Who are "Sugar and Spike?"

        You are probably asking yourself that right now -- unless you know that they are one of the most precious and precocious duos in the history of comics.
        They were created by one man, Sheldon Mayer, who also wrote and drew the comics for what was then called "National Periodical Publications" -- now DC Comics -- from 1956 to 1971 when they were published bi-monthly. 
        Mr. Mayer was the man who discovered Superman back during his tenure as editor at the McClure Syndicate, he then assisted in recommending the book to DC Comics.  During his tenure as editor at DC Comics, he was also instrumental in giving a start to the characters Green Lantern, the Flash, Wildcat, Wonder Woman,  and was credited with helping co-create the Justice Society of America with Gardner Fox; he also wrote many issues of Black Orchid.  He is also credited with hiring seminal artists, writers and editors such as Julius Schwartz, Alfred Bester, Alex Toth, Robert Kanigher, Joe Kubert, and Gil Kane among others.
        Prior to Sugar and Spike's debut in 1956, Mayer worked as both an editor for DC Comics and as writer and illustrator for Scribbly, a comic about the adventures of a boy cartoonist.
        Sugar and Spike were two tiny tots who were old enough to get into trouble but a little too young to talk.  As a result, they communicated in baby talk -- with baby everythings -- but were incomprehensible to any adults, especially their mostly- unseen (except from behind word balloons) parents.  The jumble of syllables that made up their conversations were unintelligible to adults, but Mayer kindly translated it for his readers. 
        The whimsical comic book managed to generate an amazing number of variations on the theme, thus earning real and lasting affection from its audience during its 15-year run.
        Another element that set Sugar and Spike apart from other comic books -- even within the humor genre -- was the level of interactivity Mayer encouraged from his audience.  Children of all ages contributed plot ideas and costumes and props for the kids with the popular "Pint-Size Pin-Ups" feature and filled in their own word balloons with the "Write Your Own Comic Page" page.