Allan Hubbard was one of the most prominent artists for the comic books with animation studio-licensed characters published by Western Publishing, including many funny animal work. His work is recognizable because of its thick inking, and his often loose panel borders. He started out as an inbetweener at the Walt Disney Studios in 1937, and left after the big strike in 1941. He then turned to comic book art, working through the Sangor Shop. He did funny animal art for Better Publications, Rural Home and ACG, and was also an artist for ACG's 'Spencer Spook' and 'Bungle of the Jungle' stories.
Wirey (Merry-Go-Round #2, Standard, April 1948)
He shared a commercial art studio with Hubie Karp, Jim Davis and Jack Bradbury between 1948 and 1951. During this period he produced funny animal art and features like 'Tito and his Burrito' for National/DC.
The Adventures of Peter Wheat #45
By 1950 he joined Dell Publishing and he remained with this company throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He drew stories with licensed characters from MGM (Hanna-Barbera's 'Tom & Jerry', 'Spike & Tyke', 'Andy Hardy') and Walter Lantz ('Andy Panda'). He was the main artist of the Warner Bros feature 'Mary Jane and Sniffles' (characters created by Chuck Jones), who appeared in the titles Looney Tunes, Four Color and various Dell Giants. He also produced 'The Adventures of Peter Wheat' (giveaways from 1950 to 1956) with Del Connell, which he took over from Walt Kelly, but he is best known for his Disney comic art.
Mary Jane & Sniffles (Looney Tunes #188)
Hubbard has illustrated numerous stories starring 'Chip 'n' Dale', 'Bambi' and especially 'Scamp'. In the 1950s he was one of the first artists who often used the character of Jiminy Cricket (from the 'Pinocchio' movie) in his Disney work. Hubbard has illustrated several comic adaptations of Disney films, such as 'Jungle Book', 'The Lady and the Tramp', 'The Aristocats' and 'Peter Pan'. He was the main artist for the 'Aristocats' related comic book 'O'Malley and the Alley Cats' in the 1970s.
Donald, Fethry and Tabby in the 1964 story 'The Cat Caper' (from Le Journal de Mickey #1532, 1981)
Hubbard additionally did art for Disney coloring books and children's books, as well as stories for international Disney publications through the Disney Studios between 1963 and 1977. In 1963 Hubbard and writer Dick Kinney introduced Donald's beatnik cousin 'Fethry Duck' to the Duck universe. He also originated other characters in Disney comics, such as 'Hard Haid Moe', 'Hustler Duck', 'Belle Duck', 'Tabby', 'Double-O-Duck' and 'Mata Harrier'. Allan Hubbard passed away in Fallbrook, California, in 1984.
Scamp - The Bone Mix-Up (Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #245, 1961)