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Space Mouse

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For the unrelated short, see Space Mouse (cartoon)

Space Mouse was the name of a comic book character that was first seen in a Hickory, Dickory, and Doc cartoon, Space Mouse was a space hero just like Mighty Mouse. After that, Space Mouse was published by Dell Comics (and later by Gold Key Comics) from 1960 to around 1965. The Dell Comics version was also featured in a 1960 cartoon produced by Walter Lantz, entitled The Secret Weapon.

History[]

In 1959, Western Publishing Company held the license to produce comics based on the properties of Walter Lantz, such as Woody Woodpecker, Chilly Willy, and Andy Panda. Western realized that they were paying a lot of money to Lantz for the rights to his characters, but they weren't getting as many different titles out of the arrangement as they would have liked. Western's execs instructed their senior editor, Chase Craig, to launch another comic book based on a Lantz property. He looked over the available characters and decided that none of them could sustain their own series.

Chase then spotted a press release from Walter Lantz Productions that indicated they were producing a cartoon short entitled "Space Mouse". He imagined a Buck Rogers style strip, starring a mouse in a space suit, and felt it would make a great comic. Chase called Lantz's office and had them send over a copy of the "Space Mouse" storyboard. It turned out that the cartoon was not what Chase had been expecting at all. It was merely the title of the first cartoon in an intended series, starring Earth-bound characters named Hickory, Dickory, and Doc. Believing that a sci-fi mouse was still a great idea, Chase got together with his writers and artists and began working on the comic book he had in mind.

SpaceMouse1960Cartoon-3-1-

Space Mouse (art byWalter Lantz Studios).

At that time, Dell Publishing paid Western to prepare and print the contents of their Dell Comics line, while Dell controlled the distribution. Throughout the years of their business arrangement, almost all of their comics featured licensed material. However, a small battle was going on between the two companies over the ownership of properties appearing in the non-licensed comics. Dell claimed to own them because they were financing the books. Western felt that these were creations of their employees, and thus belonged to them. As a result of these squabbles, there were periods when Western decided they would not create any new characters, and Space Mouse was conceived during one of those periods. Not wanting to find himself in the middle of an ownership fight, Chase decided to simply turn the concept over to Walter Lantz. After a few pages of the new strip were completed, Chase took them over to Lantz's office and asked for permission to publish the comic as a Lantz property. Lantz, who would own the copyright, of course agreed.

Following the publication of the initial issue, Four Color, Series II #1132, Walter Lantz produced a Space Mouse pilot entitled "The Secret Weapon". The short was directed by Alex Lovy and featured the voice of Johnny Coons as Space Mouse. It was released in theaters in 1960, and was later shown on television in 1963 as part of The Woody Woodpecker Show. Unfortunately, the character failed to graduate to a regular animated series. However, Space Mouse did continue to appear in a handful of Dell Comics from 1960 through 1962. Then, following a dispute about money, Dell and Western finally parted ways. Afterward, Western essentially kept the same comic book lines going, now financing the various series themselves, labeling their comics with Gold Key Comics logos. Gold Key continued publishing the adventures of Space Mouse at least into 1965.

FourColor v2 1132 Dell-1-

Four Color

The introductory story of the Walter Lantz Space Mouse is "The Secret Weapon". Space Mouse lives on the planet Rodentia, but he prefers to spend his time flying around the galaxy in his Lunar Schooner. The planet is ruled by King Size, who lives in Camembert Castle, located in Miceapolis, the capital of Rodentia. One day, the king receives an urgent message from his secret operator on his super-private inter-cosmic radio. King Size informs his Secretary of Finance, Count de Penny, that he has been warned that the cats on the planet Felinia are planning to invade Rodentia. The king contacts Space Mouse for help. The hero dons a disguise, posing as a Siamese-type cat named Charlie Chin, and lands on the outskirts of Catolina, the capital of Felinia. He soon investigates the headquarters of the dreaded Meow Meows, the gang behind the planned invasion. Inside is Black Tom, the leader, with a beautiful but mysterious girl named Persian Pearl. Space Mouse poses as their waiter, and learns about a fleet of rocket ships at a secret base near the Catnip Works. When his disguise tears at the pants, he is discovered. As Black Tom attempts to capture Space Mouse, he is hit over the head with a chair by Persian Pearl, who then helps Space Mouse escape. She reveals that she is in reality a mouse, King Size's secret agent. Later, when Space Mouse is surrounded by Black Tom and his gang, the hero swallows a pill given to him by the king, which renders him invisible. He makes it to his ship, but has failed in his mission. He radios ahead to Rodentia to warn them that the cats are on their way. The mice go underground and the invading cats soon take over the city. The cats then surround the castle. Inside, King Size receives a call from Space Mouse on his super-private inter-cosmic radio. The hero tells the king that he is coming with his secret weapon. Space Mouse's ship lands and the cats race towards him. The hero whistles, and four ferocious dogs leap out, chasing the cats away. Space Mouse explains to the king that they are his canine friends from the Dog Star.

