I believe it’s been established that Walt was in his early 20s when Skeezix was left on his doorstep in 1921. That would make him a supercentenarian, somewhere just above 110 years of age.
Perhaps the aging process has slowed down over the years here in the Alley. But Walt can’t hang on forever, I wouldn’t think. Skeezix is 90. Phyllis did die naturally.
Jim has consistently done great art work. I know the story lines have been criticized by many, and rightly so, but the art work continues to be excellent, and unlike the former DT people, good proportions. Sometimes it has been outstanding: such as the special days and the junk yard drawings.
Not only is the 3rd panel of this a nearly straight lift from the 4th panel of the original, the 2nd panel is a nearly straight lift from the original 3rd panel, and the 1st panel is a sort of blend of the original 1st and 2nd.For the younger readers here, the February 14, 1921 “Gasoline Alley” is probably the most important single strip in the entire history of comics. Before that, it had been a gag strip (or, earlier still, a gag panel) about four guys who used to hang out in an alley running behind their houses and talk about cars. Back then, cars were new and hot; think of it as being about Facebook, or about personal computers twenty years ago. But after 1921-02-14, it became what many people regard as the very first soap opera. The characters started aging in real time, and readers followed the mysterious story of Skeezix and his real parents, who turned out to be Madame Octave, a famous opera singer, and a man calling himself Col. Henri Coda, the exiled Grand Duke of Glovania, a country apparently in the Yugoslavian area. (The few samples we have of the Glovanian language seem to resemble Istro-Romanian.) The characters also had more typically American adventures, taking long-distance car trips in an age when there were no road maps, and almost nothing but dirt roads, outside of larger cities.One wonders what has become of Glovania in the last eighty years, especially the last twenty. It would be fun to see Skeezix suddenly finding himself the center of a senior, gender-reversed “Princess Diaries”.
I have waded through a year of comics that did not interest me at all just to get a glimpse of this one. It may be another year before I get to see him again, but I guess I need a life. It was worth it to see Walt again!
Mineola over 12 years ago
Deja Vu all over again!
hsawlrae over 12 years ago
And it ain’t Skeezix this time.
Llewellenbruce over 12 years ago
Just what he needs. Another mouth to feed.
EstrelitaH over 12 years ago
It’s Walt!!!!! Wow ee Ka Zow ee!!!!
rmbdot over 12 years ago
Nice homage!Is this an anniversary of the strip, or maybe Skeezix’ birthday?
Ravenswing over 12 years ago
Almost the exact same pose, too.
chasches over 12 years ago
I believe it’s been established that Walt was in his early 20s when Skeezix was left on his doorstep in 1921. That would make him a supercentenarian, somewhere just above 110 years of age.
miqq1234 over 12 years ago
…..and Walt still reads the newspaper…. albeit a magnifying glass…so do I and I’m half his age…..great art work….way to go
axe-grinder over 12 years ago
Purrfect homage to the turning point of Gasoline Alley.
oldbooger over 12 years ago
Gosh, it’s great to see Walt in the strip once again. Wow!
axe-grinder over 12 years ago
By the way, that original daily from 2/14/21 will be auctioned off in December…
davidf42 over 12 years ago
Great work by Jim Scancarelli!
ransomdstone over 12 years ago
Get these bygone people out of this comic. I want the new electric people back!
OldManMountain over 12 years ago
Thank you, Jim!
Darryl Heine over 12 years ago
After all these years until the Gasoline Alley strip comes to an end or Walt passes on whichever comes first Walt now has a pet cat finally!
geneking7320 over 12 years ago
A few days ago Slim’s age was revealed to be 60.
flagfly over 12 years ago
No one has mentioned the ages of all the other comic residents. Charlie Brown is over fifty, and Lucy should have died an old maid by now.
3pibgorn9 over 12 years ago
Perhaps the aging process has slowed down over the years here in the Alley. But Walt can’t hang on forever, I wouldn’t think. Skeezix is 90. Phyllis did die naturally.
Buzza Wuzza over 12 years ago
uncle walt
I Go Pogo over 12 years ago
http://www.cartoonstudies.org/schulz/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/WaltSkeezix1st.gif
post399 over 12 years ago
Soooo very glad to see Uncle Walt! Keep up the great work! Thank you Jim!
browngsa over 12 years ago
Jim has consistently done great art work. I know the story lines have been criticized by many, and rightly so, but the art work continues to be excellent, and unlike the former DT people, good proportions. Sometimes it has been outstanding: such as the special days and the junk yard drawings.
John W Kennedy Premium Member over 12 years ago
Not only is the 3rd panel of this a nearly straight lift from the 4th panel of the original, the 2nd panel is a nearly straight lift from the original 3rd panel, and the 1st panel is a sort of blend of the original 1st and 2nd.For the younger readers here, the February 14, 1921 “Gasoline Alley” is probably the most important single strip in the entire history of comics. Before that, it had been a gag strip (or, earlier still, a gag panel) about four guys who used to hang out in an alley running behind their houses and talk about cars. Back then, cars were new and hot; think of it as being about Facebook, or about personal computers twenty years ago. But after 1921-02-14, it became what many people regard as the very first soap opera. The characters started aging in real time, and readers followed the mysterious story of Skeezix and his real parents, who turned out to be Madame Octave, a famous opera singer, and a man calling himself Col. Henri Coda, the exiled Grand Duke of Glovania, a country apparently in the Yugoslavian area. (The few samples we have of the Glovanian language seem to resemble Istro-Romanian.) The characters also had more typically American adventures, taking long-distance car trips in an age when there were no road maps, and almost nothing but dirt roads, outside of larger cities.One wonders what has become of Glovania in the last eighty years, especially the last twenty. It would be fun to see Skeezix suddenly finding himself the center of a senior, gender-reversed “Princess Diaries”.
DavidGBA over 12 years ago
Rufus will be founded outed!
marvelite over 12 years ago
Gettin’ kinda large isn’t he? Ol’ Walt’s put on A LOT of weight since last seen. lol
Linda Solomon over 12 years ago
I am just happy to see Uncle Walt again and see he has found someone (or should I say something?) to bring love and joy into his life again.
Thank you Mr Scancarelli, I love your art work!
pierreandnicole over 12 years ago
Glad Walt is back.
jollyjack over 12 years ago
It is good, very good to see Walt.
countoftowergrove over 12 years ago
Walt appears to get around very well for a morbidly obese centenarian and last surviving WWI vet!
Max Starman Jones over 12 years ago
I have waded through a year of comics that did not interest me at all just to get a glimpse of this one. It may be another year before I get to see him again, but I guess I need a life. It was worth it to see Walt again!
noreenklose over 12 years ago
YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!!
A real Wallet at last!
SamGoofus over 12 years ago
I once had a cat I named Skeezix, because he was an orphaned stray kitten….