Is that the shop steward? Does he not have to be elected? Did he not say that if nominated, he would not run, if elected, he would not serve? Or, am I thinking of a different possum?
There was a failed attempt to revive Pogo during the time of President Bush I, but the quality was very poor. Perhaps Pab is better qualified to follow in the footsteps of Walt Kelly.
Walt Kelly’s role as a labor activist has often been unreported. Even though he didn’t picket the Disney studios during the 1941 animator’s strike, he wound up taking a permanent leave of absence out of sympathy with those that did strike. His cartoons for the New York Star often were pro-labor, and although he did cover it up to a degree, he was an avowed leftist his entire life.
Kelly was also very concerned with the well-being of his fellow cartoonists, as can be seen during his tenure heading the NCS. Those are some of the reasons I considered Pogo to be a natural choice for the local union rep for the early part of this storyline, and will insist that using him is an act of love for the character and the man who created him.
As for the Pogo character appearing today, tomorrow, and Wednesday, as far as artwork goes he is purely my own creation. He was drawn freehand within Corel Photoimpact, using only a mouse and the path editing tools provided by the program. I used five different models as guides in my drawing: three by Kelly (from the frontispieces of different Pogo books), one by Neil Sternecky from the 1989 revival, and one I had drawn myself 18 months ago for Pogo’s previous appearance in the “Coalition Of The Funny” storyline. Not one stitch of anyone else’s artwork is in that drawing.
For the curious, I actually drew Pogo in three separate pieces: the head, body, and hat were all done as distinct pieces and composited together. I actually drew all of the “hair” under the hat, then kicked myself when I realized I didn’t need to.
I also designed the seal of the International Brotherhood of Comic Strip and Panel Characters that appears on Pogo’s shirt. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) all of the detail is lost when it’s shrunk down for printing, but the inner part of the seal includes Ally Sloper, the Yellow Kid, Mama Und Hans Katzenjammer, and Happy Hooligan.
On a related note, yes, my contract with Universal Uclick really did expire on April 1st. I want to continue, and have been told that they want me to continue, too, but our relationship just hasn’t been re-formalized yet. I had originally conceived this storyline as a way to end the strip when the contract ran out, but decided to run with it anyhow even if there is no real “dispute.”
Pogo looks great to me Pab, and best wishes for a continued run at this site, I found gocomics through this strip, and after ditching my sad local paper for the internets, gocomics has become my replacement for the funny pages (NYT online covers everything else) I know they will continue to support this great strip.
Pab says of Walt Kelly, “although he did cover it up to a degree, he was an avowed leftist his entire life.” Yes, he covered it up like Paul Lynde covered up being gay.
pschearer: I think that Kelly’s behavior before the Kefauver Committee is a good example of how he tried to cover up his leanings, but as he got older he stopped hiding.
Good point, Pab. Mainly I remember Kefauver for his investigations into organized crime, so I’d have to review some 1950’s history to decide just what Kelly was doing–trying to hide his political views or simply trying to keep from appearing to be an agent of the Soviet Union.
I also remember Pogo as mainly making fun of Republicans, but I’d have to go back and read it with a more experienced eye to decide if Kelly was a Liberal or a Leftist.
I make the distinction based on the degree of honesty (however mistaken) and good intentions (however misguided). The Liberals can still be pro-freedom and pro-America, even if wrong (Hubert Humphrey would be a good example), but the true Lefties are anti-freedom and anti-American.
(I hasten to add that by “American” I don’t mean anything nationalistic but rather American ideals which are universal, no matter how much most of the world resists them. I leave nationalism to the Canadians with their paranoia about furriners taking Canadian jobs.)
Very interesting, Pab - and impressive reproduction of Pogo. pschearer, your definition of “leftist” leaves some room for debate, at the very least. LBJ was a hardheaded liberal, for example, and you could even make a case for Nixon once he was President. And I would argue Kelly was both, and not mistaken at all. He was a very sharp political observer. It’s only the Right who want to pretend that liberals are misguided naifs, when often they are speaking truth to power – the latter often including the Right…
pschearer: In 1967 and 1968 there was a hilarious run in “Pogo” with a longhorn steer who looked remarkably like Lyndon Johnson. And the whole 1952 “Pogo For President” campaign can be seen as a swipe at Adlai Stevenson. Also, Mole was based on Pat McCarran, a very racist Democrat.
If we leave aside his attacks on Joe McCarthy (which I think it’s safe to say he would have opposed no matter what party McCarthy had belonged to) I think the fact that the Republicans got lampooned in Pogo more often than the Democrats was because for most of the strip’s original run, the Republicans were in charge either in Congress or the White House. (Or both, in the case of 1953-1955.) The people in charge make more tempting targets.
