Pogo: The Complete Syndicated Comic Strips Vol.7: Pockets Full of Life

This is volume 7, and I’ve been collecting them all, in addition to most of the originals from which these came. Fantagraphics has been reprinting these for many years now, and we’re only to volume 7, because two of the original editors died before the works could be completed. The volumes are excellently conceived and printed. The format is perhaps awkward to hold, due to its size and length when fully open, but that’s not a criticism. Books are their own justification, and in this case the format is perfect for showing the 6 daily strips for each week, side by side on facing pages. The 7th days — Sundays — get a section all their own. In all, these are the complete newspaper strips for their respective years, in this case 1961 and 1962. The printing is sharp, the paper is heavy so that there is no bleed through. The color strips are lush and wonderful, and of course all strips contain the magical brushwork of Walt Kelly, one of the early Disney animators who worked on Fantasia, Snow White, and Dumbo. Walt of course was never meant to be drawing pictures for someone else. His creativity knew no limits when the brush in his hand was mainlining the creations in his head. He was without doubt one of the all-time greats of the comic arts.In this volume we see Walt address feminism long before women made a movement of it in the 1960s. Also the early days of Kennedy’s presidency, the constant threat of fascism; Porky’s sense of humor (or the absence thereof); the rise of the Jack Acid Society (and Pogo’s volunteering to be the first on their blacklist); the arrival of communist characters (loose representations of Castro and Khrushchev, and the hoaxes they attempted to perpetrate, unsuccessfully always); and a host of normal day-to-day jokes, scenarios, and craziness that was always what Pogo was about. Not by any means the first time Kelly created outside visitors to the swamp, nor is it his first foray into politics; he was revered and respected for his sends ups of presidential elections. But this may be the turning point when Pogo changed from predominantly slapstick goofiness to outright political satire of the sort that influences the masses. Kelly saw the liberal world through a moderate lens, and advocated for fairness to all, qualities embodied in the possum himself, Pogo. Then, as now, Americans tended to over-react to words like liberal, socialism, and respond with the opposite of kindness and understanding — the perfect set-up for political satire. But Kelly never left behind the general goofiness of his swamp’s characters and their lives. I’d say that Kelly had already peaked in that regard, though, and now he was approaching the peak of his political satire, too, which would continue to grow more pronounced and more profound from these years (61 & 62) until Kelly died.In the back of theses Fantagraphic volumes, the editors have given us some research materials. Many of the references are explained for modern readers who may not remember the daily history of those years. The volumes are assembled with love, and one feels it from the moment one opens the books and starts experiencing the beautiful book designs. My complete appreciation, respect and gratitude goes out to the late Carolyn Kelly, the late Kim Thompson, and to the still very much alive Mark Evanier, who has taken up the work begun by the other two. I hope we will see the complete series come to fruition.

I have loved Pogo ever since beginning to read it as a newspaper comic strip way back when I was in junior high school. This volume continues the fantastic work of preserving every single daily and Sunday comic strip. Walt Kelly was a great genius with a pen and he had a sharp wit and an uncanny ability to see clearly what was going on around him. The characters of the Okefenokee Swamp, focusing on Pogo Possum, were perfect for poking fun at the pomposity in the world back then and many of the comic strips are still very relevant today. I especially loved seeing how Walt Kelly would put names of friends on the rowboat. And his vivid imagination would interweave all sorts of extraneous characters in and out of stories. A great addition to the marvelous books keeping Pogo alive far into the future!

Now these are almost "ancient comics" but for me still great fun ... and fond memories! So I have been collecting all of these reprints and plan to all forth-coming volumes until they are complete so that I have the whole run, joining my now complete set of "Peanuts." I will admit that much of my motivation is nostalgia, for I remember the weekly (and daily) pleasures of their being offered as daily "comic strips," which I treasured and enjoyed back then ... and still do! They wear well, for me! I realized that I have used many words here just to say "They are 'Pogo"!" That says it all, for me ... and perhaps for you as well!

Perfect for the Pogo fan or for the newbie who will fall in love with the artistry of Walt Kelly. You may have to explain some of the historical references to younger readers, but enjoyable for all comics fans or soon-to-be fans.Recommended.

Once again a beautifully produced compilation of two years worth of Kelly's inimitable characters.Includes an explanation of some of the references to news that was relevant at the time but may not be appreciated by readers who discovered Kelly's genius later on.Improves my mood every time I read it!