The Best of Pogo

Book excerpt: For Pogo fans everywhere, young and old, here's the best and brightest of the comic strip superstar and his creator, Walt Kelly, all in one volume. Who can forget Howland Owl, Porky Pine, Albert the Alligator, Churchy La Femme the Turtle, and of course Pogo Possum? Take a delightful inside look at one of the funniest, most popular and literate comic strips of all time. The Best of Pogo features Walt Kelly's landmark cartoons in a marvelous scrapbook of anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories. From Kelly's earliest cartoon creations to his legendary stories in pictures and words syndicated across the country, it's a warm and witty tribute to the man and his magical menagerie of lovable swamp "critters." You get the whole wonderful story, including: rare presyndicated Pogo comics ; the immortal Whirled Series of Baseball ; all the lyrics to "Deck Us All with Boston Charlie" ; and Pogo's real-life presidential campaigns, with first-hand reports on the wild victory parties that followed. Plus, a special feature - "MAD Goes Pogo," a reprint of Pogo Possum parodies from MAD magazine. All this and much more, as you relive the life and times of the Okefenokee Swamp - its timeless humor, its mischief, satire and political controversy.