Other stories in this issue introduce the king's nephew Rodney and Police Chief Cheddar. Villains include the wolves of Sky Raiders, Inc. and the Vermin Brothers. Space Mouse also visits the planet Goofoffus, home of the laziest characters in the universe. Also depicted are Rodentia's Space Rangers.

SpaceMouse1960Cartoon-1-1-

"Space Mouse" logo(art by Walter Lantz Studios).

SpaceMouse1960Cartoon-2-1-

"The Secret Weapon"(art by Walter Lantz Studios).

The plot of Space Mouse's theatrical debut, "The Secret Weapon", is virtually

identical to the initial comic book story of the same name. Minor differences between the two include the change of the Secretary of Finance's name from "Count de Penny" to "Count de Pennies" and the secret agent being given the official title of "Agent X".

SpaceMouse1960Cartoon-4-1-

Space Mouse and King Size (art by Walter Lantz Studios).

The animated Space Mouse next appeared in the 1964 Halloween episode of The Woody Woodpecker Show entitled "Spook-A-Nanny". In addition to Woody Woodpecker and Space Mouse, the Halloween party guests included Splinter & Knothead, Andy Panda, Chilly Willy, Smedley the dog, Buzz Buzzard, Wally Walrus, Homer Pigeon, and Sugarfoot the horse.

According to some sources, that wasn't the end of Space Mouse. In 1999, Fox TV aired The New Woody Woodpecker Show, using the traditional format of three segments featuring different characters. Woody's supporting segments starred Chilly Willy and, allegedly, Space Mouse.

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Animated Appearances[]

  1. Space Mouse "The Secret Weapon" (Prod #SM-1, 1960)
  2. Woody Woodpecker "Spook-A-Nanny" (Prod #TC-3, 10/1964)

Some sources (including Don Markstein's Toonopedia) implied that Space Mouse would appear in The New Woody Woodpecker Show despite being not the case.

Availability[]

  • Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 1 (DVD Columbia House 2003) (1)
  • Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection Vol. 2 (DVD Universal 2008) (1)
  • Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection Vol. 1 (DVD Universal 2007) (2)

Comic Appearances[]

Four Color 1132 - Walter Lantz Space Mouse - Dell (Aug-Oct 1960)[]

  • Space Mouse - The Kickback - 1 page (ifc)
  • Space Mouse - The Secret Weapon - 10 pages
  • Space Mouse - The Frightful Weapon - 5 pages
  • Sam 'n' Simian - Nothing But the Tooth - 7 pages
  • Space Mouse - Planetary Pirates - 9 pages
  • Space Mouse - Weather Wise - 1 page
  • Space Mouse - Target Darters - 1 page (ibc)
  • Space Mouse - The Hot Seat - 1 page (bc)

Four Color 1244 - Walter Lantz Space Mouse - Dell (Nov 1961 - January 1962)[]

  • Space Mouse - Slight Boo Boo - 1 page (ifc)
  • Space Mouse - Exiled In Space - 10 pages
  • Space Mouse - The Million Dollar Idea - 5 pages
  • Space Mouse - The Speed Trap - 2 pages
  • Inspector Willoughby - Doing His Duty - 5 pages
  • Space Mouse - Hop To It - 8 pages
  • Space Mouse - Unwanted - 1 page
  • Space Mouse - Double Header - 1 page
  • Space Mouse - High Flyer - 1 page (ibc)
  • Space Mouse - Bubble Boat - 1 page (bc)

Comic Album 17 - Walter Lantz Space Mouse - Dell (March - May 1962)[]

