Illustrative Portraiture

This is a fairly rare example of Kelly's illustrative portraiture, this of friend John Lardner. I wonder how many more examples might exist.

The Little Folk Over the Hill

To me this is an exceedingly appealing 1935 page by the 22 year old Walt Kelly — exhibiting influence by Harrison Cady and perhaps other cartoonists who were drawing scenes akin to this. 

These characters are prescient of Kelly's later drawings of Brownies and fairy tale little folk.

Kelly On a Run

Kelly on a run as he rummaged around the world in the early '60s, filing reports from hither and yon. Some of his reports have been reprinted here and there, like Berlin and such, but I wonder if there are more to be found.

A Grand Old Tradition

1956

Rumors That the Swamp is Drying Up

We interrupt this series of dailies to bring you a special 2-pager from a Collier's Magazine article from April 29, 1955!

Illustrated by Walter Kelly

Ahem. Thank you gentlemen who have commented recently (are there no vocal ladies of the female women-types who treasure Kelly?) about their desire to see this blog continue.  

I would be sad to step away from this effort of love. Therefore, I will endeavor to continue demonstrating that love of all things Kelly...I just can't promise that the posts will be as regular as they have tried to be, but it sounds like the vocal Friends-of-Kelly are Oh-Kay with that. Someone has suggested that perhaps I make this blog by invitation only—to those that have spoken up of their love of Kelly's genius. Hmm. Still, my hope has been to keep Kelly's spirit alive by inspiring new followers of his work. 

Remember that I intend showcasing ALL things Kelly — such as this very early effort by Kelly that originally was intended for the Sunday supplements, but ended up being archived in one of the very earliest comic books, somewhat before that fellow from Krypton started throwing his weight around.

Yes, I Go Pogo, but I also shout above the digital tumult:

LONG LIVE KELLY!

New Comics #2, January 1936

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!

 

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO MR. KELLY

Today is Walt Kelly's 100th birthday!!!

We Kelly fans may be somewhat finite in number, but infinite in appreciation of Kelly's outstanding cartooning career!

Please make your way over to view a labor of love, a tasty tribute, a chestful of cheer:

Delineated Life: Celebrating Walt Kelly and His Work

It's not a biography, it's not a checklist, it's not comprehensive of all his work. It's a birthday tribute! Let me know what you think of it.

Use your controls to get the zine to full screen, and then click on the bottom right or left to flip the pages forward or backward. Click once on any given page to enlarge it for better readability and click once again on the page to revert to the double spreads. I hope you like it! 

The Wealthy Gumbeaux Family Birthright

1973 was a harsh year for Walt Kelly, having suffered a painful illness that only got worse until he left us permanently in October of that year. Many of the published strips were reruns and pastiches of old ones, and there was a run where the strip was just a pale shadow of its former self, before collapsing into other people's hands.

But yet we've seen that some of these '73 strips are still invitingly written and drawn. I am uncertain of the provenance of strips from that year, but these last few feel right and proper and this opening panel is some of the old Sunday fancery, what with a shrugging tree and coal-carrying-critter, seeming like part of a lovely last hurrah.

March 5, 1972

Update: Well call me a potato and poke me in the eye, I totally misread the copyright date and didn't bother looking at previous posts to catch myself. Craig caught my mistake and you can ignore my blathering above. I would delete the post and start over, but that wouldn't be fair to Craig and his comment. Though I did change the date above to the corrECT 1972 date. Thanks Craig!

Seriously!

We're serious here about celebrating Walt Kelly's one hundredth birthday!  Pictorial Arts Journal now has an imprint, called Delineated Life, which will alternate with the Journal—to showcase great artists and their work. Below is a preview of the cover I've designed for the upcoming number, publishing online August 25. I am still humbly requesting any and all cartoonists that have felt the love for Kelly's work to step forward with some sort of tribute art that conveys your feelings. It could be a memory, a shout-out, a rumination—voiced by your own characters or any creative manner you are inspired to.

Please spread the word to fellow cartoonists and animators! We need jpegs of your art by the week of August 4, but please sooner if you can. Each artist will get a bio blurb and link to their website.

C'mon! We're serious!

Design and portrait artwork copyright © Thomas Haller Buchanan

Cartoon artwork copyright © Walt Kelly Estate

Donald Duck character owned by Walt Disney Productions

I'd love for this cover to be reposted, but only if it is 

promoting the magazine and has a link to this blog.

Centennial Birthday

There is a milestone birthday coming up this August. A birthday of one who is no longer among us, but one whose work will live for lifetimes to come.

Walt Kelly was born 100 years ago on this upcoming August 25. As unofficial celebrant of the work of Walt Kelly, the Whirled of Kelly site takes it upon itself to be the unofficial celebrant of the centennial day of the man who some of us consider to be the greatest cartoonist of all time.

