I go Pogo
Posted By Kathleen David on March 25, 2004
When I was a child, I can remember looking at the Sunday Pogo strips with my dad reading them and the rest of the comics to me. It was a Sunday ritual until I learned to read and then I insisted on reading the comics myself. As long as I can remember Pogo, Albert, Deacon Muskrat, Howland, Churchy, and Porkypine have been part of my life. I have vague memories of going around Boston to complete my father’s collection of the figures that I think were attached to soap. I didn’t find out what Churchy’s name meant until my High School French Class. My father had most of the books. My favorite was the Puce Stamp Catalogue. It wasn’t until college when I reread the books I had loved as a child that I got what Walt Kelly was trying to do and what his political views were. My father still collects the odd Pogo item and was part of the book club that released the books in hardcover. The Pogo record is now out on CD and it is great to hear Walt Kelly singing I go Pogo again. I spun myself dizzy to that song when I was a kid. When I went back to visit my parents last time, I spent some time with Pogo and the gang and I, again, fell under the spell of that very down to earth Possum who found himself in over his head but always took the right way out of the situation. G-d bless you Walt and thanks for your world.
I know people who grew up on Peanuts, or Doonesbury. Myself, it was a Christmas tradition that the entire family would get a Calvin & Hobbs collection. My parents first found out I could read on christmas morning, when I insisted that they didn’t have to read the book to me this year.
And they say comic strips aren’t art.
I know people who grew up on Peanuts, or Doonesbury. Myself, it was a Christmas tradition that the entire family would get a Calvin & Hobbs collection. My parents first found out I could read on christmas morning, when I insisted that they didn’t have to read the book to me this year.
And they say comic strips aren’t art.
I can relate to that kind of nostalgia.
I grew up on Star Trek. When TNG first aired I was 17 and, quite simply, jazzed by the prospect. Right up until it seemed like it was turning into “the little twerp saves the day show.” I sat through it anyway. Then it started to get REALLY good and I was glad I stuck around.
Then they anounced DS9. I thought that was cool from the start because Avery Brooks just plain old kicked (expletive deleted) as Ben Sisko. Add the bonus of a cool back-story for Sisko and Mitch is a happy man. (Dontcha hate people who refer to themselves in the third person?) Plus all the main characters didn’t take an instant liking to each other which, for me, added an extra layer of realism.
It was toward the end of the Dominion War that Star Trek started to loose it’s luster for me and I haven’t been truly satisfied with it since. As a result I feel a bit let down and sad. I also know that at some point in the future there will be someone who can take hold of the franchise and make it spectacular again (and respect such minor details as continuity)
That’s the day I look forward to. Like Kathleen’s recent Pogo experience and J’myle’s Calvin and Hobbs/Christmas. It’s those seemingly insignificant little moments that can make one feel “at home” in an otherwise psychotic world.
In retrospect I had one of those moments today at work: A random scent that reminded me of the a school lunch room when I was 12 or so. It felt… familiar in a way that’s hard to describe, so I won’t even try. We’ve all had it before anyway, so you know what I mean.
On a sidenote, in reference to J’myle’s ‘comics’ remark…
Comics in general, and comic books in particular, gave me my love of reading and learning. Without that I think I might just be one of those whose sole purpose is to talk louder than everyone else to try and force them to think like me. Everyday I am thankful to those behind such works for teaching me to ask questions an learn from the answers.
Salutations,
Mitch
Sorry to hijack this thread, but I think Mitch has opened my eyes to why I have been dissatisfied with the recent Trek movies & new series Enterprise: “It was toward the end of the Dominion War that Star Trek started to lose it’s luster for me and I haven’t been truly satisfied with it since.”
That’s it! That’s what has been bugging me about Trek in it’s current state — It’s all about war and agression. The Original Series may have had it’s “battle” episodes and put the crew in dire straits, but they always came through and seemed to have fun in the process. Same was true for The Next Generation. But, Deep Space Nine was all about conflict. I’m probably one of the few Trek fans who really liked Voyager – despite their hopeless situation, the crew made the best of things and actually had fun and a sense of “family”. This is what is missing in Trek today: fun and familiarity. Oh well, I can re-watch The Original Series, TNG and the first seven movies with wonderful nostalgia.
I grew up with Pogo too, although it was in book form. He’s tied somewhere with Peanuts and Doonesbury for favorite comic strip of my family. My mother and brother even serenaded me with “Deck us all with Boston Charlie” at my wedding reception. According to Amazon, all of the Pogo strips have been republished – I think I’ve just found my brother’s next birthday present. 🙂
I’m Pogo fan. I like Pogo. He was frienly with Pokey. I was born in 1961, my dad read me Pogo, Peanuts. After Walt Kelly death. Mr. Kelly took over in 1973-75. In 1980’s Pogo try to come back in the comic strip, but people didn’t understand the Pogo comics. Pogo Birthday Special made by Chuck Jones. Then about 1980’s I Go Pogo movie. It never made it in the theatres. Only on VHs. I found out it’s on DVD.