BIG BAD WOLF IN BRITAIN'S MICKEY MOUSE (1947)

The above scan is of the cover of no. 448 (dated Sept. 20th, 1947) of Britain's Mickey Mouse magazine and marks the first-ever cover appearance of Li'l Wolf anywhere in the world, as well as the first re-appearance of Big Bad Wolf in the cover of a British publication in the post-war era.
In 1947, the Big Bad Wolf also appeared in some illustrated text stories in Mickey Mouse. The first one, titled as 'The Mystery of the Missing Pig' and published in 431, is very interesting due to its un-typicality. One of the pigs is missing and Mickey and the gang take the Big Bad Wolf to Disneyville's police as the usual suspect for interrogation where he is cleared of blame.

Eventually, it turns out that the Practical Pig himself had unknowingly locked up his own brother in a coal shed!.. The Big Bad Wolf also appears in 'Sergeat Duck, Sir' published in no. 450 where he takes part in war games organized on Mickey's birthday:

MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE BIG BAD WOLF COVER

In most covers, the Big Bad Wolf is shown either being outsmarted by the pigs or his son or in cunning poses. This one of the very few covers in which he is shown in a dignified manner. Not only is his pose defiant, but in a very cool way. The amazed looks on the faces of the Li'l Wolf ad the Br'er Bear is also priceless. The bear is exposed as the bully he is while the Li'l Wolf is reduced to a spectatorship role.
It is the cover of no. 173 (dated Jan. 29th, 1954) of Belgium's French-language Mickey Magazine -which I have framed in my living room. The art is attributed to Ténas (Louis Santel), who also acted as the editor of the magazine.
The Big Bad Wolf appeared in about a dozen more covers of Mickey Magazine throughout the 1950s, which will collectively be the subject of the next post in this blog.