A Lot of Potential Class

Hi folks! Back (way back) when brang new Pogo strips would come delivered to my door every Sunday, I would almost take for granted that such a thing would go on and on forever. But during the period reflected in this strip I had a hint, just a hint, that Kelly's artwork was starting to diminish—the richness of detail was starting to dry up. At the same time I was distracted by real world details (such as at the time of this strip, it was my first month in basic training), so I didn't think much about it.

I didn't know at the time that Kelly had diabetes and was feeling the consequences of the illness. I empathize with the task of working while ill. 

LLK

March 26, 1972

Good Cheer! Good Cheer!

Well, most of us Pogophiles have seen this selection of Pogo in black and white, published here and there, as well as an early post on this blog. But I, personally, have not seen the colorized version presented here, thoughtfully sent over by Friend-in-Kelly Richard Davidson. 

This, as you see, was printed in the Daily News Magazine in 1987, well past Kelly's passing, but still a legitimate bauble in the Kelly treasure trove of Christmas ephemera.

It's fun to see Kelly's photo looking all curmudgeonly, and the writing in the introduction is nicely done by Jay Maeder.

Kelly's art is equally enjoyed (at least by me) in its lush black and white AND its lush colorized versions. So, this is a lovely stocking stuffer for Christmas Eve.

Open the door, Richard!

Bright Christmas Land

Things have been a little tough around here for a while, and I was dimly prepared to skip over any Kelly Christmas joy this year. But, like out of a Grinchy type story, someone comes along and saves Christmas for Whirled of Kelly. 

Just yesterday, and like a present tumbling from a sack, Richard Davidson sent over some Kelly joy that brightens our spirits. Tonight I can share a rarity that most of us have only seen in black and white — Kelly's carol of a Bright Christmas Land. And the Newsweek cover that we've sometimes seen in color is the best scan I've yet seen of it.

And tomorrow, thanks to Richard, I get to share  another colorful bit of Kelly Kandy that most of us have only seen in black and white.

Thank you Richard! Our spirits have been brightened!

 

Okefenokee Mudwumps

Let's jump to 1972 where I'm not sure if this is the beginning of a new arc, or maybe we've landed in the middle of one—I don't have time to check that out. How-some-ever, for your viewing pleasure, I DID take time to clean up a mess of registration and bleed-through problems.

Happy solstice weekend, y'all.

March 19, 1972

That's What This Country's All About

I don't blame Owl for wondering just what Albert is doing to his unicorn. No other strip in the comic section came close to matching Kelly's Boorawp.

 July 4, 1971

Above, a close-up view of a sort-of complex panel made even MORE complex by having another partially seen Pogo marching behind Seminole Sam. It's the same pose as the seen Pogo, making it seem like it's maybe a paste-up? Anyone have access to a scan of the original art to see what that's all about?

There is something really great about a Kelly original, between the blue penciling that shows part of the thought process and the lush inking that otherwise sometimes get obscured with colored dots and such on the printed page.

This is the original art for the strip just previously posted, along with the 'extra panel' that comes with the landscape format. Last post's comments gave us a link to view it, but Friend-in-Kelly Jerry Keslensky was nice enough to send over a jpeg of it, so we could present it here on the main stage.

Pogo — June 27, 1971 — original art

A Fierce an' Implausible Look!

Kelly could take his silly and implausible storylines and run them to a frazzle. You have to wonder if Kelly knew where he was going from one panel to the next. Nunicorm experts!

Happy Sunday, Kelly Sunday!

June 27, 1971

Come Along, Cheerful Charlies!

Hey kids, let's start a chapter of the Cheerful Charlies!

June 20, 1971