The First Service Animal In Comics

Rex is a common name for a dog, but Great Publication's Rex The Seeing-Eye Dog was a cut above the rest since he is also a service animal as well as a comic book canine companion. Starring only in Issues 2-3 of Choice Comics, Rex was drawn by Pagsilang "Rey" Isip who also provided art for Wings Bordon and Shangra, but the author is absent from getting any credit, possibly to remain anonymous, even though whoever it was clearly intended for the comic to draw attention to the visually impaired. Both stories ended with an epilogue urging readers to help anyone with a white stick by crossing the street or getting on a bus, a noble effort to establish in young minds. Our main human character is Dan Baxter, a veteran circus owner who is helped around by his seeing-eye dog Rex. His daughter Laura is a trapeze artist that keeps getting hit on by the aerialist Karl, of which Rex is usually there to scare off. Laura reads a letter from the circus' animal dealer Jeffries who wants the money owed to him after he sold them a newest menagerie or he'll take over the circus. Rex saves Dan from a runaway lion cage followed by the circus strong man getting murdered by Jeffries, who Rex sniffs out for his evil deeds, plus the greedy Karl with his own vain efforts to gain Laura's attention. The second and last adventure has the trainer Rhama being killed by his leopard Sheik as it escapes which Rex spends the majority of the story chasing after. It turns out that Sheik's escape was set up by the sneaky Alex who wanted to steal Rhama's jewel in his costume turban as its worth a fortune. Rex is an exception to the stereotypical comics' wonder dog as he is not only a loyal friend to his master including being his eyes, but also going above the call of duty by fighting off wild animals to protect his human friends. The plot of shady deals in the backdrop of a circus isn't a new idea to Golden Age comic book stories, even though Rex manages to take it to a different stage by adding the element of a super-pet to the mix.