  • Space Mouse - Sound Off - 1 page (ifc)
  • Space Mouse - Comic Album Featuring Space Mouse - 6 pages
  • Space Mouse - Mixey Mouse - 5 pages
  • Space Mouse - Milly Mouse - 5 pages
  • Woody Woodpecker - Sailing Sorrows - 1 page text story
  • Inspector Willoughby - The Boulder Bandits - 4 pages
  • Freddy the Flying Mouse - Freddy the Flying Mouse - 3 pages
  • Merlin Mouse - Merlin Mouse - 6 pages
  • Space Mouse - Wicked Weather - 1 page
  • Space Mouse - Grounded - 1 page
  • Space Mouse - Rocketeer - 1 page (ibc)
  • Space Mouse - No Room - 1 page (bc)

Walter Lantz Space Mouse 1 - Gold Key (Nov 1962)[]

  • Space Mouse - (First stage separated!) - 1 page (ifc)
  • Space Mouse - (Wowee! It's exciting, King Size!) - 8 pages
  • Space Mouse - The Cheeser Champ - 6 pages
  • Chilly Willy - The Fall Season - 1 page text story
  • Woody Woodpecker - I Was a 37 Pound Weakling - 4 pages
  • Space Mouse - The Case of the Cool Cat - 5 pages
  • Space Mouse - Prehistorically Peeking - 8 pages
  • Space Mouse - (Fire retro-rocket preparatory for landing!) - 1 page (ibc)
  • Space Mouse - Space Mouse Pin-Up No. 1 - 1 page (bc)

Walter Lantz Space Mouse 2 - Gold Key (Feb 1963)[]

  • Space Mouse - [Don't Be a Litter Space Bug] - 1 page (ifc)
  • Space Mouse - Meteor Menace - 7 pages
  • Space Mouse - Caterpillar Cowboys - 8 pages
  • Chilly Willy - Snow Business - 1 page text story
  • Woody Woodpecker - The Man From Mars - 4 pages
  • Space Mouse - Milk Shake-Up - 6 pages
  • Space Mouse - A Fishy-Type Tale - 6 pages
  • Space Mouse - [Gaston, the Glass Blower] - 1 page (ibc)
  • Space Mouse - Space Mouse Pin-Up No. 2 - 1 page (bc)

Walter Lantz Space Mouse 3 - Gold Key (May 1963)[]

  • Space Mouse - (Oh, oh! Engine's conked out!) - 1 page (ifc)
  • Space Mouse - Dragon Train - 10 pages
  • Space Mouse - Space Mouse Meets the Four-Headed Giant - 7 pages
  • Chilly Willy - Race to the Rescue - 1 page text story
  • Woody Woodpecker - Double Diet - 5 pages
  • Space Mouse - In a Dilly of a Pickle - 8 pages
  • Space Mouse - (Wow! what a discovery!) - 1 page
  • Keys of Knowledge - The History of Flight; Number 1: Flights of Imagination - 1 page text article (ibc)
  • Space Mouse - Space Mouse Pin-Up No. 3 - 1 page (bc)

Walter Lantz Space Mouse 4 - Gold Key (Aug 1963)[]

  • Keys of Knowledge - Astronomy, Number 1: In the Beginning... - 1 page text article (ifc)
  • Space Mouse - The Magnetic Menace - 10 pages
  • Space Mouse - Plot of Gold - 6 pages
  • Space Mouse - Face-Saving Space Race - 5 pages
  • Chilly Willy - Cheerful Chilly - 1 page text story
  • Woody Woodpecker - Once Upon a Timepiece - 4 pages
  • Space Mouse - Throw Out the Laugh Line - 6 pages
  • Keys of Knowledge - Astronomy, Number 2: Measuring the Universe - 1 page text article (ibc)
  • Space Mouse - Space Mouse Pin-Up No. 4 - 1 page (bc)

Walter Lantz Space Mouse 5 - Gold Key (Nov 1963)[]

  • Keys of Knowledge - Prehistoric Animals, Number 1: Earliest Forms - 1 page text article (ifc)
  • Space Mouse - The Land of Gems and Giants - 6 pages
  • Space Mouse - Prison Planet Plot - 6 pages
  • Chilly Willy - Quick Trip - 1 page text story
  • Woody Woodpecker - Change of Heart - 4 pages
  • Space Mouse - Aboard the Mechanical Moon - 8 pages
  • Space Mouse - Too Many Meow Meows - 7 pages
  • Keys of Knowledge - Astronomy, Number 10: Distant Planets - 1 page text article (ibc)
  • Space Mouse - Space Mouse Pin-Up No. 5 - 1 page (bc)

Woody Woodpecker Issues[]