My time has been fully occupied as of late, as I have just come off a prolonged effort of producing a prototype online journal that promotes the significance of the arts that will be free of charge to readers. But now I'd like to take the time and effort to produce a special edition of that journal to honor the significance of the art of Kelly.

I know this is short notice, being less than 2 months away, but I am asking all fans of Kelly to consider a way to help us mark the day of August 25 in a special way.

Over the last couple of years we have had a number of Friends-in-Kelly lovingly share some beautiful Kelly material (with more waiting in the wings). 

I am requesting now that professional cartoonists and artists come up with some art and/or narrative, in their own unique way that will pay tribute to Kelly and his work—all to be published in a special edition of The Pictorial Arts Journal to be made available online in a magazine format, free of charge to all.

 I am broadcasting an appeal world-wide, to professionals and talented enthusiasts to draw, paint, write or otherwise create material that can be sent via email for inclusion in this special birthday edition.

We will need to receive all digital work via email by no later than Sunday, August 4, 2013—to allow 3 weeks for production of the issue.

Can you do it? Will you do it? Some of you who 'toon in here are professionals, and you know other pros who know other pros, etc. Can all of us spread the word to ask for talent to pay tribute to this man whose work has enriched so many of us?

Our foremost Friend-in-Kelly is a man who signs his comments as 'Hun', short for TransAtlantic Hun, meaning he of the Germanic realm. I have corresponded with Hun for quite a while now, and no one loves Kelly's work more than he. Many have equal love, but none more, it seems. Hun approached me some time last year about starting a campaign to have the US Postal Service issue a commemorative stamp honoring Kelly's centennial birthday. I was tied up with trying to make a living, as I am now, so that  my time would not have been of value to spearhead the campaign. As well, I felt that the Postal Service probably needed more time than a year to make it happen. For all I know, some other entity has succeeded in navigating the process to have such a stamp issued. But to honor Hun for thinking of it and to honor Kelly, because we all adore him, I've mocked up a stamp that I wish could have existed for real. I'm going to use this stamp as an icon of the campaign that I'm spearheading now to request tribute art from all who recognize Kelly's importance to the arts.

I'm taking a risk here of getting in trouble with the Postal Service, with the Kelly family heirs and with who knows who else. But c'mon, you know the love I give this blogsite. This is important and worth the risk. Please spread the word.

We need placement-ready jpeg art or Word document essays by August 4. And please, sooner than that if you can, so the final layout won't be terribly crunched. Anyone can email me if you want to discuss ideas or have questions or have information on contacting hard-to-contact professionals. Bill Watterson, are you out there?

My email for any part of this project is bueyokyan@gmail.com

Oh, and Happy Sunday, Kelly Sunday!

"The friends I have are the best in all the world!"

Hi guys! This is a Sweet Saturday post of some guy's work that has ripped off Walt Kelly's style, for a children's book no less! I tell you me, what some people won't do!

I . . . what? What's that? You mean? Oh. Oh. Well. That's completely different . . . never mind . . .

It seems that this lovely children's book work IS by Walt Kelly, using the pseudonym Tony Maclay.

Foolishness aside here, I've been searching used bookstores for years for this legendary side-step by Kelly. Never did find it. I saw a few black and white reproductions in fanzines and thought I'd never ever have the chance to see the book in color.  Well, that's where Whirled of Kelly was one of the best obsessions I've ever taken on, because thanks to it, I (and you) have friends-in-Kelly who are willing to share their rare Kelly items, such as "The Downy Duck" by Tony Maclay (psst, Walt Kelly).

Thank you and many handshakes to Richard Davidson, he of great Kelly knowledge, who has been sending over some lovely items, of which this is one. I did a few color edits, but these are really nice scans. Everyone, shake hands with Richard and convey your thanks!

Happy Sweet Saturday!

 Walt Kelly as Tony Maclay — The Downy Duck — 1946

WOW

WOW, wonderful sharing going on here. Mark Mayerson just now sent over jpegs of two more Story Book Records designed by Kelly. More and more it seems that Walt Kelly was one of the finest purveyors of fairy tale lore of the 20th century!

Thanks Mark!!!

Rare Kelly Gems

It is so wonderful that The Whirled of Kelly has brought together some of the greatest fans of the greatest cartoonist of the 20th century (my opinion, and maybe one or two of you as well). In coming together, some of you have shared such terrific treasures over many many posts.

Here now is another set of rare Kelly gems shared with us by Richard Davidson. In his words:

This is a set of Story Book Records circa 1946. According to an article in The Fort Mudge Most, June 1997, not much is known specifically about the company, but it may have been associated with Western Publishing, as it had the same address. There are two known sets and possibly more, each came with four records in illustrated paper sleeves and a color illustrated box. The reader on each record is Walt Kelly himself. The records are heavy cardboard with a thin clear vinyl coating pressed with record grooves. Most later record player needles just skate over the grooves making them difficult, if not impossible, to play.

