Comical Books

The Pogo comical books are a treasure trove of Kelly wit and foolery, all in color and for a thin dime (well, nowadays more like a fat check). In this rushing headlong whirled, it's nice to smell the old newsprint and meditate on the slow and gentle life in the Okefenokee.

From the back cover of Pogo Possum #5, May-July 1951

We Shall Snook Up

A hundred years ago this morning . . . no, wait . . . it only seems like a hundred years ago. Forty five years ago this morning:

Happy Sunday, Kelly Sunday!

Oh, Frabjous Day, Collooh Collay

I had a request come in the other day, via email, from a very nice person wanting to find a specific Kelly work. This person had a vivid memory of a funny story with Albert reciting Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky, not having seen it for over fifty years!

I couldn't place it right away and it took me awhile to locate it, trying all the Pogo book collections, finally finding it in the Pogo comic books (#10, 1952). One of the reasons it took me so long (besides having a spotty memory) is that I was looking for a story entitled Jabberwocky. Who woulda thought it'd be titled Mother's Gooseberry Rinds?! Albert really hams it up.

This post is dedicated to Sandy—and Lewis Carroll fans everywhere!

Amazement

Just for the sake of amazement, I want to show 3 sample raw scans (the rest of them are just as damaged) of what Yoc had to start with, in restoring life & readability for the #14 issue of Peter Wheat:

And of course, it's just as amazing that OtherEric saw the potential of the issue and invested the time and money to share it with the rest of us.

All Has Been Peaceful

We've now had the pleasure of viewing Walt Kelly's The Adventures of Peter Wheat, from the beginning—with issues one, two and three—and I would dearly love to continue in consecutive order. But rather than wait an indeterminate amount of time until we can locate the next issue, I think we can handle a bit of jumping around.

OtherEric has continued to share his quest's rare bounty with us and has come up with issue #14, which came to him in pretty poor shape—barely clinging to life. His Digital Comic Museum colleague, Yoc, did a terrific job of resurrecting the scans to an enjoyable state. I added a few more touches and — whoosh — we rejoin the Wheat Field epic, already in progress.

Thank you OtherEric and Yoc!

Grimbimbles! Moomsnops!

I'm posting the Sunday Kelly Sunday strip tonight, on Saturday night, so you can see it first thing in the morning. It's been a long week of deadlines, life is crazy, and I fell and bummed up my knee. I'm going to bed and I plan to sleep in as long as Father's Day allows me.

Happy Father's Day!

Peter Wheat Has Captured Dragonel

With heartfelt thanks again to OtherEric of the Digital Comic Museum for the scans and support, we proudly present the continuing (#3) Adventures of Peter Wheat.

As you read these tales, put yourself into the frame of mind of a bright, curious and adventurous child—one that has not been contaminated by the mind-numbing assault on the senses that many children face from today's media. Allow yourself to daydream between the panels, to imagine a world where fantasy is reality. Remember that this might be a child's first exposure to the intrigues of conflict, with its concepts of honor and bravery, justice and treachery.

We hope to bring you even more of this fascinating realm of the Whirled of Kelly. In order to do so we need to hear from you. Please leave a comment letting us know if you are enjoying The Adventures of Peter Wheat.

'Bear is Doing Poorly'

Good morning. It's Sunday, Kelly Sunday.

Betwixt Snores

Let's keep moving on.

This Pogo Sunday was what we postponed from last Sunday, so I'll post it now so that this coming Sunday's post will keep up with our little conceit of this year using the same calendar as 1965. Then keep coming back, not just for more and more Sundays, but for more Peter Wheat and other Kelly treasures.

For the Sheer Fun of It

Over on the Pictorial Arts blog, I relate how my mom really jump-started my love of comics and images when I was but a tad.

Here on Whirled of Kelly, I'm reposting one of the images that my parents created together for the sheer fun of it, based on a Walt Kelly cover. My connection to and love of Kelly art began before I was even born!

Thanks Mom. Rest in peace.

After a short time in hospice, my mother passed away yesterday, peacefully, as I sat with her. Deadlines and blogs are set aside for a few days.