Buying a Used Car

 

cover art tentatively credited to John Costanza

When the heck did Bugs and Sam become friends?

Well, the comic book version of the Looney Tunes universe was always different in some key ways than the more anarchic cartoon version, as was discussed in this post. In the comics, for instance, Yosemite Sam and Bugs Bunny are often portrayed as... well, as.... I'm having trouble typing it. They are actually... FRIENDS!

For instance, Yosemite Sam #47 (September 1977) includes the story "Jalopy Jive," by an unidentified writer and artist. In the very first panel, Sam is showing up at Bugs' home for a dinner date and Bugs is expressing concern over how exhausted Sam looks.

Sam was chased by alley cats while walking to Bugs' place. In fact, without a car, Sam is often suffering transportation woes. So Bugs talks Sam into buying a car and the two soon find themselves at a used car lot. Sam finds a car he likes, but its a bit pricey.

Sam is discouraged, but Bugs has yet another idea! Get a junk car from the junkyard for a few bucks and use that as a trade-in. Then Sam's remaining cash will be enough to buy the car he wants.

The junk car they find has no motor, but Bugs figures they can push it down a hill and coast it to the used car lot. But this doesn't quite work out. The car instead coasts onto a railroad track and... well, it really doesn't work out. 

Notice, by the way, that Sam mentions he had to jump clear to save his life. That's one of the major differences between the animated universe and the comic book universe. In the comics, physical death is a real possibility. 

Another chance to earn the car money suddenly turns up when Sam is offered 20 bucks to deliver a package. But this ends up getting him involved in a counterfeiting ring.

In the end, Sam decides to work for the used car salesman, earning his new car... one piece at a time.

It's a cute story, though the counterfeiting ring gag is a little too random and doesn't flow as naturally out of the story's premise as do the other gags. And, of course, it can be difficult to adjust to Bugs and Sam being pals. It's possibly the most bizarre occurance ever in the inherantly bizarre Looney Tunes multiverse.

Next week, we'll travel back to World War II and follow the adventures of a combat engineer.