Plop! (1973) 10

Welcome to December and the Christmas rush.

Well, the Christmas rush has already begun, but this is as good a day as any to celebrate, commiserate and/or commemorate the buying season.

Who better to greet the season than some old friends from the Bronze Age, Cain, Able and Eve?

By issue 10, the triumvirate of terror had been hosting the humor/horror anthology nearly two years. It would also mark the final issue sans advertisements.

For the uninitiated, Cain, Able and Eve are raconteurs plying their skills on any who will listen – and, even more so on those who won’t.

This time, the three have stolen away in Santa’s sleigh as he makes his Christmas Eve journey. When the finally reveal themselves – and intent – Santa is less than gracious, but hears their stories anyway.

Plop! (1973) 10

Not that he has much choice.

Cain opens the trio of tales with androclutz and the Lion.

1. Nelson Bridwell and Joe Orlando take much liberty with The Lion and the Thorn fable all while David Maniak illustrates.

“Androklutz is the nicest kid on the block,” so say Bridwell and Orlando. The protagonist would stop at nothing to champion what he felt was right. From risking his life to save drowning persons to pulling an annoying thorn from a strange lion’s paw.

No matter the deed, small or big, Androklutz always learned no good deed goes unpunished. Even unto death.

Eve tortures Santa next with …A Change of Diet!!

Creator and friend learn that pets will bite the hand that feeds them.

Able is the final tale teller with The Secret Origin of Grooble Man.

Steve Skeates and Sergio Aragones serve up John Jacobson’s story of word power. The four-page account is as long as it needs to be as good intentions are dashed with one utterance.

Each recital is interspersed with one- and two-page joke panels while the stories are bookended with Sergio Aragones art and wit. All are tied up with the South American showman’s usual disposal of the hosts as they lament the lack of appreciation for their craft and themselves.

For a more detailed history of Plop!, please refer to our earlier offering for Easter with issue five.