Carrier crew on short rations

seaman eyes

the well-fed Captain

tests his knife's edge

Review of The Pogo Poop Book

Walt Kelly, The Pogo Poop Book, Simon and Schuster. In which the origin of the Jack Acid Society, representing all fascists everywhere, is investigated. Most of the denizens of the fortress are played by familiar characters. This tale is followed by a parable about stone-age people, flying dinosaurs, and religion. There is quite a bit of nudity. Next is a rather sobering tale of the Kluck Klams. It does have a hopeful ending, and the coolest pictures of goblins I have ever seen. Of course there's plenty of nonsense verse, a story of magic, mice, and mayhem, and a tragedy about a robot. The familiar story of Chicken Little is recounted, with a twist.

081326

the ship came down fast <br>

I felt the explosion even before <br>

it hit 

Review of Instant Pogo

Walt Kelly, Instant Pogo, Simon and Schuster. The book begins with some strips that were banned from newspapers in Canada and Japan. These strips feature Mr. Pig and Mr. Goat, who somewhat resemble well-known political figures of the day. They intend to invade the USA, but by mistake they end up in the Okefenokee. Their plan is to distribute counterfeit puce trading stamps, which could then be redeemed, crashing the US economy. One thing happens, and then another, and the invaders, the Jack Acid Society, and Wiley Catt, the mi-nute man, all seem to be dealing from the bottom of the same deck. At the end of the banned strips, the Okefenokee Glee and Perloo Union picnic is ruined, medical science provides a cure for a blown nose, and most people live happily ever after. <br><br>

Singing commercials, acting lessons, and other nonsense, originally published in color on Sundays, carry on to the end of the book. Like many Pogo books, this one has two parts. The banned political strips are interesting because of their history, and the rest of the book is just plain funny. 

081126

we<br>

go<br>

off-trail<br>

secluded<br>

I hope to have you<br>

up against a tree so surprised<br>

by your hollow fangs pressing into my carotid

081026

trees have faces<br><br>

in this alien swamp<br><br>

their mouths have teeth

Review of Pogo volume 6

Walt Kelly, March 1997, Pogo volume 6, Fantagraphics. This book contains the daily comics originally published from April 30th to October 13th of 1951.<br><br>

RC Harvey begins his introduction with a review of the early history and prehistory of Pogo, by which I mean some of the things Kelly did before he started drawing the syndicated Pogo comics. He worked in the Mouse Factory for a few years and then got involved in drawing stories for quite a number of comic books. It was in one of these that the swamp characters first appeared.<br><br>

This book includes the famous poetry writing contest between a literary worm and Albert the alligator. May the best poem win, even though the judge, a turtle, somehow got his head stuck inside his shell and can't remember how to get it out. PT Bridgeport comes to the swamp looking for talent for his circus. The amazing turtle, no head but not dead, is just the ticket. PT Bridgeport is a large and self-important bear, clearly based on PT Barnum, who, like Kelly, was from Bridgeport Connecticut.<br><br>

The only act remaining in the circus, besides the rabbit who plays the drums (I believe this is Bun Rabbit, tho I could be wrong), is Tammanany tiger. He plays a lion. One of the most interesting things about the rabbit is that every single time PT speaks to him, he calls him by a different name. The rabbit never says anything about this. Later, the tiger and a small group of friends run away from home. Long about evening time, they realize they forgot to bring any food, and someone makes the observation that when you starve with a tiger, the tiger starves last.<br><br>