I never followed Pogo (or for that- ANY comics daily before the net). But I DID recognise the character and well remember him as a labor activist (not quite as bad as Chavez). While I worked full time, I found it a good way to show “busy- ness” during my lunchtime- to escape the stress of work and related questions while I snacked. Now it occupies my mornings and I sometimes check a comments board later too. I hope this strip continues here (or somewhere), as it is one of my favs ;-)
Todays comic put me in mind of the Mad Max movie “Beyond Thunderdome” where the Master put an energy embargo on Bartertown.
Hey Pab! Is there someway you can post the seal of the International Brotherhood of Comic Strip and Panel Characters that you mentioned? I’d love to see it!
Good luck with your contract, you’re a huge asset to goComics. I hope that they appreciate you.
well nobody mentioned those denizens of the swamp the pole cat Simple J Malarkey and the deacon Mushrat. Two of the most sinister from Kelly’s rogues’ gallery.
I liked Rhode Island Red, one of his best satires on the whole red scare and effective dealings with those brave men in the US Congress.
Kelly was so popular in the 70’s that his main characters were promotional items for a soap company. I keep Howland Owl on my desk (I do wish I had gotten the others).
Hank Ketcham (Dennis the Menace) was another one in the Disney strike.
I wish I had been old enough to appreciate Pogo. I remember Spiro Agnew (Nixon’s vice president) as a hyena. I liked the obvious sight gags, such as spelunking down Albert Alligator’s gullet. I think I would not know all of the references. However, Walt Kelly was a great artist.
Pab, the Katenjammer kids creator was involved in a dispute with Hearst. Were the others?
here’s my hopes that the contractual thing gets sorted out so that you can stay on this site. i’d miss her maj & everyone if they disappeared. yours is one of the strips i comment on regularly, and also one of the ones i go back to “catch up” with when i miss a few days. best of luck Pab.
Nothing like politics, labor & gay rights to trump a music business joke. Ritchie Furay & I are disappointed nobody remembers their little wrangle w/Walt…
aardvarkseyes over 14 years ago
Is that the shop steward? Does he not have to be elected? Did he not say that if nominated, he would not run, if elected, he would not serve? Or, am I thinking of a different possum?
zero over 14 years ago
I think you need to call him Poco or get sued for Copyright infringement…
Samskara over 14 years ago
There was a failed attempt to revive Pogo during the time of President Bush I, but the quality was very poor. Perhaps Pab is better qualified to follow in the footsteps of Walt Kelly.
Pab Sungenis creator over 14 years ago
Not artwise, I’m not.
Pab Sungenis creator over 14 years ago
Walt Kelly’s role as a labor activist has often been unreported. Even though he didn’t picket the Disney studios during the 1941 animator’s strike, he wound up taking a permanent leave of absence out of sympathy with those that did strike. His cartoons for the New York Star often were pro-labor, and although he did cover it up to a degree, he was an avowed leftist his entire life.
Kelly was also very concerned with the well-being of his fellow cartoonists, as can be seen during his tenure heading the NCS. Those are some of the reasons I considered Pogo to be a natural choice for the local union rep for the early part of this storyline, and will insist that using him is an act of love for the character and the man who created him.
As for the Pogo character appearing today, tomorrow, and Wednesday, as far as artwork goes he is purely my own creation. He was drawn freehand within Corel Photoimpact, using only a mouse and the path editing tools provided by the program. I used five different models as guides in my drawing: three by Kelly (from the frontispieces of different Pogo books), one by Neil Sternecky from the 1989 revival, and one I had drawn myself 18 months ago for Pogo’s previous appearance in the “Coalition Of The Funny” storyline. Not one stitch of anyone else’s artwork is in that drawing.
For the curious, I actually drew Pogo in three separate pieces: the head, body, and hat were all done as distinct pieces and composited together. I actually drew all of the “hair” under the hat, then kicked myself when I realized I didn’t need to.
I also designed the seal of the International Brotherhood of Comic Strip and Panel Characters that appears on Pogo’s shirt. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) all of the detail is lost when it’s shrunk down for printing, but the inner part of the seal includes Ally Sloper, the Yellow Kid, Mama Und Hans Katzenjammer, and Happy Hooligan.
On a related note, yes, my contract with Universal Uclick really did expire on April 1st. I want to continue, and have been told that they want me to continue, too, but our relationship just hasn’t been re-formalized yet. I had originally conceived this storyline as a way to end the strip when the contract ran out, but decided to run with it anyhow even if there is no real “dispute.”
kschobert over 14 years ago
Pogo looks great to me Pab, and best wishes for a continued run at this site, I found gocomics through this strip, and after ditching my sad local paper for the internets, gocomics has become my replacement for the funny pages (NYT online covers everything else) I know they will continue to support this great strip.
pschearer Premium Member over 14 years ago
Pab says of Walt Kelly, “although he did cover it up to a degree, he was an avowed leftist his entire life.” Yes, he covered it up like Paul Lynde covered up being gay.
Pab Sungenis creator over 14 years ago
pschearer: I think that Kelly’s behavior before the Kefauver Committee is a good example of how he tried to cover up his leanings, but as he got older he stopped hiding.
