MORE BIG BAD WOLF COVERS FROM BELGIUM (1951-58)

Earlier in this blog (on March 8th), I had posted the scan of my all-time favorite Big Bad Wolf cover, which was from Belgium's French-language Mickey Magazine and promised to post the scans of other BBW covers from the same magazine. Above is the first BBW cover of MM, no. 51 from 1951. The art is by an unknown artist who seems to have drawn only a few covers in 1951, at least i this rather unusual painting style. Below are the remaining BBW covers of MM: no.'s 186, 194, 198, 209, 211, 226, 230, 249, 295, 401 and 412. The artist of the first three covers below is known to be Tenas. It seems BBW was most popular in 1954 as six of the total of 13 BBW covers from MM's run in the 1950s is from that year. Most of the illustrations are derived from situations depicted in comics.

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.