| Type | Towing Service |
| Location | Mobile |
| Owner(s) | Cap'n Barney Keel |
| Featured in | Catfish Joe |
The Arbutus is a tugboat and towing service featured in the 1943 comic book series Catfish Joe by Larry Harris, having first appeared in issue #46 of Pep Comics.
Overview[]
The Arbutus was originally an ordinary tugboat owned by Cap'n Barney Keel who used to work in the Boston Harbor, but after so many years of looking at the same old docks and warehouses, he decided to take his business in a new direction, completely modifying his old tugboat into a four-wheeled amphibious vehicle that could now travel on land and water. This now allowed him to continue carrying out his business while freely traveling across the country alongside his granddaughter, Kitty Keel.
Aside from the tugboat, Cap'n Keel also lugs around a larger tugboat-turned-mobile home, the Kitty K., named after his granddaughter where they both reside when not on the move or working.
History[]
During one notable winter season, Cap'n Keel along with his granddaughter took the Arbutus and the Kitty K. on a cross-country trip to the south to enjoy a warmer climate, and along the way, they came across the traveling hillbilly Catfish Joe who along with his pet bird Gabby was on his way to the town of Mudcat over the mountains. Noticing that they were both heading the same way, Cap'n Keel decided to give the lad a lift, with both telling each other about themselves and their reasons for traveling while Kitty Keel remained peacefully asleep in the Kitty K..
The crew of the Arbutus rescuing animals during a flood
Their conversation was cut short though when they came across a valley that had been flooded due to a broken dam. It was then that Cap'n Keel demonstrated his amphibious ship's full capabilities as it naturally transitioned from land to water without issue. As they explored the flooded area, they discovered many animals in need of rescuing, spurring Cap'n Keel, Joe and a now awake Kitty to save them before they drowned. They even discovered a hippo that wasn't even native to the area and decided to bring it along as well.
After leaving the flooded area, they released the animals onto dryer land and soon discovered the hippo's owner, the famed African explorer, Lady Biddleboot and returned the hippo home, allowing the group to continue their travels. However, their journey together was cut short as they reached a police roadblock, with the officer informing them that the mountain road had been washed away during a storm and that the only trail to Mudcat was by foot. Cap'n Keel and Kitty then parted ways with their new friend as he continued his trek over the stormy mountains.