Pogo (comic strip): Difference between revisions
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While superficially a silly comic about [[Funny Animal|funny animals]], the strip was also a satire -- subtle and, well, not -- about modern times, and frequently delved into politics -- so much so that ''Pogo'' often found itself the target of criticism and censorship. In such cases, Kelly often responded in kind; for instance, by placing a paper bag over the head of a controversial character (based on Senator Joseph McCarthy) when a newspaper said that they would drop the strip if his face ever appeared again. Later, he would write "fluffy bunny" versions of his Sunday strips, featuring rabbit characters engaging in simple slapstick, whose real purpose was to inform the readers that their local newspaper was censoring its comics page. |
While superficially a silly comic about [[Funny Animal|funny animals]], the strip was also a satire -- subtle and, well, not -- about modern times, and frequently delved into politics -- so much so that ''Pogo'' often found itself the target of criticism and censorship. In such cases, Kelly often responded in kind; for instance, by placing a paper bag over the head of a controversial character (based on Senator Joseph McCarthy) when a newspaper said that they would drop the strip if his face ever appeared again. Later, he would write "fluffy bunny" versions of his Sunday strips, featuring rabbit characters engaging in simple slapstick, whose real purpose was to inform the readers that their local newspaper was censoring its comics page. |
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Charming ... surprisingly warm-hearted, even at its most vicious ... clever and occasionally subversive, ''Pogo'' was ''[[The Office]]'' of its day ... if ''The Office'' had a much larger cast, the writers of ''[[The Colbert Report]]'', the trenchant wit of [[ |
Charming ... surprisingly warm-hearted, even at its most vicious ... clever and occasionally subversive, ''Pogo'' was ''[[The Office]]'' of its day ... if ''The Office'' had a much larger cast, the writers of ''[[The Colbert Report]]'', the trenchant wit of [[H. L. Mencken]], and the idealism of [[The Daily Show|Jon Stewart]]. Its influence on modern cartooning cannot be overestimated. Bill Watterson (''[[Calvin and Hobbes]]''), Berkeley Breathed (''[[Bloom County]]''), Jeff Smith (''[[Bone]]''), Garry Trudeau (''[[Doonesbury]]''), Jim Henson (''[[The Muppet Show]]''), Bill Holbrook (''Kevin & Kell'') and Dana Simpson (''[[Ozy and Millie]]'') have all cited it as inspiration. |
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{{quote| This is a humorous anecdote. A goat lost his nose -- the first man says, "What will he smell with now?" The other replies, "As bad as ever." Haw haw haw?}} |
{{quote| This is a humorous anecdote. A goat lost his nose -- the first man says, "What will he smell with now?" The other replies, "As bad as ever." Haw haw haw?}} |
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* [[Carnivore Confusion]]: The animals swing between having a fairly relaxed attitude towards carnivorism and treating it as cannibalism. In the comic's earlier days, Albert would sometimes swallow other animals by mistake (they were usually saved at the end) or be accused of eating whoever was missing at the time. The villains of the strip were more obviously carnivorous. |
* [[Carnivore Confusion]]: The animals swing between having a fairly relaxed attitude towards carnivorism and treating it as cannibalism. In the comic's earlier days, Albert would sometimes swallow other animals by mistake (they were usually saved at the end) or be accused of eating whoever was missing at the time. The villains of the strip were more obviously carnivorous. |
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* [[Censorship |
* [[Censorship by Spelling]]: Pogo uses it to talk to Albert without Pup-Dog understanding. Too bad Albert can't spell either. |
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* [[Cerebus Syndrome]]: The strip always had a satirical bent, but got a lot more political as time went on. By the end it was basically ''Doonesbury'' with talking animals. |
* [[Cerebus Syndrome]]: The strip always had a satirical bent, but got a lot more political as time went on. By the end it was basically ''Doonesbury'' with talking animals. |
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* [[Characterization Marches On]]: In the early days, before the strip was nationally syndicated, Pogo was the stupidest cast member and was easily taken advantage of by the other characters. |
* [[Characterization Marches On]]: In the early days, before the strip was nationally syndicated, Pogo was the stupidest cast member and was easily taken advantage of by the other characters. |
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* [[Cigar Chomper]]: Albert |
* [[Cigar Chomper]]: Albert |
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* [[Cloudcuckoolander]]: Most of the characters have their moments of this, but none more than Churchy La Femme. |
* [[Cloudcuckoolander]]: Most of the characters have their moments of this, but none more than Churchy La Femme. |
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* [[Convicted |
* [[Convicted by Public Opinion]]: Parodied in an early storyline when the Pup-Dog disappears and Albert is accused of eating him; he is saved only by the Pup-Dog's eventual return, and some of the old townsfolk ''still'' insist he was guilty and a great injustice has been done by letting him go free. |
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* [[Cunning Like a Fox]]: Seminole Sam, generally a con-man. |
* [[Cunning Like a Fox]]: Seminole Sam, generally a con-man. |
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* [[Deep South]]: The deepest. |
* [[Deep South]]: The deepest. |
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* [[Loads and Loads of Characters]]: Thousands. |
* [[Loads and Loads of Characters]]: Thousands. |
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* [[The Magic Poker Equation]]: Parodied with the three bats. Six aces tended to be a losing hand. |
* [[The Magic Poker Equation]]: Parodied with the three bats. Six aces tended to be a losing hand. |
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* [[The Man in |
* [[The Man in the Mirror Talks Back]]: Subverted. It looks like Porkypine's reflection is talking back to him, but it's actually a bug hiding behind his mirror playing a prank on him. |
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* [[Never Heard That One Before]]: One strip has a ladybug who's tired of always being told to "fly away home." |
* [[Never Heard That One Before]]: One strip has a ladybug who's tired of always being told to "fly away home." |
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* [[Never Smile At a Crocodile]]: Averted with Albert. |
* [[Never Smile At a Crocodile]]: Averted with Albert. |
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