BLACK 'N' WHITE AND RED ALL OVER: June 2014

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

POST # 68 - "POGO - WELCOME TO THE BEGINNING" by Walt Kelly

Greetings!

I am

THE

APOCOLYTE

and today's black and white artist is Walt Kelly!

Comics enthusiasts know that artist Walt Kelly created Pogo Possum in 1941, along with Albert Alligator, Howland Owl, Churchy LaFemme, Porky Pine, li'l Grundoon, and all the rest of the menagerie of swampland characters.

In 1965 Kelly produced a comic for the U.S. Government, specifically for the Department of Labor. Entitled POGO - WELCOME TO THE BEGINNING, it was designed to target young adults and help guide them into the labor force. Published by the Neighborhood Youth Corps, it wasn't heavy handed, but like anything Kelly created it was light, fluffy, whimsical, and amusing.

This was the second comic Kelly produced for the government (or the Gum'mint, as Pogo or Albert might say). In 1961 Kelly created Primer For Parents, about parental guidance regarding TV usage by children,

But that is another story.

Pogo is used as bookends, for introduction and wrap-up, while the main character is an amiable Kelly tiger, possibly Pogo's Tammananny Tiger.

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You can enjoy another great Walt Kelly POGO story by clicking here!

When you're done with that, click here to see today's WEIRD WEDNESDAY story at

APOCOLYTE'S WORLD OF COMICS!

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Tuesday, June 3, 2014

POST # 67 - "GIVE AND TAKE" by Russ Heath

Greetings, comic art fan!

I am

THE

APOCOLYTE!

I bring you a re-posting of the 2nd story ever posted here in 2009,

because some may not have seen it, and because even if you have,

it's so good that it is worthy of seeing again and again.

Enjoy now some of the most beautifully rendered black and white comic art ever published

by the amazing and legendary Mr. Russ Heath.

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In 1966, America was embroiled in it's seventh year of a little conflict called the Viet Nam War. It would be nine more years before the American troop withdrawal and the fall of Saigon. That was the political and social climate that year when Warren Publications put out the fourth and final issue of it's excellent military-themed black & white comic magazine BLAZING COMBAT. Each issue featured covers by Frank Frazetta, and interior content by some of the best writers and artists of the day. The story we feature today is by one of the greatest artists of war comics, if not THE greatest. Take a moment now to enjoy the little story of a battle for a hilltop in Italy, 1944, told as only Archie Goodwin and Russ Heath could.

"GIVE AND TAKE"

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On September 29th, 2013, Russ Heath celebrated his 87rd birthday!

What an incredibly gifted artist and story-teller!

One of the best of all-time --

A belated Happy Birthday and all the best to you, Russ!

This is what Russ Heath said about this story in an interview at TwoMorrows:

"It's like that time I did that story for Blazing Combat, "Give and Take." All the guys working on that book who were my peers were doing excellent work. I knew I had to work to the best of my ability against that quality. So, I worked my ass off on that one story in particular, which turned out to be what many people think is the best story in that issue. It's ironic, and I guess it was just happenstance, but everybody turned in a great job on that issue."

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This story was scanned from my own issue, and, yes, there is great art throughout by amazing artists, but Russ Heath's story is absolutely outstanding and remains at the epitome of black and white comic artwork!

Here is the cover for this issue. Art by Frank Frazetta.