ARE WE DOWNHEARTED?!

Back in 1972, the New York Times ran some cartoons for the first time, and Pogo was one of them. Knowing how Kelly could capture politicians at their looniest, you have to wonder how wonderful it would be if Kelly could have taken on this year's looniest/saddest campaign ever. 

Wonderful, because that would mean Kelly was still with us. Sigh.

New York Times — 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?

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

Crazy Horse

Hit and run shenanigans, Kelly at high speed.

June 6, 1971

"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

Forward!

Kelly's latter day chaos at its finest.

During this era, no other cartoonist gave as much 'bang for the buck' as did Kelly.

Other than the green cow (which could have been deliberate for the moon reference . . . but not likely), no color notes this time.

A Bonafide Steal

From week to week, my newspaper would change formats on all the comics. You'd never know whether it'd be tabloid, 3 tier, or sometimes 2 tier, knocking off the whole top row. With this format, at least you got an extra panel than otherwise. In this case the one of Beauregard and Miggle striding along.

Color notes:

Now the brown of Howland and Beauregard is washed out.

Churchy is green again, but a different shade than all his years before.

Blue and green are dominant, not very harmoniously.

But, you know, everythin' startin' to come back to normalcy of sorts.

Miggle's Used Cow Lot

Looking at this strip, you might think that our arc is done. But no, we're sorta on a detour, sorta drivin' along without a map. 'At's okay, Kelly can take us wheremever he wants.

Color notes:

Well, it's lookin' a li'l more normal, but what the heck with Mr. Miggle's green gillfeathers and hands? Somebody's making executive decisions here.

Again, there's just so little harmony in the overall color palette.

The art is still really good—those cows are a hoot.

In a Trice

Color notes:

Still lots o' yellow, though that's pretty typical a lot of other times.

Howland is a light tan from beak to toe, glasses still green.

Churchy's beak is now a reddish brown (purty ugly, sez I).

Beauregard is also that reddish brown, when in years past he's been a pale brown.

In general, in my opinion, the colors are harsh and unharmonious.

I do believe that tree's 'face' is intentional, wild hair and all. Cool, sez I.

On the Tenth Day . . .

Enough IS ee-nough, after all.

On the Eighth and Ninth Day