Kelly, of course, is known for his love of fairy tales and here he adds another dimension by bringing his voice, as well as his art, to the literary form. Does anyone out there have digital recordings from these sets of records?

THANK YOU, RICHARD!!!!

Kandi the Cave Kid

Wow, we're really whirling up some esoteric Kelly material here on the Whirled of Kelly, thanks to several of our friends-in-Kelly. OtherEric of the Digital Comic Museum has come through once again with one of Kelly's early comic book stories.

Here's OtherEric to tell us about it:

When Dell Comics started the Looney Tunes comic book in 1941, they had a surprisingly small number of characters to actually work with; a problem that would affect them throughout the 20+ year run. Bugs Bunny had made his official debut only a year before, and mainstays such as the Road Runner would not debut for years yet. So to fill out the pages, they did a couple of different things. They either took minor characters such as Sniffles and Little Pancho Vanilla and gave them their own feature, or they went right ahead and created new characters and stuck them in as filler. The two most notable of these new features were Kandi the Cave Kid and Pat Patsy & Pete, since Walt Kelly worked on both of them.

Pat Patsy & Pete was not originally by Kelly, although he came in to do the last half-dozen stories; and they are delightful in their own way. But Kandi was apparently an original creation of Kelly's; possibly even his first for comics. Looney Tunes #3 showed up in December 1941, nearly a year before Pogo's debut in Animal Comics #1. In some ways it's a precursor to Kelly's Pandemonia; the early Pandemonia story in Animal Comics almost reads like a leftover idea from Kandi, although that story shows a clearly more experienced Kelly at work both in script and art.

As far as I can tell, there were only six Kandi stories — Overstreet says the character appeared in Looney Tunes 3-6, 8, 11, and 15, but I can verify that he wasn't actually in #6. If anybody has seen any of the other early issues, please let us know if he turns up. I hope that 7th story exists, even if the Guide got the issue wrong! I believe only the story from #5 has been seen on the web before now, courtesy of Pappy: click here.

And now we're pleased to show you the story from #8. Enjoy this look at some of Kelly's earliest comic book work.

Walt Kelly — Looney Tunes #8 — ca 1942

Women Wearing Pants

Quite an early Walt Kelly illustration . . .

I don't have the date for this one or the source

One of the Greatest Cartoonists Ever

A tip of the hat to Kip for a Walt Kelly alert, even though I had already clipped and scanned this strip from yesterday's paper (yes, I still read a newsPAPER). I still read the comics, even though I shake my head at some of em, but Pearls Before Swine is definitely one of the better ones for comic content (yes, even his shaggy pig puns).

Mr. Pastis, if you ever 'toon in here, cheers to you. Long live Kelly!

Power Cookies

I debated with myself whether to post the below Peter Wheat News material here on Whirled of Kelly or over on the Pictorial Arts blog, just because none of this art or writing is by Walt Kelly at all. But it's a quality continuation of his earlier creation, and this viewership already has a familiarity with the series, so, here it is.

The comic book art is by Al Hubbard, a good choice for emulating Kelly's style. You may recognize his style a bit from the Mary Jane and Sniffles series in the Warner Bros franchise of comics. For completist's sake, I've included the covers, front and back, though they truly stray from Kelly.

As always, this material is brought to us with generosity by OtherEric of the Digital Comic Museum. And in fact, here are some words of introduction by him:

Here are two more issues of Peter Wheat News, this time not by Kelly, but by his replacement team of Del Connell and Al Hubbard. As a bonus, these happen to be consecutive issues, 43 and 44, so we can see how the three-parters in News tied together, as well as a look at how the books looked once Kelly left. While the new creators obviously don't live up to the standard that Kelly set, I don't think anybody really could. They do better than most people would, I think — the series remains charming and entertaining, and far better than the average 50s comic book fare. The #43 has been shared as a CBZ before this, but the #44 is new.

I wanted to give a little background on Connell and Hubbard, but ran into difficulty. Connell may have written some of the late Kelly issues of Peter Wheat, and I believe he was on staff at Western. Other than that I really don't know anything about him or his work. Hubbard, on the other hand, I could write about for pages. 99% of what I would write would just be variations of "I love Hubbard's work on Mary Jane & Sniffles", without much real content beyond that. Maybe some other time—it really is one of my favorite series and in my opinion better than any other comics based on the Warner Brothers cartoons by orders of magnitude.

Peter Wheat News #43:

Peter Wheat News #44:

Below, as another bonus, OtherEric has included this full-page back cover to FourColor #474, showcasing Al Hubbard's work on Mary Jane & Sniffles, and REALLY demonstrating the influence that Walt Kelly had on his work, in the composition, characterizations and artistic rendering.