Enterprise Association by King Features to develop the Hoople-like Room and Board, with The Squirrel Cage as a companion-strip. The present example comprises ink over blue pencil on Bristol board with an image area of 20.5" x 13", matted out to 24.5" x 17". Excellent condition. From the Denis Kitchen Collection. HID09710052018 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved