Many moons ago today, a fella named Walt Kelly went and got himself born.
Folks didn't know it at the time but he was going to grow up to become not
only one of the great cartoonists of the world but one of its great
humorists. People still quote him left and right, often without knowing from
whence the witty thing they're saying came.
I always appreciated Mr. Kelly. Liked him even before I met and started
liking his daughter. Both appreciations have only grown lately as I aid her
in prepping a classy, much-desired reprinting of his Pogo newspaper
strip, in full and in hardcover and (where appropriate) in color. Volume the
First is taking longer than anyone had expected because the earliest strips
need extra loving care and this is one of those projects that you just don't
want to not do as well as it can be done. But it's coming soon and when it
comes, you too will appreciate him even more than you already do, even if
you already think (like most smart folks), he was the best.
Roger Ebert agrees.
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