The Pink Panther #9

The Pink Panther #9 was published by Gold Key Comics in 1975, emerging during the peak of the character's popularity following the success of the animated theatrical shorts and television segments. This series sought to translate the silent, slapstick antics of the Inspector Clouseau-adjacent feline into a printed medium, relying on visual gags and expressive illustrations to maintain the spirit of the original animation.

The comic features the signature minimalist design aesthetic synonymous with Friz Freleng and David DePatie’s animation studio, though the comic-specific artwork was executed by Western Publishing’s in-house staff. While critical reception at the time viewed these books as accessible light entertainment for younger audiences, they have since become valued by collectors for their historical connection to 1970s animation tie-in culture and the distinctively clean, mid-century graphic style of the Pink Panther character design.