Part 2 about the popularity of the Grumman F9F-2 Panter and the F9F-6 Cougar in aviation series 'Buck Danny".
Both Grumman jets appeared regularly in the Buck Danny albums #13 from 1954 until #24 from 1961.
The re-prints had during many decades on the back-cover a scene with F9F Cougars showing also an incomplete list of previous released Buck Danny albums. This scene for the first time appeared in 1959, on the back cover of the first edition of Volume 20:
The scene then lasted until Volume 24, and had a comeback with Volume 27.
Page 1 of Buck Danny #21 (“A prototype has disappeared”) from 1960 shows only a Grumman F9F-8P photo-reconnaissance jet (the story begins on page 3):
From Buck Danny #18 (released in 1957), page 27: Buck Danny in a F9F-2 Panther:
With Buck’s left hand on the throttle, that’s correct. Below:
apparantly the artist Victor Hubinon liked this scene, and he re-drew it in mirror, and it became the back cover art of volume #24 from 1961. (Probably this mirrored scene than works better as an album cover.). Back covers of a first edition having an unique drawing was during many years common (examples ASAP); re-prints had always the above mensioned scene with Cougars.
This mirrored drawing was often re-used for other occasions. See also my other post about the F9F Panther in aviation series 'Buck Danny".
A test print from the cover of Buck Danny - Short Stories volume 2/2 (June 2020):
At the edges is more visable from the drawings than on the final issue…
Painter and Buck Danny fan Gerard Weygand drew this painting, with Sonny Tuckson, Jerry Tumbler and Buck Danny next to a F9F-2 Panther:
Another Buck Danny fan made diorama with a scene from Buck Danny #18:
In the 80s for the first time the the Buck Danny albums were bundled, usually 4 albums per bundle.
Before artist Francis Bèrgese could start with the Buck Danny albums ( Victor Hubinon died after finishing Volume 40), he at first drew the 16 covers of the 16 bundles. Below bundle 7 from 1986, with F9F-6 Cougars:
Grumman F9F-6 Cougars on the back cover of the first edition of Buck Danny #18 (1958):
© Victor Hubinon
Cover-art Buck Danny #22 (from 1960) with Cougars too:
Ditto, page 1:
Page 1 from Buck Danny #19, with a F9F-2 Panther:
F9F-2 Panther in Buck Danny #16:
© Jean-Michel Arroyo (Buck Danny Classic, cycle 1)
(from Buck Danny #15; © Victor Hubinon, 50s)
From Buck Danny Classic #2; © J.-M. Arroyo
© Victor Hubinon, 50s
August 2020: promo publisher Hachette, France:
(scene from buck Danny #18, page 25)
And this year the beginning of Angel Wings #7 (from 8): “In Korea”:
Preview from Angel Wings #7 (Oct. 2021), with F9F-2 Panther too:
© R. Hugault, Jan. 18, 2021
Secret- in Lace poster with F9F-2 Panther too:
© R. Hugault, Febr. 2021