THE BLONDIE FILES

 As the previous post covered only the content of the 15 issues of McKay Comics, this one covers the five available issues from Harvey Comics, starting circa 1961.

Here's a rare scene of Blondie having clouted Dagwood with a rolling pin, which in the 20th century became a "feminine equalizer" in the midst of male-female quarrels.

On the rare occasions that Dagwood was mauled by a woman using hand-to-hand combat, it was usually a battleaxe like the one above. Incidentally, a 19790s comic book by Charlton recycled this double-mangling and had Dagwood say something like, "at least she doesn't know kung fu."

The most frequently seen battleaxe in BLONDIE's history was Cora Dithers, wife of Dagwood's boss Julius Dithers. One of Chic Young's favorite jokes was to have Dithers hide from his wife in the Bumstead house. Then Cora would intrude and beat up Dithers, and sometimes Dagwood if he got in the way. Perhaps the Dithers were a forecast of what would happen to Dagwood once Blondie got older, heavier, and meaner.

More innocent sadism from Blondie.

And then, some not-so-innocent punishment. More proof that Blondie would become a real termagant, if it were possible for her to age.

Here's a rare moment when Dagwood gets to watch some other poor schmuck being beat up by his wife. Note his obvious admiration of the wife: "it's remarkable how these little women can punch" and "She must have taken boxing lessons when she was young." For Blondie's part, she's just as enthralled with watching the carnage as Dagwood, but she refuses to admit it as Dagwood does.

Occasionally Dagwood was also entertained when his neighbor Herb would apparently get thrashed by his angry wife Tootsie, though of the jokes I've seen, the fights are usually off-panel. This time Blondie doesn't take pleasure in scoping out a fighting couple. Note the rolling pin reference.