Monday, August 25, 2003

Pogo's Papa

Ninety years ago today, a family in Philadelphia named Kelly gave birth to a kid named Walter Crawford Kelly, Jr. They probably didn't suspect that he would grow up (to the extent cartoonists ever grow up) to become one of the most honored and loved comic strip creators of all time. It was many years after that that Walt Kelly, in turn, gave birth to Pogo Possum, Albert Alligator, Howland Owl, Churchy LaFemme, and other denizens of the Okefenokee Swamp...and what a swamp it was, teeming with personalities of every stripe and persuasion. Even on the days Pogo was black-and-white, its language and style made it more colorful than anything else that graced the Sunday Funnies. Walt put more personality into a drawing than any practitioner of the anthropomorphic arts, before or since, but it didn't stop there.

Their speech was vibrant, their wit unparalleled, their situations irresistible. Kelly is often remembered for his political content — and to be sure, it was unique and bold and the reason that so many adults felt they had to scan the comics page. But he was also just plain funny, which was maybe the best reason to cruise the Okefenokee. Even when I was too young to have a clue what those silly animals were talking about, I just knew it was something very special.

So Happy Walt Kelly Day, people. A lot of cartoonists can do slapstick. A lot of them can say pithy, on-target things. Some of them can even create characters that you just plain want to hang around. But darn few can put it all under one roof and in one strip.

• Posted at 11:58 PM · LINK

Muchas Gracias

I'd like to thank several folks who sent donations to this website today, specifically to be used in my "battle" against the evil towing company.

I'm not sure I'm going to engage in a battle. Unlike too many White House occupants in our past, I believe some wars aren't worth starting, especially if you aren't sure what would constitute a "win." I need to do a little more investigating to learn what, if anything, can be done. After all, I can't be the first person to get ticked off over this. I didn't have the chance today to make those calls since I'm finishing a script, plus I'm busy defending the 2.6 ton granite monument to the Ten Commandments I had installed on my front lawn. I bought it on sale at the 99-Cent Only Store, and I'm a little suspicious about a couple of these commandments. Like, IX is "Thou shalt not broadcast or transmit the pictures, descriptions, or accounts of this game without the expressed, written consent of the office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball." I always thought IX was something about not bearing false witness against thy neighbor.

But in the meantime, thanks. Donations to this website are always welcome and if I don't use the money to bring Doctor Tow to justice, I'll at least buy something fun on eBay with it.

• Posted at 8:10 PM · LINK

Martin and Lewis - Together Again for the First Time!

September 20-21 in the showroom at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas: "Martin & Lewis Cannot Appear But Their Sons Can," starring Gary Lewis and The Playboys, Ricci Martin and "The Pack." Hey, I'd pay money to see that. But then I've been up all night writing cartoons so what do I know?

• Posted at 6:17 AM · LINK

Question Answered?

Why did Fox News sue Al Franken? They must have known they (a) had no chance of winning, (b) would look like laughingstocks and (c) would boost the sales of his book with all that lovely publicity. So why did they do it? Well, according to this article in The New Yorker, it was just a matter of appeasing the demands of Bill O'Reilly, who refused to be talked out of it.

• Posted at 2:49 AM · LINK

Towed in a Hole

Well, I'm finding out more about the little towing scam that was pulled on me this afternoon. I've moved the entire thread over to NOTES from me.

• Posted at 2:13 AM · LINK

August 26, 2003 • Current • August 24, 2003