Book review: We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us s

Walt Kelly, 1972, We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us. Simon and Shuster. This book is in two parts. Part one concerns pollution and our collective responsibility for it. The book title is probably the most well known of Kelly's aphorisms. The concept seems a bit outdated, as we now recognize corporate responsibility for most pollution, but we are all implicated to some degree. This part of the book takes place chiefly in the Fort Mudge dump, where a pig and piglets ply their trade. We also get a glimpse into the workings of the Okefenokee volunteer fire department, or lack thereof.

The second half of the book provides an amusing look at the Nixon White House. A hyena, easily recognized as Spiro Agnew, an eagle representing AG John Mitchell, and J Edgar Hoover, portrayed as a bulldog, invade the swamp. A highly sensitive computer, secretive paper dolls, and prescient wire taps ensue, along with the usual Kelly confusion. The only Pogo book with two completely separate political sections. Also noteworthy for its emphasis on pollution. NOT the only one featuring the Agnew hyena.

My favorite character is the computer. Not really. It's the hyena.

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Money 

That's what I want 

The flying lizards 

The best cover ever

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 sisters fly

home under weather threat

airport night 

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 84 degrees 

tonight's cold front show's winter 

hasn't lost its grip 

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 St. Patrick's Day parade today: we visited the parade route after it had gone by, walking the dog. I have NEVER seen such a post-parade mass of trash. Beads, plastic toys, cups, and just junk. My wife is going to make a mosaic using the beads.

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 As I mentioned before, I am not reviewing the Pogo books in chronological order. This is mainly because I have to rely on other people to get them off of the shelves and I don't think any of them can handle that. No matter, two down and a couple of dozen to go! 

I want to reiterate that many of these classic books are available for reasonable prices on the internet.

Book review: Jack Acid Society Black Book club

Pogo Possum, as told to Walt Kelly, 1963,  The v Jack Acid Society Black Book. This slim volume with its distinctive black and white cover is not only the only book written by Pogo, but it is a very incisive dissection of the right wing isolationist movement. It was happening in the late '50s and it is happening again. 

Members of the Jack Acid Society, led by Molester Mole and Deacon Mushrat, are dedicated to protecting America from interlopers, Johnny come latelies, and fifth columnists. A little thought leads to the inescapable conclusion that they have to become native Americans, and so they do. They also need a blacklist, a list of all those people who are suspect. The list grows rather long. Known communists and other riff raff can't get on the list, because they aren't suspects. They're known. This leads to a bit of contention, including flounders . All is well that ends well, more or less. 

The book contains a lot of nonsense poetry, as is this the case with many books about the Okefenokee by Kelly. Minor characters, including a wood tick and a termite, and to the ambiance.

This is the shortest Pogo book published while Kelly was alive, but the humor is as biting and hilarious as ever.