Plods with ...™ over 14 years ago
No - not ANOTHER strip going away?!?!?
c’mon! gimme a break!
pschearer Premium Member over 14 years ago
Good point, Pab. Mainly I remember Kefauver for his investigations into organized crime, so I’d have to review some 1950’s history to decide just what Kelly was doing–trying to hide his political views or simply trying to keep from appearing to be an agent of the Soviet Union.
I also remember Pogo as mainly making fun of Republicans, but I’d have to go back and read it with a more experienced eye to decide if Kelly was a Liberal or a Leftist.
I make the distinction based on the degree of honesty (however mistaken) and good intentions (however misguided). The Liberals can still be pro-freedom and pro-America, even if wrong (Hubert Humphrey would be a good example), but the true Lefties are anti-freedom and anti-American.
(I hasten to add that by “American” I don’t mean anything nationalistic but rather American ideals which are universal, no matter how much most of the world resists them. I leave nationalism to the Canadians with their paranoia about furriners taking Canadian jobs.)
Motivemagus over 14 years ago
Very interesting, Pab - and impressive reproduction of Pogo. pschearer, your definition of “leftist” leaves some room for debate, at the very least. LBJ was a hardheaded liberal, for example, and you could even make a case for Nixon once he was President. And I would argue Kelly was both, and not mistaken at all. He was a very sharp political observer. It’s only the Right who want to pretend that liberals are misguided naifs, when often they are speaking truth to power – the latter often including the Right…
Pab Sungenis creator over 14 years ago
pschearer: In 1967 and 1968 there was a hilarious run in “Pogo” with a longhorn steer who looked remarkably like Lyndon Johnson. And the whole 1952 “Pogo For President” campaign can be seen as a swipe at Adlai Stevenson. Also, Mole was based on Pat McCarran, a very racist Democrat.
If we leave aside his attacks on Joe McCarthy (which I think it’s safe to say he would have opposed no matter what party McCarthy had belonged to) I think the fact that the Republicans got lampooned in Pogo more often than the Democrats was because for most of the strip’s original run, the Republicans were in charge either in Congress or the White House. (Or both, in the case of 1953-1955.) The people in charge make more tempting targets.
vldazzle over 14 years ago
I never followed Pogo (or for that- ANY comics daily before the net). But I DID recognise the character and well remember him as a labor activist (not quite as bad as Chavez). While I worked full time, I found it a good way to show “busy- ness” during my lunchtime- to escape the stress of work and related questions while I snacked. Now it occupies my mornings and I sometimes check a comments board later too. I hope this strip continues here (or somewhere), as it is one of my favs ;-)
Technojunkie over 14 years ago
Pogo says nogo?
jswinton1 Premium Member over 14 years ago
I go Pogo! Classic.
Lynn Savage over 14 years ago
I go Pogo, and I approve of Pab’s humor!
For those unfamilar, my avatar is a photo of an actual electioneering pin from Pogo’s 1956 “run from office.”
Durak Premium Member over 14 years ago
Todays comic put me in mind of the Mad Max movie “Beyond Thunderdome” where the Master put an energy embargo on Bartertown.
Hey Pab! Is there someway you can post the seal of the International Brotherhood of Comic Strip and Panel Characters that you mentioned? I’d love to see it!
Good luck with your contract, you’re a huge asset to goComics. I hope that they appreciate you.
cwreenactor over 14 years ago
LOL!!!
ottod Premium Member over 14 years ago
Paul Lynde’s gay?
grapfhics over 14 years ago
well nobody mentioned those denizens of the swamp the pole cat Simple J Malarkey and the deacon Mushrat. Two of the most sinister from Kelly’s rogues’ gallery. I liked Rhode Island Red, one of his best satires on the whole red scare and effective dealings with those brave men in the US Congress. Kelly was so popular in the 70’s that his main characters were promotional items for a soap company. I keep Howland Owl on my desk (I do wish I had gotten the others).
kfaatz925 over 14 years ago
Pogo! Excellent!
runar over 14 years ago
You can find Mary Worth at Daily Ink, the Washington Post and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Purdey over 14 years ago
Hank Ketcham (Dennis the Menace) was another one in the Disney strike. I wish I had been old enough to appreciate Pogo. I remember Spiro Agnew (Nixon’s vice president) as a hyena. I liked the obvious sight gags, such as spelunking down Albert Alligator’s gullet. I think I would not know all of the references. However, Walt Kelly was a great artist. Pab, the Katenjammer kids creator was involved in a dispute with Hearst. Were the others?
yyyguy over 14 years ago
here’s my hopes that the contractual thing gets sorted out so that you can stay on this site. i’d miss her maj & everyone if they disappeared. yours is one of the strips i comment on regularly, and also one of the ones i go back to “catch up” with when i miss a few days. best of luck Pab.
zero over 14 years ago
Nothing like politics, labor & gay rights to trump a music business joke. Ritchie Furay & I are disappointed nobody remembers their little wrangle w/Walt…