  • Space Mouse - Space Mouse's Magic Star - 1 page activity - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 73 (Oct 1962)
  • Space Mouse - ["Now, here, friends..."] - 8 pages - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 73 (Oct 1962)
  • Woody Woodpecker/Space Mouse - Front Cover - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 74 (Dec 1962)
  • Space Mouse - The Egg Planet Plot - 8 pages - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 74 (Dec 1962)
  • Woody Woodpecker/Space Mouse/Andy Panda - Front Cover - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 75 (March 1963)
  • Space Mouse - The Brainy Season  - 10 pages - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 75 (March 1963)
  • Space Mouse - Sticky Business - 4 pages - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 79 (March 1964)
  • Space Mouse - Tasty Trap - 1 page text story - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 83 (March 1965)
  • Space Mouse - Laugh and Let Laugh - 1 page text story - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 84 (April 1965)
  • Space Mouse - Cat Napping - 1 page text story - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 85 (June 1965)
  • Space Mouse - Out of the Blue - 1 page text story - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 86 (Aug 1965)
  • Space Mouse - A Cosmic Catastrophe - 1 page text story - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 88 (June 1965)
  • Space Mouse - Pie-in-the-Sky - 1 page text story - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 90 (April 1966)
  • Space Mouse - A Tricky Sticky Trap - 1 page text story - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 93 (Oct 1966)
  • Space Mouse - The Million Dollar Idea - 5 pages - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 103 (Nov 1968) - (reprinted from FC #1244)

Woody Woodpecker Specials[]

  • Space Mouse - The Christmas Tree Roundup - 8 pages - Dell Giant #54 - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker's Christmas Party (Dec 1961)
  • Space Mouse - Snowball Satellites - 10 pages - Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker Christmas Parade 1 (Jan 1969)

Golden Comics Digest[]

  • Space Mouse - Meteor Menace - 8 pages - Golden Comics 1 (May 1969) - (reprinted from SM #2)
  • Space Mouse - Space Fair - 8 pages - Golden Comics 3 (July 1969) - (reprinted from SM #1)
  • Space Mouse - Dragon Train - 10 pages - Golden Comics 8 (Jan 1970) - (reprinted from SM #3)
  • Space Mouse - The Four-Headed Giant - 7 pages - Golden Comics 12 (Aug 1970) - (reprinted from SM #3)
  • Space Mouse - Aboard the Mechnical Moon  - 8 pages - Golden Comics 16 (March 1971) - (reprinted from SM #5)
  • Space Mouse - The Magnetic Menace  - 10 pages - Golden Comics 20 (Nov 1971) - (reprinted from SM #4)
  • Space Mouse - Exiled in Space - 13 pages - Golden Comics 24 (July 1972) - (reprinted from FC #1244)
  • Space Mouse - Skywriter - 1 page activity - Golden Comics 32 (Sep 1973)
  • Space Mouse - Hop to It - 11 pages - Golden Comics 32 (Sep 1973) - (reprinted from FC #1244)
  • Space Mouse - Space Mouse's Magic Star - 1 page activity - Golden Comics 37 (July 1974) - (reprinted from WW #73)
  • Space Mouse - ["Now, here, friends..."] - 11 pages - Golden Comics 37 (July 1974) - (reprinted from WW #73)

International[]

Editorial Novaro (Mexico)[]

  • Space Mouse - ["Now, here, friends..."] - 8 pages - El Pajaro Loco Numero Extraordinario Novaro August 1 1963 - reprinted from Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker 73 (Oct 1962)

Semic (Finland)[]

  • Space Mouse - Lentava Piirakka (Flying Pie) - 2 page text story - Nakke - 1974 N:o 8
  • Space Mouse - Kuninkaan Vieraat (The King's Guests) - 2 page text story - Nakke - 1974 N:o 12

Merchandise Appearances[]

Misc Merch[]

Coloring Books/Activity Books[]

Puzzles[]

  • Walter Lantz - Big Parade - 1962 Saalfield Inlaid Puzzle #7492
  • Space Mouse - Rocket Cheese - 1962 Saalfield Inlaid Puzzle #7492
  • Space Mouse - Carnival Ride - 1963 Saalfield Inlaid Puzzle #7489
  • Woody Woodpecker - Space Race - Jaymar Floor Puzzle #1707

Board/Card Games[]

  • Walter Lantz - Dominos Game
  • Space Mouse Card Game - 1964 Fairchild
  • Woody Woodpecker - Moon Dash - 1976 Whitman #7122F

Video Games[]

Gallery[]

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